I decided a while ago that I was not going to go home over winter break, but instead I would travel central Europe. My mom couldn’t bear the thought of me being by myself while doing this, so she sent over my 19 year-old brother Sam. After long deliberation over where our travels should take us, we determined that three nights in Budapest (pronounced Budapesht, by the way), one night in Vienna, and four nights in Prague (where our cousin lives) would be the ideal plan. We would stay in hostels in the first two locations, and in Prague with my cousin, where we would spend Christmas.
Central Europe is known for its great architecture. At some time or another, these areas were under Roman rule, meaning there is no shortage of great monuments, imposing statues, and intricate detail both on and around buildings. This was evident in each city we visited. Budapest’s parliament building is the largest in Europe, and certainly the most jaw-dropping. They also are famous for their thermal baths, in which we spent several hours relaxing.
Next on our list was Vienna, a true winter city famous for its Christmas markets. Sam and I walked around the city, almost accidentally stumbling into market after market (we were told there were nine in total). I was blown away at how clean, organized, and modern Vienna is for being such an old city with such historic architecture. Most impressive was the Rathausplatz market, conveniently placed at the base of a magnificent castle. It is the Disney-world of Christmas markets, complete with a long ice skating track and countless stalls full of food, drink, art, and trinkets.
Above all else, Prague may have captured my heart. It combined the cleanliness and organization of Vienna with the remarkable architecture, food, and nightlife of Budapest. We had four days to spend exploring every inch of the city and we did not waste a minute. The Prague castle (the largest castle in the world) sits atop a hill just west of old town, providing a remarkable vista overlooking the rest of the city. Within the center itself, “the city of 100 spires” showed us castles and cathedrals everywhere we turned. It was the only major city to not be torn apart by the World Wars, and therefore retained many old buildings that other cities could not. Prague is a place that I will no doubt return – just maybe in the summer next time!
More than anything, being able to explore new places with my brother and then spend Christmas with our cousin was the highlight. Pictures and words don’t do justice to the experiences we create with the ones we love, and for that I will always be thankful.
