This afternoon at Old Town Square

Some shots this afternoon of Staromestke namesti, the tree in the daylight and about a quarter of the Christmas Markets there as well.

na Staroměstké náměstí

No matter how far out your dreams are, they can become true…...fair play to those who dare to dream and don’t give up… ” ~Marketa Irglova

This is an often quoted sentence from the short speech by Marketa Iglova, half of the singing duo with Glen Hansard, and Czech, from a town in Morava, at her acceptance of their oscar last February(08) for their Song, "Falling Slowly". The British Mirror labeled her acceptance speech one of the most inspirational Oscar speeches.

The picture is from last evening and lighting of the Christmas tree....

This Evening... Lighting of the Christmas Tree

The annual ceremony to light the annual Christmas Tree in Old Town Square, was held this evening at 6:00pm kicking off the start of the Annual Christmas Markets as well as the Holiday Season here in Prague. I waited an hour in the frigid cold. Brrrr. Everyone was bundled up. The Square was absolutely packed; you could hardly move. It was really a stunning experience... and it is beautiful; white lights and white strobes.

The tree is a 90 year old spruce, 22 metres tall, arrived in Prague last Wednesday from one of the national forests to become the Christmas pride of the Old Town Square.

After it was over, I found a really nice, small Jazz pub not far from the square and warmed up with a hot svařák (mulled red wine) and hot apple-nut strudel. I know...I have it rough. http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/czech-cooking/svarak-mulled-wine/

I took the above video... My first posting... it is about one minute long. Apologies in advance for the shakiness....

The Day After... no Turkey Sandwiches ;-(

But... continuing on the line of thankfulness this week...

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder


...but it would be nice to have one of those post-thanksgiving Turkey sandwiches with gravy on WHITE bread(unheard of over here) and cranberry relish on the side.... mnam. ;-)

Thanksgiving...

Remember God's bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude! ~Henry Ward Beecher

Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life... a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year - and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God. ~Ray Stannard Baker

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.
~H.U. Westermayer

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

and remember to be thankful for those closest to you.... ~ ASC

Much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day. Great: Family, Friends, Children across the pond; Great Friends here, Health, Wellness, Sense of Being, Roofs over our heads, and a bountiful table on this day, plus I only have two classes to teach today!! ;-)

After my last class at 7:00 this evening, I will head to one of the several Restaurants in Prague that are actually serving an American Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixins, including Pumpkin Pie! Won't be quite the same as in Pittsford, but
still, I am thankful for this day, what it means, the dinner to come... and many many many other things on this thanksgiving day.

Thanks....

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward

Postponing; Not.

"While we are postponing, life speeds by." - Seneca (3BC - 65AD)

I say, lets fill the day and the days. Full! Now ! Why wait.

Hezky Vikend...

Diky moc. Velmi Hezky nedeli.

Sunday Afternoon w/ Bob the Builder

!!!NA LISTOPAD 2008 PŘIPRAVUJEME TURNÉ BOŘEK STAVITEL LIVE!!! Praha - 23.11. ve 13:00 hodin - Sportovní hala(Sports Hall) Podvinný Mlýn, Praha 9

I spent this afternoon with a good friend and her 3 year old son watching this LIVE 90 minute production for children called Bořek Stavítel(Bob the Builder) in Prague 9, Liben. It was fun. The arena was packed with hundreds of kids and their parents. We wondered about it being 90 minutes long, since it is a long time for a little one, but he did very well and was eye's wide open attentive the entire time. So....excellent. It was really nice as well watching both mother and son enjoying his first theatre type experience.

So, just a really nice afternoon. A good time on this very cold day in Prague. ...and I also learned a little Czech in the process as well, in case I ever need to build something here or go to the hardware store. ;-))

Last Evening... Lucerna Kino

Yesterday afternoon and evening I went to the French Film Festival; Festival Francouzského Filmu in Prague Centrum at the Lucerna Theatre off Vaclavské náměstí. A small Grand Art Theatre that is reminiscent of the old theatres of the 20's in the states. Beautiful, with gold leaf everywhere and art nouveau lighting. Saw the film above... a love story of sorts with a happy ending.. the best type. The only thing better would have been to go with someone who knew French.... ;-) then I would have understood it MUCH better. Měl bych býval tenkrát se ptal, zda... Ja Chtěla jsem, ale... :-))

First Snow in Prague

This morning saw snow falling here in Prague.. The First Snow of the season.. not alot, but enough to coat the cars, some walks and some grassy areas.... The sun is now out, and although -2 C here, the snow most likely will not last the afternoon... But it Snowed !

