The Time Has Come for You to Travel on Your Own

This is where we part ways and you take all of the valuable information I've given to you and put it to good use. I wish I could tag along but I've had my fun and now it's your turn. Some final words of advice and suggestions...

Just have fun, try not to worry too much about logistics and your budget, save money but have a good time and relax. Don't be afraid to meet new people or step out of your comfort zone. Be respectful of each countries' culture. Keep a journal! Save your tickets and maps (you can make a map collage in your room when you get home!). People watch. Try new food and drinks. Get lost and don't use a map, ask people around you for directions. Try to pick up a new language. See a movie and a concert. Rent a paddle boat on a river. Find at least one park in each city to take a break in. Enjoy.

May I Also Suggest...

Ireland
Spain
Germany
The Netherlands
Greece
Switzerland
Morocco
Turkey

Na shledanou! Au Revoir! Ciao! Good bye!

Cross Club

Since this is a study abroad blog for students, and I've failed to focus on the night life in most of the cities I've discussed, I'm going to go into detail about one of my favorite clubs from Prague: Cross Club.


Cross Club, a very eclectic club located in Prague 7, was originally a very exclusive underground club with a “friends only” policy. The club only emerged from the underground scene when in 2004 it finally obtained all its permits and licenses from Prague’s bureaucrats. What makes this club so appealing is the constantly changing design of the interior and the wide variety of entertainment it offers. While it can be argued that if you are a strong supporter of alternative culture Cross Club is your perfect venue. However the variety of entertainment and the unique design also offer something to those who are not so alternatively inclined.

The variety of entertainment the club has to offer is what makes Cross Club such a desirable venue. Not only does the club host bands and DJs from all over the world but they also offer performances from experimental theater, poetry readings, exhibitions, and project Ghettolledge. Ghettolledge I found particularly interesting because this is also known as a street university where professors and recognized experts lecture on various subjects. What makes this club so popular is that it gives the customers choices. Rather than having a certain band or speaker forced upon them as their only option Cross Club offers a variety of choices that meet the wants of a diverse clientele. In order to keep up with Prague’s varying interest in music the club also offers a variety of music styles. These styles include ska, punk, world music, and various forms of techno, rave, and reggae.

Much like Prague’s alternative culture scene the design of Cross Club is always changing and gives it a very lively feel. It is this constant change in design that gives the club its distinct atmosphere. While the overall look and design of the club has changed significantly the original design of the club can be seen in the upstairs bar area. Here the lounge area, with foosball room, and cozy seating area still serves as the perfect place for students to relax. However, the club also serves as an exhibition space for a multitude of unique designs and inventions. Most of these designs emit light and give the club its distinctive look. What is just as interesting about these light fixtures is that an electrician who has never taken any art or design courses designed them.

The club’s manager originally asked Frantisek “Fanda” Chmelik to install basic wiring for the club and instead Fanda unleashed his creativity on the space. Chmelik created various contraptions that resemble machinery and lights that he often incorporated into murals or mosaics. It is almost as if the inner workings of his chaotic mind have manifested themselves in the different designs of each room. The bar utilizes the shapes of church-organ pipes for it’s general design. In the next room over the pipes are inverted and become miniature wall-mounted tables, which are also equipped with a single pipe that provides just enough light to illuminate the ashtray. Throughout the club Chmelik reinvents various objects to use as centerpieces or to mount on the walls. Overall the club has a very futuristic and organic feel to it. Because Chemelik has been a part of Cross Club from its inception he has been able to work in an environment of absolute creative freedom. It is also important to note that the area in which Cross Club is located used to be part of Prague’s industrial district, and therefore the mechanical design of the venue compliments the building’s history.

Ultimately Cross Club is a favorite of the Prague nightlife scene because it has shed its veil of exclusivity and caters to locals and tourists alike. There is something for everyone to enjoy at Cross Club and I will definitely take any of my friends who are visiting Prague to Cross Club.

Prague

Prague is an amazing city with so many things to offer. Prague is one of the few cities, formerly under the rule of the Communist regime, that has made an incredible come back. The city is now one of Europe's top destinations for travelers and study abroad students alike. Prague has incredible history, architecture, culture, food, and entertainment.

