So the day was overcast and later it poured rain, but while we were witness to these fiercesome gargoyles there was no rain and they were silent. They guard the town hall in the quaint city of České Budějovice.
Rich and I did a drive-by a year or so ago, but this time we traveled with my daughter and her fellow English teachers at the Czech Technical University on their field trip. Although the day ended wickedly cold and wet, it was well worth drinking a good beer and hearing the funniest story not fit for this blog one teacher recounted about his experience in a men's restroom at sporting event...
We arrived in Český Krumlov in time for a late lunch. And what should a girl spy in the soup spoon? Why Budvar, of course. It certainly tasted mighty fine with a traditional Czech meal. And then it rained.
Let me say that although I drank a lot of fluids today to avoid the fluid from the sky, I did hear some lovely and very authentic ethnic music on the square and enjoyed the earthy scents when I walked down behind the castle.
Even on a drizzly day the colors were vibrant and the people were plentiful. There was a festival of some sort going on and a procession of drummers followed by couples in full, medieval dress.
We went to visit Rich's friend Eva and her husband Bob for dinner. Not only was conversation fun and lively, but they served us a home-cooked meal as well! Ahhh. The taste sensation! It was really comforting food. Especially the soup made with fresh mushrooms he hand picked. Like many people in Prague, they have a country cottage to escape to where the wild things grow.
Their daughter is studying chemistry and was preparing for an exam. She came out of her room to ask for her father's help. My days of equations are long since finished and I make no pretense of any lingering knowledge. Rich, the ever curious, wanted a peek. Here he is telling her that it all looks Greek to him!
At the top of Petrin Hill is a magnificent rose garden. Not only are the flowers beautiful, but the scents are unusual and delicious! It seems a bit offbeat to remember the lovely, constant buzzing of thousands of bees who were also enjoying the rose garden whilst hearing the drone of the man in the street below our flat's windows, advocating the pub crawl. Unfortunately, this boisterous event is very popular and has provided us with unpleasant colors and odors on occasion! Now, back to the rose garden...
...maybe they could give me directions! I had made yet another wrong turn and had just passed this garage door when I went back for another look. It was an amazing door. Prague may confound me, but it also astounds me. The door had multiple panels covered in identical heads facing different directions. This particular shot shows you how it is rolling into the wall as it opens. I can't say as I've ever seen a garage door with this much craftsmanship. Have you?
Last year we had difficulty getting the internet in our flat to work consistently. This year it is the same. When I am too frustrated I walk to a local kavarna and order coffee or tea with my wifi. What goes best with your wifi?
So my daughter is here in Prague at the same time as I am. She came to visit me yesterday for the comfort of familiarity and some home-cooked food. As we passed this glass door on the old town square the sun was actually shining and lighting up the buildings so we stopped on our way to the metro. We are the figures in the far right of the reflection. My daughter is on the left, and it is fascinating how much she looks like I did only a few years ago... (except of course I wasn't in Europe traveling!)
Richard might go for the whiskey, but we were in Vinohrady after all, so I went for the red wine. We had wandered out looking for an after dinner drink, but were suddenly disenchanted with the old city. Strange, huh? Here we are smack dab in the middle of one of the oldest, most enchanting cities in Europe (don't dispute me here, let's keep going with it) and it's not as if we don't appreciate it. Every time I pass through the square and look up at the Chram Tyn towers I can't help but agree with all of my fellow tourists pointing their cameras at them. But it is not a neighborhood and as we have discovered, Rich and I crave neighborhoods. Especially ones with a lovely, woody kavarna.
Rich and I went to visit a friend in a small town outside of Prague, called Revnice. We had fun taking a regional rail train and then walking to her house. It was mostly a beautiful day, but each time we tried to sit in the garden to eat a rain cloud would blow over and spit on us. We sat on her porch and the cloud opened up and it poured rain down! We had a lovely time talking and eating and drinking.
Not so many years ago if you ate at a restaurant you could expect to find only typical Czech food. This is delicious and good, but Prague is a big city with millions of people visiting each year. Our friends Beata and George remember when an Italian first came and opened up a pizza place, which they frequent with delight. Now, there seems to be no end of choice.
Rich and I took our morning walk and passed numerous restaurants: Thai, Afghan, Asian, Irish, and so many more! And so much is in English. The signs in the belly of the city are often in both English and Czech (although this one is only English) and the menus too.
Prague is assuredly an international city and gets more glitzy and glamorous each time I visit. But the old buildings remain and the native Czech still live each day with their traditions, tolerating the foreign tourists and even having a few laughs at our expense :-D
Beata and George are two very fun-loving people that live and work in Prague. And they have a beautiful office full of delicious wine too! Last year we were living in Vinohrady, which we enjoyed very much, but this year we are in Stare Mesto practically around the corner from Beata and George. It means we can pop in to say hello. And play cork tricks.
We have been here nearly a week, but suffering from jet lag and needing to work instead of play, so no Prague pictures until today. And yet every day just looking out the windows off the kitchen makes me a bit giddy!
The first apartment we contracted was damaged by water and we were lucky to land in this one on Dlouha. It is good to have good friends! Let me show you...
This is our lovely bedroom with a balcony overlooking the inside of the block where everyone has their porches and balconies and there is a tiny bit of a courtyard.
This is the second bedroom where I have set up my "office". My tray table packs nicely in my suitcase and sets up anywhere at any height. The ceilings throughout are quite high and so when Rich is talking to me from the living room, the sound sort of bounces around and comes to me in a bit of a jumble. It makes for good concentration on work!
This is the bathroom I don't use. Toilet, bidet and HUGE tub. There is a not-so-photogenic bathroom with a shower and then a closet in between the two bathrooms with a toilet - a toilet closet.
I thought I would get lost in the space but it is growing on me. Today the cleaning lady came in and she really cleaned. Could this be my life? It feels a bit odd, like wearing new clothes without washing them first. Something tells me I'll adjust...
There is something special about babies when they sleep soundly in what should be the most uncomfortable positions ever. For example the grandson in his stroller. His right arm should be on pins and needles and his neck stiffened into a permanent crook. But not. He woke up just as nimble and pliable as a rubber band.
In New York just about anything can happen. And while the grandson was being walked into sweet dreams, what should we spy but Spiderman! How fun is that? He was swinging around the barbed wire. How many superheroes have you spotted today?
I had the pleasure of visiting my childhood friend, Beth, recently and her house of wonders. It really was a joy.
The colors are invigorating.
The sound of feet on the wood floor makes me feel like a cat.
And what did I spy out the back door? It seems a hot tub has moved in!
The most fun of all was encouraging Isabelle to chase the end of a string on the other end of which was me, running shamelessly around the house giggling. And after that she was kind enough to pose for me!
While visiting in Philadelphia last week I had a lot of fun riding public transportation. It was fun to remember my high school days all the way through my last job at Thomas Jefferson University. I've spent a lot of time on SEPTA trains!
In particular I'm still in love with the Market East station which is shown here. From Market East you can get everywhere else. It connects to the Patco High Speedline to New Jersey, to the Frankford Elevated and you can even take a subway spur. But what is best about Market East isn't the connections or even the shopping Gallery it sits under, but the tile walls. Just look at that glorious color! I know I'm biased so if you have a train station you feel is even more glorious, please tell me so that I can visit!
So the day was overcast and later it poured rain, but while we were witness to these fiercesome gargoyles there was no rain and they were silent. They guard the town hall in the quaint city of České Budějovice.
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