Prague-Kayla Tirrell and Kayla Afonso

Praha, as the locals call it, was the last stop of our study abroad trip to Central Europe. We stayed at Hotel Duo, which was only about 10 minutes away from the city by metro. Unlike the other places we stayed at, Hotel Duo was similar to a typical hotel you may see in the United States. In the other countries, it was based on a more hostel-style living. Hotel Duo had a restaurant, bar, sports center complete with a pool and sauna, beauty shop, gift shops, casino, and even a bowling alley. Breakfast and dinner were always included, but in our opinion, they weren't that impressive. Both meals were served buffet-style, but they served the same food every time and there weren't a ton of options. For lunch we ate at different places, either on our own or as a group; it depended on where we were that day. For example, we ate at the Institute of Banking in their cafeteria. It was a lot smaller than what we were used to at Simmons College. There were only a few options available to choose from. We both ordered the spaghetti with meatballs, which didn't taste any different from the United States. At many of the meetings, including those in the other countries, they would offer us snacks and beverages. We also noticed that sparkling water was a very prominent drink served at these meetings as well as in restaurants. In the United States, still/tap water is offered in most restaurants for free and even some provide it before you even order your meals. In Europe, you pay for the water, even if it's just still water.

Shopping seems to be inevitable while your studying in another country. Prague was the city where we both spent the most amount of money and where we bought the majority of our souvenirs. On our first night in Prague, we bought several Prague totes, t-shirts, magnets, bracelets, etc. Walking through the cobblestone streets was very nice and beautiful, and the shops were all around us. Many are geared toward tourists, so our advice is to look around the different stores before purchasing an item. Most of these stores sell the same exact products, so search for the ones that are selling theirs for the cheapest. The mix between Old Town and New Town was very interesting. We suggest going to both sides of the city for nightlife activities. Both have amazing architecture and fun places to visit, so try to see the two if possible.

Prague - Clare Conway

Hey everyone! So we've been back from our Central Europe voyage for almost a week now, and the last city we visited was Prague. Before I left, everyone I knew was telling me how gorgeous Prague was and how lucky I was to be traveling there. Even though the weather did not cooperate in the least (cold and rainy, like we never left Boston), I was still able to enjoy the beautiful architecture and historical sites throughout the city. The appearance of Prague itself, with its cobblestone sidewalks and mix of new and old buildings, was one of the city's most striking and memorable aspects. This is of note coming from the United States, where the cities are only hundreds of years old. European cities have thousands of years of history and settlements, adding to the eclectic mix of modern and historical buildings.

One of the most important historical sites we visited was Wenceslas Square, named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. Fittingly, there is a large statue of him in front of the National Museum (which actually has bullet marks on certain pillars from Soviet fire). The square was home to many key events in the history of the former Czechoslovakia, as well as being a place where many Prague-ians go to either protest or celebrate. Interestingly, two young students decided to set themselves on fire in the square in 1969 to protest Soviet occupation. There is a memorial to them at the top of the square, and then a plaque in the middle of the square. Additionally, many demonstrations were held in the square during the Velvet Revolution of 1989. Even though some of the countries we have visited (including the Czech Republic) have had a history of Communism, Prague's overall appearance today seems virtually untouched by Communism. However, I think that the memory of this period is fresh in their minds: many advertisement-like billboards were up in the square commemorating 20 years since the fall of Communist rule in the Czech Republic. In contrast, Bratislava was filled with drab, spartan concrete apartment buildings which were all too revealing of a Communist past.

Also, listening to several of the women entrepreneurs in Prague was a highlight of the trip, as hearing how they have successfully worked on their own terms made me consider starting my own business. Their success in their own enterprises in a still male-dominated business world was truly encouraging. Even though Sarka (who owned her own tour guide company) suggested that starting a business early will allow you to spend more time with your children once you decide to have them, I am unsure that I will have enough knowledge and skill to become an entrepreneur right out of college.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay in Prague, but unfortunately the weather put a damper on any more outdoor activity. I would certainly come back, as there was so much more to see and do in the city that three and a half days did not allow for.