tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89680598486846851032024-03-19T01:24:19.961-07:00hydee hoehoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-13223148117420266302008-04-07T11:40:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:13.600-08:00Photos from Hradcany Castle, PrahaHad some time tonight to work on posting more pics from earlier in our travels. All pics are from Hradcany Castle. The ceiling is from another library in the Strahov monastery, and so are all of the cool old books. <br /><br />St Vitus Cathedral<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI5e9nW21CcvdXo5rt2Y2Wkv6lZcMnUzvSHiRskxrlw6dK-jAayLVNE8rUPmJfeweFLEY5F0W16vAcOaUdddpCEB6Y8WEPPFx_RmXo_2jQG7-SOFNP2syck0xVvgKq5RzC1v-eExYKj4/s1600-h/St+Vitus+outside+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI5e9nW21CcvdXo5rt2Y2Wkv6lZcMnUzvSHiRskxrlw6dK-jAayLVNE8rUPmJfeweFLEY5F0W16vAcOaUdddpCEB6Y8WEPPFx_RmXo_2jQG7-SOFNP2syck0xVvgKq5RzC1v-eExYKj4/s400/St+Vitus+outside+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186595544295407554" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYlRFEMajMhsOozvLMd0PzWKI6lieGL-Sla96JS6vSw0q8zLBDNvugUtxsFmUbrygLNesetK8-15sdE-WdnDNvNGGUBbpSlXNsYH81v9k-l1Fbt1QW6-MRe63rdpbMh9imsiI_HoOLe0/s1600-h/Hradcany+spires+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYlRFEMajMhsOozvLMd0PzWKI6lieGL-Sla96JS6vSw0q8zLBDNvugUtxsFmUbrygLNesetK8-15sdE-WdnDNvNGGUBbpSlXNsYH81v9k-l1Fbt1QW6-MRe63rdpbMh9imsiI_HoOLe0/s400/Hradcany+spires+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186592447623987010" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45PKqU9Zkq4jfQYKrgj7_LhJX8hqbnjKFiy512hzr41nKFXZqq8mr9HEVehxVWF9ng0aaB9jQjBxZkrauQEqwyAwOOcur_gzSDf3dv27XMUdzhVTlA2tSMTz-ByvJvnGWq0ssDPBRCf4/s1600-h/Hradcany+spire+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45PKqU9Zkq4jfQYKrgj7_LhJX8hqbnjKFiy512hzr41nKFXZqq8mr9HEVehxVWF9ng0aaB9jQjBxZkrauQEqwyAwOOcur_gzSDf3dv27XMUdzhVTlA2tSMTz-ByvJvnGWq0ssDPBRCf4/s400/Hradcany+spire+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186592447623987026" /></a><br /><br />And now for a peak inside.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUrhDSsh8TcxYl0UW8A5vwQVdWoTknykoMHpSonh7XWbE9ORDv_LzX7hT4mQSRYsYvkXtH8Ku2qMyuyCCLsEB30M8HCbLaUgnewS_MuQodHF9Tp0yX5r3XJm9yW2Nod89mqlNy_wpYYc/s1600-h/St+Vitus+big+view+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUrhDSsh8TcxYl0UW8A5vwQVdWoTknykoMHpSonh7XWbE9ORDv_LzX7hT4mQSRYsYvkXtH8Ku2qMyuyCCLsEB30M8HCbLaUgnewS_MuQodHF9Tp0yX5r3XJm9yW2Nod89mqlNy_wpYYc/s400/St+Vitus+big+view+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186592451918954354" /></a><br /><br />Patron saint of Bohemia, John of Nepomuk. The myths about the 14th-century martyr say that this priest of Czech king Wenceslas IV refused to divulge a secret told to him by the king's wife, and was thrown off Charles bridge to his death as punishment. However, it seems that legend is one thing and history quite another. Centuries later the Catholic Church acknowledged that this saint was a fabrication created to combat anti-religious tendencies by the populace. A martyr was obviously just what was needed to gain the peoples sympathies. The legend of Nepomuck is still very strong today and statues of him are found all over Bohemia. Ask us what our nickname for him is next time you see us...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGgpJwRt_5cqzC3vu2cdYy7sczFRyGwkuc96xR1e20cNBVtJGjY38JCy03yE360iGO60sfujXOqMyWPqpnR2Oni1qzEpEBNDpy6_5MazkXVJ6y9TXafOWcuUyKeUuY5EAxxaj3uChWaw/s1600-h/St+John+of+Nip+and+Tuck+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGgpJwRt_5cqzC3vu2cdYy7sczFRyGwkuc96xR1e20cNBVtJGjY38JCy03yE360iGO60sfujXOqMyWPqpnR2Oni1qzEpEBNDpy6_5MazkXVJ6y9TXafOWcuUyKeUuY5EAxxaj3uChWaw/s400/St+John+of+Nip+and+Tuck+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186597081893699554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcE2vX3u9EUN9H79oRkfxe-G5bHMCVXLiztklUbRMhpLTJpvEJ_itJvrTV-gf3hZbi6nCaeRMqUqRiT7UCvxlp-UvvIL9ZQsCUUQk9YUueXv2WOrAo9ICZaoAS9CpuvdZmI0WYbe9aU4/s1600-h/St+Vitus+Hoops+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcE2vX3u9EUN9H79oRkfxe-G5bHMCVXLiztklUbRMhpLTJpvEJ_itJvrTV-gf3hZbi6nCaeRMqUqRiT7UCvxlp-UvvIL9ZQsCUUQk9YUueXv2WOrAo9ICZaoAS9CpuvdZmI0WYbe9aU4/s400/St+Vitus+Hoops+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186597099073568754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb6quyYGXGY9fZIk9JsSSy94WC9-jfa8wvRnbSu2G06aJNB7OQNPju8hyphenhyphen0hXPI9iPc77bkcdvc2unPxZ2lA8kSB-onprdaeZO6uGtU_Evxl6bQE7QAX-j3suOED738hHNevvORMgNRIk/s1600-h/St+Vitus+Hoops2+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb6quyYGXGY9fZIk9JsSSy94WC9-jfa8wvRnbSu2G06aJNB7OQNPju8hyphenhyphen0hXPI9iPc77bkcdvc2unPxZ2lA8kSB-onprdaeZO6uGtU_Evxl6bQE7QAX-j3suOED738hHNevvORMgNRIk/s400/St+Vitus+Hoops2+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186597103368536066" /></a><br /><br />Please sir, might I have another?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ay9d2rrLSFbe16Q0CcrMFn2ueJZB7JJUkU11PegOhxsF17jSG7djRzVq1dfigauLHisbevYbItQJNNJ5VeH1PEGyHDdSTvhUL2zfxHCSGHiEcXSfWfQov1NcphudcGC51B4YYMyZf9A/s1600-h/Might+I+have+another%3F+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ay9d2rrLSFbe16Q0CcrMFn2ueJZB7JJUkU11PegOhxsF17jSG7djRzVq1dfigauLHisbevYbItQJNNJ5VeH1PEGyHDdSTvhUL2zfxHCSGHiEcXSfWfQov1NcphudcGC51B4YYMyZf9A/s400/Might+I+have+another%3F+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186598610902056978" /></a><br /><br />Poking the devil.