My First Čarodějnice na Ladronce

This late afternoon, as I mentioned this morning, I took bus 191 from Klamovka, several blocks from my flat, up to Ladronka Park for the "Witch Burning" festival celebrating the end of winter.

It was entirely a family event with little kids everywhere and most little girls dressed as witches...some mothers too, but not many. It was nice and it was fun to see the Miss Witch contest, with all these little people jumping over a "fake" fire, as the cultural tradition dictates. Then each age class had a Witch winner. Cute.

Of course, as with any Czech festival, lots of Klobasa(Kielbasa) and other Czech delights and plenty of cold beer. Ladronka is one of the bigger parks in Prague, and today the park was really full of families enjoying themselves. I am glad I had the opportunity to experience this event this year. Like Halloween In April except not spooky.

On Standby...

A Prague 6 Fire Truck on "standby", near the Pyre this evening...just in case.
...and they are a lot smaller here than in the US... but most things are.

Pálení Čarodějnice - Witch Burning

April 30 is ‘Pálení Čarodějnice’(The Burning of the Witches) in the Czech Republic, the day when winter is ceremonially brought to an end. How? By the burning of rag and straw witches on bonfires around this country. The festival offers Czechs the chance to eat, drink and be merry around a huge roaring fire, and for the children and some adults, there’s even the chance to dress up as witches, like as in, the US version of Halloween.

So this event officially brings Winter to an end. Phew, glad of that!

This is the professionally done video of last years event(hope it works). As you can see it is suppose to be a fun event for children and adults alike, where all the kids and many adults dress up as witches to chase the Winter away.

It is based on the old custom of lighting fires on the night before 1 May. In the past, the night was surrounded by magic and wizardry and by belief in the special abilities of witches. People believed that evil spirits are stronger than normal on that night, so they performed rites and customs in order to ward off witches and weaken their power. So they thought that if they made something that looked like a witch and burned it, they could finally get rid of the cold weather.

There is a large "witch" gathering/festival in Ladronka park, in Prague 6 not far from me here in Smichov to celebrate this cultural happening. At Ladronka there will be live music, a crowning of “Miss Witch” and the traditional bonfire with a record attempt to burn the largest number of broom sticks and of course much to do for the children. This event/festival is held there every year but also in many other parks in Prague and also in almost every town in the Czech Republic. It is a big deal and I am looking forward to seeing it. Of course, all for fun and it is especially put together for families and young people.

I will write more this evening upon my return from the "Witch burnings."

Art Know-voe

on Václavské náměstí, currently the LB:BW Landestadt bank building.

yes, the correct spelling is Art Nouveau. ;-)

Prague Castle

Prague's medieval castle, the venue for the signing the Nuclear Treaty a few weeks ago, is a special chateau even on a continent studded with them.

The castle, the most treasured Czech symbol and the seat of the president's office, was founded in the ninth century. It is among the treasures on UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites.

Perched on a hill overlooking the capital and the Vltava River that slices through it, the castle is actually a sprawling combination of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Its most visible monument, St. Vitus Cathedral — where five saints are buried alongside Czech kings — dates to the 10th century.

The Spanish hall, where the two presidents signed the treaty, is a crown jewel of the castle complex. Built in the 17th century for Emperor Rudolph II, the huge hall is decorated with gilt and stucco, 19th century statues and huge crystal chandeliers.

1st pix: taken this past Sunday, the others taken around the 1st of April.

More Interesting Doors

Facts #3 - Czech Beer

Beer was first brewed here in the Czech Republic in 1088(there is evidence that hops were already being cultivated here in 859 and were being exported in 903: With that information,the Czechs MUST have been brewing their own brew before 1088!! Ya think?) Currently there are 88 breweries in the Czech Republic. (Wow)

And the Czech republic holds many of the firsts related to beer:

First in per capita beer consumption - 160 litres/person/year - biggest in the world. NOTE: that is one bottle of beer for every man, woman and child living here per day!!
First Beer Museum in the world - Plzen
First Pilsener - Pilsner Urquell from Plzen
First Budweiser - Budvar from Cesky Budjeovice

Czech beer comes in many degrees from 6-19%; but 10% and 12% are the most common. The percentage of alcohol is about a quarter of the "percent" shown on the bottle, so 12% beer is roughly 3.1% alcohol. Many think that the percent is the amount of alcohol, but it's actually the amount of malt extract used in the brewing process. Of course, malt contains sugar, so to some extent, the higher the % ( malt used), the higher the alcohol... I had to add that.

In order of Czech beer popularity: Plzensky Prazdroj -Pilsner Urquel(above), Gambrinus, Radegast, Velkopopovicky Kozel, Budvar, Staropramen

And The best temperature at which to drink beer is between 7-10 degrees Celsius. Which by the way, is keeping it on the seventh step down to the cellar.

AND Breaking News Last Week: The Czech Beer and Malt Association has said that beer output of its members dropped by 5.9% last year(2009) compared with 2008. Beer exports declined by more than 10%, showing the first year-on-year drop in the history of the Czech Republic.

A Nice Afternoon

It was a nice afternoon and I decided to walk over to the large park not far from where I live: Klamovka Zahrada(garden). As in many parks there is a restaurant there which has a nice place to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine and nice breezes. Its name: Zahradni Resturace Klamovka.

I am always amazed at the ambiance of these places. They are neighborhood places where people get-together, not unlike bars in the US, except that not everyone goes to "pubs" in the US and EVERYONE goes to pubs here. So it is friends meeting friends. They bring along their children and dogs and people pay no mind.(But of course, it IS in a park...)

I may have never mentioned it: Dogs are welcome in most every bar and restaurant here in Prague, especially at these neighborhood type places. And every one I have ever seen is extremely well behaved and trained.

