​Kelsey's Travel Blog!​
I travel not to escape life, but to be sure that life will not escape me! Come join me!
Prague and Kalovy Vary, Czech Republic
A common misconception amongst young adults, such as myself, that we can live life with very little sleep, very many parties and social events, and our bodies will bounce back like a gymnast on a trampoline. Over the last few days, I am paying for that ignorance in the form of a stuffy nose, and ugly cough, and around 15 episodes of Gossip Girl which, although I love the show, was way too much for me to handle.
As a result of this punishment, I was stuck inside for 3 days in one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Prague. I was incredibly disappointed.
Although the last few days have been a serious let down, I was finally able to have at least ONE quality experience in the Czech Republic. Pavel and I hopped into his car once again for an hour and a half road trip due west to our final destination of Karlovy Vary. Karlovy Vary is the location of one of my favorite movies, The Last Holiday, with Queen Latifa where she, after finding out that she only has 3 weeks to live, goes to blow all of her remaining money at the Grand Hotel Pupp (literally pronounced almost like poop… a little dose of childish humor for you haha). I was so excited to discover that not only the hotel is real, but it is actually as beautiful as it was in the movie. Kalovy Vary was founded by Charles IV in the 1100’s (I think that is right) and, when they discovered that it was atop natural mineral hot springs, he decided to build one of this hunting castles and the rest is history. It is a small town that seems to be buzzing with primarily tourists who have come to get a taste of the natural mineral water. Yes, I drank some of it as well, for good health of course, but I was actually really grossed out by it. It tasted like just a bunch of metal that almost had a lemon-y flavor yet not quite. Yet as the good traveler I am, I happily drank a whole cup of it. It may have also had to do with the fact that I was seriously desperate to get rid of this cold that has been haunting me, so I figured it couldn’t hurt.
We made our way through the main part of the town and then ended up at the Grand Hotel Pupp where I got to experience one of the most incredible meals of my life. My favorite meat in the entire world is Duck, and I am glad to hear that Czechs also share my love for it. The duck at the Hotel Pupp was a dream come true. Sometimes there is nothing better than a good meal and then coffee with an old friend.
Although Prague was not what I had hoped it would be since I was sick, I cant exactly complain too much about being sick and in Europe. I will be arriving back very soon!
I am off to Trondeim, Norway now to visit another person who is very near and dear of my heart, my Norwegian sister, Kristine from Up With People, but more of that later. Right now, I just need to sit back, relax, and enjoy the complimentary wifi from Norwegian airlines, because what is better than blogging at over 30,000ft?
