Written by Eliot Advani, (Claremont McKenna College), CET Prague, Fall 2025
Moving In & First Impressions
Moving into the apartments on the first day was very exciting, and I have come to love the neighborhood we are in. This picture shows the colorful pastel houses of Jaurisova, but the neighborhood also has a park, soccer field, local bars and restaurants, thrift stores, and more! While the trams are incredibly convenient, it is helpful to have anything we need within walking distance.
I have been going on runs to explore the neighborhood and found this spot with an amazing view of Prague around 10 minutes from our apartment. I brought my roommates here and we watched the sunset before heading down the road for some Řízek (schnitzel) and Pilsners—what a night!
Making Friends
Having a Czech roommate has been a great way to learn about cool places in the city and to hear about the local culture. Here I am splitting a sausage with Karolina, my Czech roommate, at the Letna beer garden! The sausage was mediocre, but the beer garden had a stunning view of the city and had a live DJ who was setting a lovely vibe.
I have three other flat mates, pictured on the right photo having a chat at a local bar in the park. There is so much to do in the afternoon, but this was one of the few nights where we stayed in the neighborhood for a chill evening. So far, I have really enjoyed trying to find new places to eat and have a drink, and the prices in Prague are great!
Exploring Prague
In our first week, we did a scavenger hunt around the city and visited the Old Town, Astronomical Clock, and Charles Bridge, among many other sites. My group also ended up having a traditional Czech lunch, where I tried Guláš and Knedlíky (bread dumplings) for the first time—great success!
For our first excursion, CET took us on a boat cruise through The Vltava at sunset. Again, the Prague sunsets are unmatched, and it was beautiful to see the spires and other buildings light up as we enjoyed our luxurious dinner buffet (schnitzel again—it really doesn’t get any better than this).
I had heard that Prague was known as “the city of a hundred spires”, and it has been amazing to see this in person by exploring cathedrals and basilicas. This photo was taken after our orientation, when I walked through the Petra a Pavla Basilica and Cemetery in Vyšehrad. The twin spires were amazing to see up close, and the cemetery had uniquely beautiful tombs of many famous Czechs
I also saw the tomb of the famous Czech composer, Antonín Dvořák, in the Vyšehrad cemetery. Though I don’t often indulge in classical music, my mother encouraged me to listen to Dvořák’s work as I explore the city, and it certainly sets a nice vibe.
The famed astronomical clock! My roommate shared a legend that the creator of the clock had his eyes gauged out by the king so that he could never make such a beautiful clock again. This begs the question: If given the choice, would you rather have your hands cut off or your eyes gauged out?
One of the most relaxing ways to spend a day in Prague is by going to one of the many parks. I took the tram with some friends to visit Stromovka park. But my favorite was Letna park. Next on the list is Grébovka park, which apparently has amazing city views and a winery! Perhaps you will be fortunate enough to read about such adventures in my next blog.