Monthly Archives: November 2021

Friendsgiving With a Czech Twist

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As I write this, you, my North America readers, are just waking up on this Sunday, the last day of the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. I hope you enjoyed a time of joy, relaxation, and good food. It is snowing today, for the first time here in the city, although snow has already fallen in the mountains. That damn Virus is consuming the news again as numbers in Europe climb high once more. We are not in a “lockdown” but the closing of the Christmas markets around the city has put a major dent in everyone’s Christmas spirit. Nonetheless, I enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving feast at The Globe. https://globebookstore.cz

The Globe’s exterior and me with my new Friendsgiving pals.

“Founded in 1993, the Globe Bookstore and Café is Prague’s first and best English language bookstore with a lively and trendy café…. The Globe Bookstore is expat Prague’s literary epicenter that provides a unique meeting place for artists, writers, students and travelers. ” 

from https://globebookstore.cz
When I arrived at noon on Thursday, I was the first guest. Soon after, another single woman, Kristýna arrived and I invited her to join me. Kristýna is a Czech native who sought out a “traditional Thanksgiving meal” in Prague after her English teacher taught her about the American holiday. How lucky for me that both The Globe and Kristýna were there!

While I was enjoying all of this delicious food, my good friend, and fellow teacher, Sybil, was back home in South Carolina with her family for Thanksgiving. She shared these beautiful photos with me of autumn in the countryside near her hometown. So like North Carolina, they really resonate with my heart.

Well, like the Dan Fogelberg song says, the snow here has turned to rain. Time to work on some lesson plans for next week and have a Czech lesson, or maybe just a lazy Sunday afternoon nap. Whatever you do this day, make it pleasurable.

Of Birthdays and Revolutions

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This sculpture plaque hangs a bit unobtrusively on Národní Třída (National Street). No words are necessary. The date says it all.
On the street below the same spot- the night of November 17th. Candles lit in memoriam of the Velvet Revolution.
I celebrated my first birthday here in the Czech Republic with a walk through Old Town and along the River. The building with the golden roof is The National Theatre. As I’ve said before, the views never get old.

My very special student, Lucie, treated me to a birthday cocktail and gourmet confections at IF cafe on Kampa Island. It is owned by the renowned pastry chef, Iveta Fabešová. That same evening, unbeknownst to us, the cafe was technically closed for a St. Martin’s Day Feast. Iveta generously invited Lucie and I to join in. She served me a huge plate of roast goose with dumplings and sauerkraut. It was delicious!

The Hedgehog in a Cage is a very popular puzzle here in the Czech Republic. Lucie gave me the one on the left to solve, and the pastry chef made me one of chocolate, on the right, to eat!
View of the city from Kampa Island, Prague.

26 Hours In Warsaw

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Business Skyline Warsaw

It’s hard to believe but one week ago I was in Warsaw. As I previously mentioned, I had no choice but to fly there for my long-term visa interview at the Czech Embassy. Much to my surprise and delight, the experience was a pleasurable one. The consular who interviewed me was friendly and engaging, sincerely wanting to help me secure my visa. He carefully crafted my responses to the standard questions as I spoke freely about my hopes and aspirations while living in the Czech Republic. When he made his final edits to the document, translated it back for me and I signed it, two hours had passed! So, now I wait. Again. When (and if) I am approved, I will have to fly back to Warsaw to pick up my visa in person at the Embassy.

Ghost Tour Update…..

Our talented tour guide dressed in a period costume Halloween night. The picture on the right shows the Old Jewish Cemetery where some 100,000 people are buried in a very cramped space. The wall you see behind the guide is not a cemetery built on a hill… bodies were buried 12 deep here, each one adding a layer and thus creating the hill. The cemetery began accepting tenants in the 1400’s and the last person was buried here in 1787. Sadly, we saw no ghosts that night!