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsXG7BWjlJ9gxl1hYZvTQ0fYa28cERiETwbPH7ciV8EssnLum19tP70ZAwClSSaTA1BPTvRszEf1w9UrpC0laZpbVSsdeOXapnoF2sd6b6K8CQog7ByYL9yfmjc6nPQ3YVNKU5mxbRWA/s1600-h/St+Vitus+poking+the+devil+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsXG7BWjlJ9gxl1hYZvTQ0fYa28cERiETwbPH7ciV8EssnLum19tP70ZAwClSSaTA1BPTvRszEf1w9UrpC0laZpbVSsdeOXapnoF2sd6b6K8CQog7ByYL9yfmjc6nPQ3YVNKU5mxbRWA/s400/St+Vitus+poking+the+devil+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186598628081926178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1feF4DnJqpWn1QWJ2MJ_pXG4MxSd5yj4NaAuVPuC1K1klwKmmNxd_MPX-J-59L8Rj-Lqk8U-OhvV4CEQLqLyQrxXeT1v1QU9DBJnWWsfXThOzxURpCdli-qDholj7tMErGTJZUVl7lU/s1600-h/St+Vitus+stained+glass1+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1feF4DnJqpWn1QWJ2MJ_pXG4MxSd5yj4NaAuVPuC1K1klwKmmNxd_MPX-J-59L8Rj-Lqk8U-OhvV4CEQLqLyQrxXeT1v1QU9DBJnWWsfXThOzxURpCdli-qDholj7tMErGTJZUVl7lU/s400/St+Vitus+stained+glass1+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186598632376893490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZI4S49rL-yi6l6Cz8_FEgHve29Z08rDrqKEZjwU46WtP8ubt_jWFTYKid4ob8oZfvmJ_O7bLwvOS9Tijo7e0Z6lgXpnuHPCH0vqH0NrW17A0gvQiLMMCsLrEY8VVuRYFX-sxECwjUU4/s1600-h/St+Vitus+star+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZI4S49rL-yi6l6Cz8_FEgHve29Z08rDrqKEZjwU46WtP8ubt_jWFTYKid4ob8oZfvmJ_O7bLwvOS9Tijo7e0Z6lgXpnuHPCH0vqH0NrW17A0gvQiLMMCsLrEY8VVuRYFX-sxECwjUU4/s400/St+Vitus+star+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186598640966828098" /></a><br /><br />The tomb of Good King Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech Republic. Reputedly killed by his brother who also turned out to be a good and fair king.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_E94wIKFu_QSk051ZBHx3o_vrjScroIjFQxJsdDOYvi201JHTdMWvH8lBEqE1MPf436-sVeHWubWJXQj9EpOWakOW-6jUblRbgICqKSvDjYKLlVC9jPG_D6-XfPkrcSxTc1soRYkAqyc/s1600-h/St+Wenceleslas+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_E94wIKFu_QSk051ZBHx3o_vrjScroIjFQxJsdDOYvi201JHTdMWvH8lBEqE1MPf436-sVeHWubWJXQj9EpOWakOW-6jUblRbgICqKSvDjYKLlVC9jPG_D6-XfPkrcSxTc1soRYkAqyc/s400/St+Wenceleslas+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186598645261795410" /></a><br /><br />Founded in 1140 by Vladislav II, the Strahov Monastery was completed in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was functioning until the communist government closed it. Now it is a working monastery and a museum. Inside is the Church of St Roch, the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and the Strahov Picture Gallery. The biggest attraction is the Strahov Library – the largest monastic library in the country. I posted a blog picture of one of the libraries in March.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiHQkc0v0j8ubDXZBZPJo9hKizRkDzaM40hyphenhyphen9bvhHW7BiBQUp75TxDVU1Gdap9T1rdXKE-QQmddHDsar9BoBtBeOpc7GsC3VVBTldaphtbbEA7tGE2Tq8urc1Pc6qtqgtjZGzPMqDA8o/s1600-h/Cool+ceiling+at+Strahov+monestary1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiHQkc0v0j8ubDXZBZPJo9hKizRkDzaM40hyphenhyphen9bvhHW7BiBQUp75TxDVU1Gdap9T1rdXKE-QQmddHDsar9BoBtBeOpc7GsC3VVBTldaphtbbEA7tGE2Tq8urc1Pc6qtqgtjZGzPMqDA8o/s400/Cool+ceiling+at+Strahov+monestary1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186580413125623426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyenNK7tqyCLaYpJ1xMLWEbg5obK0z4x5hJqSnfVqwYOx1Evd_nhQ-emJws0q-geI_OHH5YkvzqjrJ5Y6rEeXVMYHMsoD_c62_p88NGwJF-KBeqxhd15rg73mUAiOsySNNFQC3phtQC4/s1600-h/Oooh,+old+books+Strahov+monestary1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyenNK7tqyCLaYpJ1xMLWEbg5obK0z4x5hJqSnfVqwYOx1Evd_nhQ-emJws0q-geI_OHH5YkvzqjrJ5Y6rEeXVMYHMsoD_c62_p88NGwJF-KBeqxhd15rg73mUAiOsySNNFQC3phtQC4/s400/Oooh,+old+books+Strahov+monestary1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186580761017974514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MkbBAl75MAAbMYqE_sa4HqCQLPU8MNAoywFOwdT3sEfK0t31pUL2ZzyIDEfD5aIlFKGyZW8UPaehz_7ZlCGT1weeXkGb5wUPBKa69ml4qRA9wXQeGXQ895tMVeEbtzzx5ceX3Lfn7RQ/s1600-h/cool+old+book1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MkbBAl75MAAbMYqE_sa4HqCQLPU8MNAoywFOwdT3sEfK0t31pUL2ZzyIDEfD5aIlFKGyZW8UPaehz_7ZlCGT1weeXkGb5wUPBKa69ml4qRA9wXQeGXQ895tMVeEbtzzx5ceX3Lfn7RQ/s400/cool+old+book1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186580417420590738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgpdVSFR6kJeT6Vpw5r4XiBUZYV3YRATywrsG0VWpSM0LCQM4pp1iJP03lV8FDK7kRar0_zQXdLZW_cta3F4RDPhCShgAQ7oRruih8BXmboP5YeQdCLvdI6Wh8XE0VBMIiPbbdVcl9GQ/s1600-h/cool+old+book2a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgpdVSFR6kJeT6Vpw5r4XiBUZYV3YRATywrsG0VWpSM0LCQM4pp1iJP03lV8FDK7kRar0_zQXdLZW_cta3F4RDPhCShgAQ7oRruih8BXmboP5YeQdCLvdI6Wh8XE0VBMIiPbbdVcl9GQ/s400/cool+old+book2a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186580417420590754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqlpbaxLx71appaWfVb1slzz3c1KEVeL2aKQiG_s8Ma402HyoeXjqxI9hvqCNGD6c4y2rh3K4zQXDIfQzAlUS-IBZdY7BrVOdh7V0rZ_ZiCral8grFSNTQI4ahKLzWvkOzX-9Wzs0fGE/s1600-h/cool+old+book3a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqlpbaxLx71appaWfVb1slzz3c1KEVeL2aKQiG_s8Ma402HyoeXjqxI9hvqCNGD6c4y2rh3K4zQXDIfQzAlUS-IBZdY7BrVOdh7V0rZ_ZiCral8grFSNTQI4ahKLzWvkOzX-9Wzs0fGE/s400/cool+old+book3a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186580426010525362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUhqOXng8WQh9s7WkTy4oC3ElKaIQ5ySeQk9t20QAlWN2Ft3RBxK9zB7TfTzyuypfsrVLLFY5bwxd4Os0znth8X8rpo6LXXT9NzuTUttbeRCIUTo3OrUoCZ3vr3TIoOUSVh6qZtpVJDs/s1600-h/cool+old+book4a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUhqOXng8WQh9s7WkTy4oC3ElKaIQ5ySeQk9t20QAlWN2Ft3RBxK9zB7TfTzyuypfsrVLLFY5bwxd4Os0znth8X8rpo6LXXT9NzuTUttbeRCIUTo3OrUoCZ3vr3TIoOUSVh6qZtpVJDs/s400/cool+old+book4a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186580430305492674" /></a><br /><br />Hradcany guard with the Easter Tree.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOFLMM6Sf73kQ7dmVP_iGbB9HYoLDgC3hTPHI7KbzE5EcgY_5suQ-vWZa3D573eTlidkER9yHxXv3XGAyWfEoTacKv1izKGWeEYc7HysAQKuBzth510b80q2SFaOVCvUAQlk1cZEVjug/s1600-h/Hradcany+easter+tree+w:guard+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOFLMM6Sf73kQ7dmVP_iGbB9HYoLDgC3hTPHI7KbzE5EcgY_5suQ-vWZa3D573eTlidkER9yHxXv3XGAyWfEoTacKv1izKGWeEYc7HysAQKuBzth510b80q2SFaOVCvUAQlk1cZEVjug/s400/Hradcany+easter+tree+w:guard+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186597077598732242" /></a><br /><br />The Loreto.