A visit to Prague

Editor's note: Henrico resident and VCU adjunct professor of business Sam Seeley is spending three weeks in Prague, Czech Republic – a frequent and favorite destination of hers – and writing about her visit for the Citizen. This is the first installment of her brief series.

Friends often ask me about why I am heading to Prague again. Most people have heard that it’s pretty, but they wonder why I keep going back year after year. There are a lot of reasons, but I will share a couple of my favorites – things that you might not find as a top-10 list in the guidebooks.

First, if you are interested in pop culture, you definitely want to make your way to the Lenin Wall. Here young people gather to pay homage to a music icon by singing, playing the guitar or, more often, by writing a few words on the wall for all to enjoy. It could be a name, a poem, or a message. It’s a huge space to fill up, but if you take the time to read, you might even find a message from another Virginian. Last time I was there I saw a William & Mary logo! You don’t know what you will find, but you can be sure that there will be new things to read every day.

The second thing I’ll share is to visit the Mirror Chapel. If you like classical music or admire the intricate architecture of the Baroque period, you will enjoy a visit. This amazing room, with elaborate ceiling frescoes and ornate mirrors, plays host to classical music concerts and is a perfect setting for Mozart – who is said to have played there on his European tour. Built in 1725, the chapel is part of the Klementinum (pictured above), one of the largest building complexes in Europe and located steps from the end of the Charles Bridge in Old Town.

Last, and actually this is in the guidebooks! A walk on the Charles Bridge is a great way to get a feel for the city. It’s a walking bridge so it’s a great place to people watch. You will see all shapes and sizes, and nationalities there. As the expression goes, “It’s a real United Nations.” You can see tour groups following the flag waving leader; couples holding hands and looking deep into one another’s eyes; and families – fathers holding little ones on their shoulders and grandparents walking slowly to take in the views of Prague castle up on the hill.

Whatever you do in Prague, bring your camera and be prepared to be amazed. Then you can answer your friends when they ask 'Why Prague?'