Oregon State Men’s Rowing Coach provides another update on the Beavers and their experiences in Prague.
The Beavers have settled into Prague nicely. With the exception of a few mishaps with lost Metro tickets and the resulting fine; the team has learned to move about the city like the locals. Being exposed to the history and culture of the city has opened some eyes. We have left it to the guys to get out and see what the city has to offer and they have taken advantage of it all. The rowers have taken it upon themselves to explore all of the city, from the overt tourist traps to taking the metro out to the edge of town and figuring out how to order Chinese food in Czech.
Monday was our first trip out of the city and into the surrounding area. The team made our way to the main bus station and caught a bus to the town of Terezin, about an hour north of Prague. Tourism in Terezin exists because of tragedy, the town was a Nazi concentration camp; the reality of what happened and the somber atmosphere is everywhere in this small town. For the athletes this experience of seeing the place where hatred and violence once lived has taught more than any history class or book ever could. It was a very quiet ride home and I had the feeling that the purpose of the visit was achieved.
Our time not spent experiencing the country has been spent on the wide, slow section of the Vlatav. The practices have been going well and little improvements are leading to better boat speed. We will scrimmage a local club this afternoon and then load our shells onto the club’s trailer for our Thursday morning trip to Trebon. Trebon lies about 150 km south of Prague, near the Austrian border. It is a town built around the traditional mineral spas of the region as well as the local brewing and fishing industries. The change of pace from the city life of Prague to the relaxed countryside of Southern Bohemia will be nice.
We haven't been able to watch the baseball games over here but the team has been reading the online coverage and is very excited to hear about their success. Seeing baseball come through every time when the pressure is on, has inspired these Beavers and I'm sure the rest of Beaver Nation.
GO BEAVS!
STEVE
