Janet Webb's Portfolio
I grew up in a small town in Northern Durham, NC, called Bahama. I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees from NC State University. I started teaching in 2008 in a special education classroom and before that I was a TA in a special education classroom. I am currently a 7th grade math teacher. I currently live in Fuquay Varina with my husband, and my two children. I love reading and being crafty. I am so excited to be a part of this journey and to help my students learn about other cultures. |
Cultural Connections Project 1: Global Collaborative Project (Video Synopsis)
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Cultural Connections Project 2: Scripted Duologue Based on Meetup Group or AirBnb City Experience (GoAnimate)
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Cultural Connections Project 3: Experience-Based Travel Writing Based on Meetup Group or AirBnb City Experience (Post on Travel Blog)
Prague - Ghost Tour of Old Town
I have always been a fan of things that go bump in the night. I watched my first horror movie when I was eight years old with my brother by my side the entire time. I was so scared that night, I slept with my parents. As I have gotten older, I still enjoy being scared, and Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I feel that we can learn a lot about each other through what frightens us. This is why, before coming to Prague, I booked a ghost tour of Old Town.
After enjoying some drinks at a local jazz club, a quartet of us, found who we were meeting, Tomas, a 23 year-old Czech native who has lived in Prague for all except 2 years of his life. He reminded me of my brother when we were younger. A group of 20 of us started following him around the town. We were very lucky because a jazz festival was going on in the Old Town Square, so as he started, light jazz notes accompanied his story. The music didn't really fit the type of tour I was on, but this seems to be part of what I love about the city, juxtapositions everywhere around you and it is embraced with loving arms.
We made it to our first stop, and Tomas started by telling us a story about the Death House #5. Tomas is a very fun story teller, but when the story is done, he is ready to move on. Another thing that I have come to expect in the city. No one waits for interruptions or explanations, when the story is done, we simply move on. This is very different that I am used to from going on tours in the States, but I enjoy it. It adds a sense of ease and play to the tour.
As we continue along the tour, we come to many different places, no one place is particularly scary. Instead, we learn a lot about legends of Prague, especially from the Middle Ages. Tomas gives us different explanations for what has happened in the story and lets us pick what we believe to be true. As we stopped across the street from a Franz Kafka statue Tomas decided to give us some insider tips on being a better tourist in Prague. In the background loomed the top of a cathedral (one that Tomas swears Cinderella's castle was designed after), he tells us what tredelnik translates to (silly) and said that it is not in fact a Czech tradition, but came along when all of the tourists started coming. He gave us information on Franz Kafka as well.
I really enjoyed the tour because it wasn't scary and I definitely didn't have trouble sleeping, like I did back when I was eight years old, but I instead learned a lot about Czech culture. Czech's are a very proud people who continue to be strong and courageous, even though the country and people have been through incredibly tough times. The Czech people also have a great sense of humor, but not in a mean way. I would really recommend this tour to everyone, it really is a great way to see some landmarks and learn a little history when you first arrive in the city.
Prague - Ghost Tour of Old Town
I have always been a fan of things that go bump in the night. I watched my first horror movie when I was eight years old with my brother by my side the entire time. I was so scared that night, I slept with my parents. As I have gotten older, I still enjoy being scared, and Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I feel that we can learn a lot about each other through what frightens us. This is why, before coming to Prague, I booked a ghost tour of Old Town.
After enjoying some drinks at a local jazz club, a quartet of us, found who we were meeting, Tomas, a 23 year-old Czech native who has lived in Prague for all except 2 years of his life. He reminded me of my brother when we were younger. A group of 20 of us started following him around the town. We were very lucky because a jazz festival was going on in the Old Town Square, so as he started, light jazz notes accompanied his story. The music didn't really fit the type of tour I was on, but this seems to be part of what I love about the city, juxtapositions everywhere around you and it is embraced with loving arms.
We made it to our first stop, and Tomas started by telling us a story about the Death House #5. Tomas is a very fun story teller, but when the story is done, he is ready to move on. Another thing that I have come to expect in the city. No one waits for interruptions or explanations, when the story is done, we simply move on. This is very different that I am used to from going on tours in the States, but I enjoy it. It adds a sense of ease and play to the tour.
