May in Review: Prague Living, British Explorations, and a Packed Cultural Calendar

Travel writer and digital nomad Kate has released her monthly review for May, highlighting an extensive itinerary split between her home base in Prague and a six-day excursion to the United Kingdom. The month combined local gastronomy, historical explorations, and notable cultural engagements, alongside personal milestones and minor travel setbacks.

The dual-country month underscored the logistical realities of contemporary expatriate life, juxtaposing the structural predictability of Central European city living with the high-energy eccentricity of traditional British events.

Prague Spring and Local Festivities

The month began and largely unfolded in Prague, a city Kate has frequently cited as a preferred European destination during the spring months. Prague in May offered an array of seasonal activities, ranging from urban hiking to specialized culinary events.

Among the local highlights was a specialized fermented and spicy foods festival held in the Holešovice district. The event showcased artisanal products from local makers, drawing regional culinary enthusiasts. Alongside the festival, annual dining traditions were maintained with a visit to El Camino, a prominent local dining establishment specializing in contemporary interpretations of Spanish tapas.

Outdoor excursions served as a significant component of the Prague residency. Two primary hiking routes were completed during the month:

• Velká Amerika: Located near Karlštejn Castle, this geographical feature—often referred to locally as the "Czech Grand Canyon"—presents a deep limestone quarry filled with turquoise water.
• Divoká Šárka: Situated within the Prague municipal boundaries near the airport, this nature reserve offers extensive trail networks utilized for urban trekking.

The United Kingdom Excursion: Cotswolds, Bristol, and Cheese-Rolling

Departing from her routine visits to London, where partner Charlie frequently visits family, the couple dedicated six days to exploring the southwestern and western regions of England. This itinerary encompassed three primary focal points: the Cotswolds region, the city of Bristol, and the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling event.

Architectural and Cultural Stops in the Cotswolds

The journey commenced in the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty characterized by honey-colored Jurassic limestone architecture and rural landscapes. Specific localities visited included Bourton-on-the-Water, noted for its low bridges and riparian commercial establishments; The Slaughters, which provided a pedestrian connection between Lower and Upper Slaughter via a pastoral walking route; and Cirencester, functioning as a historical market town within the broader tourist corridor.

Culinary Distinction in Bristol

Transitioning to Bristol, the travelers engaged with the city’s youth-oriented, arts-driven culture, noting extensive public street art and iconic civil engineering landmarks such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The notable culinary experience of the trip occurred at Wilson’s, a Michelin-starred establishment located in Bristol. The restaurant, previously featured in media productions such as the Apple TV+ series Knife Edge, served a seven-course tasting menu priced at approximately 78 British Pounds. Reviewers and patrons have consistently highlighted the establishment for its exceptional value relative to industry price points for Michelin-recognized dining.

The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling Spectacle

The primary catalyst for the United Kingdom trip was attendance at the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, an annual event held near Gloucester. The tradition involves participants chasing a nine-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a steep gradient incline. While the event was attended successfully and documented as a spectacle, logistical safety considerations indicate it is unlikely to be repeated by the travelers.

In conjunction with the regional travels, related cultural milestones included local celebrations surrounding Arsenal Football Club securing the Premier League title for the first time in 22 seasons, prompting an extended stay for celebratory parades.

Logistical Challenges and Health Scares

The month featured several operational hurdles, most notably concerning domestic pet health and regional infrastructure evaluations.

A veterinary health scare involving Murray, a pet cat exhibiting lethargy and tachypnea (rapid breathing), prompted an immediate medical evaluation. Following diagnostic procedures including comprehensive blood work, two ultrasound examinations, and two radiographic evaluations, no pathological conditions were identified, and the symptoms were attributed to minor environmental overheating.

The incident facilitated a transition to a new 24-hour veterinary facility featuring an English-speaking staff, mitigating previous language barriers encountered at nearby local clinics and long wait times at specialized feline medical centers.

In contrast, urban exploration in the city of Gloucester proved less favorable. Despite the historical significance of Gloucester Cathedral, the surrounding municipality received critical reviews regarding urban aesthetic conditions and overall visitor value, leading to a recommendation for travelers to utilize nearby Cheltenham as an alternative regional base.

Literary, Musical, and Media Consumptions

Cultural engagement throughout May extended across literature, music critique, and media analysis.

Literary Focus: Memoir Analysis

Reading materials centered on Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage (2025) by Belle Burden. The autobiographical work details the dissolution of a high-net-worth marriage, focusing on financial management disparities, systemic legal challenges within divorce proceedings, and socio-economic vulnerabilities experienced by non-working spouses. The narrative served as a cautionary commentary regarding financial literacy and autonomy within domestic partnerships.

Music Review Project: Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums

The ongoing personal project to listen through Rolling Stone magazine’s canonical list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time progressed through entries 68 to 51.

• Key Discoveries: David Bowie’s Station to Station was highlighted for its synthesis of 1970s rock and dance rhythms, alongside notable critical appraisals of albums by Steely Dan (Aja), Kate Bush (Hounds of Love), Outkast (Stankonia), and Van Morrison (Astral Weeks).
• Revisited Works: Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon was re-evaluated, noting its thematic continuity and complex time signatures, alongside Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book.
• Critiques: James Brown’s Star Time compilation was critiqued for its extensive runtime of nearly five hours, which challenged standard listening project parameters. Observations were also noted regarding structural gender representation gaps within the assigned list rankings between entries 56 and 33.

Outlook for June

Preparations for June involve a transatlantic return to the United States for an extended family visit, focusing primarily on Massachusetts and New York. To avoid previous patterns of over-scheduling, the itinerary emphasizes local recreation, coastal environments, and regional culinary traditions such as New England seafood.

Planned recreational activities include endurance walking itineraries, specifically tracing the Emerald Necklace park system in Boston and navigating the complete length of Broadway in Manhattan. The month will conclude in Prague with attendance at a live performance by recording artist Ricky Martin.