Thoughts on Prague

While I still have internet, I'd like to list some things that I've noticed...

1) The toilet paper seems to have been designed by either my father or the communists. It tears off in 2-square portions. And it is neither soft nor cushy. The toilets have odd flushing mechanisms; they don't have handles, but rather "buttons" to push, which consist of two separate sections. Having experimented with all possible combinations (e.g. just the right, just the left, or both at once), I have concluded that it really doesn't matter which button you push. They all use the same amount of water, the swirl is always clockwise, and it is mostly a matter of entertainment/ confusion.

2) There is only one place that makes dark beer in Prague (all other "Pivo" is Pilsner Urquell, which is no longer my favorite because it is the only pivo to be found most places in Prague). It is called U Fleku, and we ate dinner there last night. It has been serving beer (pivo) since 1499! It was rowdy, loud, cheerful, full of song. In other words, there was not a Czech in the house. We sat with a lovely Bulgarian family who are moving to South Carolina. In the next room, there appeared to be about a zillion Germans who spent the entire evening being serenaded by the tuba and accordian. They all sang so long and loudly that we all wished we knew the words! We tried to think of some American drinking songs, but only came up with "American Pie" and maybe the Grant Union Fight Song. Any suggestions?

3) I miss the sun. We've only seen it about a day and a half so far. It hasn't rained, but it's been foggy and smoggy the past week. In Gunnison, one of our claims to fame is that we have an average of over 300 days of sun per year. Not so for Prague.

4) There are not many places to see geology in Prague. Although the buildings appear to be made of stone, they are almost always actually made of cement. Inside St Vitus Cathedral (construction began during the 10th century) there were fossiliferous floor stones and columns:

When we visited the Jewish Quarter (Josephov), there were lots of Marly Limestone headstones in the cemetary. Interestingly, the cemetary holds roughly 12,000 headstones, but approximately 100,000 people. They ran out of room, so they began burying people on top of eachother, and hauling in new dirt to cover everyone up.

5) Trdlo is my new favorite food. It is suspiciously like an Elephant Ear that one might find at the county fair, except for the fact that it is often covered in whole Hazelnuts. It's also fun to say.

More photos

This is a caveman restaurant that we visited. No silverware, no manners, nothing else like it! We had so much fun eating with our hands and being grunted at by the waitstaff (who yell and grunt and dress like cavemen/cavewomen). We played a primitive dice game and I rolled an eye, so I had to drink some "unbelievably disgusting hog-wash", Robert got his face painted, and Tim had to eat lettuce. It was great fun! I'm still trying to figure out how to get a video clip posted successfully (still having computer issues), but until then, here are some examples from the menu:

PS- Tim, Robert, and I ordered Turo's Pee, and Mom had the Tobacco Juice. This was all drunk from earthenware bowls.


Until I can get my video of caveman waiters posted, check out the website:

Mom and I went to the Prague TV Tower. It is a huge, weird building on a hill that overlooks the entire city. And yes, those are giant babies crawling all over the tower.

We rode the elevator to the 8th floor observation deck. We got there right at about sunset, so we got to see this:

Here is a poster for the Museum of Communism. I want this tshirt!

Here is the parting shot for the day- the ubiquitous McDonald's sign. It true, there are 9 zillion McDonald's in Prague. Like Starbucks in Seattle.

We did actually eat lunch there one day because it was quick (all our other meals have taken a minimum of 2 hours). Here's a picture of the menu:

PHOTOS!

December 21, 2007
Flying over the German/Czech borderlands. No big mountains, but lots of neat hills and meandering rivers. Gorgeous sunset!

Tim's club- Radost FX

This is the underground lounge. Tim did the upolstery, painting, wall papering, design. I love this room! It's so silvery and mirrory. Can't wait for the New Year's Eve party in there!

We spend a lot of time on the escalators to the subway. Some of them are frighteningly fast, others have major wind issues. It's fun to see the posters for American movies like "Mr Magorium's magic emporium" and "PS I love you". I also enjoy the posters for something called "underwear in a can".

View of Wenceslas Square from the steps of the National History Museum. This is where the 1989 demonstrations against Communism took place. Imagine the entire length and breadth (in the night photo, as far as you can see lights) filled with people holding hands and singing. Half a million people. Below the statue is where Jan Paluk immolated himself to protest the Communist regime in 1969, an earlier protest.

The Charles Bridge (Karlovy Most). Prague Castle in the background on the hill. There are vendors all along the bridge, selling things like hand-drawn portraits and paintings of the town. There are also 30 giant statues of saints like Ludmilla (Wenceslas' mother) and Christopher and Cyril. The oldest statue, St. John Nepomuk was carved in 1683. The newest, St. Cyril with St. Methodius, was carved in 1938. We climbed the tower to take this photo:

Then we spent lots of very pretty money. The exchange rate has been about 18 Krowns to 1 Dollar.

