Written by Megan Massey, (Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts) Student Correspondent Film Production at FAMU, Spring 2019
Some of my favorite things about CET are the activities that are available! My favorite by far has been the CET organized trip to Cesky Krumlov. Cesky Krumlov is one of the most visited cities in the Czech Republic (after Prague, which is the top tourist city). Our weekend away began two and a half weeks after landing in Prague and is still one of my favorites. Cesky Krumlov is a small city south of Prague that surrounds a 13th century castle. The central part of the city can be explored in a day with lots of shops, food, and beautiful buildings.
The trip was organized for all CET students which was great for getting to know each other and for spending time with students outside our area of study. We left for our journey at 9:30AM on Friday, February 1st. After a short bus ride of about two and a half hours, we arrived in Cesky Krumlov and dropped off our bags in the hotel so we could explore! I went with a group of students to go find lunch. There are a number of places to pick from and we went for Czech food!
Afterwards, we had a little time to walk around and then we broke up into groups for our tour, which was fascinating! Cesky Krumlov has so much history and the buildings are beautiful. We learned the history of the castle; one of my favorite facts was the use of the bear moat to surround the castle. There is currently a bear there (although it was hibernating when we visited)! Once the tour ended, we were free to roam again and this time my friends and I visited Non Solo Caffe where I had amazing hot chocolate which was like drinking liquid chocolate chips and was decorated with foam in the shape of a cute snowman. Dinner was organized through CET at Hostinec Depo that included a live band and soup, a main meal, and dessert! After a long day, my friends and I found ourselves back at the hotel and playing cards, getting ready for another fun day!
Day 2 of the trip was up to us! CET recommended a few museums and activities and my friends and I woke up early to see the castle. The tickets for the castle museum and the tower are fairly inexpensive and definitely worth it! The museum is on the smaller side but is filled with items that have been around for centuries.
After the museum, the tower is a must! The stairs can be rough (there are so many!) but the view is worth it. The tower offers a view of the entire city that is incredible. If it wasn’t so cold, I could have stayed up there all day taking it in. When we were done, my friends and I climbed down to explore the city more and sit by the water. After a quick bite of lunch, it was time to go back to Prague.
Cesky Krumlov was truly amazing. The city feels small but has so many sights, shops, and food to try! I’m really grateful for the experience. It was a nice way to get to know other students and a fun trip for our first travel as a group! Prague is also beautiful with a number of things to do, but it was wonderful spending time in a different city in the Czech Republic to further immerse ourselves in the culture.
The more I get to know the Czech Republic, the more I love it!
