Two weeks. Two weeks from today I will be back in Nebraska and this wonderful, fairy tale, European vacation will be over. I can't believe how fast it's gone by. We just got back from our last group field trip yesterday, and I'm not going to lie there were recorded tears shed (Not by me but by some other people...*cough*Katie and Ann*cough*cough**). The emotions running through me are so mixed I don't even know how to explain them. There's part of me that never wants to leave Olomouc, then there's the part of me that can't wait to get home, but then I snap back and think I shouldn't be wishing to go home because soon I will wish I was back in Europe. Ugghh...all of these conflicting emotions! Well since it was our last group field trip I'll give you a quick low-down of what we did.
On Tuesday we all packed into our customary coach tour bus and headed for Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. Kutna Hora used to be a very wealthy town as it was a major mining location of silver. We made a few stops along the way but eventually ended up at a very nice hotel in Kutna Hora just in time to do a little exploring, take a little nap, have some supper and finish up some homework. While we were exploring we went into a wine shop and tasted some great wine and tried to carry on a conversation with an old man that owned the place and spoke almost no English. It was interesting to say the least, but he was very sweet and very hospitable. Then next morning in Kutna Hora we headed to Saint Barbara's Cathedral. It was pretty cool but once you've seen cathedrals like the one in Prague it's not quite as impressive.
This is Katie and I on the roof of our hotel in Kutna Hora. Yep we managed to climb out of our window and have some fun on the roof.
This could be my favorite picture of the whole trip (minus how awful my hair and everything looks). If you don't know these guys, they are our Czech professors/trip organizers/Dr. Clark's accomplices. The guy on the left is Jan and on the right is Martin. They are by far two for the coolest and nicest guys you will ever meet. I do feel kind of guilty, even though I never had to go to the hospital/doctor, our group this year has put these guys through a lot. There's been multiple face plants on the cobblestone (Laura and Jed), an allergic reaction that ended up taking six hours in a Polish hospital (Abby), eye infections (Katie), bronchitis (Lisa), and much much more. I'm sure they probably just want to get rid of us infectious, loud, pain-in-the-butt Americans.
Once we left Kutna Hora we stopped in Ceske Budejovice at the Budweiser Budvar Brewery. Other than the freak downpour we experienced, the tour was great. We even got to sample some of the brewery's famous beer.
Thea, Lisa and I having our samples. (I'm not a huge fan of beer but you can't say no to free beer samples!)
After the brewery tour we hopped in our coach bus and headed to Cesky Krumlov. My overall impression of Cesky Krumlov is that it's a smaller version of Prague. It's touristy but I don't think it's as bad as Prague, and it kind of has a more smaller-village type feel to it. Upon arrival we had the remainder of the day to explore. The next day we were up early to head to tour the castle and theater.
Thea, Elin, Katie, Lisa and I of the civilian bridge that connects the palace to the theater. Once you side-stepped the fact that it was freezing outside the view was amazing.
We weren't allowed to take pictures in the palace but our tour guide was great and very informative. The theater was also remarkable. They obviously didn't have the technology we have now but they still managed to have very impressive special effects.
After the castle and theater we went and had a great lunch with Jan, Martin and Dr. Clark and then had a free day the rest of the day until we all met up for supper.
Our last supper all together was bitter-sweet. We had a great time talking, drinking, and reminiscing on experiences we had on this trip. Then at one point during supper we all gathered around while Ann, Thea, Laura, Caleb, and Tara read off the awards they gave to each person on the trip. Some of them were very hilarious, and it was another one of my favorite parts of this trip.
Lisa, Katie, and I on our last night out as a whole group. :(
After we had supper we had a great time sitting around, drinking and just really enjoying the last night we had together. Some of the group even made it to see another sunset...not me I need my sleep.
Of course in the morning nothing cures being dirty, tired, and sad the trip is almost over like an ice cream bar and candy. Katie and I had a breakfast of champions that's for sure.
We are back in Olomouc now. Studying my last weekend away in order to prepare for Dr. Clark's much dreaded, hard, Central European final on Monday. Then Monday night Dr. Clark has prepared a 10 pub bar craw for the group to participate in for extra credit if they wish. Now that's the kind of extra credit I never complain about doing. Then Tuesday Katie, Katie's family (who just arrived in Europe), Abby and I all head to Dublin, Ireland to start our last week of travels before we head back to the states. The days are most definitely flying and soon you'll be back to reading a boring Nebraskan blog. Until then stay tuned for how finals end up, our adventures in Dublin and London, and the sad day when I fly back home.
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