Žižkov Tower Babies...

David Černý is a Czech sculptor whose works can be seen in many locations in Prague. His works tend to be controversial.

One of Černý's conspicuous contributions to Prague are the "Tower Babies," a series of cast figures of crawling infants attached to Žižkov TV Tower. Currently three of these Babies are crawling around Kampa park along the Vltava (pictured above). There are to be there, captured in animate crawl, until Spring 2009.
(David Černý, Babies, park Kampa, podzim 2008 - jaro 2009 Tři bronzové sochy Babies umělce Davida Černého budou nainstalovány v parku blízko Sovových mlýnů)

Černý gained notoriety in 1991 by painting a Soviet tank, PINK, as it was on station in central Prague serving as a war memorial to Soviet Tank Crews( even though Communism had fallen in 1989). As this Monument to the Soviet tanks crews was still a national cultural monument at that time, his act of civil disobedience was considered "hooliganism" and he was briefly arrested.

He has many artistic works around Prague, from the Babies on the TV tower, to a man hanging by one hand over a street in centrum(don't have a picture of this yet), an upside down horse with it’s rider Vaclav IV( see this blog dated 30 May 08) as well as two Bronze nude male figures “peeing” out the outline of the boundaries of the Czech Republic map into a fountain not far from Kampa Park(Need to get this picture as well).

Happy Birthday Daughter !!

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown

And on this day 23 years ago my daughter was born... Beautiful then, more beautiful now. You have been a day brightener and a heart warmer ever since. Even though it goes without saying, I will say it; I am proud of you! You have fine achievements behind you, over these past 23 years and have so much ahead of you. You are intelligent, make good decisions, carry yourself well and have great instincts. I wish you a wonderful day filled with many good things and, of course, only Good things today. And today is Friday as well! I mean how great is that! Happy Birthday and as well in Czech: Všechno nejlepší k narozeninám! Have fun and stay safe. ;-)

Committed...

The difference between involved and committed is like eggs and ham. The chicken is involved. The pig is committed. - Dan

The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy. ~Jim Rohn

"In the book of life, the answers are not in the back." Jason Bourne

Wouldn't that be nice once in awhile, or even to able to see ever so slightly into the future...

Vinohrady looking out over Vršovice

Velvet Revolution - 19 years ago today

1) Today is the 19th anniversary of the start of the bloodless overthrow of the Communist Regime in Czechoslovakia back in the Fall of 1989. The six-week period between November 17 and December 29, 1989, is known as the "Velvet Revolution". Today is a national holiday as well.

2) And as of today, Czechs will be able to travel to the United States without a visa from this date forward. Instead of applying for a visa, tourists will only need a biometric passport and a travel authorization, which they will receive for free after submitting their personal and travel details to the US embassy through the web-based Electronic System for Travel Authorization. Students and guest workers will still need a visa.

The Velvet Revolution started on November 17, 1989 - fifty years to the day that Czech students had held a demonstration to protest the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. On this anniversary back in 1989, students in the capital city of Prague were again protesting an oppressive regime.

The protest began as a legal rally to commemorate the death of Jan Opletal, but turned instead into a demonstration demanding democratic reforms. Riot police stopped the students (who were making their way from the Czech National Cemetery at Vysehrad to Wenceslas Square) halfway in their march, in Narodni trida. After a stand-off in which the students offered flowers to the riot police and showed no resistance, the police began beating the young demonstrators with night sticks. In all, at least 167 people were injured. In a severe blow to the communists' morale, a number of workers' unions immediately joined the students' cause.

A general strike was called on November 27, where a mass demonstration of 750,000 people took place in Letna Park in Prague. Soon afterwards that the regime fall. A new government was initiated on 10 December 1989 and the beginning of a Free Country.

6 Months in Prague

Six months ago today I arrived in Prague and started a new path in my life, certainly somewhat into the unknown, but yet, I knew Prague, or thought I did, from four previous visits, and knew I wanted to be here and knew this new direction would change my life. From many respects it has; and in many there is little change, but much hope.