As we continue along the tour, we come to many different places, no one place is particularly scary. Instead, we learn a lot about legends of Prague, especially from the Middle Ages. Tomas gives us different explanations for what has happened in the story and lets us pick what we believe to be true. As we stopped across the street from a Franz Kafka statue Tomas decided to give us some insider tips on being a better tourist in Prague. In the background loomed the top of a cathedral (one that Tomas swears Cinderella's castle was designed after), he tells us what tredelnik translates to (silly) and said that it is not in fact a Czech tradition, but came along when all of the tourists started coming. He gave us information on Franz Kafka as well.
I really enjoyed the tour because it wasn't scary and I definitely didn't have trouble sleeping, like I did back when I was eight years old, but I instead learned a lot about Czech culture. Czech's are a very proud people who continue to be strong and courageous, even though the country and people have been through incredibly tough times. The Czech people also have a great sense of humor, but not in a mean way. I would really recommend this tour to everyone, it really is a great way to see some landmarks and learn a little history when you first arrive in the city.
Cultural Collections Project 1: Mapping Culture (Google Maps)
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Cultural Collections Project 2: Timelining Culture (MyHistro)
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Cultural Collections Project 3: Curating Cultural Objects (Voicethread)
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Cultural Reflections Project 1: The Last Word, Czech education articles
The first quote that really caught my eye was that "Czech children are required to begin school at age 6 and attend for a minimum of 9 years of basic school. Nearly 90% of children ages 3-6 also attend nursery schools which are usually free." (Profile of the Czech Republic's Education System, 2006). This struck me, because as a parent who currently has two children in preschool/nursery school, I realize the importance of early education, but also the burden it places on families. In the United States, we value education, and early education, but instead of making it accessible for all, in most cases, it is very expensive to send your children there. Luckily, in North Carolina, there are Head Start programs, but you have to earn below a certain amount of money to be able to apply for these programs. There are currently 474 Head Start facilities in North Carolina, but you do have to apply. I am just really struck by the belief in the Czech Republic that all students between 3 and 6 should be in nursery schools to help prepare them for starting their compulsory education.
A second quote that stuck out to me was from the European Commission's Education and Training Monitor 2016 - Czech Republic. "In order to further promote technical and vocational programs, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is working on changing the funding system for regional education, so as better reflect the long-term employability of graduates in the labour market." In the United States, there has been a drastic decrease in the amount of vocational programs in high schools. The Czech Republic, in contrast, embraces these programs and wants more students to complete these programs. The Czech Educational System seems to understand the necessity of having students have more choices in their educational outcome, where as in the United States, we are trying to funnel more and more students into 4-year programs. Both countries need workers who have vocational training, but the Czech Republic is the only one, right now, working towards increasing the amount of students in those programs.
Overall, neither system is perfect, but these two quotes really showed me that the Czech Educational system is trying very hard to be inclusive of everyone.
The first quote that really caught my eye was that "Czech children are required to begin school at age 6 and attend for a minimum of 9 years of basic school. Nearly 90% of children ages 3-6 also attend nursery schools which are usually free." (Profile of the Czech Republic's Education System, 2006). This struck me, because as a parent who currently has two children in preschool/nursery school, I realize the importance of early education, but also the burden it places on families. In the United States, we value education, and early education, but instead of making it accessible for all, in most cases, it is very expensive to send your children there. Luckily, in North Carolina, there are Head Start programs, but you have to earn below a certain amount of money to be able to apply for these programs. There are currently 474 Head Start facilities in North Carolina, but you do have to apply. I am just really struck by the belief in the Czech Republic that all students between 3 and 6 should be in nursery schools to help prepare them for starting their compulsory education.
A second quote that stuck out to me was from the European Commission's Education and Training Monitor 2016 - Czech Republic. "In order to further promote technical and vocational programs, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is working on changing the funding system for regional education, so as better reflect the long-term employability of graduates in the labour market." In the United States, there has been a drastic decrease in the amount of vocational programs in high schools. The Czech Republic, in contrast, embraces these programs and wants more students to complete these programs. The Czech Educational System seems to understand the necessity of having students have more choices in their educational outcome, where as in the United States, we are trying to funnel more and more students into 4-year programs. Both countries need workers who have vocational training, but the Czech Republic is the only one, right now, working towards increasing the amount of students in those programs.
Overall, neither system is perfect, but these two quotes really showed me that the Czech Educational system is trying very hard to be inclusive of everyone.
