The Strange City of PRAGUE | Art, Music, Graffiti & Weed 

I'm still a little unclear about the status of weed in the Czech Republic. Some people have said that the shops are just a scam taking advantage of tourists with fake products. But someone also posted a comment under my recent video that they are a regular smoker, bought some weed in Prague and it was the real deal. Sounds like it might be worth a try if that's what you're looking for. On the subject of Franz Kafka, I decided to publish online one of the stories from my book that was inspired by Kafka. You can read it for free here: gabrieltraveler.medium.com/the-man-who-stood-alone-in-the-crowd-2e505bd06b7d?sk=331756f34c3441862b2ed404a121b682 And if you would like to read the whole book of fifteen stories you can buy a copy here: www.amazon.com/Most-Hilarious-Thing-That-Happened/dp/1475008821

In the course of the video, the restaurant of the traditional Czech cuisine is named after Švejk. He is the protagonist from the book The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek, a satire-black comedy story from the WW1 about a good-humored, simple-minded, middle-aged man who appears to be enthusiastic to serve Austria-Hungary there. It is like a parody on war, army, a comedy when reading, so a very nice book. As for Germans, there were so called Sudeten Germans all around Bohemia (on north, west and south) prior to WW2. Many spa towns, including Karlovy Vary-Karlsbad (where herb spirit becherovka originated), were mainly German and German speaking but after WW2, so called expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia took place so German fled to Germany and Austria, some of them were even killed on the path (like many who walked from Brno to Austria); shortly after this, in 1948, also communist revolution (Soviet-backed coup d'état) took place to make Czechoslovakia a communist-socialist country. Prior to WW2, also many Jews lived in Czechoslovakia (just like other neighbouring countries, especially Poland) so it is not a surprise that Kafka was also there; however, he was lucky that he didn't have to see what WW2 brought to these places. And, another interesting fact - the Zakarpattia Oblast, now part of Ukraine (with Uzhhorod as a capital), was a part of Czechoslovakia between the both world wars, there the majority of people are Rusyns (Ruthenians), just like Andy Warhol was originally from his parents. 1968 Prague Spring and 1989 Velvet Revolution, major events in the country's history, both started in Prague.

hey Gabriel. Both terms are correct. Czechia is an official short name since 2016. Its the same thing for example like Russian Federation or Russia.

The wall art you first thought was Tintin is in fact the Good Soldier Švejk. The book is free of copyright by now and you can find numerous sources on the internet.

I and my girlfriend went there last year. Such a beautiful city, Czechs should be proud of it.

On your way to Slovakia, you should visit Brno, Czechia. It is a very nice medium sized city.

The restaurant with the image of a soldier refers to the "The Good Soldier Svejk story by Jaroslav Hasek. Read up about it.

Im from England Uk i hope to travel around Europe and the world one day prague and Copenhagen are on the list on must see citys for me prague and czech republic look so beautiful

“Czechia and the Czech Republic have both been used in an official capacity for years (since 2016, in fact), with the former being simply a shortened form. From now on, however, Czech Republic will only be used in things like official government documents, legal correspondence and embassy business. Sort of how France is called the ‘French Republic’ in some very formal contexts. Czechia, on the other hand, is what the country would prefer to be called in more practical, less formal situations. Czechia will be used in things such as literary works and newspapers, as well as by people representing the country like sportspeople.”

Czech Republic is the formal name like Bundesrepublik Deutschland is the official name of Germany. Czechia is a short version like France or Germany.

When you rotate your camera it sounds like an old car Chase movie from the 70s . I keep thinking a car is going to fly around the corner 😂😂😂🤙🏻💯

In Ray Bradbury's "The Crowd" the intrigued protagonist notices that dramatic accidents always seem to attract the same group of people. They appear out of nowhere, within seconds.

When I was in Prague 20+ years ago, the John Lennon wall was more obviously John Lennon-related! It seems now to just be an explosion of random graffiti.