<br />This extraordinary baroque pilgrimage church was built in 1626 with funds donated by Countess Lobkowitz. Its grandiose design, along with the miraculous stories about this place, were part of Ferdinand II's campaign to recatholicize the Czechs. The treasury on the 1st floor has an amazing collection of monstrances. Since the foundation of Loreto, the Capuchin monks (whose monastery, the Church of the Holy Angel Virgin, is in same the neighbourhood) have taken care of Loreto and of the pilgrims.<br /><br />This is the Loreto Holy Hut, where the the wonder-working statue of Our Lady of Loreto resides.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88bEToj5VPYI18m-lpDhwBZ5E1_whwj_IXDpiJn1NYZYeUnK618WDM5Sx0kMIotio45XZ26bQAxy2YgSmLemontOrzKA5CQoZZxvj9wQ45h77jllc6wN-e1SEVIlkPEeQsznA6nGGCiI/s1600-h/Loreto+Holy+Hut1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88bEToj5VPYI18m-lpDhwBZ5E1_whwj_IXDpiJn1NYZYeUnK618WDM5Sx0kMIotio45XZ26bQAxy2YgSmLemontOrzKA5CQoZZxvj9wQ45h77jllc6wN-e1SEVIlkPEeQsznA6nGGCiI/s400/Loreto+Holy+Hut1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186580761017974498" /></a><br /><br />And this is inside the Loreto Holy Hut. Can you see the statue in the back?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLq61BIdWdGo9got5yw1jtyuazQC9cehzfbszDNlTmeUOBbCCMCyv6LLrLsk5bOQ4v6AAkm9cofQVyo2zrwXUPKdXERIYtiRE1Att0T66KHibJT8MJBdcU23NO1iA3ARF-itl5Rmf9ocU/s1600-h/Loreto+Holy+Hut+inside1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLq61BIdWdGo9got5yw1jtyuazQC9cehzfbszDNlTmeUOBbCCMCyv6LLrLsk5bOQ4v6AAkm9cofQVyo2zrwXUPKdXERIYtiRE1Att0T66KHibJT8MJBdcU23NO1iA3ARF-itl5Rmf9ocU/s400/Loreto+Holy+Hut+inside1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186580756723007186" /></a><br /><br />The esteemed Prague Castle Band. We bought two of their compact discs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5jNnsxWTqbIcWKzDhGD9lRrCXUsBRdliPJnCxNDfnsmkGFuGwMF6txWr1WuHpkzOV_MaM1NZgU47u2hkY1QqujQLQXB25laW6E3dcrxSug0g-ipNZLBjrfD6r6FnmJRagBulUMr5LoQ/s1600-h/Prague+Castle+Band+x.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5jNnsxWTqbIcWKzDhGD9lRrCXUsBRdliPJnCxNDfnsmkGFuGwMF6txWr1WuHpkzOV_MaM1NZgU47u2hkY1QqujQLQXB25laW6E3dcrxSug0g-ipNZLBjrfD6r6FnmJRagBulUMr5LoQ/s400/Prague+Castle+Band+x.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186592451918954338" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-32764723851503541042008-04-07T11:37:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:13.831-08:00Train station picsMain station in Praha.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBoFfZDiFwdzlZPoQrMvdsR89Egyy7JN_GgZwOf8AbBmM0yNxUC0wU6TAcDV71sk854N_4zl6acycs97ZZGg5hoLEDNlkSDtM6-6DPx-FZsDDTvutBD2ZyS_1ql9m9vZ0tEsuYZfvqNg/s1600-h/train+station+in+praha1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBoFfZDiFwdzlZPoQrMvdsR89Egyy7JN_GgZwOf8AbBmM0yNxUC0wU6TAcDV71sk854N_4zl6acycs97ZZGg5hoLEDNlkSDtM6-6DPx-FZsDDTvutBD2ZyS_1ql9m9vZ0tEsuYZfvqNg/s400/train+station+in+praha1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186574700819119730" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-10441322428590834652008-04-07T11:28:00.001-07:002008-12-08T19:00:13.934-08:00Taming the Praha washing machineOur solution to keeping the washing machine in Praha from wrecking the bathroom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD81JBSrSsUhUjd0Q0Y1yPaPGPNL-DbkJfhPuxsmpunMOnnZNmP8E8uTVXWeMH7J9mN5HLxyiOAgx5ofzzBtFgDdDkITCMk2AINZpPwxUugmhegr1CNlljYwxBTBtA27JWkqN2TLlrl-k/s1600-h/taming+the+washing+machine1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD81JBSrSsUhUjd0Q0Y1yPaPGPNL-DbkJfhPuxsmpunMOnnZNmP8E8uTVXWeMH7J9mN5HLxyiOAgx5ofzzBtFgDdDkITCMk2AINZpPwxUugmhegr1CNlljYwxBTBtA27JWkqN2TLlrl-k/s400/taming+the+washing+machine1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186574331451932258" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-46016228978606238732008-04-06T12:55:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:14.347-08:00Other deadly sins we might have to try.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihlzVENmOYXvMrhkGnvSqnsZCoFonrm9snqfgOGsat74c6_klxbgvXrhTgi_7FLuC7Obzups3zBQpkhnPveVzJL7rwLKTAj8MVbpLE5p4gA61JbREhA61WLqzMwMiu-jiHk08NFZYd8M/s1600-h/other+deadly+sins1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihlzVENmOYXvMrhkGnvSqnsZCoFonrm9snqfgOGsat74c6_klxbgvXrhTgi_7FLuC7Obzups3zBQpkhnPveVzJL7rwLKTAj8MVbpLE5p4gA61JbREhA61WLqzMwMiu-jiHk08NFZYd8M/s400/other+deadly+sins1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221860665818674" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-73696325580163643612008-04-06T12:44:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:15.935-08:00More photo catchupGuess who? You got it! YoYo here. Just catching up on some pics.<br /><br />As seen on the Charles Bridge yesterday.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xy3fwqAkpmR_KJT88vPwtAF0_WhP3ihKFlc_18zUASTIo3UD44gtl-hvpF1vu2ldfrk8WRhs9frVfr3pvvXqcaN1nX0_SGWx6fHHFui7SRQud7R0LX_OTCmCk3UYw_0ODqgc9Pl6RCU/s1600-h/accordion+boy1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xy3fwqAkpmR_KJT88vPwtAF0_WhP3ihKFlc_18zUASTIo3UD44gtl-hvpF1vu2ldfrk8WRhs9frVfr3pvvXqcaN1nX0_SGWx6fHHFui7SRQud7R0LX_OTCmCk3UYw_0ODqgc9Pl6RCU/s400/accordion+boy1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221190650920402" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSaSts-A7gT1BOFnxnDqFGjIBBIGk969BJjJoigedX7DUp-IWHfYd15soiXLm9KSfdO71bEb4fStI9gQX8bOvowQ-CTBNqhPO2kibzzLf1RP9oZ-6PzqYKYZfFdonTRvlTeaumrHJ43E/s1600-h/bridge+statue1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSaSts-A7gT1BOFnxnDqFGjIBBIGk969BJjJoigedX7DUp-IWHfYd15soiXLm9KSfdO71bEb4fStI9gQX8bOvowQ-CTBNqhPO2kibzzLf1RP9oZ-6PzqYKYZfFdonTRvlTeaumrHJ43E/s400/bridge+statue1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221194945887730" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght7KsQhKcS_LJoZgK3ZSlfBD38mAm3hClGtdRcQLubi3WsJzaVoHAeYK8CjlQToHk5jeLkicymfAHaVwmgfSG1JLLo5vCXD_lup4oK5xm_TEU7dtjMOj9LNZ_3TRElwM7-h41br0g_Lk/s1600-h/rubbing+the+monument1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght7KsQhKcS_LJoZgK3ZSlfBD38mAm3hClGtdRcQLubi3WsJzaVoHAeYK8CjlQToHk5jeLkicymfAHaVwmgfSG1JLLo5vCXD_lup4oK5xm_TEU7dtjMOj9LNZ_3TRElwM7-h41br0g_Lk/s400/rubbing+the+monument1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221860665818690" /></a><br /><br />Who could resist such a luscious offer?