Three reds, a green and a blue

Czech Statehood Day

Yesterday, the 28th of September was Czech Statehood Day; Den české státnosti. On that day in 935, Duke Wenceslas(Václav),the monarch and Duke(Kníže) of Bohemia from 921 and future patron of the Bohemian nation, was murdered by his brother Boleslav in Stará Boleslav over religious beliefs.

Wenceslas is the patron saint of the Czech People and the Czech Republic. His name is affixed to Václavské náměstí and to the statue pictured above. Yesterday is also the name day for all Men named Václav and today, Monday, is a bank holiday.

Some Czech History: He was the son of Vratislav I, Duke of Bohemia from the Přemyslid dynasty. His grandfather, Bořivoj, raised his father in a Christian tradition. He was the grandson of Saint Ludmilla( the name of the large Cathedral here in náměstí Miru). He ascended to power when his father was killed during a pagan backlash against Christianity. His mother Drahomíra, was the daughter of a pagan tribal chief (hummm...)of the Havolans tribe but was baptized at the time of her marriage (Thank God! Phew..).

After his death, Wenceslas was canonized as a Saint due to his martyr'd death, as well as several purported miracles that occurred after his death at his tomb. Wenceslas is best known in the English-speaking world as the subject of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas." (except he was a Duke)

Solitude

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think. ~Lorraine Hansberry

and this morning....

Forget love - I'd rather fall in chocolate! ~Sandra J. Dykes

Well, not really, ....but thick hot chocolate, sitting aside the Vltava, gazing at Hradčany on a sunny crisp early Saturday morning... nice!

Yesterday afternoon.....

What I do and what I dream include thee,as the wine must taste of its own grapes.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sobota rano...

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~Cynthia Ozick

Lines

The fainter lines are neglected; but the great characteristic features are imprinted on the mind forever. ~Thomas Babington Macaulay

Why is the man (or woman) who invests all your money called a broker?

Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth. ~Benjamin Disraeli

Tuesday... afternoooooon.

Crisp day today. I had some time this afternoon to sit in a café on Vinohradské for awhile and read some financial articles as I prepared for my evening lesson. As I sat there, I slowly enjoyed a glass of wine, and with many red trams rattling down Vinohradské, I worked to understand the workings of the European Central Bank. Go Figure ! ... and I think the wine helped!!

Grébovka

Over the weekend I walked over to Havlíčkovy Sady, the 2nd largest park in Prague, which most people refer to as Grébovka, a hilly park in Prague 2 between Vinohrady and Vršovice, located about 7 blocks south of náměstí Miru. This was the sight of the largest of the wine festivals in Prague this past weekend.

Central to the park is Vila Grébovka(Gröbe). It sits atop its own working vineyard. The Neo-Renaissance villa was built as a summer home for industrialist Moritz Gröbe in the 1870s. It is a beautiful building.

Right underneath the villa is a reconstructed gazebo, Viniční Altán, where you can sit and drink the vineyard's wines, while overlooking this real working vineyard right in the center of Prague, overlooking the Nusle valley.

and so, Autumn Begins

For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. ~Edwin Way Teale

Today, Fall begins. The Autumn equinox. On this day the centre of the Sun will spend a nearly equal amount of time above and below the horizon at every location on Earth and night and day will be of nearly the same length.

I love the Fall. It is my most favorite season. I love the crisp air, the sweaters one has to wear, I love the colors all around, and soaking in the sights in new town. Colors of Orange, Dark Red, Yellow, Indigo, and Brown. I will long for Mother's Apple pie and Apple Crisp with rum soaked raisins. I will miss Apple picking in the orchards of Victor. There is nothing like that here. Anywhere.

Here Apples abound in each corner potraviny, in piles within cartons along the sidewalks, staying crisp in the cool air, along with bunches of grapes equally high and bees flying everywhere.

I look forward to this Autumn. I look forward to good things this season and more... and wish them to you as well. + 130.

..of course they were making a movie...

Russian's in Prague.... again

This week a Russian official stated: “The Czech Government have sold safety of their people for a new toy – the anti-air defense … there is no difference between defense and offense systems. Russia of course has to react to this new unfriendly reality.” (source: CTK)

I went out for a walk this afternoon and stumbled upon this... I quickly snapped some pictures and got out of there after some guy started yelling at me...

Mělník

Mělník dates from 1274 (amazing) and lies approximately 35 km north of Prague. It forms part of the Czech wine region, one of the northern-most viticultural areas of Europe. The vineyards here in Mělník are situated on the south-facing slopes in the valley where the rivers Elbe and Vltava meet.

The castle here, Zámek Mělník, was constructed in 1542 in Renaissance Style and overlooks this valley and the vineyards.

