Written by Lily Duquette, (Macalester College), Student Correspondent for CET Prague, Fall 2021
The views from Náplavka, a popular riverfront walk situated on the Vltava River, are stunning, especially at sunset. The river splits Prague in half and it is a popular destination for all sorts of people—locals and tourists alike. This was one of the first places I visited in Prague and is now a favorite of mine! It’s a great place to relax and spend a couple of hours talking with friends.
While hanging out by the river, I made a new friend! There are swans and ducks of all shapes and sizes that line the edges of the Vltava River, just waiting for someone to give them scraps of food. Although I didn’t have any food with me, this swan seemed particularly interested in my shoes…
While on a Sunday stroll during our first week, a friend and I watched a group of dancers perform in the gardens of the Petřín Tower. The tower sits on top of a hill and served as a lookout tower for quite a while, although it now functions as a tourist attraction. Oftentimes people refer to it as “a small version of the Eiffel Tower.”
In an effort to spruce up our apartment, my friends and I stopped at Květiny, a small outdoor market, about two blocks down from our building to buy some flowers. We’re located in the neighborhood of Nové Město, or New Town, which is full of restaurants, bars, and fun little markets like this!
On our way to a cafe and bar located in the Prague Creative Center, we walked through Old Town Square, which is often thought of as the heart of Prague. In the background, you can see both the Old Town Hall, as well as the Marian Column that was reconstructed in August of 2020 after being demolished in 1918.
A week and a half into our program, CET took us on an overnight trip to Český Krumlov, which is a small town in the southern region of the Czech Republic. One of its most popular attractions is the Český Krumlov Castle that overlooks the rest of the town. This photo was taken from the castle walls, looking down at the Vltava River. It’s pretty common to see all kinds of boats and tours floating down the river and we got to try our hand at rafting down it the next day!
During our free time in Český Krumlov, we wandered the cobbled streets looking for fun, hidden opportunities. We came upon a musical trio set up in the middle of a square, with quite the crowd surrounding them. Although I didn’t recognize most of the music, I did hear one familiar song—“The Wayfaring Stranger.”
While still on the lookout for things to do in the small, southern town, we discovered a concert of traditional Jewish music, performed by the Šarbilach Orchestra. The orchestra was founded in 2002 and aims to promote an appreciation for Jewish culture. The concert was absolutely beautiful and, even though I wasn’t able to understand the spoken descriptions of each piece, the music stood very well on its own.
Back in Prague, my friends and I love to try out new restaurants and cafes each week. Pictured is a recent brunch we ate at a coffee shop called Mama Coffee. The food was perfect for a cloudy morning and I have a feeling it’ll become a favorite among all of us.
A friend and fellow CET student recently had a birthday, so our whole group went out to a rooftop restaurant called T-Anker to celebrate. The views were amazing and, as the sun went down, we were able to see the moon rise over Prague!
On a CET-sponsored Jewish walking tour of Prague, we stopped at the Old Jewish Cemetery, which is home to hundreds of graves. While it was in use for centuries, it is now operated by the Jewish Museum in Prague as a historical monument. Rabbi Avigdor Kara’s tombstone is the oldest in the cemetery, dated 1439.