Differences: Each day however, is a little different than the day before and that is what makes it exciting. When I stop to really think about where I am and what I am doing, it knocks me off my feet. I walk the streets of this Capital City every day and still see something new each day and have to pinch myself to make sure this is not a sleeping dream.

Differences abound here. Enjoying them all. They are part of every facet of my life now; and many are very different from things in Rochester. The coffee is different - more intense w/smaller sized cups; food portions are more modest, not only restaurants!, but in the grocery store packaging; the pastries - very rich/creamy with a multitude of kinds and types; chocolate – mostly dark; Beer – stronger in flavor, and in alcohol and richer in color; The shopping malls – ultra modern with more petite stores; decorations - simple; automobiles and trucks – diminutive and more utilitarian; birds.. their crows; their wings are 50% white! ;Shops line every street – very tiny and space is at a premium and you have to wonder how they can possibly makes ends meet, and sidewalks - 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" square stones in patterns, no concrete, and finally; parks - they are everywhere, richly populating this city.

But the weather, really almost identical to Rochester’s in temperatures in each of the months I have lived here. Some extremes certainly. I have temperature "gadgets" on my Laptop for both Rochester and Prague, and they are most always no more than 5F to 7F degrees different, and many times identical. Oh yeah, another difference: Centigrade here vs Fahrenheit in New York; am getting use to it.

Well, many differences, and many that might be hard for me to put into words. And so many really great experiences to date. and spending really good quality time with good friends. The minutes fill the hours quite readily and quickly: really quite excellent! So at 6 months … More to come. + 185

Žižkov TV Tower

Rising like a futuristic space ship above the old working class quarter of Žižkov, the Žižkov television tower is one of Prague's most interesting, if not, controversial, buildings.

I live one block from this mammoth structure, and yet hardly notice it at all.

The TV tower is, at 216 metres, the tallest building in the city, and it is said on a clear day it can be seen from a full 100 kilometres away. Often regarded as a relic of the communist era, work on the Žižkov TV tower began in 1985 and wasn't actually completed until 1992, 3 years after the fall of Communism here in the Czech Republic. The Žižkov tower provides quality television signal to the whole metropolitan area of Prague from the transmitter situated at the top of the tower.

At night as you can see, it is lite by the colors of the Czech Republic's flag ( and American's as well)

In 2000, sculptures by Czech artist David Černý of crawling babies were temporarily attached to the tower's pillars. These sculptures are admired by many and were returned in 2001 as a permanent installation.

The tower is 216 metres (709 feet) high, with the observation decks at 100 metres (328 feet) and the tower restaurant and cafe situated at 63 metres (207 feet) in the lower 'pods'. Elevators, equipped with speedometers, transport passengers to the different levels at a rate of 4m/s. In other words: Fast.

At the time of its construction, rumours have also circulated that the tower was planned to be used to jam incoming western radio and television transmissions (particularly Radio Free Europe) and that it had a potential use as a communications facility for Warsaw Pact forces in the event of an attack on (or attack by) NATO.

We will never know...

At the Foreign Police - registered

Here is a shot of the results of going to the Foreign Police; in my Passport, their stamp over their writing of my residence location; Prague 2, Vinohrady on Slavíkova ulice.

Certainly !

The future is called "perhaps," which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is not to allow that to scare you. ~Tennessee Williams

Or one could call it: Certainly. My Goal. Ano ! to have the future be: Certainly, not perhaps.

Today: Fulfillment of a Dream - Part I

You create your opportunities by asking for them. Patty Hansen

In just 3 days I will have been here for a Full 6 Months. Amazing!

...as of today, my US Passport contains my Official Czech Republic long term C & D Schengen visa, approved by the Czech government and registered this morning by the Czech Foreign Police. So it is now Official. My visa is now active and in effect. I am now a legal resident of The Czech Republic.

I arrived here to fulfill a dream I had, just a few days shy of 6 months ago, and as of today, I have fulfilled everything I set out to do eleven months ago, in January, when I first applied to the TOEFL School here in Prague and set my sights on teaching, living, breathing and legally residing and working here in the Czech Republic. Although not at all easy, I have done it !! in total. !!

My visa is registered and approved. With that my teaching position now becomes official; a full time position, with benefits. I am one of only 3 American full-time employees. I will now begin more administrative duties at the school where I work, as well as continue my teaching load. I have also earned my certificate to administer TOEIC exams here in Europe.