Cultural Reflections Project 2: Czech Book Club
"The Golem" by Gustav Meyrink is a dark and troubling book set in Prague in the early 1900s. The characters are not dynamic and seem to be stereotypes of how Meyrink perceived the Jewish population in Prague while he was alive. My favorite character was Amadeus Laponder, who is the main characters cell mate in prison. It is through Laponder, that Pernath is able to communicate with the outside world while being held on a crime he did not commit. This character intrigued me the most because of the powers he possessed while he slept. Overall, this was a tough book to start, but I did enjoy the ending and it made me go back to the beginning and re-read some important aspects I skipped over at the beginning. I think it is important to note that the actual Golem is not in the book very much, but is used as an allegory for the inhabitants of the ghetto.
"The Golem" by Gustav Meyrink is a dark and troubling book set in Prague in the early 1900s. The characters are not dynamic and seem to be stereotypes of how Meyrink perceived the Jewish population in Prague while he was alive. My favorite character was Amadeus Laponder, who is the main characters cell mate in prison. It is through Laponder, that Pernath is able to communicate with the outside world while being held on a crime he did not commit. This character intrigued me the most because of the powers he possessed while he slept. Overall, this was a tough book to start, but I did enjoy the ending and it made me go back to the beginning and re-read some important aspects I skipped over at the beginning. I think it is important to note that the actual Golem is not in the book very much, but is used as an allegory for the inhabitants of the ghetto.
Cultural Reflections Project 3: Czech Film Club
If you are looking for a movie about World War II that has a happy ending and everything ends up well for the protagonists, then "Anthropoid" is probably not the movie for you. I went into this movie not knowing anything about Project Anthropoid as I wanted to be fully in the moment of the movie and not always be aware of the next step. The heroes of the movie are constantly in trouble and steps away from being caught or having their plan foiled. With that being said, I really enjoyed watching the interactions between all of the characters and how they developed during the movie. It really made me even more aware of the atrocities that happened during World War II, that go so much farther than concentration camps. This movie made me aware of Lidice and what happened to that town because of Project Anthropoid. This movie caused me to go on a fact finding mission to learn everything I could about the soldiers, Czech resistance fighters, and the town of Lidice. What really struck me, from not only the movie, but the research as well, was the resilience of the Czech people, and how they took an absolutely unimaginable situation, and take pride in it. Lidice being wiped off of the map, completely, by the Nazi's, is unfathomable in some ways. The Czech people though, really do take pride in the assassination of Reinhard Heidrich. Because of what the Nazi's did to Lidice, the Czech people have taken complete ownership of Lidice and even name children after the town as to show respect and never forget what happened there. I would highly recommend this movie. It can be hard to watch, but it is truly moving and has given me a new found respect for the human spirit.
If you are looking for a movie about World War II that has a happy ending and everything ends up well for the protagonists, then "Anthropoid" is probably not the movie for you. I went into this movie not knowing anything about Project Anthropoid as I wanted to be fully in the moment of the movie and not always be aware of the next step. The heroes of the movie are constantly in trouble and steps away from being caught or having their plan foiled. With that being said, I really enjoyed watching the interactions between all of the characters and how they developed during the movie. It really made me even more aware of the atrocities that happened during World War II, that go so much farther than concentration camps. This movie made me aware of Lidice and what happened to that town because of Project Anthropoid. This movie caused me to go on a fact finding mission to learn everything I could about the soldiers, Czech resistance fighters, and the town of Lidice. What really struck me, from not only the movie, but the research as well, was the resilience of the Czech people, and how they took an absolutely unimaginable situation, and take pride in it. Lidice being wiped off of the map, completely, by the Nazi's, is unfathomable in some ways. The Czech people though, really do take pride in the assassination of Reinhard Heidrich. Because of what the Nazi's did to Lidice, the Czech people have taken complete ownership of Lidice and even name children after the town as to show respect and never forget what happened there. I would highly recommend this movie. It can be hard to watch, but it is truly moving and has given me a new found respect for the human spirit.
Cultural Reflections Project 4: Famous Czechs, Bio Poem (Pixlr)
Cultural Reflections Project 5: Urban Neighborhood Analysis (from Field Research)
Sometimes, taking the wrong , sends you in the right direction. Tori and I wandered onto Tram 22 in Prague, headed for a doughnut shop, but instead ended up in a beautiful part of the city, Petrin Hill.
As soon as we walked off of the tram, we were greeted with a beautiful produce market. People were buying fruits and vegetables for lunch. The outside of the door is covered with graffiti, but that seems to belong area. It added an interesting layer to the entire store. A nice, clean, and sterile market, and a disheveled door leading you inside, almost as if it is a respite from the heat of the day.
