On the second Friday of September, we had the chance to set aside our daily duties and join the non-academic colleagues for a staff trip to Podyjí National Park. Nearly forty employees took part in the trip, and although the morning in Brno began with light rain, the weather soon cleared up, allowing us to enjoy the planned ten-kilometer circuit.
The bus took us to the picturesque village of Havraníky, where we split into smaller groups and set off at our own pace toward the Devět mlýnů (Nine Mills) viewpoint and then continued to the Šobes vineyard. Along the way, there was no shortage of laughter, good spirits, and even the occasional work-related conversation. At Šobes, we enjoyed not only our packed snacks but also some of the local specialties.
Our next stop was the village of Hnanice, where a joint lunch awaited us, followed by a pleasant visit to the Coffee Wolfgang café. Many of us appreciated the excellent coffee and homemade desserts. Although the dominant landmark—the 13th-century Church of St. Wolfgang with its spring—was closed, with a bit of imagination we could believe that the water for our coffee came straight from that miraculous source.
In the afternoon, the bus brought us back to Brno, with the ride home brightened by a fun quiz in which everyone eagerly participated.
A big thank-you goes to the faculty leadership for making it possible for us to spend a day surrounded by beautiful nature, a day full of pleasant encounters, and the chance to get to know new colleagues. I believe that each of us brought home not only fond memories but also fresh energy for the weeks ahead.
On behalf of the organizing team, Gabriela Vybíralová
The last Friday in September was quite different from the usual routine. Ten non-academic women from various faculty offices had the opportunity to slow down, take a deep breath, and recharge for the new academic year.
Read the next installment of our series introducing colleagues from different departments, institutes, and offices of the Faculty. Each episode features the same seven questions for one person. This time, we interviewed Vojtěch Pelikán, Head of Department of the Environmental Studies at the Faculty of Social Studies.
