Back to “normal” life

blog by Anna, Ostrava Expat Centre Intern from Italy.

It seemed impossible, but it’s happening! The city – and the country – are slowly going back to normality. It feels so great to walk around and see people enjoying their day in the sunny weather. Bars, restaurants, shops, galleries and museums, everything is open again: the energy in the city is bright and vibrant, and I’m loving it!

It’s been such a big shift that I sometimes forget that I’ve been here for months already, because it feels like I’ve just arrived! It is kind of a weird feeling, but at the same time I am filled with joy and excitement: I can finally explore Ostrava! So, during the course of the last couple of weeks I’ve been wandering around, trying to make the most of my time left here by experiencing as much as possible. Here are a couple of things that I would like to share with you all!

Let’s start with the most important thing: BEER! I had been waiting for this moment for so long, and now I’m finally able to go to a pub, sit down and enjoy a nice, cold beer in the evening. One thing that I find really fascinating about beer culture around here is the foam: in Italy we don’t pay too much attention to the foam on the beer. I’ve learned that here it’s a very important part of the drafting process, and a thick layer of foam is to be appreciated. Which is great, because I love getting the “beer moustache” when I go for the first sip! But also, can we just take a moment to talk about beer snacks??

As a big cheese lover, I REALLY appreciate the variety of options for getting a yummy, cheesy snack to go with my beer. I have to say, Czech people really know what they’re doing when it comes to beer.

But don’t worry, I’m not here to talk only about pivo! In fact, I’ve also been exploring around town a little bit. For example, one day I went to the Gallery of Fine Arts. Both the temporary and the permanent exhibitions were quite nice, and I was definitely not expecting to see Judita by Klimt! I also really liked the atmosphere in the building, it is the perfect place to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon.

One almost-sunny day I also managed to get up the New City Hall tower. I’m happy that I went, because I think it’s really difficult to get an idea of how big Ostrava is just by walking around. Indeed, looking at the city from above, I was finally able to enjoy an amazing view of this huge city! I was also excited to look over Dolní oblast Vítkovice, the industrial area, the city centre and Komenského sady. I really enjoyed this visit, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who’s in the city centre and has even just a half hour to spare.

And last but not least, I was finally able to take part in some OFFLINE Expat Centre events! I thought this moment would’ve never come! I had a lot of fun by taking part in the Golfing event at Golf Park Lhotka, but also Music Club and Women Club. And let’s not forget about the Parahockey Championship! Being able to help out and be present in the Fanzone was an amazing experience, I loved the atmosphere there.

Overall, June has been amazing. But sadly, my time here in Ostrava is coming to an end. These last four months have been awesome, and I’m very grateful for everything that I was able to enjoy, explore and experience. I know Ostrava has much more to offer, and it’s a pity that I wasn’t able to see more, but I like to think that this won’t be a goodbye, but just a see you later. So, to whoever shared even just a moment with me or a small chat, děkuji, and I hope to see you soon!