Yesterday I experienced their Mělnického vinobraní, wine harvest festival and it WAS an amazing festival or rather, town celebration. Thousands of people filled the town to experience food, music, crafts, wine and Burčák. The town square is huge, and the smell of wood smoke filled the air as pigs roasted on rotating spits and huge kettles of all sorts of Czech specialties bubbled away.

I arrived by bus about 9am and stayed about 5 hours. A nice time although it was very cold and darkly gray yesterday. Although Burčák seemed to be omnipresent here, another spirited drink comes out here in the Czech Republic in the Fall. Horka Mědovina. Hot honey wine. A nice treat on a cold day, and as the name implies, honey added to white wine and served piping hot. Not to be confused with Mulled wine (which is another story).

The sun did come out for only about 10 minutes(not kidding) but the people, food and atmosphere more than made up for the lack of sun. A good time.

Chilly Week

A week ago today, Prague's weather seemed to change overnight to Fall.... chilly days and cold nights. Bought a tea kettle and hot drinks here in the flat are the norm.

I find as I travel throughout my days from one company to the next, I have been enjoying coffee more and more. One of the nice things about stopping for coffee is not only it's warmth, but the moments one spends relaxing as it warms.

Today: Saturday. Another really cold morning. I am off by bus to a small town north of Prague, called Mělník. Today is their vinobrani celebration. There are also several other wine festival celebrations going on this weekend in several parts of Prague as well. Until later. Cheers

Shining Green.

The trees are God's great alphabet:
With them He writes in shining green
Across the world His thoughts serene.
~Leonora Speyer

On an Insurance building here....

In my many walks through Prague, I have come upon some intriguing and interesting scenes which have made it into my photo memories...

These two icons are to be found on the Vienna Insurance Company building, in Old Town Prague...

hummm, did they know something about AIG crisis in the US this week?

Desire something...

If you greatly desire something, have the guts to stake everything on obtaining it.
- Brendan Francis

It? ...whether it be the end product of a new challenge, that new opportunity, a change in careers, breathing morning air in Central Europe, a new residence, finding that vineyard in a sleepy Czech town, Spending a day with someone you wish to, getting the new position, climbing every vez or castle in this country, or even finding that person you finally wish to walk beside... if you want it, stake it all. When you get it, it will be worth it, should it not fall into place, you can always say, the ride was wonderful, I wouldn't have done it any other way. ...and perhaps the Gods will be on ones side. + today entering my 5th month in Prague

Coincidences

I was walking through Vinohrady early in August, before I began living here. I was in the area of Korunní and Slezká ulices, close to vinohradská vodarny tram stop, almost across from this old clock tower of the water department. I happened to look down as I walked by a paper recycling bin and noticed a stack of books…. New ones, not yet damaged by the elements,so very recently discarded. I recognized one of the authors, James Redfield, so I scooped up the book. It was The Celestine Prophesy (in Czech of course). I had read this book many years ago.

One theme of this book, if you believe the author, is that there really are no coincidences. Events happen for a purpose, or for a reason, if you will, and one should act on this seeming coincidence, or act on what one might perhaps call, chance. Per the author, by acting on it this coincidence, we can enhance a flow of mysterious coincidences in our lives as we are guided toward our destinies. ??? Interesting thoughts. Could it be what some call providence, as well?

And perhaps similar to what Goethe said? ...."the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way."

I believe it relates to any decision, large or small; personal or interpersonal. I like what Goethe said, as well as some of Redfield’s vision. I hold onto what Goethe said. Emphatically. + 4 months today

Another week, and more possibilities......

If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon ...and I am listening ! ( well, trying too....)

...and more opportunities. so let the week begin.

More weekend shots are now posted: http://picasaweb.google.com/a.scott.carey/

...of Leipzig & new : old literature

....was invited to a party last night at the flat of one of my friends from TOEFL.. I continue to meet just really nice people. Last night was no exception. Spent most of the hours from 9 to 1 being intrigued: of a thesis being written about recent literature discoveries; of the concrete of East Germany; of mesmerizing eyes of Eastern Europe; a great laugh; 9/11 conspiracies; German TV documentaries; mitfahrgelegenheit.de; the city of Bach; The Wall; a quick evening, good conversation, and of making another friend, who if I hadn't been here/there at this moment in time, I would never had to pleasure to get to know; but knowing in the end; we would never have a chance to talk again. That was the only bad part of the evening. one of Life's gifts. Danka K.

Sunday

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Author Unknown

A Chapel in the midst of the Troja vineyards... and from there, one of the gardens of the Troja Chateau.

Burčák at Trója

...so climbing up to the vineyards led me to ... Vinobraní 2008, the grape harvest festival at the Botanical garden in Trója on this Saturday as well. Really quite excellent. Terrific views of Prague, lush green vineyards, vines with huge clusters of grapes hanging in the sun, couples hand in hand and families with strollers, alot of food, much wine. ...and Burčák; two varieties; red and white, both with their own distinct tastes, and the flavours change, as well, from wine maker to wine maker; sometimes sweeter, sometimes not and many vineyards from around Prague were represented. Must have had at least 5 glasses... vyborne! moc !

