by Vera Lefort
After five days and two of our three performances under our belts, we said goodbye to the beautiful country of Poland and traveled to Czechia.
Our ride was about six hours long, and we entered Czechia soon after departing from our hotel in Katowice. About halfway through our drive, we made a stop in the city of Olomouc. We visited the city’s older town and its square which had a beautiful fountain statue at its center, along with various outdoor cafes and beautiful buildings surrounding it. After having lunch, we spent some time exploring the city. It was interesting to discover some of the similarities and differences between Czechia’s local culture and the culture of the cities we visited previously in Poland. From my first impression, the two countries have similar historic architecture and their efforts to preserve its beauty over centuries is very apparent. One difference I noticed soon after we arrived was that on most buildings, restaurants, and shop buildings, it was much more common to use the English versions of words and titles in addition to their Czech version, or even without a Czech version at all. I am not sure whether this is due to a preference of English over Czech, or perhaps that they have more American tourism in the areas we visited.
As we entered the city limits of Prague, I was amazed by the rolling hills, dotted with gorgeous buildings that all looked similar in color, but were each a unique shape with uniquely ornate edifices, each interesting in their own way. I was even more shocked as we were suddenly crossing a bridge overlooking the city. I had heard a lot about the beauty of Prague and its intentional preservation during World War II, but I was not prepared for just how gorgeous and breathtaking it would be. We crossed the bridge just as the sun cast a golden hue over the city, every golden crusted detail on the edges of each building sparkling like the most beautiful medallion, a trophy of the city’s brillia
nce. Already entranced, I fell in love with the city even more as we walked to dinner. Admiring these buildings up close, their finer details were just as beautiful as their vibrancy from afar. It was amazing to experience this architecture, and to admire its longevity through the hundreds of years it has withstood, through revolutions, world, wars, and rebirths. At a special folklore dinner in the city, we got to witness live traditional Czech music and dance performed by very talented performers, who welcomed us with their passion and enthusiasm, along with the delicious five-course meal we were served. This night was one of my favorite experiences of the trip thus far. It felt like a celebration of our trip so far, and I really enjoyed spending time with my fellow musicians.
Today I really had an opportunity to rest, reflect on our time in Poland, and take in our first moments in Prague. I look forward to further exploring this great city and making deeper connections with my fellow musicians as we learn more about this country that has such a rich culture and musical history.
Photo: Vera LeFort