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ms0YDmGk2EuMveh5zSbo4d95eJ-6G5ujPRAyHnzU8Iy041_MuU-r799xixysEgM05GNudR2LYiQvgGoCQXcSbFj9ykMdN_YVrNaajNTh8EdVabQOVHezEWKppDo7h81xunrFWNA_Bik/s1600-h/rump+steak1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ms0YDmGk2EuMveh5zSbo4d95eJ-6G5ujPRAyHnzU8Iy041_MuU-r799xixysEgM05GNudR2LYiQvgGoCQXcSbFj9ykMdN_YVrNaajNTh8EdVabQOVHezEWKppDo7h81xunrFWNA_Bik/s400/rump+steak1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221864960786002" /></a><br /><br /><br />Time out in a beautiful historic cafe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkpdWIFqnCxO7PHk5srmUpOsk4nd5vaG__ivZWKNCcobqJ0ANCD-sJxsPOu-Juy8aQm_0Me0NxxmFgljR9ez-G0tcybv5Wx3n51q-YMfdZLwYXL28koSPGm865tRTcjldj8nF6ktF1Z8/s1600-h/coffee+time+out1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkpdWIFqnCxO7PHk5srmUpOsk4nd5vaG__ivZWKNCcobqJ0ANCD-sJxsPOu-Juy8aQm_0Me0NxxmFgljR9ez-G0tcybv5Wx3n51q-YMfdZLwYXL28koSPGm865tRTcjldj8nF6ktF1Z8/s400/coffee+time+out1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221194945887746" /></a><br /><br />The Mozart memorial in commemoration of the night Don Giovanni premiered.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoO0tKzPS6iEOeItedUIRJKZ7sbbs6-576OjlL2mG_v7dQwY0nZbBnUyv9f74SqQZXm2wARN-AptDjVeUX4A3xmQnrqEVl7RfBIa1fnlrgKgepSso0yTIi-Jtr7LM22k0XipjvCrdSqgo/s1600-h/Mozart+memorial1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoO0tKzPS6iEOeItedUIRJKZ7sbbs6-576OjlL2mG_v7dQwY0nZbBnUyv9f74SqQZXm2wARN-AptDjVeUX4A3xmQnrqEVl7RfBIa1fnlrgKgepSso0yTIi-Jtr7LM22k0XipjvCrdSqgo/s400/Mozart+memorial1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221856370851362" /></a><br /><br />Why are there sailor boys in front of the Astronomical Clock? No se.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxGK42pnTnfBFCzn8ajTi6gB3BbdOcQkzOJ6R-p2-XYSgwycMj_uBqEv4fbLvd4tvetuQ6SaosYpuRVLaQ-wcyZcAsmMUGD-or7NWsZv8aruImkke9Xj6GTL3BZDTAYi_VyjgETzQcEI/s1600-h/astronomical+sailor+boys1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxGK42pnTnfBFCzn8ajTi6gB3BbdOcQkzOJ6R-p2-XYSgwycMj_uBqEv4fbLvd4tvetuQ6SaosYpuRVLaQ-wcyZcAsmMUGD-or7NWsZv8aruImkke9Xj6GTL3BZDTAYi_VyjgETzQcEI/s400/astronomical+sailor+boys1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221194945887714" /></a><br /><br /><br />Horsey sweethearts in Old Town Square.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ6ENKvOTKbE1BiV2SmipkgnDg_8cYhYrT6XkVkPtRVQRvDuQPi-W4gEYMhkZrZ75hkSWwNj1Jxn1kN7warTrTK1qJ6v_SQTmXooR14ENnhyphenhyphenSC5oLWj3E3vN__BerwRfmdykckdhqmhE/s1600-h/horsey+sweethearts1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ6ENKvOTKbE1BiV2SmipkgnDg_8cYhYrT6XkVkPtRVQRvDuQPi-W4gEYMhkZrZ75hkSWwNj1Jxn1kN7warTrTK1qJ6v_SQTmXooR14ENnhyphenhyphenSC5oLWj3E3vN__BerwRfmdykckdhqmhE/s400/horsey+sweethearts1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186221199240855058" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-49860850990745832082008-04-06T12:34:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:16.539-08:00Czech political statementYoYo once again.<br /><br />We ran across this public artwork outside the Franz Kafka museum.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjsWTrXzMavzKjKGt6xubqEZYqJZrmggEoY8fTRBHxECnPMGo-MCRuHPE-4d-W4MSKR5tpRy-2ra4jfZp4O97YTrMGtrAds1Ynu9E3VuGNDVjNEtBkGn9SiO0jyph4VyYeStsk6FTZx4/s1600-h/fountain+art1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjsWTrXzMavzKjKGt6xubqEZYqJZrmggEoY8fTRBHxECnPMGo-MCRuHPE-4d-W4MSKR5tpRy-2ra4jfZp4O97YTrMGtrAds1Ynu9E3VuGNDVjNEtBkGn9SiO0jyph4VyYeStsk6FTZx4/s400/fountain+art1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186219605807988114" /></a><br /><br />The pool the figures are taking a leak in is in the shape of the Czech Republic. The artists felt that it was a bad idea for their country to join the EU. The two figures represent the heads of the European Union (in Brussels). You can figure out the rest.<br /><br />I stayed a while to watch the reactions of the folks seeing the fountain for the first time. The really fascinating thing is that most, if not all, of the men felt some need to either touch the art or the stream. The women, like Hoops and myself, mostly just posed next to the figures and made faces.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtXdtO5kQ0y2ZQqtWV1WxQrbKdEVAiEMzXEYr0lnmDl-SBHF3nI43QC5nwHHRiSOGuZo2mnqFF_YuiEBS9ks0fWPiLv-YWqv2E9i-ppZS0QhmskvOqjdOb99HHCS-8pxza5nonwJ2qPg/s1600-h/fountain+art+dude1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtXdtO5kQ0y2ZQqtWV1WxQrbKdEVAiEMzXEYr0lnmDl-SBHF3nI43QC5nwHHRiSOGuZo2mnqFF_YuiEBS9ks0fWPiLv-YWqv2E9i-ppZS0QhmskvOqjdOb99HHCS-8pxza5nonwJ2qPg/s400/fountain+art+dude1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186219614397922738" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQNwi6riFJomndysVgywevv6oKYrRJDsWgMDwweclX_1Am5uTNbm3FEbKoMRj_UpSD_6mGCWFNBuKqLLoBqa4glfGGTS6xvm6qPJWpBDwRNFwJ9My72ZvwV9DzyQ2zth2X0nCHACaiPs/s1600-h/fountain+art+dudes2a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQNwi6riFJomndysVgywevv6oKYrRJDsWgMDwweclX_1Am5uTNbm3FEbKoMRj_UpSD_6mGCWFNBuKqLLoBqa4glfGGTS6xvm6qPJWpBDwRNFwJ9My72ZvwV9DzyQ2zth2X0nCHACaiPs/s400/fountain+art+dudes2a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186219614397922754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqF7PR7yK1mQNAj5pg6GIsq3GKN9rkjtn-d3SyPfkUILCvv0tGUtyIe9AXtKXKv7kOFUNnmr0X8XjeAcgY_IiuSh7aGXNWgng2n6W8sOP-emru8pIhJp4PXxPMUw8On6Kd600iC3Omis/s1600-h/fountain+art%3F1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqF7PR7yK1mQNAj5pg6GIsq3GKN9rkjtn-d3SyPfkUILCvv0tGUtyIe9AXtKXKv7kOFUNnmr0X8XjeAcgY_IiuSh7aGXNWgng2n6W8sOP-emru8pIhJp4PXxPMUw8On6Kd600iC3Omis/s400/fountain+art%3F1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186219610102955426" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-50426417668168242042008-04-06T12:05:00.001-07:002008-12-08T19:00:18.459-08:00Down the hatch!