by Cori Greer-Banks If you are staying Prague longer than a week, consider taking a day trip to the southern region of Moravia and spending it in Brno, the 2nd largest city in Czech Republic. Buying a train ticket is pretty easy in Prague, and getting there is even easier. The night before, I did my research, mapped out my route, calculated my fare, and created my itinerary to Brno. The next morning, I woke, packed a few snacks for my travels, and hopped on Tram 9, which took me all the way to Hlavní nádraží (this is Czech for “Central Station”). Once there, I walked through the park affectionately known by Czech locals as “Sherwood Forest,” and entered the train station. Tickets to Brno are relatively cheap; it cost me 179 CZK for a one-way ticket there- that equates to roughly 8 US dollars. Brno is nearly three hours southwest of Prague via train, so it is best to settle in for a nice ride. I loved taking the train; the seats were comfy, the train car was sparsely populated, and it was serene sipping on my cappuccino and munching on my croissant. Looking out onto the Czech scenery was a treat in and of itself...I did not realize I was on the train for three hours! When the train reached Brno, I was bit apprehensive; there was no tour guide meeting me there, and I knew no one. Luckily, Czech Republic is a very safe country, and Brno was no exception. Brno is seeped with color and spectacle- without all of the gimmicks and tourist traps of Prague. Surrounded by locals and travelers backpacking through Europe, I exited the train station listening to Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You being played via clarinet by a lonely musician. I felt like I was being welcomed into Brno. Brno is a pretty walkable city, and if you have a good Maps app on your phone (I prefer Apple Maps when walking), then you are good to go trekking Brno by foot. My first stop, the Museum of Romani Kulture, a 22-minute walk from Brno’s central train station, is the only museum in the Czech Republic where you can go to learn about the story of the Roma and its culture. Situated in the economically and socially depressed district of Cejl, your immersion into the past and present of the Roma community cannot get any more real than this. Be prepared to spend at least two hours in there; the collection is vast and wonderfully interactive. Not a lot of attention is given to the Romani’s genocide during WWII, but the Czech Republic lost 90% of the local Roma to the Holocaust; most present-day Roma have come from neighboring countries such as Hungary and Slovakia. After an excellent visit through the museum, I walked sixteen minutes in the direction of the city’s center, where I was positive I’d find something good to eat. I was not disappointed- I had a yummy, and spicy açaí bowl from Forky’s, a hip vegan restaurant that specializes in vegan salads while playing hip hop music. I did not think I ever ate a spicy açaí bowl while listening to Frank Ocean and Kanye West, but I did...and I liked it! After a great lunch at Forky’s, I walked across the street to Aida, and scarfed down a delicious pistachio gelato sundae, which was a great finishing touch to a sublimely perfect and solo day. I tried my luck at catching a marble at Brno’s Astronomical Clock (no such luck), and walked 17 minutes back to the central train station, where I bought a $9 train ticket back to Prague. By the time I returned to my hotel room, I felt refreshed and filled with new knowledge. Brno will always have my love.
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