Today, we had the opportunity to take a cooking class, preparing 3 courses of traditional Czech cuisine. We made a potato mushroom soup, a beef tenderloin with bread dumplings and sauce, and a dessert resembling potato pancakes. Across all three meals, I noticed that potatoes were used frequently in many variations. With this, I learned that potatoes are plentiful in the Czech Republic, leading to their significant in culinary applications. Across the last 3 days, I’ve also noticed lots of menu items containing mushrooms. Our host Jana explained to us the season of “mushroom hunting” here in Czechia. With mushrooms being a staple food item, it is common for family and friends to gather to collect them during the peak season (late summer to early fall). This activity is prevalent in Czech culture, with people sharing and comparing their finds. I found that the style of food here is very down-to-earth, highlighting abundant resources in the region.
Following the cooking class, we embarked on another walking tour, this time crossing the Charles Bridge and heading up to Prague Castle. This castle is incredibly historic yet still serves as a key location in terms of the Czech government. As I am a Civil Engineering student, I was particularly fascinated by the architecture, as it blends styles from different eras on its different sides. It includes styles such as neogothic, renaissance and baroque. Some sides were a solid color with intense stone craftsmanship; another was colorful resembling a picture in a similar way to stained glass art. As I learned yesterday, Czechia has withstood many diverse eras and conflicts. The artwork of this beautiful castle is a testament to the unique history of this region. I am really glad that we got to visit this castle today, and we had some spectacular views of the city!
Swanson School of Engineering 