It seems like only a few short days ago, I posted, excited to venture off to Central Europe and start studying abroad, yet my time in the Czech Republic has already come to close. While I spent the majority of my time in Prague, I was also able to visit a few nearby communities such as Karlstejn, and the further town, Cesky Krumlov.

Each town within the Czech Republic was unique, but in all locations, there was a central castle and the town sprung up to support the royalty that lived there. Because I am not used to seeing castles, especially not castles with centuries of history, in each one I was captivated. In these photos you see Prague Castle, Karlstejn Castle (and just one of many beautiful rooms), and Cesky Krumlov Castle (with a quick peek inside), and hopefully you enjoy the sites as much as I did.

Although the castles are beautiful, they are certainly not the only gorgeous aspect of the Czech Republic. Throughout Prague, the streets look fresh out of a fairytale: the buildings pastel stretching on for blocks at a time, a fresh breadth of life after the gray of the Pittsburgh concrete. I thought Oakland was crowded with so many buildings, and dorms; in Prague simply a space between buildings (though I don’t know if purposeful or not) becomes a tourist attraction known as The Narrowest Street in Prague. Maybe because the buildings are so close, the city is easily walkable, but also hilly and up at all hours of the night, just like Oakland.

Unlike Pittsburgh, there are churches scattered throughout the Czech Republic that are simply tourist attractions, not for services, since the Czech Republic is roughly 60% secular, as we were taught in lecture. While throughout Pittsburgh I am used to seeing many churches, they are frequently areas for people to congregate with each other, not solely stare at the buildings as we did in Prague. The buildings are both a link to the past in the Czech Republic as well as a way to admire skilled craftsmen and artists.

Prague’s culture is a bit different than Oakland. Although it may have just been the language barrier since I do not know much Czech or the exhaustion that comes with having to deal with so many tourists, but people did not seem as friendly as I am used to. At Pitt, even if people are in their own worlds, jamming to whatever song is playing in their Air Pods, you can hear people laughing and joking on the streets. In Prague, everyone kept to themselves, which you could hear in the silence of the public transport. Even though it may be quieter, once night rolls around, it is just as loud and bright as the neon signs buzz on to advertise the many bars dotting the streets.

Prague was my only adventure, I am excited to see what Krakow, Poland brings me next!