I spent a couple hours there enjoying a couple beers and reading on this nice, mild and sunny Sunday afternoon.

Petřín's Orchards

Petřín is now in full bloom with its orchards taking the main stage yesterday. Yesterday the hills were white with blossoms and there were hundreds of people just planted in the grass taking in the beautiful day and the beautiful views afforded by its slopes.

On an Early Sunday Morning

The National Museum at the top of Vaclavské náměstí on an early Sunday morning(last Sunday).

Audience u Císaře Karla I Festival

“Audience u Císaře Karla I" (Audience with Emperor Karl I) is a celebration of the Monarchy that once existed in the Czech Republic and it is celebrated in April each year on the grounds of the Castle in Brandy's nad labem, adjacent to its park like gardens and pathways. It is a military celebration of sorts and many veterans come dressed in their uniforms and also people dress up as well, in older military uniforms from different periods in Czech Military history. It also includes a very strong contingent of Medieval rank and file.

I enjoyed the Medieval parade and "salute" the best. The town turned out in droves and many from Prague were there as well, as evidenced by the full bus I was on , which emptied at Brandy's... ...the towns people take the medieval part VERY seriously...and it is fun as well.

Good food and drink. The weather was perfect, sunny and warm. A good time.

The Stará Boleslav side of the river

There are two famous pilgrimage churches located in Stará Boleslav, across the Elbe from the Castle in Brandy's nad labem – The Basilica of Saint Wenceslas (the first picture above)and The Church of Ascension of Virgin Mary(picture #2 above), both of which have become national cultural heritage sites. They are almost on top of each other.

The Roman Basilica of St. Wenceslas from the 12th century, said to have been built on the site of the legendary Church of St. Kosma and Damián(I guess), ranks among the most important ones in the Czech Republic. Adjacent to it, is the Roman church of St. Kliment from the late 11th century; all of its paintings rank amongst the oldest preserved paintings in Bohemia.

A third Church, the red church pictured in the bottom 3 pictures is the Church of Pani Marie..

Brandýs nad Labem - Stará Boleslav

I took the bus this morning to the town of Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav (pop. 16 300) which straddles the river Elbe, 17 kilometres northeast of Prague. Stara Boleslav played an important role in the beginning of the Premyslid state(The Czech State). Its fortress was founded at the turn of the 10th century.

Stara Boleslav went down in infamy due to one important historical event – Prince Wenceslas(Valcav), one of the most important sovereigns in Czech history, was assassinated there by his own brother Boleslav in 929. The Prince was later canonized and proclaimed The Patron Saint of Bohemia and a symbol of Czech statehood. Thereafter a basilica was built on the same place where Wenceslas died.

The prosperity of Brandýs nad Labem is often linked with a Renaissance chateau of the same name that was reconstructed from an older late-Gothic castle. It was a favorite summer residency of Czech monarchs, above all Rudolf II, from the 16th century.

Archduke Karel and his wife Zita - the last couple of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy – lived at the Brandýs Chateau before the First World War.

It is because of them I ventured here today, to take in the annual Monarchy celebration and festival called the: “Audience u Císaře Karla I” in celebration of this last living vestige of the Monarchy: Karel I. This last monarchy ended at the end of WWI when Czechoslovakia became a republic with the election of its first president, Thomas Masseryk.It t

a backdrop of the Charles Bridge

Bright Lavender* and apple blossoms

Found in the Franciscan Garden in the heart of Prague.

Situated between Václavské náměstí and Jungmannovo Square, is the tranquil and picturesque Franciscan Garden with rows of white benches paralleling its walkways, numerous apple trees, a couple fountains, ivy covered walls, rose trellis', pretty flower and herb beds and a children’s corner, all just a few steps away from the busiest streets of Prague.

You will find a mixture of people there at any time of the day; eating their lunch, enjoying an ice cream cone, reading, strolling the baby carriages or just sitting in the sun. A total oasis of calm.

It was built in 1348. The Franciscans took ownership in 1604.

* or maybe its not Lavender, but the color IS. ;-)

Textures

..on Vlašská ulice, near the back entrance to Prague Castle

At the end of my day...

...and after I have stopped at "my" cafe to enjoy a glass of wine or a cold Czech beer, this is where I catch my tram,tram #9,back to Smichov, Prague 5 in the evening, back to "home" for the night. A pleasant journey taking about 20-25 minutes; passing the national theatre, crossing the Vltava, looking to my right to see Prague Castle glimmering in the fading light, then turning left at Ujezd ulice, to head toward Anděl and Novy Smichov...then almost there.

Photos: Top - looking down Vodičkova toward Václavské náměstí.
Middle - Vodičkova tram stop, where I get on
Bottom - a tram coming in from the direction I am about to go

A Good Book...

Am reading this book by Andrew Eames, a British fellow who rode his 20 EUR bike from the starting point of the Danube in the town of Donaueschingen, Germany in the Black Forest all the way to the Black Sea, describing his journey all along the way. A Fascinating story, but what makes it most interesting is how he intertwines Regional and European History into each chapter of his journey. A really interesting read, especially for someone living in this History. Me!

But, I also think you would enjoy it as well. It is quite captivating. Cheers.

Karlovo Náměstí

Karlovo náměstí or Charles square

Prague Airport is Open

But since I am not fluent in Czech, I couldn't fully understand the Morning TV news broadcast..but it is open for some flights. Also not sure whether any New York Flights are approved to fly from Prague. All very interesting.

Have one friend, whose parents came to Prague last week to visit him, and of course, have been "stuck" here, since they could not get back to New York.

Who would have ever thought.... A volcano....