This is another of Prague's 8 bridges.

And Tim showing demonstrating the process of preparing Absinthe. It involves a spoonful of sugar, a lighter, and a very strong stomach. It's awful! But I'm glad we all tried it. I'll try to post the video later.

Across from Tim's apartment is a delivery pizza place called "Pizza Go Home".

I apologize too....

Wireless internet is very hard to pick up in my flat. I could have been posting while at work though. Oops!

I thought I would also mention that we went to the Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. The cathedral is apparently one on the three largest in the world. The castle is the largest in the world. About 8 footbal fields would fit in the castle grounds.

We toured the Charles bridge. Construction of this bridge was started 571 years ago. It is only for pedestrians and completely lined with statues of saints. The little quarter (MalaStrana) is the oldest neighborhood in Prague and is at West end of the bridge. We walked through their and had hot mead. A hot spiced white wine.

Also, a lot of time has been spent in the restaurant/Club I also call home; Radost FX. Erin helped me out one day so far and I will be recruiting more help for New Years Eve. We have a lot of pressure to be the best party in Prague as we just got the the results of a poll for the best nightclubs in the world and Radost FX came in at #8!!!!!! We were the only Czech club in the top 100!!!! Hoorayy!!!!

So this evenning we will defy all odds and post pictures!!! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!!

My apologies for lack of posts since we came to Prague. There is absolutely nothing reliable about the internet here. Before I get kicked off again, here is a list of places we've visited:

Natural History Museum- the books say it isn't worth a visit, but that's wrong! It was amazing! Tons of killer fossils and neato mineral samples, and a giant stuffed Mammoth head.

Old Town Square- the astrological clock is hard to figure out, but at the hour it bongs and a line of saints parade past the windows. Very cool! Also, the Christmas Eve mass was not really very "massy". It was more of a concert. Beautiful music (in Czech, so we didn't sing along) and millions of xmas lights.

National Opera- On Xmas day, we went to see a performance of the folk stories of the Czech people, performed mostly by children. It was incredible- the dancing was beautiful, and the songs were very cheery (which is odd because these are the grumpiest, rudest, most awful people in the world).

Museum of Communism- it really is above a McDonald's! And next to a casino! And down from Bennetton! It tells the story of how Communism began, and why it seemed like a good idea. Then it follows the path from the idealism of Marx to the abuses by pretty much everyone after Marx. It told the story of the "Velvet Revolution" (foreign media's name for the CZ's overthrow of Communism). It took Poland 10 years to beat Communism. Hungary, 10 months, East Germany 10 weeks. Czechoslovakia 10 days. Amazing to watch the video footage of people who look like most of us, dress like most of us, and are my Mom's age- peacefully marching in Wenceslas Square, and being beaten by police (uniformed and plain-clothed). But it worked, and Vaclac Havel (essayist and philosopher) was elected President.

Because I'm on Robert's computer (and my photos are saved on Tim's computer), no photos today. I will try to trick the internet gods into letting me blog tomorrow.

I hope everyone is well and had good holidays. We're all sick today, and taking a much-needed break from tromping all over Prague.

Ahoy! (Goodbye)
Dobre nacs! (Goodnight)

My Photographic Handicap

I know everyone is eager to see pictures of the places we are and will be writting about. My dilema is I am just completely stupid with computers. The fact that I am posting on a blog is a miracle. Actually, I have been struggling with an ailing computer, and stuck memory card and the inability to use my computer to connect to the internet. Furthermore, my computer decided it no longer wishes to burn images to CD for me. We haven't spoken in weeks as a result. I blame communism. Tomorrow when the Cahills unite in Prague there will hopefully be some resolve. Till then hold tight and check out www.radostfx.cz. The nighclub I work in. There may be a few new pictures like the room with the blue light wall in baroque patterns is my work. I promise though I will figure out how to get you pictures of a bloodied carp on the sidewalk in Prague!!!!

The Carp Are Out .....

......And the streets are bloody with there sacrificial Christmas Cheer.

One of the big Czech traditions is in full swing this Christmas. On many busy squares and intersections you will find large tubs of water with giant carp swimming around inside. Outside the tubs you find large men in blood and guts splattered jumpsuits yelling at the carp. People walk up, pick one out and the flearless jumpsuit wearing man goes in after the fish. It seems the fish are not worthy adversaries because the men always prevail. Their victory of the catch is followed by loud shouts, so far I can't understand them, and then fish brutality. On the sidewalks in front of commuters, tourists and soon to be owner of fresh fish meat, the carp it sliced open. Blood runs from the carp, through the cobble stone and into the gutters. Once fully emptied of the unwanted inards, the proud new owners pays the large jumpsuited man and the rest of the carp swim and wait.

Merry Christmas!!!