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.