Shopping.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Up the Hill
To See the Castle
From all angles the castle on the hill dominates. It beckons you to visit, which we did, by tram. On the way into the grounds, we stepped in for a quick look at the gardens. They are extensive but we didn't have the time to give them a proper visit.
From all angles the castle on the hill dominates. It beckons you to visit, which we did, by tram. On the way into the grounds, we stepped in for a quick look at the gardens. They are extensive but we didn't have the time to give them a proper visit.
Trolling for Votes
On the Senate Grounds
We stumbled onto the Senate grounds purely by happenstance. We were wandering down a deserted street and stepped through a gate to find a lovely open space. On one end is the senate building itself.
We stumbled onto the Senate grounds purely by happenstance. We were wandering down a deserted street and stepped through a gate to find a lovely open space. On one end is the senate building itself.
Tracking Time
Lots of Interesting Clocks
Here's one that uses what sun there is to give you an approximate idea of the time. If I read this one right, it only works from 3pm onwards? I cannot figure out what light it uses at night.... Moon light?
Here's one that uses what sun there is to give you an approximate idea of the time. If I read this one right, it only works from 3pm onwards? I cannot figure out what light it uses at night.... Moon light?
Street Scenes
It's a Beautiful Place
The tourists are annoying and all the asvertising signs are annoying but there is no denying that the old core of the city is very beautiful. They just don't make buildings like this any longer. This is the sight you see after crossing through the Western gate of the Charles bridge.
The tourists are annoying and all the asvertising signs are annoying but there is no denying that the old core of the city is very beautiful. They just don't make buildings like this any longer. This is the sight you see after crossing through the Western gate of the Charles bridge.
The Charles Bridge
Tourist Ground Zero - For a Good Reason
This is where it's at - the Charles bridge. It's a beautiful medieval bridge loaded with sculptures and wonderful gates at either end. We walked north along the river towards it and snapped a photo of the cathedral above it.
This is where it's at - the Charles bridge. It's a beautiful medieval bridge loaded with sculptures and wonderful gates at either end. We walked north along the river towards it and snapped a photo of the cathedral above it.
Cafe Life
It's Pretty Sweet
There are no end to the cafes the dot Prague, they're everywhere. We went to one near our hotel a few times for some uppity macchiattos and some magazine reading.
There are no end to the cafes the dot Prague, they're everywhere. We went to one near our hotel a few times for some uppity macchiattos and some magazine reading.
Transport...
The Alternate Kind...
There are a lot of ways to get around here. One of the more popular is riding in the back of a jalopy with the top down. I've not seen this anywhere else.
There are a lot of ways to get around here. One of the more popular is riding in the back of a jalopy with the top down. I've not seen this anywhere else.
Modes of Transport...
The Normal Kind...
I liked the trams the best. They have old ones and newer ones - either way you get to see the city pass by as you go.
I liked the trams the best. They have old ones and newer ones - either way you get to see the city pass by as you go.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Eating - Part II
A Real Czech Dinner
In a dark cellar-like space, we ordered two staples: pork schnitzel and beef goulash with a side of grilled potatoes and a potato-mushroom soup to start. I think I can summarize Czech as follows: meat, potatoes, dumplings, gravy and some form of cabbage. I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong. It's good stuff.
In a dark cellar-like space, we ordered two staples: pork schnitzel and beef goulash with a side of grilled potatoes and a potato-mushroom soup to start. I think I can summarize Czech as follows: meat, potatoes, dumplings, gravy and some form of cabbage. I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong. It's good stuff.
Ducking the Paparazzi
Or, Paparazzo, Rather...
There was this chick with a camera tailing me the whole trip, trying to snap photos of me. I managed to duck her a few times but every now and then she was successful. Usually with my big bald spot showing, thanks a lot!
There was this chick with a camera tailing me the whole trip, trying to snap photos of me. I managed to duck her a few times but every now and then she was successful. Usually with my big bald spot showing, thanks a lot!
The Chesnut Tree Debate
We Need Your Expertise Pops
They overhack their trees in Prague - like they do in Paris - keeping a control over nature to create perfect sight lines. I posited that the bulbous knuckles are the result of clipping at the same point each year, creating nubs of abandoned branches - nothing to do with the species of tree. Pingles doesn't believe me, she said to ask you, the expert. What say you? Feel free to take her side to make her feel better, we both know the truth...
