Written by Eliot Advani, (Claremont McKenna College), CET Prague, Fall 2025
Two Days in Český Krumlov!
The first program-led trip was to Český Krumlov, a beautiful town in the south of the Czech Republic with a towering palace, two bears, a ghost, lots of beer, and 90+ Americans (for the weekend). We were dropped at our cozy, rustic hotels in the town center and embarked on a walking tour of the main town, which is surrounded by a sharp curve in the Vltava River.
At night, we headed to a beer hall for a traditional Czech meal with the entire program, accompanied by a lively Roma band that serenaded us. After dinner, we explored some of the bars in the town, trying not to slip on the wet cobblestones as we dashed between them. To rejuvenate the next morning, my friends and I hiked to a small chapel on a hill overlooking the town and took in the view!
Pilsen – Home of the Original Pilsner
I am learning in the Business Core Course during my time in Prague, and CET organized an excursion for our class to visit Pilsen this past Friday. We learned more about Pilsner Urquell’s business from an executive at the brewing company and toured their brewing and bottling facilities. It was interesting to learn that Pilsner Urquell’s brewing recipe has remained the same for 200 years, and we were given pours straight from the barrels in their facility! You don’t get that on a field trip in the U.S.
Beach Day at Lake Mácha
Perhaps you have read to this point and you still feel that Prague is missing something that Europe’s other greatest cities have. You would be wrong. After 4 hours of sleep, a thirty-minute tram, a ten-minute train, and a two-hour bus ride, my friends and I arrived at a beautiful public beach near the northern Czech border. The weather, though slightly bipolar in recent days, blessed us in the form of cloudless skies and summer sun. We enjoyed cheap snacks and drinks and sunbathed for hours before heading back home for dinner!
Back to Prague – Sparta Hockey Game
I checked another item off of the Prague bucket list last week when CET offered tickets to see a Sparta Prague hockey match. I was surprised to enter a packed stadium on a Tuesday afternoon, but the Prague fans set an amazing atmosphere, and I enjoyed the nail-biter game with a pivo and pizza! Sparta Prague also has a successful soccer team known for its wild fanbase, which I am planning to see in the Prague derby a week or two from now.
Grébovka Local Winery
In my last blog post, I shared my love of parks and mentioned that I hoped to see Grébovka next! Grébovka is a short 15-minute walk from my apartment, and I finally experienced its magnificence alongside some friends last week. After climbing a tall stone staircase, surrounded by grapevines, we arrived at a small wine bar with a glorious view of the city. It was very rewarding to taste the sweet Czech wine after a week of hard work! I am spending the next two weekends in Prague, in which I hope to find some rainy day activities as the weather gets colder and wetter!
Kraking Krakow
Our eight-day seminar began with a bus ride to Krakow, where we embarked on a walking tour upon arrival. The city had an amazing array of architectural styles, with Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings, and was encircled by one of Europe’s oldest public parks. We saw St. Mary’s Basilica, a towering church in the central square, which plays a trumpet sound every hour in all directions. Krakow was one of my favorite cities to explore, both on foot and by scooter, thanks to its large student population, unique traditions, amazing clubs, and friendly people. On our last night in the city, we joined hundreds of locals and tourists dancing to Polish music in the main square!
Ostracizing Ostrava
Ostrava was, in fact, very welcoming. I just couldn’t think of another alliterative adjective for the title. These crazy photos are of Dolní Vítkovice, an old coal mine and steel production plant, which is now an event venue with a restaurant at the top. Ostrava, though heavily industrial, had a beautiful town center with great thrift stores, a cat café, and a burger spot. We climbed to the top of the structure and learned about the history of Ostrava’s steel production, even going inside the old blast furnace to see where the iron ore was melted by workers.
Brno Regrets
We raced through Brno, on the way to Vienna, but managed to see two interesting business hubs. The first of these was the Ton chair factory, in which we saw machines sorting and cutting wood, and factory workers bending the wood to fit special metal clamps. It was amazing to see the entire process from start to finish, especially for such a special Czech brand. Ever since touring the facility, I have been noticing Ton chairs in bars, restaurants, and other places all around Prague. We also got to see the small production facility for Plastic Guys, a startup creating design panels from recycled plastic. It was inspiring to see someone so young have success with a unique idea and help the environment.
Viennese Dreams
Walking through Vienna was like a fever dream! Everywhere you turn is a new palace, cathedral, basilica, sculpture, museum, etc. The city was incredibly beautiful, and one of the best places in Europe to wander aimlessly. I had an incredible schnitzel and strudel at the program dinner, and a fun night out in the city. The Volksgarden was my favorite area to stroll, as it was peaceful and had amazing views of the City Hall and Volkstheater. Our next Traveling Seminar is in Budapest, and I am looking forward to sharing some photos of that trip soon!