Thank you for this tour of Prague, the information about Franz Kafka, the Beatles's wall and the link for reading. Prague is connected with the classical music. You show in the beginning of this video the bust of Ludvig van Beethoven. He visited the city two times: in 1796 and in 1797. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart staged in Prague the opera '' Don Giovanni'' in 1787. Mozart dedicated a symphony No 38 to Prague. The two restaurants you show have the face of Svejk. He is a literary hero of the book by Jaroslac Hasek : ''The Good Soldjier Svejk and his Fortunes In the World War''. (that is the First world War).

I was here in summer last year and it was absolutely jam packed with tourists.

The engraving in the beginning is the beheading of Holofernes by Judith as told in the deuterocanonical Book of Judith in the Bible. Your story of the prisoner reminds me of the James Whitmore character in The Shawshank Redemption.

So cool they keep the old trams running. They are really beautifull!

Gabriel Highroller, I highly recommend checking out the evening Jazz pubs in particular Agharta!

Gab..... you wearing clogs?

Basically you will probably please most with calling it Czech Republic…Czechia is a new “rename” by the tourist government bureau and many straight hate it and ignore it. If you send a lot of packages to Czechia you will save yourself some ink by not writing out Czech Republic😂

I was in Prague in 2007 and I loved everything about that city. I went back last year and I didn't like it anymore. There are way too many tourists and they now charge money for visiting places that were completely free to visit in 2007.

@Gabriel Traveler ... Gabe, the person on the wall-painting (led in handcuffs), of which you thought in first place, ( looking from the distance), would be Tin-Tin, ... is infact the VERY WELL KNOWN figure "The Good Soldier Svejk", based on an unfinished satirical dark comedy novel, written by Czech writer JAROSLAV HASEK, published in 1921-1923, about a good-humored, simple-minded, middle-aged man who appears to be enthusiastic to serve in the Austria-Hungary Army in World War I ... Numerous films🎬 based on that novel had been made in 1950ies - ''70ies ... Pls google further, if interested in ... 👍😉 Warmest Regards from Hamburg, Germany ... ✌😎

Dressed much more dapper than usual!

Czechistan is the preferred name

I'm also a big fan of Tintin . . . loved reading the stories as a youngster, and now I own all of the books . . . Cheers!

theirs no weed in prague better to go to the other side of the river

Ohh and that Czechia thing some Dutch or German guy came up with it. Thought it was cute . Its so Anglophones and Germans dont mix up the Czech Republic. The Nazis called Czechoslovakia Tschechien. It took too much effort to say Die Tschechoslovakei. People as you know in the US will get confused if you say the Czech Republic. People think you are talking about Chechnia or Costa Rica so its better to say Czechoslovakia. Now in in Germany its a bit similiar To get off this topic Czech People over 40 hate this Czechia thing. Makes it sound like there is a beach here and we border Italia. Acceptable is cesko,Ceska Republika, die tschechische Republik, the Czech Republik, Rupublica de cecca etec. Just because Slovakia has a vowel at the End does not mean that that the CZ should have one too. Damd that was exausting sorry born in 71 i hate typing on phones but i am too lazy to fire up my computer 🍺🍺na zdravi

Ya mon combination of things brought me here to Prague Getting deported from Germany after 3 years living and working illegally. I had to go somewhere I did not want to go back to the USA. I could not not go back to to California where I was born and raised til 14 in the bay area. I would have had to go back to Fayetteville Ga where the folks are. My German bras drove me here before the deportation agents arrived to escort me back to the USA. Czechs embraced me due to my Czech and German heritage and love of Kafka lit. I can tell you one thing though Czechs overall are not that fond of their countrymen who wrote in German. Kafka spoke perfect Czech too. Yea, the younger Generation is getting interested in all things German. The older Generation is scratching their heads because they hated Russians, Germans, English they did not need so they cant speak that either. Get out to the small towns kutna hora melnik havirov liberec spindl in the mountains near poland cesky tyn a bilingual polish czech town. Jelenia Gora in Poland is over the mountain man its so much cheaper there amigo and the nature mountains Jelenia Gora dude🍺🍺

gabriel I highly recommend the tastiest thing from the czech republic, it's called "svickova", DELICIOUS beef steak with sauce on top and bread/dumplings to soak the sauce

It looks like the image of John Lennon has been graffitied over. How sad.

