Written by Eliot Advani, (Claremont McKenna Faculty), CET Prague, Fall 2025
Two Days in Český Krumlov!
The primary program-led journey was to Český Krumlov, a ravishing city within the south of the Czech Republic with a towering palace, two bears, a ghost, plenty of beer, and 90+ Individuals (for the weekend). We have been dropped at our cozy, rustic lodges within the city heart and launched into a strolling tour of the principle city, which is surrounded by a pointy curve within the Vltava River.
At night time, we headed to a beer corridor for a conventional Czech meal with the complete program, accompanied by a vigorous Roma band that serenaded us. After dinner, we explored among the bars within the city, making an attempt to not slip on the moist cobblestones as we dashed between them. To rejuvenate the following morning, my buddies and I hiked to a small chapel on a hill overlooking the city and took within the view!
Pilsen – Dwelling of the Unique Pilsner
I’m studying within the Enterprise Core Course throughout my time in Prague, and CET organized an tour for our class to go to Pilsen this previous Friday. We discovered extra about Pilsner Urquell’s enterprise from an government on the brewing firm and toured their brewing and bottling services. It was attention-grabbing to study that Pilsner Urquell’s brewing recipe has remained the identical for 200 years, and we got pours straight from the barrels of their facility! You don’t get that on a subject journey within the U.S.
Seaside Day at Lake Mácha
Maybe you may have learn thus far and you continue to really feel that Prague is lacking one thing that Europe’s different best cities have. You’ll be flawed. After 4 hours of sleep, a thirty-minute tram, a ten-minute prepare, and a two-hour bus trip, my buddies and I arrived at a ravishing public seaside close to the northern Czech border. The climate, although barely bipolar in latest days, blessed us within the type of cloudless skies and summer time solar. We loved low-cost snacks and drinks and sunbathed for hours earlier than heading again residence for dinner!
Again to Prague – Sparta Hockey Recreation
I checked one other merchandise off of the Prague bucket checklist final week when CET provided tickets to see a Sparta Prague hockey match. I used to be stunned to enter a packed stadium on a Tuesday afternoon, however the Prague followers set a tremendous environment, and I loved the nail-biter sport with a pivo and pizza! Sparta Prague additionally has a profitable soccer staff recognized for its wild fanbase, which I’m planning to see within the Prague derby per week or two from now.
Grébovka Native Vineyard
In my final weblog submit, I shared my love of parks and talked about that I hoped to see Grébovka subsequent! Grébovka is a brief 15-minute stroll from my residence, and I lastly skilled its magnificence alongside some buddies final week. After climbing a tall stone staircase, surrounded by grapevines, we arrived at a small wine bar with a wonderful view of the town. It was very rewarding to style the candy Czech wine after per week of exhausting work! I’m spending the following two weekends in Prague, wherein I hope to search out some wet day actions because the climate will get colder and wetter!
Kraking Krakow
Our eight-day seminar started with a bus trip to Krakow, the place we launched into a strolling tour upon arrival. Town had a tremendous array of architectural kinds, with Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings, and was encircled by one among Europe’s oldest public parks. We noticed St. Mary’s Basilica, a towering church within the central sq., which performs a trumpet sound each hour in all instructions. Krakow was one among my favourite cities to discover, each on foot and by scooter, because of its massive scholar inhabitants, distinctive traditions, superb golf equipment, and pleasant individuals. On our final night time within the metropolis, we joined tons of of locals and vacationers dancing to Polish music in the principle sq.!
Ostracizing Ostrava
Ostrava was, actually, very welcoming. I simply couldn’t consider one other alliterative adjective for the title. These loopy pictures are of Dolní Vítkovice, an outdated coal mine and metal manufacturing plant, which is now an occasion venue with a restaurant on the high. Ostrava, although closely industrial, had a ravishing city heart with nice thrift shops, a cat café, and a burger spot. We climbed to the highest of the construction and discovered concerning the historical past of Ostrava’s metal manufacturing, even going contained in the outdated blast furnace to see the place the iron ore was melted by employees.
Brno Regrets
We raced via Brno, on the best way to Vienna, however managed to see two attention-grabbing enterprise hubs. The primary of those was the Ton chair manufacturing facility, wherein we noticed machines sorting and slicing wooden, and manufacturing facility employees bending the wooden to suit particular metallic clamps. It was superb to see the complete course of from begin to end, particularly for such a particular Czech model. Ever since touring the power, I’ve been noticing Ton chairs in bars, eating places, and different locations throughout Prague. We additionally received to see the small manufacturing facility for Plastic Guys, a startup creating design panels from recycled plastic. It was inspiring to see somebody so younger have success with a singular thought and assist the atmosphere.
Viennese Goals
Strolling via Vienna was like a fever dream! In all places you flip is a brand new palace, cathedral, basilica, sculpture, museum, and so forth. Town was extremely stunning, and among the finest locations in Europe to wander aimlessly. I had an unbelievable schnitzel and strudel on the program dinner, and a enjoyable night time out within the metropolis. The Volksgarden was my favourite space to walk, because it was peaceable and had superb views of the Metropolis Corridor and Volkstheater. Our subsequent Touring Seminar is in Budapest, and I’m wanting ahead to sharing some pictures of that journey quickly!
