One of the many benefits of the Czech Republic study abroad program is the opportunity of field trips and being able to travel to different parts of countries to also further our knowledge of them. This past weekend as a class we traveled to Prague, Czech Republic and Dresden Germany. I had already spent a weekend in Prague before the program started so I was interested in to see if anything seemed different and to see the different parts of Prague that I missed on my previous stay. This last trip we stayed in a hostel right in the center of Prague. It was a short walk from our hostel to Wenceslas Square (the new town square). During this visit, there were many colorful decorations and booths set up in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square to celebrate Easter. One fun fact that we learned for Martin was that men used to gently beat women with sticks to receive candy during the Easter holidays.
Our first day in Prague (Thursday, March 26th) we toured New Town Prague, Old Town
Prague, Charles Bridge and the John Lennon wall. Charles Bridge is a famous bridge in Prague that crosses the Vltava River. It used to be the only solid connection between the Prague Castle and Old Town Prague. The bridge was beautifully made and has amazing views of Prague and the river. The John Lennon was started as a symbol of hope and peace during the communist period.
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| The John Lennon Wall |
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| View form the top of the Petrin Lookout Tower |
The next day (Friday, March 27th) we visited the Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) and the St. Vitus Cathedral. After visiting those, a small group of us decided to trek up the streets of Prague and go climb the Petřín Lookout Tower. The walk up the tower was scary (coming from someone who is afraid of heights). Although the walk up and down were freighting for me, the view at the top was way worth it! I never really realized how big and spectacular Prague was until I reached the top and looked outward.
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| Frauenkirche Church |
The third day of our field trip (Satuday, March 28th) we took a train to Dresden, Germany. Dresden was bombed by the U.S. during WWII. While in Dresden, we visited the Frauenkirche Lutheran Church that was bombed and mostly destroyed during the war. There was only one corner still standing from it. While in Dresden we also walked past the Opera House and then had the choice of visiting the Historical Art Gallery or The Historical Museum of Saxony.
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| Names of the Jews who died on the walls of the Synagogue |
On the last day of the field trip (Sunday, March 29th), we explored the Jewish Quarters of Old Town Prague. The Jewish Quarters is where all of the Jews were kept during WWII. During that time there were around 115,000 Jews kept there and 85,000 of them were killed. To honor all of those who were killed during that time, the names of those who lost their lives are written all over the walls of the old synagogue. It was interesting to visit the Jewish Quarters, but was also very depressing to read and view the suffering that they went through. Overall, this field trip taught me even more about the history of WWII and the Czech Republic and also makes me realize how much more I should appreciate my life, even the little things and how I have been blessed to live my life.
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