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL2-5_39_Mm0w9-kfpQ8kwaZhvnN94I84mH7dga9xQs53HtQV9cIUQOx6XNzBgVf5XT40cW3f2MtEvL14K5ehqcbzrQkJJUJGOg37-L0aKDvr7kQpuENognvBiof4cvF1VkXb6nXQ_JY/s1600-h/absinthe1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL2-5_39_Mm0w9-kfpQ8kwaZhvnN94I84mH7dga9xQs53HtQV9cIUQOx6XNzBgVf5XT40cW3f2MtEvL14K5ehqcbzrQkJJUJGOg37-L0aKDvr7kQpuENognvBiof4cvF1VkXb6nXQ_JY/s400/absinthe1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186213305090964866" /></a><br /><br />YoYo here...<br /><br />We decided that it was time to really give absinthe a whirl. The photos below tell all...<br /><br />First, the preparation by an experienced Czech national (later, an accommodating Scotsman did the honors). The sugar needs to be soaked in the absinthe prior to lighting it on fire.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t1HVXOMcivS6nuUsA9YNsAahziKAwvhjy6DVw0w_X_nkF0G_3XWMoA18mcKqYXaN8d-xrtWVjOqRzV24Jr-WomgOybmDX1tHAdF1CiXQ2oaWW7I7yWeJUqXBXdHU_METv-ns4ill29A/s1600-h/absinthe+sugar+soaking1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t1HVXOMcivS6nuUsA9YNsAahziKAwvhjy6DVw0w_X_nkF0G_3XWMoA18mcKqYXaN8d-xrtWVjOqRzV24Jr-WomgOybmDX1tHAdF1CiXQ2oaWW7I7yWeJUqXBXdHU_METv-ns4ill29A/s400/absinthe+sugar+soaking1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186213300795997554" /></a><br /><br />The flame.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAa2tJ0pFRhd6F2Y6rACcwiQiNK-uVZzObzAXDV2Mc6IkYOWglECg8ZxMKcdoIH4gnj6GPgwiS2QjJoMRD0FWDBBgCIzCIYDRYqdEMUvl-4SgYrp3i1x_vE15W51aj4oc_C_RdCaCJUo/s1600-h/absinthe+lighting+the+fire1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAa2tJ0pFRhd6F2Y6rACcwiQiNK-uVZzObzAXDV2Mc6IkYOWglECg8ZxMKcdoIH4gnj6GPgwiS2QjJoMRD0FWDBBgCIzCIYDRYqdEMUvl-4SgYrp3i1x_vE15W51aj4oc_C_RdCaCJUo/s400/absinthe+lighting+the+fire1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186212501932080482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh46VdnEoq-4HVfFGNpa0FWeiLmDO6FXpvgq2XRL-mr4zMOydsZztlrw0AXQivGGGqISWlOVHNIAmw2VFUKah-lXGCDCmA0zf56wGNgE3S3zFYpPLR2e-dM9_uqqbl-jrrtCyi5yeYBLg/s1600-h/absinthe+flame1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh46VdnEoq-4HVfFGNpa0FWeiLmDO6FXpvgq2XRL-mr4zMOydsZztlrw0AXQivGGGqISWlOVHNIAmw2VFUKah-lXGCDCmA0zf56wGNgE3S3zFYpPLR2e-dM9_uqqbl-jrrtCyi5yeYBLg/s400/absinthe+flame1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186212497637113170" /></a><br /><br />Okay, here we go then. We'll start with the one who has the most experience with alcohol.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQyAHVb5SATK8NzZpsOFgSZqwD2uTYQ4hIQFidkvGUgoVg5zmNZFMkxo5-odYd9l_gaBbiogJMoPqBUZvvhL0iFAxgdO__SYO-gl8S_VQHib61lClVt7qHZgCJw767Cu7WKFc4ERlZf8/s1600-h/absinthe+cheers1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQyAHVb5SATK8NzZpsOFgSZqwD2uTYQ4hIQFidkvGUgoVg5zmNZFMkxo5-odYd9l_gaBbiogJMoPqBUZvvhL0iFAxgdO__SYO-gl8S_VQHib61lClVt7qHZgCJw767Cu7WKFc4ERlZf8/s400/absinthe+cheers1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186211565629209810" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz9r0M99YhSAoO3Vjd46y6iRVrIP3_V1JpwH0teNf8wSeRovgNsmrNicbt74e-BSY6Nq2NEkLZOgqGgOkHcN3FIvdR6y4iueTG1jX4ujq1WgkLRPH4EN3_uDfZ905NQNoI8ZmwZDVdB0/s1600-h/absinthe+down+the+hatch+cz1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz9r0M99YhSAoO3Vjd46y6iRVrIP3_V1JpwH0teNf8wSeRovgNsmrNicbt74e-BSY6Nq2NEkLZOgqGgOkHcN3FIvdR6y4iueTG1jX4ujq1WgkLRPH4EN3_uDfZ905NQNoI8ZmwZDVdB0/s400/absinthe+down+the+hatch+cz1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186211569924177122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrgGBCsvHiKQ4Vw-yDx34pH-nleb2NcuifFd1MhbiYjkWe2swZjqvp37HXJ3x6HkvH-vIWuWKUWYWLALXCN3DhbF0r56ceIH36INWnRNWyeaA2Sl_d2LDPhY1uHafTO24_be-sUBeLZY/s1600-h/absinthe+down+the+hatch+cz2a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrgGBCsvHiKQ4Vw-yDx34pH-nleb2NcuifFd1MhbiYjkWe2swZjqvp37HXJ3x6HkvH-vIWuWKUWYWLALXCN3DhbF0r56ceIH36INWnRNWyeaA2Sl_d2LDPhY1uHafTO24_be-sUBeLZY/s400/absinthe+down+the+hatch+cz2a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186211574219144434" /></a><br /><br />Everything looks in order here. Let's move on to the more whimpy drinker and see what happens.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfi6foQCJh_Fh08vB20-CDiRG301wsa4otgfid9rm7ip0fCvZW2w2O2hA30hhOmpmGlgrTUOW5ZAJdUJklh-2GGbYuGl34UcW_WIgvQWLZMPEW9dpJLco4KFUkWjlvg2AyVLtDLHJq_Y/s1600-h/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfi6foQCJh_Fh08vB20-CDiRG301wsa4otgfid9rm7ip0fCvZW2w2O2hA30hhOmpmGlgrTUOW5ZAJdUJklh-2GGbYuGl34UcW_WIgvQWLZMPEW9dpJLco4KFUkWjlvg2AyVLtDLHJq_Y/s400/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186211578514111746" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKRD7o1dDjBTmwkskrEfiitayICvUtHx0pYuXqzLWlMaFjFhp7LpbhRkm-SlqNXjcoQLlrqQdfSSrfHhgC3Ocx-kQfRU3AIbAYG1qtZPnSOJKL7EqHcQwpn1VG-Kz9vgYpU6zufu9ZYc/s1600-h/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl2a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKRD7o1dDjBTmwkskrEfiitayICvUtHx0pYuXqzLWlMaFjFhp7LpbhRkm-SlqNXjcoQLlrqQdfSSrfHhgC3Ocx-kQfRU3AIbAYG1qtZPnSOJKL7EqHcQwpn1VG-Kz9vgYpU6zufu9ZYc/s400/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl2a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186211578514111762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeezriwCqm1ghp_k5lwChinowjxncbKkWcK8sagC_jBzDJjPEYzIBhh_EmM9IxjBjD5PfZJTgh255gwyr9FQ82UqI6LMt4otKHd5d9ol-jLp9MWKfW9ATjiNqecWunA-QK-O0WNictxAM/s1600-h/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl3a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeezriwCqm1ghp_k5lwChinowjxncbKkWcK8sagC_jBzDJjPEYzIBhh_EmM9IxjBjD5PfZJTgh255gwyr9FQ82UqI6LMt4otKHd5d9ol-jLp9MWKfW9ATjiNqecWunA-QK-O0WNictxAM/s400/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl3a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186212493342145826" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVz5m-5T3cTYwJcW_-ylJQgfgpENaZGI_1aWEQcqEKxr6Ox1-AylpNJRWgU0BUXAHvglXZap0On5jOIadmuuxqNrqBGHObeVdIiQI04y02TZapQuLvxZXfGW9I6QToFFAOd8aHLKX_mE/s1600-h/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl4a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVz5m-5T3cTYwJcW_-ylJQgfgpENaZGI_1aWEQcqEKxr6Ox1-AylpNJRWgU0BUXAHvglXZap0On5jOIadmuuxqNrqBGHObeVdIiQI04y02TZapQuLvxZXfGW9I6QToFFAOd8aHLKX_mE/s400/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl4a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186212497637113138" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MBvtRmteFq7Dfn1jFu1BISteVhSLfubJi930w-J8jotIBPLPamLG6BmM3bViBLyeQEgDlFyesphUam1zHAy4h8qzTRathvcSd01UQ-gq062su0GILazXfRrfnyVkYtF3brZLxgy7Dhk/s1600-h/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl5a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MBvtRmteFq7Dfn1jFu1BISteVhSLfubJi930w-J8jotIBPLPamLG6BmM3bViBLyeQEgDlFyesphUam1zHAy4h8qzTRathvcSd01UQ-gq062su0GILazXfRrfnyVkYtF3brZLxgy7Dhk/s400/absinthe+down+the+hatch+lxl5a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186212497637113154" /></a><br /><br />It was a very interesting evening. As I recall, we had 3 and a half absinthe shots each. Hoops doesn't recall the last half-shot, but she does recall the very large beer she drank as an absinthe chaser. I recall the walk home (most of it, anyway), but this part of her memory is blank. What was hilarious after we got home? Hoops decided to play the guitar and sing some gypsy-irish-punk folk songs. The only problem was that the guitar was drunk and wouldn't play in the right key. I tried to help, of course, but it mostly sounded like I was caterwauling. We visited the bar today to see if we could find my wayward scarf. No luck there but the staff at the bar were delighted to see us and were most insistent that we enjoy more absinthe. We declined as our stomaches roiled at the thought.hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-8110723857457345582008-04-01T08:09:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:18.962-08:00Random photosOk, so I realize this is a fine example of art, but he just looks constipated to me. Too much meat back in those days, before vegetables were invented.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YpMDsJM7_2jeeXsg1tDpMCJA0FBjfO3vMP966vk2T2hUiwnWZ1hHyn6c26VJSnpMTuyF2QvXXlhqxYQlrIsDZJCZAp9xnIHOVPyAuDAMQVZ-4vMZBuIo8B5IvW7X19zy44ZA1krp-90/s1600-h/constipation+a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YpMDsJM7_2jeeXsg1tDpMCJA0FBjfO3vMP966vk2T2hUiwnWZ1hHyn6c26VJSnpMTuyF2QvXXlhqxYQlrIsDZJCZAp9xnIHOVPyAuDAMQVZ-4vMZBuIo8B5IvW7X19zy44ZA1krp-90/s400/constipation+a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184294803329383602" /></a><br /><br />I enjoyed the juxtaposition.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lnZn7soE9zykgPCjuFVCCb43Kruy6OMARNbx8fVLHOL7vr9nDgJmTKSzxf48Nqi-qAZSbliWjKxK8CTyo2wvK3SkskHfzkCY8iWcAXYZO_dNvibr-mDgsAVKzJDCFg5ua4xeur6VeEo/s1600-h/Poochie+with+wheelchair+a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lnZn7soE9zykgPCjuFVCCb43Kruy6OMARNbx8fVLHOL7vr9nDgJmTKSzxf48Nqi-qAZSbliWjKxK8CTyo2wvK3SkskHfzkCY8iWcAXYZO_dNvibr-mDgsAVKzJDCFg5ua4xeur6VeEo/s400/Poochie+with+wheelchair+a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184294807624350914" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-83870626744999992602008-04-01T07:29:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:19.576-08:00Train to CercanyA funny thing happened on the way to Cercany. The Czech Republic switched over to daylight savings time. Which means, of course, that we showed up for our train an entire hour late. Oops. Living in the land of Mountain Standard time has allowed us to become lax about observing such rituals.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8Ykh6puHYlxcixB_4zq_v7d5Bg_Yrs1OsoIGe2GVnlHOks8zYzqWKyng_tVJEzTDaCWDJWNsb0OgwigsJBK9OcWYdj7oMn8qB5UVGYEAAEQlLJXsCfV0d_a7xZCoKK7AqnNqhlYvHjs/s1600-h/vrsovice+train+station2a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8Ykh6puHYlxcixB_4zq_v7d5Bg_Yrs1OsoIGe2GVnlHOks8zYzqWKyng_tVJEzTDaCWDJWNsb0OgwigsJBK9OcWYdj7oMn8qB5UVGYEAAEQlLJXsCfV0d_a7xZCoKK7AqnNqhlYvHjs/s400/vrsovice+train+station2a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184290650096008338" /></a><br /><br />We had to take the next train to Cercany and what was supposed to be a quick train ride of no more than two hours took an entire day. Even Hoops was tried of being on the train by the time the day was over. The Czech's have an amazing array of trains. I have never seen such a large variety, some of which surely qualify as antique.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVMiFsHclNz-Iu8POhgJsqhok-r3H8PUvD3RQmYZDHO5NV6qsX9ORyU0KxURnJoI0znnkR6eOFBE84mbYg5_czkMZzenOvrf4whRCZY5rfmOLys3alvhk-GqSV64OXi6hJjdiHgx4JwY/s1600-h/Train+markers+a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVMiFsHclNz-Iu8POhgJsqhok-r3H8PUvD3RQmYZDHO5NV6qsX9ORyU0KxURnJoI0znnkR6eOFBE84mbYg5_czkMZzenOvrf4whRCZY5rfmOLys3alvhk-GqSV64OXi6hJjdiHgx4JwY/s400/Train+markers+a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184287819712560194" /></a><br /><br />The challenging thing about the Czech railway system is that they don't seem to think it is important to put the train numbers on the train itself, and often times the platforms aren't marked, either. A bit of perseverance and a whole lotta guess work later, we did indeed find our way onto the right train.