Uranium bath, anyone?

This past weekend we went on a program-sponsored excursion to Jachymov, Karlovy Vary, and Plzen. Jachymov and the surrounding area was previously home to work camps during the Communist era, where political prisoners were sent. We were led around by a survivor of the camps and he shared some really interesting stories about his experiences. The mines where they worked produced silver and uranium, and in Jachymov, the mild level of uranium in the town baths is seen as "theraputic". It is said that a soak can cure muscle problems - I'll pass. We spent the afternoon in Karlovy Vary, a picturesque town in the hills with mineral springs thoughout the area. There was an international film festival wrapping up while we were there, but our hopes of meeting a celebrity weren't realized. We strolled the streets and got a taste of round wafers that are the token of the town. We spent Sunday in Plzen, touring a synagogue, General Patton's museum (Plzen was the first Czech town liberated by American troops, although the following Communist regime denied US involvement), and the Pilsner brewery. It was pretty fabulous, and we all got a taste of Pilsner Urquell straight from the barrel.
My class this session is a Judaic studies and philosophy course, and the professor is awkwardly charming. He's in his mid-thirties, has a thick accent and a lisp, and a serious nicotine addiction. He's great though, and has been taking us out around the city nearly every day like my architecture class last session.
Yesterday was my 21st birthday. I relaxed all afternoon and went to the Czech National Symphony with my program. It was a great concert/birthday present - they played Stravinsky's "Firebird" and Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherezade. Afterward I danced the night away to 80s music with friends, all in all, a great birthday!