Prague is one of those increasingly rare places that a person comes across in life and it leaves an indelible mark. The streets are brimming with excited tourists eager to snap a picture at the ineffable beauty the city so naturally elicits. It is, quite simply, magical.

I found the highlight of our trip to Prague to be the excursion we took to the Saint Vitus Cathedral, which is situated entirely within the Prague Castle complex. This church was simply sensational. The grand, baroque architecture perfectly captures the Medieval Age in which it was built. A small group of us also attended an Easter Mass service here and, while the service itself was quite desolate, it was indeed a neat service nonetheless. I remain perplexed by the Czech citizenry and their lack of spirituality. I understand the Soviet occupation and communism that accompanied it, but I am deeply saddened by the almost complete destruction of Christianity that it entailed. Frankly, it was astonishing to see such a small gathering of people on Easter Sunday.

Another excursion we took was to the lovely city of Dresden, Germany. As a big fan of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-five, I could not wait to see this city. It was, similar to most of the experiences I have had thus far, everything and more. The view from atop the church was absolutely breathtaking. The 1945 World War II firebombing of Dresden was one of the most horrific massacres in European history and the buildings that survived still displayed the eerie remnants of the bombings. Our professor Martin informed us that the number of civilians that died in Dresden was roughly the same number of deaths that resulted from the Allied bombing raids on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

After visiting Germany, albeit only for a brief day, I was most happy to return to the Czech Republic. In a practical sense, Germany was incredibly expensive and using the euro was slightly painful after using the Czech Koruna. In a deeper aspect, the Czech Republic is truly a hidden gem. In fact, after visiting Prague, I was even more pleased to call the city of Olomouc’s home. Prague, of course, is magnificent and grandiose. But Olomouc’s is noticeably less touristy and more authentic. I adore the landscape, taking the light rail tram to and from school, and the pubs scattered throughout every block. I am most blessed to call this place home.

Kurt Vonnegut, the famous aforementioned author, once wrote, “One of the things Uncle Alex found objectionable about human beings was that they so rarely noticed it when they were happy.” I, for one, am immensely happy. This excitement extends far beyond the Czech Republic—it involves this opportunity, it involves the peoples I have met, it involves the places I have visited and, most importantly, it involves the experiences I have had. I will conclude this blog on a similar note to that of the last: I am constantly and consistently amazed by this awesome and inspiring world.