My first day in Prague has been nothing short of amazing. The very first thing I noticed as I stepped out onto the streets was the cobblestone—literally everywhere. Architecturally, it’s so beautiful and gives the city an old-world charm, but I’ll admit, it took some getting used to. In the U.S., I’m used to paved roads and clearly separated sidewalks, so navigating the cobblestone streets was a bit confusing at first. Still, it adds so much character to the city.
What really stood out to me was the architecture. Prague is such a stunning blend of old and new buildings. I love how every building looks different—no two are the same, which makes walking down the street feel like an adventure in itself. It’s not a uniform cityscape, but rather a colorful collage of history and modern life.
The main highlights of the day were visiting the Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock. The Charles Bridge is absolutely gorgeous, named after King Charles IV and lined with statues of kings and saints in order of their ranks. The Astronomical Clock was equally fascinating, showing Czech time, German hours, planetary hours, and sidereal time. Most of these landmarks are walkable—just make sure you wear comfy shoes! So far, day one has been pretty great, and I’m really excited for what’s to come.
Swanson School of Engineering 