Luckily for you the Czech Republic still uses the Czech Koruna which comes out to 18.99 koruna per US dollar. Once again like in Budapest (although not as much as you could in Budapest) you can really get your money's worth. Now is the time to spend a little more on a nice dinner or nice souvenirs for family and friends back home (the Czech hand painted egg ornament is an important Czech tradition and favorite souvenir). Another word of advice, don't tip too much. Tipping is not common among Czechs but since you are a foreigner you are expected to leave something. In all my time in Prague I never tipped more than 20 Czech korunas for a meal, which is the equivalent of $1.05. Don't expect exceptional service in Prague either, unless you're lucky enough to stay at a five star hotel the general rule in the Czech Republic is "the customer is always wrong." Don't be offended if you get an unfriendly waiter or are forced to wait 20 minutes for your check, it's just the norm.

Something else to keep in mind... the Czech Republic only came out of the rule of the Communist regime 21 years ago, and besides the fact that many of the older generation actually long for the days of Communism (it may sound ridiculous but imagine a world where everyone has a job and people are generally well off and you can understand their disdain for the harsh effects of a Capitalist system). The Czech Republic itself is also only 21 years old as it was split apart from Slovakia following the fall of Communism-- this has created a fair amount of tension over ownership of films, songs, and novels that were once Czechoslovakian. Their languages are only slightly different and Czechs get a long fine with Slovaks but there is still some underlying tension you should be aware of before you claim something is solely Czech or Slovak etc. As you keep this in mind it's good to know that the Czech culture is still very much affected by its Communist years. This manifests itself in a very quiet populace-- the Czechs aren't generally loud, especially in public on trams or in metro stations-- and you would do well to follow suit. It is also a common courtesy to give your seat up on a tram or subway car to the elderly, disabled, or pregnant women-- if you do you'll get an appreciative smile and quiet thank you-- help defeat the loud rude American stereotype and be sure to do this.

To get a proper history lesson and to really appreciate the architecture in Prague you must visit the following:
-Prague Castle (Prazsky hrad) the largest castle in the world with St. Vitus Cathedral
-Old Town (Staré Město) with its Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock
-Charles Bridge (Karlův Most)
-New Town (Nové město) and the historic Wenceslas Square (this square was filled to the brim with people demanding the end of Communism after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989)
-Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter) with its Infant Jesus of Prague and its picturesque streets
-Josefov (the old Jewish quarter) with Old Jewish Cemetery and Old New Synagogue
-The Lennon Wall (after John Lennon was shot a Mexican student studying abroad in Prague painted his portrait on a wall in the neighborhood along the Vltava river close to the Charles Bridge)-- now students and travelers from all over the world sign their names on the wall
-Vysehrad (located in Prague 2)- this is the ancient castle was built in the 10th century overlooking the Vltava River. It is also next to my former school in Prague and holds a special place in my heart because I had to walk past it to get to class everyday.
-Try to see a show at the National Theatre (Narodni Divadlo)-- their ballets are fantastic.

Something Fun I Want To Share:

I wrote this blog post while I was studying abroad this past spring semester. I thought it'd be great to share as I near the end of this blog because it's an interesting way for me and you as a traveler to reflect on how different it is to be in the middle of your travels and then to look back at them at a later date. I think this post says a lot about what one can expect while studying abroad or extensively traveling at such a young age, and maybe provide you with a few more tips or important things to prepare for before traveling.

April 2010:
When I saw the email from Matt asking that we submit a blog entry on our experiences abroad I became very excited because there is so much I want to share with all of you. When I actually sat down to start writing this though I realized that it is an almost impossible task because I don’t even know how to sum up my study abroad experience so far in a blog entry. I’ll just stick to generalities. In a nutshell since coming to Prague I’ve traveled to Paris, Budapest, London, Vienna, Galway, Dublin, Krakow, Venice, Florence, and Rome. I have learned a few Czech phrases (Czech is a horribly difficult language), tried Czech cuisine, and traveled to various cities around the Czech Republic. I have made bonds with people that will last a lifetime. I have made travel memories with friends that we still love laughing about. I have gone on pub-crawls, I’ve gone spelunking, visited a bathhouse, and seen Auschwitz. I had to endure the coldest day in Prague in 20 years, while touring the Prague castle; it was 9 degrees. I’ve booked numerous flights, hostels, and train tickets. I’ve had to learn how to use the Prague public transportation without anyone’s help. Above all I had to learn to plan a trip completely on my own, acclimate to the Czech culture, deal with the occasional tinge of home sickness, and do my best to stay in touch with friends back home. Studying abroad is like freshman year all over again, you get to reinvent yourself, and as everyone continuously reminds me “everything here is not real.” People go out almost every night, and I have no idea how they aren’t always exhausted. I have loved the cheap prices here, and how small and manageable the city is. I absolutely detest the fact that you have to pay for ketchup, bread, butter, and water. Besides that I have thoroughly enjoyed traveling almost every weekend and meeting amazing people from all over the U.S. and Europe. Studying abroad has really allowed me to take a step back from my usual life and realize what is truly important to me and what I miss the most.

