Where Did Everybody Go...

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer! I know in the US summer really starts to happen in early to mid-June but here in the Czech Republic for my first experience I can say it happened on the first of July. Brno is known as a university city and I can see why--there are a lot of students studying here. But unlike in the US--there isn't a session in the summer--the schools for all levels small children to adults were in session until the end of June. Now there is a two month summer break and with it many changes. Many of the university students go home to visit family and friends or do some traveling. I really noticed the difference that first week of July riding the public transportation--it was like Brno turned into a "ghost town". There were two holidays in that week so many Czechs left the city to take a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle. But even the trams have changed their times and routes. I am having to learn the summer schedule. It is quite different than when "school is in". This is also the time of year that they work on major road and track repairs. Right now they have part of one of the main tram stops closed (Ceska Street). Many of the trams I could transfer to was a part of this area--so it has been fun learning where the new temporary stops are located and how to get from one area of town to another :) Even the Czechs who stay here in Brno are having to figure it out. It is fun watching them ask each other how to get where they need to.

Case in point my friend Jirka(George) had to take a tram to meet me in the center of town because his car is in the repair shop. He isn't use to the tram schedules or routes since he drives his car most of the time. He struggled to get home the other day because he went near the tram stop where he got off to meet me. But right now a tram doesn't run in the opposite direction like you would think. After waiting a while for a tram that wasn't coming, he finally called his oldest son who rides the trams a lot. His son laughed and told his father how to find the summer tram stop to get home :) And Jirka has lived here in Brno for close to 20 years.

I've just added the task of learning the summer tram/bus schedule to my study list--it seems like I am always studying something :)

Hope all is well. Take Care until next time!
Blessings,
Colleen