Travel Massive is an organization that brings together travel writers with industry people at free events all around the world. I’ve been aware of them for some time and there have been Travel Massive networking type events in Ottawa over the past while, but for one reason or another I haven’t been able to attend.
A few weeks ago I heard that the next Travel Massive event was to take place at the Czech Embassy with representatives from the Czech tourism board and fellow writers. There was no way I was going to miss this one. You see, my parents are Czech (although I was born here), I speak Czech, and I have been to Prague.
My goal for this evening was to connect with likeminded people and learn more about some of the lesser-known destinations in the Czech Republic.
And I’ll tell ya: (a) there’s a lot to discover and (b) there is so much beauty.
Prague itself is a real gem. Many people I speak to would love to visit but, for some reason, if they can only visit ONE place in Europe, cities like Paris and London tend to win out. If you’re a fan of arts and culture or a history buff, Prague is the city for you. Take Charles University in Prague, for example. It was the first university in central Europe, founded in 1348. And there’s Charles Bridge, one of Prague’s most famous landmarks. Construction began on the bridge in the mid-1300s! In terms of Canadian history, keep it mind that it wasn’t until 250 years later that Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City. :)
I got to know Prague a bit while visiting family there. The first time I was there was in 1990 or 91. The Berlin wall had come down and the country had just recently elected its first democratic government. It was a very exciting time to visit as it was a country very much in transition. Department stores were just starting to accept credit cards. I saw the Rolling Stones and the Cure. I remember being in the main square – and there was a sign posted in the front window of a hamburger joint (why do I think it was a Harvey’s?) that read: WE SELL CANADIAN HAMBURGERS. I never did figure out what that meant. Maybe there was bacon involved?
The people were friendly everywhere I went. It was something that stayed with me and something I remembered when I returned later when my grandmother was in the hospital. It came back to me again at that Travel Massive event at the embassy. There is so much to learn about Czech culture, and the people are so proud to share it. I think they’re extra pleased when they meet Canadians (actually, I know this for a fact). Canada and it’s glorious wilderness (not to mention many parallels involving beer and hockey culture) occupies a soft spot in Czech hearts.
In fact, there’s a very famous folk song about Niagara Falls that every single person in the Czech Republic knows. (I am not even kidding.)
Na brehu Niagary, stojí tulák starý,
na svou první lásku vzpomíná.
Jak tam stáli spolu, dívali se dolu,
až jim pulnoc spadla do klína.
And my attempt at a translation:
On the banks of Niagara stands an old wanderer,
he remembers his first love.
How they stood together, looking down,
until midnight fell into their laps.
Anyway, this was all swirling around my head as I chatted (in English and my underused Czech) to the embassy staff and to representatives of the tourism board and munched on traditional Czech foods that tasted of home. I also enjoyed some Czech beer, of course.
If I ever go over to the Czech Republic again – and it WILL happen sooner or later! – I will bring my family and go beyond big cities to explore the countryside, the smaller castles, and the parks. (Of which there are many! I had no idea.) I am particularly smitten with Bohemian Switzerland and Bohemian Middle Mountains. And the spas! My grandmother swore by their restorative powers. I’d love to be able to experience a bit of what she did.
The girls are proud of their Czech heritage and I know they’d get so much out of a trip over there. I can also show them why it feels like home away from home. Time to start doing some research…