From here, we looked across the street and saw a Monument for the Victims of Communism. It is a very difficult walk up to the sculptures themselves, and even more of a walk if you want to get to the very top of the monument, as I did. From here, what I noticed was the lack of graffiti. The area surrounding the monument was pristine, no litter, no graffiti, just love, flowers, and respect for those who lost their lives. This vantage point also gave me a great view of the buildings around. The buildings are more cohesive than other buildings around the town. There seems to be more of a minimalist vibe going on around this neighborhood than others I had been to.
Tori and I decided to walk to the left and venture more into Petrin Hill. We walked past beautiful gardens and a serpent fountain that fit so well into the garden, we almost missed it. If it wasn't for the trail of water it left, we would have walked right past it. We walked past the Funicular Railway, where at least twenty people were waiting for a ride to the top of Petrin Hill for a truly gorgeous view. Tori and I decided to keep walking and found a fountain where people come to eat lunch.
As we continued walking, we came upon a playground and a kindergarten school. The playground had many children playing and made me take a step back and truly think about the neighborhood. Prior to this, I had only seen what was right outside my hotel, and where George took us. Everything was very fast paced and not really "family friendly", meaning, no parks or playgrounds. This neighborhood was completely different. It was very welcoming for families and made room for them. The school even backed right up to the park and was a beautiful backdrop for the children. As we were leaving the school, we caught a glimpse of parents walking their daughter to school. It was great to listen to their conversation as they made their way to school.
As we made the decision to head back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a vegetarian restaurant and a shop that specializes in accessories and food for dogs. I truly love that there are dogs everywhere. The city is so inviting and feels complete with the animals walking around. Before we headed back to the tram for another adventure in public transportation, I got the most amazing mango gelato I have ever had. It tasted like eating a fresh mango right from the tree.
This town was a nice respite from the fast-paced area we had seen prior. I will definitely be going here again when I need a calm day and to be surrounded by nature.
As soon as we walked off of the tram, we were greeted with a beautiful produce market. People were buying fruits and vegetables for lunch. The outside of the door is covered with graffiti, but that seems to belong area. It added an interesting layer to the entire store. A nice, clean, and sterile market, and a disheveled door leading you inside, almost as if it is a respite from the heat of the day.
From here, we looked across the street and saw a Monument for the Victims of Communism. It is a very difficult walk up to the sculptures themselves, and even more of a walk if you want to get to the very top of the monument, as I did. From here, what I noticed was the lack of graffiti. The area surrounding the monument was pristine, no litter, no graffiti, just love, flowers, and respect for those who lost their lives. This vantage point also gave me a great view of the buildings around. The buildings are more cohesive than other buildings around the town. There seems to be more of a minimalist vibe going on around this neighborhood than others I had been to.
Tori and I decided to walk to the left and venture more into Petrin Hill. We walked past beautiful gardens and a serpent fountain that fit so well into the garden, we almost missed it. If it wasn't for the trail of water it left, we would have walked right past it. We walked past the Funicular Railway, where at least twenty people were waiting for a ride to the top of Petrin Hill for a truly gorgeous view. Tori and I decided to keep walking and found a fountain where people come to eat lunch.
As we continued walking, we came upon a playground and a kindergarten school. The playground had many children playing and made me take a step back and truly think about the neighborhood. Prior to this, I had only seen what was right outside my hotel, and where George took us. Everything was very fast paced and not really "family friendly", meaning, no parks or playgrounds. This neighborhood was completely different. It was very welcoming for families and made room for them. The school even backed right up to the park and was a beautiful backdrop for the children. As we were leaving the school, we caught a glimpse of parents walking their daughter to school. It was great to listen to their conversation as they made their way to school.
As we made the decision to head back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a vegetarian restaurant and a shop that specializes in accessories and food for dogs. I truly love that there are dogs everywhere. The city is so inviting and feels complete with the animals walking around. Before we headed back to the tram for another adventure in public transportation, I got the most amazing mango gelato I have ever had. It tasted like eating a fresh mango right from the tree.
This town was a nice respite from the fast-paced area we had seen prior. I will definitely be going here again when I need a calm day and to be surrounded by nature.
Cultural Reflections Project 6: Czech Education Analysis (from Field Research)
Post your analysis here...
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Cultural Reflections Project 7: Czech Literature Analysis (from Field Research)
Hatchet Man - Kafkaesque
There were warnings all over campus about a Hatchet Man who supposedly abused and killed a woman in Devil’s Neck. All of the girls were warned to walk in pairs and to stay in brightly lit areas to go out at night.