Included in this dream was securing the 12 month lease I signed back in August on my apartment here. I have been getting mail, packages and junk mail, so the post office knows I exist. And like most people here in CZ, I have had a Czech bank account; and with this official visa and work status, I will now receive a Czech credit card tied to this bank. I guess that signifies that I really AM here.

You will notice above, it says Part I. There is more I wish to accomplish here in Prague, more I wish to do here and more I wish to learn about myself and to get to know about others.

Finally, a big thank you for the support of family, my children, my friends, both here in Prague and back in New York. It has been this support that keeps one going. What an amazing journey so far. I can’t wait for “tomorrow” and what is ahead in so many facets of my life here. You should see My smile. This is amazing! It has taken + 182 days, to get this far. …and now… onto Part II and more of the adventure.

Any emotion, if it is sincere, is involuntary. ~Mark Twain

Visa Update..

...as I mentioned on Friday, I went to Berlin Friday morning to obtain my completed visa. I arrived by train in the late morning, and my visa was in my hand by 11:45. Wonderful! I can't tell you how great that felt. The next step in the process, is to go to the Foreign Police(FP) with my Passport, with Visa affixed and they must give the final approval, register and stamp it. It will then be Final and I will be Legal.

I have hired a company to go to the FP in my stead. The process all of my American colleagues have had to go through, is to arrive at the FP at Midnight of the day they wish to get their visa registered, stand in a line through the entire night, with no sitting allowed, to wait to receive a number(1 > 150) at 8am when the FP open; then stand in another line for up to 8 more hours, depending on ones' number, to see someone for 15 minutes to get their Visa registered. From what I hear, even in the summer, not a pleasant experience.

I recognized I would not be in a position to stand in line all through a November night in 30 degree temps, so I have hired a company to do this part of the process for me. Although not inexpensive!, it is something I felt I must do for many reasons.

I met with that company yesterday morning, and they told me, baring any complications, I should have my Passport back with my Visa registered on Thursday.

So I wait; keeping my fingers crossed that things will go fine. I trust they will.
Stay tuned !

Good Luck today, Daughter...

and good wishes to my daughter as she starts her new job today.... přeju ti krásné den and nejlepší štěstí ( wishing you a beautiful day and best of luck)

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself. ~Alan Alda

Returning to Berlin.....

Up early this morning, off to Hlavni nadrazi (main train station) and on my way to Berlin. I have been advised that My visa is ready to pick up at the Czech Embassy.
I will return to Prague later today on the evening train from Berlin.

Doors don't slam open. ~John M. Shanahan

Autumn on the Vltava

Election Day - in America

Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall character assassination of nearly every political practitioner in the country - and then declares itself puzzled that America has lost trust in its politicians. ~Charles Krauthammer

Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right. ~H.L. Mencken, 1956

Fall is here in Prague

From the weekend... First weekend of November.....

1/2 November - Dušičky

The Czech Republic observes All Soul's Day, or Dušičky, on the First or Second Day of November( conflicting data ). It is a solemn day of remembrance and reflection, when on this day, entire Czech families visit the graves of relatives. They arrive to clean up the burial area and to decorate their loved-ones tombstones with flowers and to light and leave candles as a tribute to their deceased family members.

I ventured into the main Cemetery here in Prague, Olšanske Hřbitovy, about 7 blocks from my apartment and walked around for an hour or so Saturday evening, as the sun was setting. Striking. I thought I might pay my respects to a friend's grandparents who are buried there(or thought at the time, they were buried there). Of course, there was no way I could have found the correct area nor the location; it is a huge place. Once there, I began to feel, that this occasion of All Soul's Day is really meant to be a very private, solemn time and only for families. I then felt uncomfortable being there, since I was not a family member of anyone there, and I began to think it may not even have been appropriate to pay respects to a friend's family members; as I am not familiar with much of Czech Culture.

This Cemetery was literally filled with families. I left with a sense of respect for all those who were there paying their respects to their deceased family members. Even given the awkwardness I felt, I am glad I got a chance to see and experience Dušičky here in Prague yesterday; it is something I would have never imagined. A Cemetery filled with people all at the same time for the same purpose, with THIS day set aside for this. ...With much respect.

November is here

When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way. ~Wayne Dyer

Sometimes a hard concept to remember, enjoying each step, when days are so full and life just happens... but it is a wonderful gift, enjoying each step along the way.
Important to re-focus on this each day...