My friends and I in Florence (luckily all of them also go to USC and we've remained very close to this day):

Time to Back Track... Prague!!!

We are reaching the final stop of our trip: Prague. I studied abroad in this city for almost five months and I absolutely loved it. Before I go into great detail about my time there, comment on the culture, entertainment, history, and what to do I want to give you a sampling of Prague that is completely free of my opinions.

Photographs, won't do the real beauty of Prague justice but they certainly help. I want to share two movie trailers: one is a Czechoslovakian New Wave film and the other is a modern Czech film. I want to juxtapose these two because I want you to come to a conclusion on your own about the changes in entertainment from when Czechoslovakia was under Communist rule to the modern day Czech Republic.

The view of Prague Castle from across the Vltava River:






The park next to my school:





Having fun with friends in Prague's Old Town Square:




Having a good old time on the famous Charles Bridge:




Now for the trailers:

Jiri Menzel's 1966 film "Closely Watched Trains"



Jiri Menzel's 2006 film "I Served the King of England"




Both are based on novels by the esteemed Czech writer Bohumil Hrabel and deal with similar coming of age issues, but notice their differences based on the radically different political periods they were made in.

Exploring Budapest

Budapest is a very interesting city. It has come along way since the fall of Communism but it is still very much an evolving, growing city. The economic changes of the early 1990s resulted in declining living standards for most Hungarians. In 1991 most state subsidies were removed which lead to a severe recession. The economy has slowly been improving and continued to improve once Hungary decided to join the European Union in 2004. While Hungary's economy is still struggling the good thing for you as a student traveler is that your visit to Budapest will be an extremely affordable one. If you're traveling to Hungary from Italy your most economic means of travel would be to fly to Prague and then take an overnight bus to Budapest. They are extremely affordable and actually very safe. Most of their passengers are students and the occasional local. Do your best to book an overnight bus so you can spend a full two to three days in Budapest. Be sure to get out of the bus when it stops in Slovakia just so you can take a quick look around.

Things you must do in Budapest:
1. Go Cave Exploring! With a guide of course! See: http://www.budapest-tourist-guide.com/caving-in-budapest.html
This was definitely one of my most memorable experiences from studying abroad. They do give you a jumpsuit to crawl around in but make sure you prepare by wearing proper shoes, and be prepared for some fairly intense cave exploring. It may sound scary but it's definitely worth it!
2. Go to a bath house! Budapest is known for its bath houses which are basically giant outdoor jacuzzi's. When my friends and I went it started snowing while we were in the outdoor bath house, it was pretty amazing. See this website for more information: http://www.spasbudapest.com/furdo.php?idx=2
3. Visit the Central Market Hall. Watch out for pickpocketers and seedy looking individuals eyeing your wallets but this is the best place to buy inexpensive but authentic Hungarian souvenirs. While you're at it enjoy some very delicious authentic Hungarian food in between shopping.
4. Walk across the Chain Bridge and admire the differences between Buda and Pest which are split by the Danube river.
5. Visit Castle Hill- Here you can see the Royal Palace and Matthias Church, plus you'll get the best panoramic views of the city from a top this hill.
6. Definitely visit the Terror Museum- Here you can learn about the Nazi and Communist regime in Hungary- two very horribly powerful regimes that were responsible for mass murders, and controling the government.

Below: My friends and I have a little too much fun posing with an important Hungarian monument in front of the Hungarian Parliament.

Budapest! Already?

Yes it's time to get a move on. All of the cities you've visited have been pretty mainstream Western European cities. Why not end your trip with a visit to Budapest and one more city to be named at a later date...

On a very very good note the currency in Hungary called the forint, is not worth very much at all. One Hungarian Forint is the equivalent of 0.0048 US dollars... so don't go crazy but your dollars will definitely go a long way here.

Fun fact: The country is home to the largest thermal water cave system and the second largest thermal lake in the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake in Central Europe (Lake Balaton), and the largest natural grasslands in Europe (Hortobágy).

To get you revved up for the next post which will go into further detail of what to expect and what to do in Hungary here are some fun photos: