This week, we’re in Prague, Czechia!

I’ve teamed up with Chloe from simplykhloe.wordpress.com to bring you the similarities and the differences between living in Alicante, Spain and Prague, Czech Republic.

Don’t forget to read Chloe’s blog first to get all of the information about how Chloe’s day went!

I am really loving how this series is going and I hope you are too. I have already teamed up with some fantastic bloggers who have really painted a picture for us of how life is for them in their hometowns. I’m so excited to continue sharing this path around the world with you all.

Monday 8th October 2018:

I’ve awoken to a beautiful sunrise. My body clock has shifted and I’m waking up at around 7:45am every day now. It’s not ideal when I don’t finish work until very late.

I guess some things just can’t be helped.

I’m working a lot more hours these days, so I’m working hard to schedule posts in advance to give me time to chill out, it’s just not feasible to do a full-time teaching timetable and be sitting on the computer every day for 5 hours before. You can’t burn the candle at both ends, right?

Rio has returned from his little weekend getaway after our amazing weekend getaway. It’s always nice to return home and see him come bounding towards us. The weather has cooled down now, only reaching around 15 degrees before the sun comes up, It’s nice to be able to wear comfy pyjamas and a hoodie in the morning! Though, I can’t say it sticks around, when the sun rises, it can jump to 27 degrees in the day.

The cafe con leche is essential, so that’s made and ready before 8:30 today. I settle down to watch coco with Rio, wondering when would be a good time to start trimming up for Halloween, it’s too soon, right?

We head out for a mid-morning walk, it gets us out of the house. The temperature is comfortable and the sky is blue. But, it’s not that blue sky that tricks you. You know that blue sky in winter where you’re like RESULT and then you step out into sub-arctic temperatures? Yeah, none of that.

The tram is really quiet today, I assume most people booked the 8th off work, as the 9th is a bank holiday. It’s the Day of the Valenciana Region tomorrow, so lots of people used Monday to have a long weekend.

I pick up a banana from the fruit and vegetable store an and an empanadilla de carne from my local bakery. I’m very lucky to have them in such local distance. I sit down and have a cappuccino and a slice of strawberry cheesecake too. The sun is shining but I sit inside.

Work speeds by, as it always does. Though, it’s very tiring. I’m definitely noticing the extra hours. But, I love it all the same. Exam season is approaching so it’s all go at the moment.

It feels good to know that tomorrow is a bank holiday. Although we don’t have plans yet, I’m sure we’ll find something to do. We’re never short of things to do or places to see. We’re still coming across things we haven’t done or seen yet. There is an Oktoberfest down by the Town Hall, so perhaps we’ll take a walk down there and see what it’s all about. I imagine it’s nothing on the beautiful markets in Prague. Are they still up this time of year?

Dinner is a standard chicken pasta, it’s Alex’s go-to dish. I wonder what Chloe will have? I’m not sure what a ‘traditional’ Czech dinner is, so hopefully, we find out!

We have a few games of Clash Royale whilst Alex spends some time on the Truprint photobook.

The sun set long ago and the waves are crashing on the shore. Another day has ended in Benidorm. It’s time for bed.

Similarities and Differences between Prague, The Czech Republic and Alicante, Spain

Prague sits somewhere near the top of my ‘must see’ list, especially around Winter time. It just looks so beautiful, filled with Christmas markets, glistening lights and a city filled with street cheer. Everybody you speak to always wants to go back. Once is never enough.

In recent years, Prague seems to have become more and more popular, especially during the colder months. I want to think this is because of the global spread of social media. We see an aesthetic photo on Instagram and we want to go. Beautiful places that once remained hidden are in full show to the world. Maybe it’s through blogs and word of mouth too. The whole attitude of Eastern European travel has shifted and become so much more positive in the last ten years or so.

In 2017, Prague had a record 7.6million tourists visit, which is just short of the 11 million that made the journey to Benidorm.

After having a quick recent, I found that Alicante has indirect flights to Prague for around 130€ per person and to say I’m not tempted would be a complete lie.

The climate between Prague and Alicante is so different. The endless summer in Benidorm stretches long past October, with highs of 25° and lows of 14°, comparable to the highs of 13° and lows of 6° in October in Prague. Yes, our lows are their highs! Though we do have a very similar average rainfall, only in the month of October though!

The biggest industry in the Czech Republic is the automotive industry, which came as a huge surprise to me. In the year 2012, over 174,000 cars were produced in the Czech Republic. [source: Business Info] Tourism remains the major industry in Benidorm.

The architecture in Prague is truly beautiful. Some would go so far to say they are true gems of the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque area. Unlike many European Cities, the city was not rebuilt, instead, it has remained intact. Prague is known as the City of a Hundred Spires and it’s very easy to see why. The architecture is immense and diverse.

The architecture in Benidorm is much different. Boasted with skyscrapers built in the 1960’s and 1970’s, there is a lot less history behind it. Although some are eye-sores, if you look up at some of the buildings, you can appreciate some beautiful examples of late 60’s Spanish architecture.

It appears the prices in coffee shops are very similar between Benidorm and Prague – which truly surprised me.

It was also similar how there are so many parties and events set up for stags and hens in Prague, which is very similar to the centre of Benidorm. Pub crawls and nightclub walking tours are not uncommon in the centre of Benidorm, neither are they uncommon in Prague.

Hasta luego,

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*Please note, next available date is currently July 2019.

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