Hannah and Alison were staying on campus over Thanksgiving break. They tired of being bored, so decided to go out and see what was going on around campus. As soon as they left the dorm room, they saw blood in the hallway.
Hannah turned to Jasmine and asked, “Where should we eat?”
As always, indecisive Alison left it up to Hannah, who decided upon the local bar.
When they got to the bar, it was deserted, but Hannah and Alison were determined to eat, so Hanna went into the kitchen and started cooking dinner. Alison started the jukebox and started dancing. Soon, a few more people came to the bar and started ordering food.
After Hannah finished cooking for her the patrons, she decided to go home for the night. She was full from food and drink. Alison decided to stay back at the bar and clean up after everyone had left. On the way home, Hannah remembered about the warnings of the Hatchet Man. She wondered if he had attacked anyone tonight and decided to check her phone for news stories….nothing new yet. She ran home, constantly checking over her shoulder for Alison.
After she returned home, she decided to call Alison to see how clean up was going. Hannah decided to get a shower and relax. She enjoyed the peace and quiet of the dorm and the freedom of being the only one around.
She finally called Alison, but the phone went straight to voicemail. Hannah decided to wait up for her friend to return. While she was waiting, she heard a voice in the hallway, but couldn’t make out what was being said. She ran to open the door, in case it was Alison, but instead unlocked the door so Jasmine wouldn’t have to fumble for the key. Alison, was a clumsy girl after all.
When no one entered the room, Hannah went to sleep.
In the morning, when she awoke, she saw a shadow in the door frame. Hannah yelled at Alison to stop letting the heat out because she was getting cold.
In that moment, Hannah turned to the left and saw Alison body strewn across the floor in a pool of blood. The shadow in the door frame walked away and as he did, he asked if Hannah knew of any good places to eat in the area. Before Hannah could respond, a hatchet came flying across the room.
"It must be a dream...." she said out loud because Allison was in her bed sleeping.
That evening, the girls tired of being alone in the dorm, so they decided to go out and see what was going on around campus.
Hatchet Man - Kafkaesque
There were warnings all over campus about a Hatchet Man who supposedly abused and killed a woman in Devil’s Neck. All of the girls were warned to walk in pairs and to stay in brightly lit areas to go out at night.
Hannah and Alison were staying on campus over Thanksgiving break. They tired of being bored, so decided to go out and see what was going on around campus. As soon as they left the dorm room, they saw blood in the hallway.
Hannah turned to Jasmine and asked, “Where should we eat?”
As always, indecisive Alison left it up to Hannah, who decided upon the local bar.
When they got to the bar, it was deserted, but Hannah and Alison were determined to eat, so Hanna went into the kitchen and started cooking dinner. Alison started the jukebox and started dancing. Soon, a few more people came to the bar and started ordering food.
After Hannah finished cooking for her the patrons, she decided to go home for the night. She was full from food and drink. Alison decided to stay back at the bar and clean up after everyone had left. On the way home, Hannah remembered about the warnings of the Hatchet Man. She wondered if he had attacked anyone tonight and decided to check her phone for news stories….nothing new yet. She ran home, constantly checking over her shoulder for Alison.
After she returned home, she decided to call Alison to see how clean up was going. Hannah decided to get a shower and relax. She enjoyed the peace and quiet of the dorm and the freedom of being the only one around.
She finally called Alison, but the phone went straight to voicemail. Hannah decided to wait up for her friend to return. While she was waiting, she heard a voice in the hallway, but couldn’t make out what was being said. She ran to open the door, in case it was Alison, but instead unlocked the door so Jasmine wouldn’t have to fumble for the key. Alison, was a clumsy girl after all.
When no one entered the room, Hannah went to sleep.
In the morning, when she awoke, she saw a shadow in the door frame. Hannah yelled at Alison to stop letting the heat out because she was getting cold.
In that moment, Hannah turned to the left and saw Alison body strewn across the floor in a pool of blood. The shadow in the door frame walked away and as he did, he asked if Hannah knew of any good places to eat in the area. Before Hannah could respond, a hatchet came flying across the room.
"It must be a dream...." she said out loud because Allison was in her bed sleeping.
That evening, the girls tired of being alone in the dorm, so they decided to go out and see what was going on around campus.