Hi Gabriel, I see you have a new backpack. What is better about it? And what brand is it? Have a nice trip!

You should visit Brno on your way:)

Gabe, if you get chance to travel to Liverpool this summer that would be great. With your love of the Beatles I would be delighted to show you around and take you to the beatles sights without any payment etc (call it quits for the happiness you have brought for all of your videos over the years.) Keep on cruisin' legend✌️👍🙂

Doesn't bald and bankrupt live in Prague ?

The official name of a country is The Czech republic as it is stated in our constitution. Although the name Czechia is also correct it is predominantly used as a geographical term and it is relatively new. Majority of Czechs however prefer the name Czech republic even though in every day conversation in czech language we use term Česko (Czechia). In an international context most of people would prefer the Czech republic. However both names are correct. When it comes to weed, THC etc. IT IS 100% NOT legal to sell it. Those weed shops are scam. The law is strict and it is a felony to sell stuff like that. Basically what you see is false advertisement. Those shops sell CBD, HHC-P and other THC derivates which are currently legal. You'll see hardly any shops of this kind outside of Pragues tourist path.

Great that you found the John Lennon wall, yes it looks totally different than when I saw it about 8 years ago. Also the pubs name has been changed 😢 If you went inside the other part of the pub there are a lot more Beatle art and objects, on the walls etc. I visited Prague for the first time around 1989 when the velvet revolution was happening the political situation was very fluid and I went with a Czech 🇨🇿 friend who defected in 1968, he was returning to his country for the first time, without being arrested, very interesting time to be in the country! Take your time in Prague, it’s truly amazing 😊

I am sorry to say that this video is boring. Much of the things that Gabriel talks about and shows are not relevant.

“Czechia” just doesn’t work for native English speakers. It sounds too similar to Chechnya for a start and doesn’t look like a country’s name. I’ll stick to Czech Republic.

Nice scarf! That's one of my favourite things to buy as a souvenir. I appreciate the feeling of being there on your walk as your explore and just talk about whatever comes to mind, just as if the viewer was an actual traveling companion.

PENS

Another Awesome Adventure Thank You Gabriel🙂❤👍

I was in Prague 2001 the inflation was very high then expensive for citizen food and other things but cheep us other europens to visit Prague.

I know this question is a bit irrelevant to this video but I think it is relevant to international travel...in one of your previous videos you had mentioned that your mobile phone service is through T mobile and further that you get an excellent rate so does that mean that you can call the US (as and when you need to) without paying the high international roaming calls fees? And if you can mention the plan that you have through T mobile please..?

The sculptures on Maltézské Square is the dominant of the square,the work of Baroque sculptor Brokoff,Statue of the patron saint of the Johannite order.Statue of St.John the Baptist with angels.The middle panel depicts the beheading of John the Baptist.Btw,if you were to pronounce Křtitel in Czech,it would take some effort.👍

Wish I can visit Prague as well before dying love from India Gabriel

Heaven is a place where nothing Nothing ever happens.

Those “thc” shops are all over Europe, does not get you high. For anyone who wants to know

Blue blistering barnacles! I also love Tintin. It's nice to hear that you did too. Czech looks very beautiful. I'm excited to see some of the countryside. Keep the adventure going!

Hi Gabriel, I'm a bit confused so Prague is the place where the word Bohemia comes from interesting because I always associated that term with free-spirited artists like Greenwich Village NYC or the section in Paris the Latin quarter full of artists and luminaries it's no wonder why there are so many art galleries in Prague it is the actual birthplace of this movement.

Going east visit the UNESCo worldheritage city Olomouc, its absolutely stunning...And ofcourse the spa cities Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne are stunning and very interesting also. Enjoy 😊

2:17 - Beheading of St. John the Baptist. The woman is Salome. The unfinished church belongs to the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem).

