TRAVEL NOTES: Pups of Prague & Berlin 🇨🇿 🇩🇪

We just got back from a day 10 day trip to Prague and Berlin, feeling like our cup has been filled again and also happy to be back with our pup, Eddie. We were there for a comedy festival but had the opportunity to experience and enjoy so much of the history and culture both of these places have to offer. And, to be honest, it was nice to take a break from being in the U.S. and feeling like you’re in a pressure cooker.

We went into this trip without much of an itinerary, which is such a welcomed way to travel. As a result, we spent so much time walking and taking in the sites during our first couple of days in Prague. The city is so stunning that all it really requires is some comfortable shoes and a cafe table to enjoy a Pilsner Urquell. Since we didn’t have a particular agenda, we were able to take our time and balance some tourist attractions with general life in the city. Our second full day there, our only mission was to walk around and follow whatever interested us. As result, we got to see more of people’s day to day life in the city (with their dogs!). One of the things we noticed a few years ago when we traveled to Amsterdam was how common and seemingly safe it was to walk your dog without a leash on sidewalks and in parks. We found this to be true in both Prague and Berlin as well. To our American eye, the pups seemed so well adjusted and blended seamlessly into our human built world. When we found ourselves walking into a local shopping mall, we were pleasantly surprised to see dogs there too and a little jealous we couldn’t do the same at home.

Our experience of Berlin was similar but taken up a notch. On our first day there we noticed a dog taking the subway on our way to a walking tour. We asked our tour guide if Berlin was a dog friendly city and he jokingly replied “Oh yes. It’s practically illegal not to have one. When you go to a cafe without your dog, you show a picture just to let them know you have one but left them at home”. This is sort of my dream scenario?

During our time at the comedy festival, we were staying in an Airbnb in a neighborhood outside of the typical tourist area and it was honestly so fun to get a taste for what it might be like to live there. The city (or at least the areas we spent time in) seemed like a Gen Z and Millennial haven with their dogs of all sizes. There were so many small parks and small street sections just for pedestrians. It was a reminder of how well pedestrian focused cities foster a sense of community and connection. One of the parks we went to was previously a military airport and runway which meant, it was HUGE. We walked over there early on Friday evening and people were out with their dogs, kids were playing on playgrounds, people were picnicking with friends, biking on the paths and just soaking up some of the end of Summer sunshine. On Saturday morning, we walked to a coffee shop and sat and watched a parade of sweet pups and their humans ordering coffee and meeting up with friends. Again… dream scenario!

Spending time outside of the States without regular access to the internet was also a good reminder of how much easier my mind can process information without the constant hum of having my phone nearby. Checking the news, social media and email less allowed my mind to digest and take a break from consuming information - especially when so much of it is outside of my control. Now that we’re back home, I’m hoping I can keep spending more time with my dog and less time on my phone. And, more time out in our community. The way our U.S. cities are designed, it seems like it was only inevitable that we’re in such a mindset right now of “what’s mine isn’t yours”. It takes a concerted effort not to isolate ourselves when community is so vital right now. Keep trying to show up in your community and spending time with your neighbors. We can take care of each other and the things we care about.

P.S. The comedy festival was really fun!

Sending you warm wags from Minnesota,

Natalie