Monday April 7th
Right off the bus Michael and I were greeted by pretty little Czech girl named Sima. She took us back to her house to drop off our bags and she told us that her mother had food prepared for us. Sima’s mother and sweet pup greeted us at her flat while the smell of home cooked food spilled through the door.
Veggie soup first, then a whole meal of traditional dumplings, ham, and spinach. I was stuffed, but then out came coffee, cake, oranges, carbonated water, and the list goes on. We made plans with Sima what we wanted to see, and Mikah (Sima’s mom) stocked us with cakes and coffee for the road.
A special Czech sweet that smells delicious from even blocks away.
Sima being our pretty tour guide.
Sima
Prague from the Castle
Sima again
We watched sunset from a hill about a mile from the castle. Sima loves coffee as much as I do, so we sat with our packed coffee and watched the sun fall behind the wonderful city.
Me!
We sat and watched the city lights come on and sipped on our coffee into the night. Prague had done a good job at winning my heart over.
Tuesday April 8th –
We woke up to the smell of coffee and breakfast, and a whole lot of cuddles from Sima’s puppy Nicey.
A great thing that Prague does is that your all day transportation ticket covers subways, buses, and little boats that go all over the city.
The cutest little bookshop right off Charles Bridge.
One of my favorite things we did in Prague was hike to the Monastery on a hill.
We got home earlier in the day since we left so early, and Sima’s mother was preparing a feast for us. A few of their friends wanted to come over to meet her American friends. We watched as people prepared the food and we talked and laughed and shared about our life at home. I cannot express how amazing to me it is that people could sit around the table and have conversation and laugh together even though only Sima could understand both languages (Czech and English). These are the times I am most grateful for.
Something that really struck me with Sima’s family is how complete strangers can open their house to someone, like Sima and her mother did to me, and love them so unconditionally. Sima and her mother fed me to the point I couldn’t breath, and gave me anything I needed, whether I asked for it or not. When we said goodbye to Sima’s mother the next day, she had tears in her eyes. How could someone I just met, care so much? Her heart was so big and full of love. I thought I might even tear up. I regret now not having taken her portrait. I always kick myself for that. I left Prague that morning with a heavy but full heart. What I also left with was a feeling that I wanted to be that kind of a blessing to someone else. I wanted complete strangers to feel loved by me for no reason at all, with nothing expected in return. I think Sima and her mother are a good example of what Christ’s love is like. It’s not flashy or judgmental, and it’s not perfect. But it’s real, and it’s full and selfless–but it’s more than just a feeling. It’s an action. It does. Love does. (that’s the title of another amazing book I’d recommend to everyone. It’s life changing.) And even more than that, it’s an action that rubs off onto others.
I’m currently in Croatia, and my next blogpost will be from Munich, Germany!
