Coming to Prague, Czech Republic in the Time of Pandemic

The nearby park overlooking the scenic city of Prague.

Proof of life or should I say lessons on faith.

My coming to Czechia is all how the universe connive. It was a far idea that I will work in Europe as there was not much opportunity. I already have a plan for what I will do in my life. The planner in me has set it an A-Z option. Then, the pandemic came. So, I stayed a little longer in the Philippines. But the last few months were the most memorable and heartwarming on how the universe moves in mysterious ways.

In between, a friend shared with me this opportunity which I have also seen before but there’s something that discouraged me. It was a nudge that made me realize this is Europe and I am very vocal about how I want to live here. Cutting into the chase, I got it and I didn’t know how hard it was for them fighting for my position. Of course, a lot is hard on my end, but I am positive that it’s all going to be worth it because basically, I fulfilled an almost impossible thought of getting a job here.

Lastly, the place where I want to live. I was scouting for flats that are relaxing and convenient. At first, it was hard to find. And then I saw this place in a famous location, known to be expensive as well. It really looks so cozy, way beyond other options. There’s a beautiful internal structure, a garden at the back, and a restaurant and mini-market downstairs. It’s like Emily in Paris! Pretty much like such, indeed! The room is on the 6th floor with no elevator! Plus, I need to pay a commission on top of the cost. So, I turned down. The deadline in my hotel is getting closer and I’m upset with all the cancellations of good options. Then, I received a message from the owner himself that the tenant on the second floor wants the attic! So, I got the second floor. No commission and the price were reduced as there was a mistake in the information given in the previous post. And the owner couple is also easy to deal with.

This looks very mundane and easy but I am really grateful for how the universe fulfills my heart’s desires. Even during the pandemic, I was overall positive, because this is just one of the myriad manifestations of how great blessings come after the storm. I hope my long narrative will help us be reminded to trust the universe.

The Head of Franz Kafka, also known as the Statue of Kafka, is an outdoor sculpture by David Černý, depicting Bohemian German-language writer Franz Kafka, installed outside the Quadrio shopping centre in Prague, Czech Republic. #Prahatoday #prague #czechia

Waldstein Garden at the Senate Palace is a geometrically designed early Baroque garden created in parallel with the construction of the Wallenstein Palace from 1623 to 1629.

The Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul was founded in 1070-1080 by the Czech King Vratislav II. The Romanesque basilica suffered a fire in the year 1249 and has been rebuilt in Gothic and later in neo-Gothic style. The basilica features an impressive stone mosaic above its entry.

Kofola is Czechoslovakia’s version of Coca-Cola or Pepsi, and in my opinion, they did better, i.e. not so sweet and smoother. Kofola originated in the Czechoslovak Research Institute of Medicinal Plants in Prague in 1959, during research targeted at finding a possible use for surplus caffeine produced in the process of coffee roasting. The resulting dark-coloured, sweet-and-sour syrup Kofo became the main ingredient of a new soft drink named Kofola introduced in 1960.

I finally tried their best beer - Pilsner Urquelle. Czechs are known for being the top beer drinkers and beer is big here. There is even a place called Plzeň, a city in the western Czech Republic known for the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, specializing in bottom-fermented beer since 1842, with brewing cellars and a bottling plant.

Dripstone Wall or The Grotto. In this portion of the garden, aspects of real and artificial elements of nature co-mingle, creating an eerily unreal landscape. Here, grotesques were allowed to reign supreme, including imagery of snakes, monsters, and random, distorted faces, while an aviary provided a crucial acoustic element.

Prague Castle is the largest Medieval Castle in the world. Prague Castle is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic, built in the 9th century. The President of the Czech Republic holds office here. Click Prague Castle to know more.

Watch a video of the Prague Castle facade.

At The Lennon Wall.

On calm river and gorgeous swans. Remember in life that your past may be an ugly duckling but you have the river’s serene ebb to let you find the beautiful swan that you are now.

Chillin’, sailin’, sunset musing. It’s almost back to normal here.

Cesky Krumlov is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Its historic centre, centred around the Český Krumlov Castle, has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992 because of its well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. The city dates back to the 13th century.

Melnik is a town in the Central Bohemian region of Czechia which lies at the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava rivers. In the 5th and 6th centuries, many Slavonic tribes lived here and the tribe of Pšovans created its main settlement in Mělník. Saint Ludmila (the grandmother of Saint Wenceslas), who married the Bohemian prince Bořivoj, belonged to this tribe.

“Ver prebet flores.”

Some of you shared positive thoughts that you’ve been joining my tours vicariously. I still don’t have the guts to share my blog or do a vlog so I will keep my posts here. Today is my first time to savor how the world (at least here) begins to blossom outside Prague.

Now, it's spring and I am reminded of that above Latin phrase which means, “Spring brings flowers.” I will continue to share positive thoughts with you all until we can all bask in spring and other seasons.

Always remember, as the seasons change, everything will. I hope you can join us in our next escapades.

(Photos, captions, and article by Rysa Alenzuela, Ph.D. Rysa is the first Filipino to work at the Oriental Institute of the Academy of Science in the Czech Republic, a government institution in the country. Her Facebook says she is: A wine lover, culture vulture who would jump into anything related to research, archives, and travel.)