I'm rather interested in the Kundalini experiences... Did you do a video about that at some point Gabriel? Enjoying the Prague tour👍🍀

Hey Bulldog is a great fun song!

This fascination with dungeon food establishments might be lubricated with local beverages, if one is not careful. So, be careful. If it doesn't seem safe somehow, try two. I mean, if one is not careful, that is. 🌲😎🌲 🐘 don't forget. 🍺🧃🍷 Those @ 18:10 beverages would be suspect - even if someone claims they're traditional... Please - no need to sample them either.

Prague is stunning

Hello!! Love u all!! This video is great, thabks u! Keep smiling, smoke, and enjoy our inner freedom!! Hello 🌿🍄, Feel free to write. TG!! ❤❤

Hi Gabriel, come to Regensburg in Bavaria. There are direct buses and trains from Prague for like 20 eur and it's a historical city like Prague on Danube river. I will show you around. There's also the oldest brewery in the world just a few km away from Regensburg located in the Weltenburg Abbey. The Abbey sits in the Danube Gorge which is a fantastic natural area made of jurrasic limestone and one of the most fossil rich areas in Germany.

Gabe the first University teaching in the German language instead of Latin was the Charles University. Prague was a mainly German speaking city until the 1800s. at the end of wWWII all German speaking persons were expelled due to the Benes Decrees. There were about 3 million German speaking Bohemians, Moravians, and Silesians living in the country until 1945. Every town every city every street every piece of landscape in the country has its German name and Czech Name. Until 1945 there were up to 7 languages spoken in Czechoslovakia 🍺

I love your vlogs ❤️

All countries have a long name and a short one. The long one includes thngs like republic e.g. French Republic ... Then there is the short one ... like France. The Czech Republic is the long name and things are fine there, but what is the short name? Czech is an adjective, not a noun. So, since 1992, both the short and long names were Czech Republic and most people called it Czech ... if they every heard of it ... or Czechoslovakia, if they hear of id in the 80s annd before. In 2016, I think, Czechia as the short name was established et voila ... Nobody really likes that name, even those who came up with it, but it's better than having a long name for the short name. Just call it whatever you want. "Czech" is not terrible, even thogh grammatically incorrect. It is better than Czechia for most people you ask.

you should really research before you start visting places. Fake weed and Svejk restaurant. oh no😬 Prague is so much better

During your trip there was (and still is) a wonderful exhibition in modern gallery called DOX in other part of Prague. It is Kafka themed and contains even surreal paintings by David Lynch. Do recommend.

Being honest about it, the only interesting thing about this hilarious county is the german heritage starting with the name Tschechien or Tschechoslowakei (Slovakia) officially this "country" was founded by the german King Wenzel in the 12th century then it is the name Böhmen which applies to the Sudetenland and it's the most wealthy zone from Tschechien rule by germans, I think only the car manufacturing Skoda, powered by germans, and the famous iconic Middle-age's sun clock tower, which was engineered and built by a german guy and the late singer Karel Gott it's the only remarkable about this country

In Dutch the country is called Tsjechië which would be the local way to spell Czechia, more or less.

I dont think you as an American even can make the correct sound of CH in Czech/Czechia 😅 Its exactly how you say Loch Ness in Scottish pronunciation (Americans say this as Lock Ness). But I think check/checkia pronunciation is accepted for foreigners.

Because Chechia can be mistaken by Chechna :D ...buts its OK, Czech Republic or Czechia is OK .

You walked right past one of the great pubs of the world (The Golden Tiger) near the end of the video. How can you go to Prague and not show a true Czech pub (not some tourist trap)?

