November 2013
On November 23, 2013 we went to Olomouc for an open day at Palacky University. I wasn't planning to apply there and don't plan to, I decided to go there because basically I'd never traveled further than Russia, and every new place is new for me. And also, by the way, many of our teachers graduated from exactly this institute.
Everything happened on November 23, Saturday. We left at 7 am - had to get up early. All because the open day started at 10 am, and you need to ride 2.5 hours. Another half hour for the road through the city, and we're at the university.
But not everything turned out so simple ๐ In the morning we bought a ticket, 300 crowns per person round trip. Turned out cheaper because we had a 25% discount with in-card + many students were going, so we had a group ticket. Quickly got to Kolin, waited for a transfer about 20 minutes and got on a direct train to Olomouc. The train, by the way, was almost full.
Turned out not only Russians drink a lot - next to us rode a group of young Czechs, drinking vodka at 8 am. Picture perfect ๐ฉ
And, unfortunately, as often happens in Czechia - our train was delayed. About 15 minutes we stood in place and arrived in town only at 10 o'clock. It was already late, but we had time for the 2nd part of the presentation, it was at 11.
By the way, I'll tell something interesting. In Czech language the word Olomouc is feminine gender. But in Russian it's masculine. Only rare residents of the town itself sometimes talk about it in masculine gender, but generally that's incorrect. Strange that the historically incorrect variant came to us.
We bought 2 tram tickets each - a couple routes run through the town, always on time, but quite full, there were few even standing places. We rode about 5 minutes, and got to the university.
Since we had a lot of time, our teacher who went with us showed the place where she studied.
The building is quite nice inside, but the atmosphere is rather not working, but inspiring.
Sometimes it seems this isn't a university at all.
Outside students were selling warm wine with fruits - punch. It cost only 10 crowns per cup. Back then I still thought how great it is in Czechia with this - guys try more for mood than profit. Turned out this was rather a one-time case.
Wherever I went after - everywhere 25 crowns per cup, even in Podebrady. Offensive. Capitalism is a harsh uncle.
But here, time came to see the university presentation.
Like all buildings in Czechia - university is shabby outside, cozy inside.
In the background, by the way, a line for warm wine - weather was so-so, cool, in general, sales were high ๐ Many people, by the way, came with children (here it's generally a normal thing, to walk with the whole family), so enterprising students invented a variant for children too - just warm fruit drink :)
About the university itself, unfortunately, can't say much - nothing special to talk about. Simple university, inside is beautiful, offices have a historical bent. Computers everywhere, projectors, technical equipment is there, this is normal, and they don't brag about it.
I, for example, graduated from not the worst university in the country (RUDN). They promised me wide use of multimedia capabilities, well in 5 years I sat at a computer a couple times, solved tests. So there's a difference - at least it seems they at least use technology here.
At the presentation only general things were told - how much an invitation costs, how good everything will be for graduates. Like always and everywhere, in general.
Well, what to say, maybe the university is good. Nice, at least.
Then we went to walk.
This is one of two main squares. By the way, wooden stalls are visible - Czechs just started preparing for Christmas - soon they'll sell expensive but nice little things here.
Nothing special to look at in town.
First Christmas tree. Kids are happy.
Interesting artifact - a model of the town in miniature. Stuck in the middle of the street, funny.
And this is a local pride, astronomical clock. For an unprepared person - nothing special, someone might even like it. For a Czech - object of jokes. They laugh at this clock because it's typically communist, with workers in the frame. Supposedly communists will get to any cultural heritage and insert their 5 cents. And being dissatisfied with communism is a hobby of 3 out of 4 Czechs. It seems to have passed, but remained in heads - now unites the people, just not as intended.
And also often in towns you can meet plague column. First couple times it's interesting, then gets boring - all similar to each other, like Lenin statues in Russian towns :)
And then we just went to walk around the town - because I don't like going to artificial tourist places. I love being where people live.
Graffiti is generally a problem of all Czechia. Haven't seen such anywhere else, but here it's like this everywhere where it's dark at night. Prague, at first glance, is generally all like this (non-tourist, of course). In Podebrady it's better, but even there this dirt exists. What's strangest - there's no graffiti culture as such, everything's very untidy, unskillful. In general, strange self-expression.
But better about the good. Here's a normal Czech view. Warm colors, pleasant architecture. Transport, commerce, parking - everything harmonizes, nothing cuts the eye.
People walk past the museum here :)
And we walked to one of the churches - this one, it seems, is big and famous. Lots of people, because on Google it's written you need to visit it. Nothing special, in reality. Inside, by the way, a service is going - tourists take photos, residents pray. All this is very strange, you can't talk with God with such noise - I tried, he didn't answer.
Another church. There are generally many of them there.
It was already getting dark, so we had to leave this wonderful town. Let's leave the guys to prepare for Christmas, I think it'll be very beautiful. Wooden stalls are already good :)
Saying goodbye to the town we had to stand a couple dozen minutes at the station - unpleasant there. Many foreigners, and not the most useful ones, like gypsies. Dirty, noisy. Don't like such places. Wouldn't want to live long in such a town, Podebrady seems much more pleasant.