The day while still cool, was really nice. Walking around, sitting at small tables overlooking the Chateau, it's gardens and parts of the vineyard, sitting on a hillside in the grass, tasting wines, reading, drinking Burčák and just taking it all in.... a really excellent way to spend 5 hours on a perfect crisp sunny September day in Prague.

Trója

My Goal today was to visit Trója, in northern Prague. So at 9:00am this morning I caught bus č 112 at metro station Nádraží Holešovice arriving about 15 minutes later at the Trója Zamek ( chateau )... a beautiful sunny morning (& the whole day ) but a rather cold breezy morning; a typical Fall day. My first stop was the Trója Chateau, one of the most important examples of Baroque architecture in the Czech Republic.

I first walked the grounds of the Zamek, then made my way up to the vineyards. The grounds had not yet opened but I got through an unlocked gate and had the place to myself for a bit. Gorgeous grounds and art work. A Count, Václav Vojtěch of Šternberk started building of the early Baroque Troja Château in 1679.

The chateau has changed many owners over time. One of them was even Maria Theresa of Austria. Alfred, Prince of Windischgratz(not sure who he is) renewed the vineyeads in Troja (and don't know when). The last private owner was Jan Svoboda who gave the chateau, a bit decayed at that time from years of neglect, to the state in 1989.

from the Chateau, I climbed via various stairs and paths up to the vineyards on the hill... finding the weekend wine harvest festival. Stayed there well into the afternoon, leaving around 14:30....
a really nice part of Prague I had no idea even existed.

Morning

The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr 1891

Kava Kava Kava… one of the nice, hidden, through a cobblestoned passageway coffee shops here in centrum. Has a nice ambiance, somewhat hippie-ish, tucked in a courtyard corner, with umbrellas, good-sized mugs and good pastries as well.

Wine

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. ~Buddha

Some days it can be hard to be thankful, until we think a little harder. We are breathing and that is good!

and speaking of good, so is wine. September begins the grape harvest and wine season here in the Czech Republic.... září víno vaří (September cooks wine) – and September is indeed the time when all the year's major wine events are held especially in the wine regions of Morava. Prague will celebrate the beginning of the grape harvest - vinobraní (grape picking) – at the Botanical garden in Trója (northern Praha, not far from Kobylisy) this weekend.

Burčák, is the name of new wine that has just started to ferment. It is a sweet, powerful and not unlike drinking sweet fizzy grapejuice, but with a kick. It is said that it still ferments in your stomach and then really kicks you. I had my first Burčák last September with friends in Olomouc. It is really quite a treat. Burčák alone is worth any trip to one of the many wine festivals to be found in the Czech Republic and in Prague this coming weekend. ..but not the only reason. I must go to Troja. ;-))

A week ago today

Pleasure is spread through the earth, in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find. ~William Wordsworth, 1806

Life provides little gifts sometimes when you need them most or when you least expect them…and did so last Wednesday….meeting a friend for coffee that afternoon at Fenix

Amidst busy schedules; Time to catch up; relaxed conversation; listening & sharing of important things in each other’s lives; of new schooling and new work responsibilities and requirements

enjoying laughter over the cinnamon of cappuccino’s.
offering understanding, affirming support …

And all the while to feel time stand still, yet vanish in a heartbeat.

Special. indeed. Hezky stejně. Diky moc.

This week

The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live. ~Flora Whittemore

Was the 2^nd weekend in the new flat. The new apartment is nice. It is so different living in the new place. At night: Quiet. Very. No dogs barking, nor any cat fights during the night (they were almost nightly in Kobylisy), and no planes approaching the airport in the distance; once every minute.

Am settling in: purchasing necessities of apartment living; cooking pans and related things, etc., etc. I am sure you can imagine…. And am getting use to running up 5 flights…. No lift.

Teaching is going well. Mostly Business English at Corporations. Challenging, yes. Really long days. And I thought I had long days back on Gibbs. My days feel very full currently and I am still not at my contract 26 hours per week; so I wonder? …how does one really do 26 teaching hours a week? I am sure I will find out. Stay tuned.

I am meeting some fabulous and nice people at the places where I teach.

That’s the latest. Now off to a full morning of classes. Cheers

08 Sept 08 for a friend

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he ( or she ) has overcome. ~Booker T. Washington

On this 8^th day of September, I wish to wish a special person the best today as she starts a new position that was hard earned. I wish you a day filled with ease and self confidence knowing that you can do what you put your mind to; you already have in so many areas of your life. Best of luck today and in the days ahead in this new position. You will do well.

And remember: Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties. ;-)

Sunday... č dva

Happiness is a direction, not a place. ~Sydney J. Harris

Sunday...