They overhack their trees in Prague - like they do in Paris - keeping a control over nature to create perfect sight lines. I posited that the bulbous knuckles are the result of clipping at the same point each year, creating nubs of abandoned branches - nothing to do with the species of tree. Pingles doesn't believe me, she said to ask you, the expert. What say you? Feel free to take her side to make her feel better, we both know the truth...
The Stones...
This is a City of Stones
Every single thing here is made of some form of stone. All the buildings, the streets, the sidewalks. Every sidewalk looks something like this - small stones arranged in patterns. You can tell they've been walked upon for hundreds of years, they're uneven, worn down, broken. Just thinking about the manual work it took to create these is mind-boggling.
Every single thing here is made of some form of stone. All the buildings, the streets, the sidewalks. Every sidewalk looks something like this - small stones arranged in patterns. You can tell they've been walked upon for hundreds of years, they're uneven, worn down, broken. Just thinking about the manual work it took to create these is mind-boggling.
Street Art in Prague
They Got it in Spades
I don't know what it is about this one, I just like it. What you cannot see in the photo is that the eyes and mouth are actually carved into the wall and are three-dimensional.
I don't know what it is about this one, I just like it. What you cannot see in the photo is that the eyes and mouth are actually carved into the wall and are three-dimensional.
Eating
First Up, An Institution
We took a short walk towards downtown to Cafe Louvre, a legendary Prague eatery and pool hall. A list of former dining luminaries hangs just inside the front door. This was Albert Einstein's regular spot when he was a professor in Prague. It's an old-world place with wooden floors, period paintings and an antique newspaper rack that probably outdates the place. First shock - there was a non-smoking room. The Czech Republic is in the EU but they still let folks smoke indoors.
We took a short walk towards downtown to Cafe Louvre, a legendary Prague eatery and pool hall. A list of former dining luminaries hangs just inside the front door. This was Albert Einstein's regular spot when he was a professor in Prague. It's an old-world place with wooden floors, period paintings and an antique newspaper rack that probably outdates the place. First shock - there was a non-smoking room. The Czech Republic is in the EU but they still let folks smoke indoors.
Prague - The Changes
They Tend Toward the Capitalistic...
The last time I was in Prague was '91, the summer after grad school. I bribed my way in for $10 when my Eurail Pass wasn't accepted. I changed $20 US dollars on the way in and still had Czech currency four days later on my way out. There were no western corporations, there were no crowds of tourists. Just a beautiful city dating back to the middle ages and citizens who were as interested to talk to me as I was to talk to them. Now? There's a McDonalds every 100 feet. There are so many tourists it's hard to find a Czech. The Czechs that you do find are selling you something, anything - that's what they do now - work the tourist trade.
The last time I was in Prague was '91, the summer after grad school. I bribed my way in for $10 when my Eurail Pass wasn't accepted. I changed $20 US dollars on the way in and still had Czech currency four days later on my way out. There were no western corporations, there were no crowds of tourists. Just a beautiful city dating back to the middle ages and citizens who were as interested to talk to me as I was to talk to them. Now? There's a McDonalds every 100 feet. There are so many tourists it's hard to find a Czech. The Czechs that you do find are selling you something, anything - that's what they do now - work the tourist trade.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Prague - Day One
Checking into the Hotel
We took a cab from the airport and never in a million years would I have expected the cab driver to be listening to country music. I mean the real stuff: Merle Haggard, Glenn Campbell, etc. Prague has a country music radio station. You cannot make this stuff up. Our hotel is just a tad outside downtown in an area called Nove Mesto (which means New Town in Czech.) We're in one of those artsy hotels that are becoming so popular around the world. There is funky furniture and silver ball lights and swirly sculptures made of dyed leaves of some sort.
We took a cab from the airport and never in a million years would I have expected the cab driver to be listening to country music. I mean the real stuff: Merle Haggard, Glenn Campbell, etc. Prague has a country music radio station. You cannot make this stuff up. Our hotel is just a tad outside downtown in an area called Nove Mesto (which means New Town in Czech.) We're in one of those artsy hotels that are becoming so popular around the world. There is funky furniture and silver ball lights and swirly sculptures made of dyed leaves of some sort.