Major bummer Gabriel...in your previous video I commented that you go to the Lennon Wall. I had been there in 2017. It did not look anything in your video, as it was when I saw it. The degree of vandalism is outrageous. It used to have these awesome orange heads coming out of the wall-obviously broken off and stolen. If you want to see what I mean go to RayaWas here video and you will see the heads and my heart that reads "Rebecca global citizen of the world" Yeah, the wall has changed dramatically-sad, indeed

Salud Gabe

I thought you started your previous walk at the castle complex, walked around there and then crossed the bridge to that square. So that was obviously longer walk than this one... 🤔

John Lennon Wall! Lived in that neighbourhood for years!! 💜💜💜💜💜

Great stuff Gabriel, I am planning to head there and a few other countries in October. Good Recce for me 😊

How did you know to bring those warm clothes ? There will be some cold weathers coming.

I think he was a born Czechoslovak of German Jewish ethnicity

Tintin was like Indiana Jones and 777 combine, wish they made more of that today.

🌴🌴< < < I WONDER WHO THE DUDE WITH THE BIG NOSE IS ON THE FAR RIGHT OF THE LENNON WALL ? > > > 🌴🌴 CERTAINLY WASN'T RINGO.

Prague is definitely a fascinating city but what a paradox...Franz Kafka museum (yes Franz Kafka was a German Jew and a famous personality from German literature) and in close vicity two urinating men...?!

check out nearby Pilsen, where beer was invented (possibly)

That wall so ugly. In the middle of beautiful buildings.

The scarf looks good on you..it sounds like you are wearing high heels 😅

Prague looks fancy-is it expensive?

THANKS FOR CORRECTLY NAMING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA YOU ARE THE BEST.SALUDOS

31:00 BINGO $⚔️🖼️

I started at UAF. Had I stayed for my entire degree, we may have crossed paths. I have lots of family there. But I have moved to the lower 48.

Have got to admit, i do find it a bit ironic that there is so much (specifically Roman Catholic) religious imagery and iconography, etc, throughout (at least) the ´Old City´ districts of Prague - and more or less the entirety of Czechia/Czech Republic - when the Czechs in fact are traditionally and generally speaking amongst the very least religious people in Europe ( ...imo, very much to their credit actually 👍👌), from the time of the Reformation, when they had apparently wished to abandon Roman Catholicísm in favour of Protestantism but were disallowed from doing so by their - rabidly RC Austro-Hungarian Habsburg - imperialist rulers, thereby causing the Czechs to pretty much just pack it in altogether when it comes to ¨religion¨.... ~❤💖❤

Hi Gabriel, beheading John The Baptist was a women who was angry as John told her can't marry king Herod her in-laws. King Herod was influenced by her skim.

.05% THC in all of EU. I fell for it in Italy 😅

90 minutes of videos all on the same city and all within 24/36 hours? Seriously? I'm quickly becoming an ex fan and ex subscriber Gabriel, after being a big fan for several years Please calm down with the spamming Quality over quantity please.

Sincere apologies Kafka was not a German originally

In English the ch is a k sound so chekia (/ˈt͡ʃɛkiə/ for those who know IPA) is the accepted pronunciation. Usually foreign pronunciations are not transferred, as in Bach -> /bɑːk/.

love it 22 minutes walk in 44 minutes - click bait!

At 16:42 you are seeing two national treasures or maybe three… first the painting style is a reproduction of famous czech illustrator: Josef Lada Then the depiction is of a famous book and story of Svejk written by Jaroslav Hasek

Prague is the ulti/max of the word charm. It also makes me think of spies lurking around the next corner, very mysterious. So interesting to imagine.😊 Great work Gabe.

Brilliant video seems to be a colourful and interesting country.

Hi😂

Right on Gabriel high roller! Great to see a different part of Prague. You really know how to do an interesting tour. Had no idea there was a John Lennon wall, maybe had I known last time I was there in 2016, it may have actually still had his picture. Looking forward to reading your book of short stories. ❤😊

GREAT VIDEO THANKS FOR TRANSPORTING ME AROUND THE WORLD. SALUDOS

Not trying a beer in The Wall pub Gabe?

Hi Gabriel on your past videos you gave a tip on what currency to choose when using a credit card. Is it better to choose USD than EUR? Or is it the other way around? Thanks

👍👍👍