My feet have been callousing nicely, but the reason they're so heinously sore right now is because I had a pretty incredible afternoon. To celebrate completing the final exam of our Intensive Czech course this morning, my friend Julia and I went on a walk to end all walks. With an extremely vague notion of where we wanted to go-- the Prague Eiffel tower thingamajig-- we walked from the National Theatre up to around Prague Castle. This is a slightly-uphill walk that takes around 15 minutes; nothing excruciating. But after wandering around the winding and increasingly steep cobbled streets we finally found: the mother of all staircases.
[If I didn't have the IQ of an eggplant I would have a dramatic photo here to show you what we were up against. Basically, envision a million stairs, and then copy that image, and then paste it above the original image. It was a lot of stairs.]
Once we got to the top of that monster of a hill (whose name I've probably been told a hundred times but can't remember), we finally found Petřínská rozhledna, the tower! And what should be waiting inside this lovely tower but more stairs. Only twice as steep, and winding. By the time I got to the top I was dripping with sweat, my leg muscles were shaking and I couldn't tell whether it was me or the tower that seemed to be tipping over. Cardio work-out for the day: Czech.
WOW WHAT AN INGENIUS AND ORIGINAL PUN.
Before I continue I have to give a small explanation of this tower, because I think it is a brilliant epitomization (<-- had to consult Dictionary.com to confirm I didn't just make that word up) of the Czech culture. Petřínská rozhledna was built around the same time as the Eiffel tower. In fact, it actually looks a lot like the Eiffel tower, except it is much, much smaller. But because of its position on the top of this huge hill (called Petřín; and yes, I HAVE been told the name of this mountain a hundred times) it is actually slightly higher than the Eiffel tower. Well played, Czech Republic.
So, we finally made it to the top of this cheeky little Eiffel tower. Exactly what kind of view are we talking about?
You have to work for a view like that.
Speaking of work and views (flawless segue?), there were a few maintenance guys working outside the tower. Talk about living on the edge. Imagine being suspended this high in the air simply to do your job each day.
The walk back down was a pleasant series of winding paths that each seemed to have their own agenda. We found our way back down to Staré Mesto and got home no problem. Now my muscles have just enough time to settle and get sore before tonight's event: ballet at the National Theatre! We're going to dress up quasi-classy (the only way I do classy) and enjoy an evening of fine art and high culture. And then we'll probably go get smashed at some bar.
Čau for now! (Oh yes, it DOES rhyme.)
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