So today was all about castles. We met up with everyone in CIEE at 8:30 (ugghh) in the city center and took buses out into the Czech countryside.

To be honest, I've seen a few castles in Ireland, so while I was looking forward to going today, it wasn't the most exciting things ever. The first castle, called Krivoklat Castle (in English), was about and hour and a half ride. We left Prague, drove through the suburbs (all old Communist-style architecture), and through miles and miles of fields and woods. Most students took a nap during the ride, but I love riding through different areas and looking around. The country around here isn't too different than in New England, but there are a ton more hills.

The ride was also ridiculous though because our bus driver was really aggressive and just INSANE. The giant tour bus we were on was kind of old, and the bottom kept scraping when we went down the mountains. We took mostly narrow back roads that could barely fit two cars across normally, and they had sharp turns and wound around the mountains with super steep ledges on one side. After leaving the second castle, we hit a guardrail, and the driver backed up without even looking behind us. The poor driver behind us almost got run over.

Anyway, we had a guided tour, translated into English for us at Krivoklat Castle. A couple was even getting their wedding photos done while we were there. After, we got back on the bus for another hour and a half and went to Karlstejn Castle, closer to Prague. We ate a late lunch in a restaurant and then were split up into groups for a scavenger hunt. After finishing, a couple of us stopped for food in the tourist-y village that surrounded the castle, and then headed back to Prague.

Tonight, a few students are coming over to our flat to hang out before we all go out to a club. Tomorrow is the first chance we get to sleep in and have a free day, which everyone is excited about.