Footsteps

After being rejected by Will, I knew it would be a tough sell. Framed by the doorway, I adjusted my camera-filled backpack and awkwardly peeked in at Helen. My charismatic hands accompanied my spiel:
“Hey, I know this sounds crazy, but I’m gonna go try and get some night shots of Prague… are you doing anything?”
“NOW?”
“Yeah…”
Before she could answer, her cell phone rang. My roommate, Will, was calling her from down the hall. When it became apparent that the evening’s supermarket-bought absinthe plans were falling to pieces, she agreed to come. Not only that, but she convinced Will to come as well. ‘Perfect,’ I smiled to myself. I feel at home with Will and Helen.

We walked through the heavy glass doors into a stiff rush of icy air. After a brief discussion of destinations, we decided on Prague Castle. It would be closed, but at least that area would offer one hell of a view of the city.

We walked for fifteen odd minutes through the labyrinth of antique streets and arrived at the castle. A golden arch over the gate made it appear closed from afar. As we neared the castle, Helen said, “I think it’s open!” My heart leapt to my eyes for a closer look. It did seem open.

“Oh my God…” Helen said as we approached the violent statues of battling titans beside the gate. I peered forward to a Czech guard, clad in dark green camouflage and a black beret. I listened; the only ones there were our footsteps and the guard. As we advanced on the guard, I gave a slight head nod. He subtly nodded back at me as if to say, “It is all yours.” As we walked under the baroque arch, he traversed our path as if he were closing an invisible gate behind us, sealing the rest of the world out… and sealing us in. We walked through the stone courtyard and craned our necks up at St. Vitus’s Cathedral.

There are precious few times in one’s life when one becomes truly stricken with awe. I myself had had two such experiences. This made three.

The dimly lit cathedral reached towards the heavens. The illumination at its base tapered with the steeples to points barely visible to the naked eye. Gargoyles peeled away from the jutting cathedral. They were perched at the ready, straining to keep watch over Prague.

A guard walked from one post to another and paused. The silence was complete. It was a perfectly tranquil moment. We continued to orbit the cathedral, pursued only by echoes of our own footsteps.

It was a unforgettable trip to say the least. The moonstruck, spontaneous, algid journey is sure to be one of my favorite memories of the Czech Republic.