by Giovanna Hughes
On July 19th we went to Cesky Krumlov, a town about three hours from Prague. After we arrived, we had a few hours of free time before having a guided tour of the Cesky Krumlov castle.
The first thing I noticed about Cesky Krumlov was how bright it was. Amongst the bright buildings were streets flowing with people, musicians busking on bridges, and rafts going down the river–there was not a moment of emptiness or silence. It was beautiful. Down the narrow cobblestone streets were many shops that sold a variety of things ranging from magnets to puppets, and it was a lot of fun to see. It was a small town, but it was dense. We had three hours, and we did not manage to see every shop or attraction. It was refreshing to have so much free time after having such tightly-packed days in Poland. We were able to fully enjoy the town without the stress of time.
The castle itself was also beautiful. Each of the rooms had a completely different style. There was a room with painted caricatures all over the wall, which contrasted against the more serious and dark chapel we saw in the beginning. It was really cool to see all these different time periods and styles represented in the same building. It was also interesting to hear all the stories of those who lived in the castle (the one I found the most interesting was the one of the white lady that haunts the castle). It is so fascinating to be inside a building with so much history. Most buildings in America are barely a century or two old, and this castle is around seven. That seems so unbelievable to me. It was a really special experience to get to tour the inside of it.
Overall, Cesky Krumlov was a bright and beautiful town that was a big highlight for everyone! When I have asked people what their favorite part of the tour was, almost everyone ends up mentioning this town. I am glad that we were able to spend so much time there.
Cover Photo: Giovanna Hughes