Traveler's Tales

Traveler's Tales

In reading “Travelers' Tales Prague and the Czech Republic: True Stories,” one of the stories from this book led me to think about my own association with Prague. This experience has had a great impact on my life already and I feel a greater sense of independence and freedom. I also came to realize what Prague will mean to me once I leave and the stories that I will tell. I wonder which places in Prague will stand out in my memories. I often consider myself a person of detail and I predict that I will recall the small details.
In Maxim Biller’s traveler’s tale he says, “I remember everything clearly—that’s why Prague is more than a geographical location to me. It is part of my brain where my entire hatred of ideology and coercion continually renews itself, where my near-neurotic will to freedom has its unshakeable foundation.” Although I cannot say that I have lived in Prague before the Velvet Revolution, I am fascinated by the country’s progression in modern society. When there are signs of Communism left in the city, such as in the Kotva department store, I try to throw myself back to this time period. However, it is also shocking how little of this period is left and how much the city has progressed in modernity.
I find this reflection even more appropriate now that I am on spring break in the Canary Islands. Thinking about Prague now seems like “home.” It has been my home for four months. The more I think about the city, the more I am grateful for its size and how easy it has been for me to navigate. Not once have I felt overwhelmed by the environment. And lastly, my time in Prague has allowed me to develop a greater appreciation for my life in New York City. It also gave me the opportunity to explore more of the world and see different facets of life. Prague will serve as a symbol in my life as a place where I continued to learn and grow at such a transitional stage in my life.