Cultural Reflections Project 8: Czech Art/Visual Analysis (from Field Research)
The Kampa museum is beautiful and set inside a park and by the river that cuts through Prague. Upon arriving, the first piece of art that caught my eye were the carved tree trunks. The sculpture looks like one big tree trunk has been split and carved into three different parts. The outside of the trunks haven't been touched, but the inside are carved up. When I first looked at this, it made me think of how cultures are always moving towards industrialization and this sculpture showed the process. We, as a society, need the wood and need to live with the wood, it has to suit our purpose, and from there, we try to improve upon the wood and make our lives better. Throughout history, many countries have started out as agricultural and moved towards industrial, and this piece just really seemed to be a metaphor for what goes on around the world and throughout history. To me, this statue is very much like the city of Prague itself. The city is caught between two worlds almost, an old and a new. The city is trying to embrace its history, and move forward.
The second statue that really spoke to me, was of the man on the red horse. The man riding the horse has very long arms that dig into the ground, and seem to be used as breaks for the horse. The Czech Republic has been involved in many wars that she did not want any part of. To me, this statue symbolizes the countries wishes to not be involved in war/skirmishes, and to be left alone (stopping the horse from moving forward). Right now, the country is struggling with immigration and trying to distance itself from that and many other issues that are currently going on around Europe and the rest of the world. The statue seems to want to preserve the Czech people and culture from everything going on that could tear it apart again.
The Kampa museum is beautiful and set inside a park and by the river that cuts through Prague. Upon arriving, the first piece of art that caught my eye were the carved tree trunks. The sculpture looks like one big tree trunk has been split and carved into three different parts. The outside of the trunks haven't been touched, but the inside are carved up. When I first looked at this, it made me think of how cultures are always moving towards industrialization and this sculpture showed the process. We, as a society, need the wood and need to live with the wood, it has to suit our purpose, and from there, we try to improve upon the wood and make our lives better. Throughout history, many countries have started out as agricultural and moved towards industrial, and this piece just really seemed to be a metaphor for what goes on around the world and throughout history. To me, this statue is very much like the city of Prague itself. The city is caught between two worlds almost, an old and a new. The city is trying to embrace its history, and move forward.
The second statue that really spoke to me, was of the man on the red horse. The man riding the horse has very long arms that dig into the ground, and seem to be used as breaks for the horse. The Czech Republic has been involved in many wars that she did not want any part of. To me, this statue symbolizes the countries wishes to not be involved in war/skirmishes, and to be left alone (stopping the horse from moving forward). Right now, the country is struggling with immigration and trying to distance itself from that and many other issues that are currently going on around Europe and the rest of the world. The statue seems to want to preserve the Czech people and culture from everything going on that could tear it apart again.
Cultural Reflections Project 9: Czech Site Analysis, Site-Based Travel Writing
Walking Tour - Southern Meander Český Krumlov, located a two and a half hour bus ride from Prague, is a beautiful and bustling town. When we got off the bus, it was a short walk to one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen, the castle at Český Krumlov. As you walk under a walking bridge that connects two parts of the castle, you quickly come to another bridge. I was delighted when I saw people in cables and rafts floating down the river. So much nature! The town really is beautiful, with plenty of shops and restaurants you can spend time in. Meg and I decided to go canoeing and enjoy the outdoors. Canoeing was so much fun, and even involved recreating scenes from the Disney movie, Pocahontas. After a break of fish and local Elderberry Lemonade, Meg and I went again to tour the town. Just past where we went canoeing, but not easy to see from the street, is an absolutely gorgeous park that twists and turns with the river. We had found Southern Meander. As we entered the gate, we passed one of the man-made water slides (rapids) in the river. The sounds of laughs and screams of delight float through the air. We continue to walk against the current and spot a gazebo where tourists are taking pictures of the church on top of the hill. The gazebo is actually a music pavilion that was constructed between 1924 - 1930. Originally built for promenading, now it is mainly used for weddings, and today, picnics and pictures. The park is massive, with less than ten people walking around. There are benches all over, and plenty of shady places to sit and eat lunch, as other park goers were doing. Southern Meander is home to many other buildings including a synagogue originally constructed in 1909 with renovations in 2013, ans St. Martin's Chapel which was originally built in 1585, but reconstructed in 1717. Once, I was done taking in nature, but mainly because it was time to head back to the bus, and to Prague, we headed towards the gate, but stopped to take pictures of the Church of St. Vitus. The view I got from the park, was unlike any view of the church I had seen all day. I would highly recommend visiting the park to take in the view, remember history, and to just relax. |
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