This has gotta be the good life :): A weekend in Prague

Hi everyone! Sorry this post is so delayed but I have been extremely busy this week after getting back from our trip to Prague! About 35 or so of us from my group left on Thursday afternoon for the airport. We had a two hour flight to Prague, and landed there around 8pm. A bus took all of us to our hotel, which was very centrally located. After getting settled in, some of us ventured into the city to see what the nightlife was like. First of all, I am so happy and thankful you cannot smoke in bars/restaurants in MN anymore. My hair and clothes smelled like smoke all weekend from being in these places. Not fun. On Friday, we were split into 2 groups and got a guided walking tour of the city. The tour was about 3 hours, and we went to all the major points in Prague. Some of these include: Charles bridge, the astronomical clock, Old Town Square, and many more! It was a really great way to see the city and learn more about its history. After the tour, we grabbed some lunch and then had a tour of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. We learned so much history about the Castle. The architecture in Prague is amazing everywhere you look. I took plenty of pictures to show you all :) On Saturday, we had a free day to do whatever we wanted. Patrick and I walked around by Charles Bridge and made our way to the John Lennon Wall. Starting in the 1980's, people come and paint or write on the wall. It is extremely colorful and filled with lyrics from Beatles songs and other Lennon type things. It was a really cool thing to see. Saturday night, our entire group had dinner together at the oldest brewery in Prague. We had a 3 course meal of garlic soup, beef or pork, and apple strudel for dessert. The food in Prague is pretty simple but very filling. The Czech beer isn't too bad either. Sunday morning, we left our hotel for a day trip to Lidice and Terezin. Lidice is a village that was rebuilt after being completely destroyed by Hitler during the Holocaust. All 173 men over the age of 16 from Lidice were murdered, and the women and children were brought to concentration camps. There is a museum there now that we walked through. It was so upsetting to see what had happened to the people in this town. We learn about the Holocaust in school, but it's even more disheartening to see the places that these events took place. They have a memorial at the museum to honor the 82 children that were murdered in Lidice. People still come and put flowers and toys in front of the statues. After the Lidice memorial, we drove to Terezin. Terezin was used as a Jewish ghetto during World War II. It wasn't an extermination camp, but the poor conditions of the ghetto led to about 33,000 deaths. It was sickening to hear how these people were treated and see where they slept and stayed during this time. We also went to the Crematorium, the Ghetto museum, and Maddeburgh Barracks. I learned so much more about the Holocaust that day and actually got to be in the places that so many people suffered. It was a very moving experience, and of course it was cloudy and raining the entire day! We headed back to the airport after a long and somber day. I didn't get back home in London until 1am, so I have been very tired this week.

Tuesday evening about 20 of us went and saw Les Miserables. I have seen this show multiple times but I think this time was my favorite! The music was amazing as usual and the actors did a really great job throughout the entire show.

Tomorrow, we are going on an overnight trip to go see Bath and Stonehenge. Seems like we are always off somewhere new every week :) I've gotten used to that lifestyle though. Today marks one more month until I come home! It's a very bittersweet feeling. I am loving the time I have spent here, but am beyond excited to get home and see my family and friends (and eat better food!!)

I miss all of you and am very sad I won't be home this year for Thanksgiving. This month will fly by :)

Here are some picture of my trip to Prague! Enjoy :)