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cWAC2L9kfPyBVg4hKdAz63I0rG7lLNE5pozPoXx3lwPIhpsqeE3ah7KzTj_t5Yz6oAS1tghA8ljbzIYwFUb8z6GC4Nck57xF-ulRvT_mMZsJvhiUfN5Fwkn-eAHT5hTJoDb6CKLVibE/s1600-h/YoYo+train+girl+a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cWAC2L9kfPyBVg4hKdAz63I0rG7lLNE5pozPoXx3lwPIhpsqeE3ah7KzTj_t5Yz6oAS1tghA8ljbzIYwFUb8z6GC4Nck57xF-ulRvT_mMZsJvhiUfN5Fwkn-eAHT5hTJoDb6CKLVibE/s400/YoYo+train+girl+a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184287828302494818" /></a><br /><br />Back in Praha, Hoops declared her nerves needed a wee bit of soothing. A drink was in order and while at the pub she made some new friends. A handsome lot, aren't they? And most agreeable companions!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9C63htGMxwygUrPRNson0jiiUJRaLmUp0rDjycYj2W7gsrb4zdGObN0TYU73fT1__Asa4K4uzvzr12H-txbWUbQIETOaTg_nopo8mtad1E-NnEhbpgjuB1u6vAfi0YL_JpK2eyHThbSA/s1600-h/Hoops+drinking+buddies2+a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9C63htGMxwygUrPRNson0jiiUJRaLmUp0rDjycYj2W7gsrb4zdGObN0TYU73fT1__Asa4K4uzvzr12H-txbWUbQIETOaTg_nopo8mtad1E-NnEhbpgjuB1u6vAfi0YL_JpK2eyHThbSA/s400/Hoops+drinking+buddies2+a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184291904226458786" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-53665076461724147842008-04-01T07:09:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:20.768-08:00The Grotte MagiqueYoYo here...<br /><br />On the hike down from Petrin hill, in a most unexpected location, we came across the Grotte Magique. We stopped in for free sangria and a bit of modern surrealism.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfJsz-ZV8j7CaPAF0KKERsa-FT8hCOMzQq69lDBzwBRjZm44Gt348Ntn4Frp9k0o8hjRfaX_uO5-Fqj-8lohUS7LdWcTsp7u79gW_Q286NepBiWRjIMeV2yDmaq5QXh72bTNvbvUiM3U/s1600-h/magic+cavern+outside1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfJsz-ZV8j7CaPAF0KKERsa-FT8hCOMzQq69lDBzwBRjZm44Gt348Ntn4Frp9k0o8hjRfaX_uO5-Fqj-8lohUS7LdWcTsp7u79gW_Q286NepBiWRjIMeV2yDmaq5QXh72bTNvbvUiM3U/s400/magic+cavern+outside1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184281811053312978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50kDSUoAW_za9ADWFLgEyKjXSeCLz2IS1RhNegHPupAKFYaUa2Jr-12-I6wwdv_-aEscc7ScXE2Pz3qe9OSoj4_3dpbTd1R1Bw8cNGvqg6YBrfDq49_Yomyh_irRA4RKmiqe-IjhW7vQ/s1600-h/magic+cavern1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50kDSUoAW_za9ADWFLgEyKjXSeCLz2IS1RhNegHPupAKFYaUa2Jr-12-I6wwdv_-aEscc7ScXE2Pz3qe9OSoj4_3dpbTd1R1Bw8cNGvqg6YBrfDq49_Yomyh_irRA4RKmiqe-IjhW7vQ/s400/magic+cavern1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184281815348280290" /></a><br /><br />The aforementioned sangria. Hoops tells me that it was delicious.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4IEoaEPdWJMFH0GEgaMvRwkrQloezP82sI6s7dSnQMrqhoAJs8R_gl6wvv93_8gBLuH7Ib7hytjajtfciHbjOR45fnXfmvc5azcpPI9pTMjpGzAW8HzFYKNE_usnBuzyzi-EFTbD5hU/s1600-h/magic+cavern+free+sangria1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4IEoaEPdWJMFH0GEgaMvRwkrQloezP82sI6s7dSnQMrqhoAJs8R_gl6wvv93_8gBLuH7Ib7hytjajtfciHbjOR45fnXfmvc5azcpPI9pTMjpGzAW8HzFYKNE_usnBuzyzi-EFTbD5hU/s400/magic+cavern+free+sangria1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184281819643247602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLt6bfKFexdiHdJ3iJLYf-q6t7sJY72RtF7BglAt86WspZpQPWfeL_ppPHRCOvLfrsgfJGb1D5hAvwJ27ED5xx8gjNgpoaSecTbffZqvLFNW_5RsjlnvAsARXosIVnbufHQC7IGYkpPlY/s1600-h/magic+cavern+art1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLt6bfKFexdiHdJ3iJLYf-q6t7sJY72RtF7BglAt86WspZpQPWfeL_ppPHRCOvLfrsgfJGb1D5hAvwJ27ED5xx8gjNgpoaSecTbffZqvLFNW_5RsjlnvAsARXosIVnbufHQC7IGYkpPlY/s400/magic+cavern+art1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184281823938214914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMe1En-WbNfKf7Ln_9m4P1QV8InqmOc73x8ygarUWI1GuQc19FqL702g8G_BO9vFmv2hzVjwo1i7LW-byXdsI1wSERIP3d3UE3G2ipM4wxYmGTFfrOQg_8Fps5tPwSoEf62li0XNofww/s1600-h/magic+cavern+chess1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMe1En-WbNfKf7Ln_9m4P1QV8InqmOc73x8ygarUWI1GuQc19FqL702g8G_BO9vFmv2hzVjwo1i7LW-byXdsI1wSERIP3d3UE3G2ipM4wxYmGTFfrOQg_8Fps5tPwSoEf62li0XNofww/s400/magic+cavern+chess1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184281828233182226" /></a><br /><br />And what self-respecting Grotte Magique would be complete without Pan?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7Ga8x8yyV-oklzX81dIp9sRylOPiIwITmBiLR9MwEAW-WHvZWoE8REYXDX8079SUdVcZpfjRFFNZBUV2aS2GuohSRdqO1ek1zEQHQ2fsk2HODIKFpObPFuIFiChx05lTVypKtLd_X4A/s1600-h/magic+cavern+pan1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7Ga8x8yyV-oklzX81dIp9sRylOPiIwITmBiLR9MwEAW-WHvZWoE8REYXDX8079SUdVcZpfjRFFNZBUV2aS2GuohSRdqO1ek1zEQHQ2fsk2HODIKFpObPFuIFiChx05lTVypKtLd_X4A/s400/magic+cavern+pan1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184282944924679202" /></a><br /><br />A jolly Hoops, post sangria...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEcBlzQWdRgHZsXFvLDnhwms7yDDuPo4eeVVvBkTjZ9z5iwcG-mzW_jwXEJMoE_dXuYTOA5LzLbpBwUkcWNgWmhUFVvqaidTJO3dveBnl1er0dUOgGnuJwsnYDV2u8yc9BichVIftZHk/s1600-h/magic+cavern+post+sangria1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEcBlzQWdRgHZsXFvLDnhwms7yDDuPo4eeVVvBkTjZ9z5iwcG-mzW_jwXEJMoE_dXuYTOA5LzLbpBwUkcWNgWmhUFVvqaidTJO3dveBnl1er0dUOgGnuJwsnYDV2u8yc9BichVIftZHk/s400/magic+cavern+post+sangria1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184282944924679218" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-62831115436865445002008-03-29T13:49:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:21.844-08:00Other sightsYoYo again. Will we ever hear from Hoops again?!??!