Basketball, football, volleyball, handball, swimming, tennis. Am I forgetting something??
Yes, if you're in Czechia, you should definitely mention HOCKEY!!!!!
I didn't know this, but apparently, they love it. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan. While I'm familiar with the NFL and we have a hockey league in my home country, I've never really watched it. So, before the game, I texted my friend to explain the rules.
Her perfect description?
"The black thing needs to go into the goal" 😂
We ended up losing 2:5, although we led 2:0 in the first 20 minutes. But that's not what's important; it's the atmosphere and Czech attitude towards the game that counts. As we walked from the train station to the winter stadium, we noticed groups of people wearing red jerseys, showing remarkable unity. Once inside, we headed straight for Czech first aid - BEER. Then, we easily found our seats, the fifth row in the middle. The stadium's view was stunning (red and white actually go hand-in-hand).
Before the game began, there was loud booing, a sign that the opposing team was coming, followed by enthusiastic cheering for the home team. It was miraculous. During the game, there was a lot of shouting and colorful language (you don't have to be an expert to recognize it 😂).
At first, my girlfriend was even a bit scared (shh, don't tell her I said that 🙊). But in the second half, something miraculous happened... I became just like the Czech fans 😅
To sum it up, the fans are amazing, and the atmosphere really pulls you in.
Now, let's talk about food. They have their version of pretzels, a salty snack folded in a spiral shape, like french fries but made with bread and twisted. Probably not the best description 😂 Just come and see it for yourself, okay? And of course, the hydration drink is beer... who would've guessed?
Some people also ate sausages with mustard, and I must say, it was tempting not to steal them when they weren't looking. But I'll pass; I'm not going to Czech prison for stealing sausages 😂
One final thing I need to mention is the between-play program and promotion. I really enjoyed it when the players had a break, and kids up to age 10 played, showing off their hockey knowledge. It must be a proud moment for the parents and kids to show their skills. This is one of the club's best gestures and a great promotion for young people. The second promotion was for a Czech car company (Škoda); they drove on the field in circles, showcasing the capabilities of their cars. It was interesting, but I couldn't help wondering if the car would crash 🚗
To sum it up, it was amazing, fun, crazy, and entertaining.
I'd definitely go again, but the season is almost over. So, next year back home.
I highly recommend experiencing Czech sports.
With love,
TP💗