Get Your Passport Ready.....
We're Off to Prague.....
Puffin and I leave tonight at 6pm and will return to Frog-ville on Sunday night. I last went to Prague in 1991, if I remember correctly. It was super-cheap then. I remember spending about $20 total in 3 days. It won't be that way now, but I'm sure it's still as beautiful as ever.
Puffin and I leave tonight at 6pm and will return to Frog-ville on Sunday night. I last went to Prague in 1991, if I remember correctly. It was super-cheap then. I remember spending about $20 total in 3 days. It won't be that way now, but I'm sure it's still as beautiful as ever.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Houston, We Have Liftoff....
I Got an End Date, Kinda-Sorta
In mid-January I will be travelling much less to Paris. I negotiated my way out using an "aging parents" story. See, both of you are getting old and forgetful and crazy in your old age, so I need to be back in NY to assist you. Worked like a charm. I will continue to work on the project, just from NY rather than from Paris. I did tell them I would come over for a few weeks every couple of months (just to build up frequent flyer miles, of course.)
In mid-January I will be travelling much less to Paris. I negotiated my way out using an "aging parents" story. See, both of you are getting old and forgetful and crazy in your old age, so I need to be back in NY to assist you. Worked like a charm. I will continue to work on the project, just from NY rather than from Paris. I did tell them I would come over for a few weeks every couple of months (just to build up frequent flyer miles, of course.)
If there is a Hell, I will be going straight there some day. Best part about it? I had my boss call them and use the story (by the way, he's in on it - the story, that is.)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Nobody's Irreplaceable
Computers Are Taking Over
With the sudden departure of my Mandarin teacher I turned to Rosetta Stone, a computerized language teacher. I'd heard good things about the product but after using it for a week I'm really impressed. I've learned more in a week than I learned in five sessions with my teacher. It works pretty simply - it forces you to learn the language using context. It never translates anything into English. In this screen, the correct answer is the one on the upper right "The eggs are blue." I'm learning to understand, read characters and even speak. It comes with a headphone and mic that you talk into and if you mis-pronounce you get a loud NO buzz. Obviously, I have a personal NO buzz - the Pingles herself.
I'm halfway through lesson one. So far I've learned simple things like "The girls are drinking water" and "The men are swimming." Slowly but surely they add in more and more, building you up over time. I know it's working - today we ate at Chez Xu and I followed Pingles asking for sweet "doh hua" and the lady telling her they were out of it. Simple things - but it feels good to be making some progress.
With the sudden departure of my Mandarin teacher I turned to Rosetta Stone, a computerized language teacher. I'd heard good things about the product but after using it for a week I'm really impressed. I've learned more in a week than I learned in five sessions with my teacher. It works pretty simply - it forces you to learn the language using context. It never translates anything into English. In this screen, the correct answer is the one on the upper right "The eggs are blue." I'm learning to understand, read characters and even speak. It comes with a headphone and mic that you talk into and if you mis-pronounce you get a loud NO buzz. Obviously, I have a personal NO buzz - the Pingles herself.
I'm halfway through lesson one. So far I've learned simple things like "The girls are drinking water" and "The men are swimming." Slowly but surely they add in more and more, building you up over time. I know it's working - today we ate at Chez Xu and I followed Pingles asking for sweet "doh hua" and the lady telling her they were out of it. Simple things - but it feels good to be making some progress.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Dear Air France....
Kiss My Behind!
I flew a different airline back to Paris today: Open Skies, which is affiliated with British Airways in some way. For less money you get a lot more room, a seat that goes completely flat and you fly into Orly, which is the smaller airport south of Paris. I slept like a pig, flew through customs, got my luggage quickly and got into town in a flash. What took me so long to find these guys??
I flew a different airline back to Paris today: Open Skies, which is affiliated with British Airways in some way. For less money you get a lot more room, a seat that goes completely flat and you fly into Orly, which is the smaller airport south of Paris. I slept like a pig, flew through customs, got my luggage quickly and got into town in a flash. What took me so long to find these guys??
I can't wait to go to work and let the British consultants know how much better they are than the French - they love that stuff.
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