Well, what an amazing first week in the Czech Republic or, as the locals say and the Australians mispronounce, good old Ceska.
We’ve managed to cover a lot in our first days in this quirky country - too much to include in one go!
Seeing as we’ve spent most of the first week on the various human rights enshrined within international conventions, I’ll stick with describing how some of the basic needs for human life work here.
FOOD
Food here is a number of things. Filling. Warming. Potato-tastic. It is also DIRT CHEAP and I doubt I will ever get over being able to dine out in a fine restaurant with gorgeous views for under AUD 20.00, including drinks and dessert. Fancy a scoop or three of gelato? That’ll be AUD 1.20 please. A slab of steak? A handful of crowns will see you through. And don’t even get me started on the pivo (beer). Not only is it high quality pilsner, but it’s also all of AUD 1.00 a glass in most places. Sometimes it’s as little as 25 cents. I’m not a beer person but I’d be willing to convert for that price.
Typical meal at the cafeteria - Goulash with potato dumplings
Stepping out of the frosty air into a warm café for a spot of hot chocolate so thick it has to be eaten with a spoon is, no lie, one of the biggest highlights of my day.
That, and visiting Billa, the local supermarket chain that sits across the street from our residence. From Hello Kitty ice cream to Hannah Montana non-alcoholic wine, Billa has all your essentials covered. It’s pretty much become our local and we frequent it at least once a day.
Baby bear apricot cake. The weirder it is, the more compelled you are to buy it and try it.
Italian is big here. As an alternative to the traditional meat and potato dishes that still retains a high level of warming carbohydrates, it makes sense. But it soon became our mission
to find a non-Italian place after eating risotto and ravioli for dinner every night. Not to hate on the pasta though, it’s all delicious - gnocchi’s on every menu to the delight of many.
Success! Happy Chinese New Year!
SHELTER
Living in a university dorm seems to have thrown up a mixed bag of experiences amongst those participating, especially those rooming with an actual student of Masaryk University. I have been more than blessed, however, with my lovely Serbian room mate, Ana, who frequently shares her cake, fridge, excellent English and knowledge of good places to eat in Brno with me.
View from my room of my first night in Brno
On a broader level, the architectural landscape of both this city and Prague, which we visited over the weekend (!) is consistently stunning. 15th Century baroque and neo-renaissance cathedrals seem to be as carelessly scattered throughout Europe as RSL’s are back home. St Petrov’s Cathedral in the midst of Brno, with it’s sky high spires and panoramic view of the entire city, is a typical example of the astonishing buildings you can expect to see on an everyday skyline. Same goes for ornate metalwork and gold leafing on balconies, marbled facades for any one of the six or so major theatres and generally complementary colour scheme that all the buildings in Brno seem to have going on.
The view of Brno from the top of St Petrov’s Church. Note the red nose.
Tradition vs. modernity in Freedom Square
Beautiful Brno
A place where we spend a fair amount of time is room 038 in the law faculty of Masaryk University. The building is gorgeous, open and lit by a lot of sunlight which glances off the white marble and wood that makes up a lot of its interior and exterior. It feels a bit like a UN building. Apparently it was used by the Gestapo during the Communist regime.
WARMTH
It’s generally agreed that the weather here has been ridiculously mild for what is supposed to be the depths of European winter. We’ve been lucky enough to have blue skies and sun for most of our time, save one episode of rain and driving, wet, sideways blowing snow in Prague during a four hour walking tour. There have been a few magical bouts of falling snow in Brno but they never seem to last long - the quest to craft a snowman still remains.
LOVE
Everyone on this course, without exception, is lovely. Our tutors, co-ordinators and guest speakers have so far been endearingly enthusiastic about their respective areas of expertise. One of them even claps his hands a little bit when he gets really excited. There have been plenty of scheduled and spontaneous group dinners and activities and new friendships have become Facebook official. Whatever reservations anyone had were quickly tossed aside during group cocktails and other bubbly filled, strobe-lit outings in Brno and Prague. After readings had been finished, of course.
Outside St Vitus Cathedral in Prague
Loving the shopping at the moment. Everything’s on sale and most people have purchased at least one or two new items for their travel wardrobes. Shoes were a big one after some pairs got wet in the crazy Prague snow. Dresses for an operatic ballet were another good excuse to trawl through Zara and H&M. It’s safe to say that we’re quite a sartorially splendid crew at the moment.
Most of all, loving the essence of travel. New people, new places, new words, new knowledge and new experiences. And by the end of it, new you.
Czech-ing in again soon,
Jam..
The Gang (from right to left): Cass - Human Dustbin, Martin - they call him Él Crappo, Mel - The Muso, Brooke - Queen B, Hannah - Michael Jackson's adorable love child, Evette - Xena Warrior Princess, Bec- SingStar, Callie - ¡DANZA KUDURO!
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