<br /><br />An offer from one of the vendors on the Charles Bridge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BNWcQYyMnl_MDP4J7hKJgmTaHY10A1nfTBa9mYB-JV0ITQ2b3k6u9abAIEbe0yST0qgR-KgYGK9xJ2NMW96d8IZzU6PmilnUZhsXkcyQ2OFKMqMrMeCwHrn2mm_NOp3d10sqZLe0V8M/s1600-h/Such+an+offer!1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BNWcQYyMnl_MDP4J7hKJgmTaHY10A1nfTBa9mYB-JV0ITQ2b3k6u9abAIEbe0yST0qgR-KgYGK9xJ2NMW96d8IZzU6PmilnUZhsXkcyQ2OFKMqMrMeCwHrn2mm_NOp3d10sqZLe0V8M/s400/Such+an+offer!1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183269392772365154" /></a><br /><br />The view from 274 steps (inside the Astronomical Tower)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiedfCLbnDSJ-T-rvQCTJ5Bu5XospMtpPN58gc_48PS37yXHxKbzdDoy7yDVP7Pdn6tsA-W0AIoMqBuNcelp65rHni2v-tlfk4dAH3lcIDudlxdbttkxjYm1OADClB5_OqZr3bFaRqxc/s1600-h/View+from+275+steps+up1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiedfCLbnDSJ-T-rvQCTJ5Bu5XospMtpPN58gc_48PS37yXHxKbzdDoy7yDVP7Pdn6tsA-W0AIoMqBuNcelp65rHni2v-tlfk4dAH3lcIDudlxdbttkxjYm1OADClB5_OqZr3bFaRqxc/s400/View+from+275+steps+up1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183269397067332466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Zt0V-iSxG68uv9a-h01ysbfmq4MGDTHA6jdZl6Y6MVIDuWJYyrun4MT40Iyu0wAMBvoIDbi2ac5jllPAlQuffNwNKre1wPxEI23MlBcEtS124YXDm-aQzSSLbsBgv5WlhnJqHXd2Ejs/s1600-h/Top+of+Astronomical+tower1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Zt0V-iSxG68uv9a-h01ysbfmq4MGDTHA6jdZl6Y6MVIDuWJYyrun4MT40Iyu0wAMBvoIDbi2ac5jllPAlQuffNwNKre1wPxEI23MlBcEtS124YXDm-aQzSSLbsBgv5WlhnJqHXd2Ejs/s400/Top+of+Astronomical+tower1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183269397067332482" /></a><br /><br />The view from 398 steps.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GNP5hLrpOgPpc4uLmG1XUfhJDIEobWsqineHCkgb1drzTr3u88cC9vWTf-qU-68P8qCio70R4Y2riM2f_qDIhYF6qM_prUZDbZGPVONl5ExUo_61ZK8qiXiWICFpnOYHgzpgHxRpfOo/s1600-h/view+from+398+steps+up1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GNP5hLrpOgPpc4uLmG1XUfhJDIEobWsqineHCkgb1drzTr3u88cC9vWTf-qU-68P8qCio70R4Y2riM2f_qDIhYF6qM_prUZDbZGPVONl5ExUo_61ZK8qiXiWICFpnOYHgzpgHxRpfOo/s400/view+from+398+steps+up1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183277102238661522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgNA_ZKb1B1bZBVumkPL_wX19KhGjm8As6jullZRb5Azl_PUCxE8IS0X5_-D79vecdzMthwz2Ynvm4w9yDCw2edckGW0yOrbNQurGc5qWVIYmf9pBA72C3jvZx05m32JA36kutfJznXc/s1600-h/Grand+view+of+Charles+Bridge1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgNA_ZKb1B1bZBVumkPL_wX19KhGjm8As6jullZRb5Azl_PUCxE8IS0X5_-D79vecdzMthwz2Ynvm4w9yDCw2edckGW0yOrbNQurGc5qWVIYmf9pBA72C3jvZx05m32JA36kutfJznXc/s400/Grand+view+of+Charles+Bridge1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183277106533628850" /></a><br /><br /><br />The above pictures were taken from Prague's Eiffel Tower. Although this tower is much shorter than the one in Paris, it is at the same elevation due to it's location at the top of Petrin Hill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuYpfqHP9V8Nu-y91nDDPnEiEGVitAdUJIWseioDVUZBvGxSTK7Wfzuqf1YF3AvLS3BKqkyI6NNtELyQXJpato5kxqZVle8NAr_L2i41unscDpoVeix2NvCu6E9tbr54v9M_dA0q5qhE/s1600-h/Prague's+Eiffle+tower1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuYpfqHP9V8Nu-y91nDDPnEiEGVitAdUJIWseioDVUZBvGxSTK7Wfzuqf1YF3AvLS3BKqkyI6NNtELyQXJpato5kxqZVle8NAr_L2i41unscDpoVeix2NvCu6E9tbr54v9M_dA0q5qhE/s400/Prague's+Eiffle+tower1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183277106533628834" /></a><br /><br /><br />Fun in the Petrin Hill Mirror Maze<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTRk7u8xUuKl6U7Ki1tj28QdcuDRPoH7vzD7mP6WFnHL8e5n9kWYKCPN5qrdooc2mOCwTdoLSwITlIiZJDJZmLcrGI9K3LAYtz9L5L_oOMTbFIVsecfbcPcclsq_h3CQl84OfvZXMOy8/s1600-h/fun+in+the+mirror+maze1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTRk7u8xUuKl6U7Ki1tj28QdcuDRPoH7vzD7mP6WFnHL8e5n9kWYKCPN5qrdooc2mOCwTdoLSwITlIiZJDJZmLcrGI9K3LAYtz9L5L_oOMTbFIVsecfbcPcclsq_h3CQl84OfvZXMOy8/s400/fun+in+the+mirror+maze1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183277110828596162" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-15629072523666185872008-03-29T13:22:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:23.036-08:00Classical music concert in the Mirror ChapelWe were lucky enough to pick the Mirror Chapel for our first classical music concert. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay-Ou262X-MaueX64Rr5yD6lg1LoVtw3tS7doh8br4r9XgJ42VMb3ds5KInI65fzyLC5VfUOT8YYzz9_5DE31Z5xkSeJE3HvSjsIoCCSzj1sJXGsHmPSV8d0xdXJbD13Ze3ocGTHnO_8/s1600-h/mirror+chapel+close+up1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay-Ou262X-MaueX64Rr5yD6lg1LoVtw3tS7doh8br4r9XgJ42VMb3ds5KInI65fzyLC5VfUOT8YYzz9_5DE31Z5xkSeJE3HvSjsIoCCSzj1sJXGsHmPSV8d0xdXJbD13Ze3ocGTHnO_8/s400/mirror+chapel+close+up1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183267279648455442" /></a><br /><br />And a splendid choice it was! We both throughly enjoyed the music and the venue was outstanding. The acoustics were excellent and the backdrop couldn't be beat.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSxOwjwIAP6HyQLCG28zsixdgH8u_2BZ_Ho74ZCbyNVaJg1G1Mp93rfUKwswlzmjtvGm4cbcPueYupzGb0oXlfFlxXUDpOYDh1ZG4yakiY1ftdNKQ9u9A_wku1EUBpE_1DdpHS4JsUYg/s1600-h/Mirror+chapel+1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSxOwjwIAP6HyQLCG28zsixdgH8u_2BZ_Ho74ZCbyNVaJg1G1Mp93rfUKwswlzmjtvGm4cbcPueYupzGb0oXlfFlxXUDpOYDh1ZG4yakiY1ftdNKQ9u9A_wku1EUBpE_1DdpHS4JsUYg/s400/Mirror+chapel+1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183267283943422754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-KvgpDLJwmSFwk9JsSZHz5J36bT1iJvBpB6OvL89YXbWrnnPXHv0_OkcdMJJrBrDtftEZevX5SzvdYvhcIc6RKtSFeh4r09bAxwqe_Nl7m4Q1qCXzcQ11kzBmaB9I0kh5AsYNVuz_uo/s1600-h/mirror+chapel+from+above1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-KvgpDLJwmSFwk9JsSZHz5J36bT1iJvBpB6OvL89YXbWrnnPXHv0_OkcdMJJrBrDtftEZevX5SzvdYvhcIc6RKtSFeh4r09bAxwqe_Nl7m4Q1qCXzcQ11kzBmaB9I0kh5AsYNVuz_uo/s400/mirror+chapel+from+above1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183267283943422770" /></a><br /><br />The odd thing about the Mirror Chapel is that during the day one is forbidden to take any photographs. In the evening, it was a free-for-all. I was very happy to chronicle the evening's event in photos and video.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPXwmtebu3Rqoz1h5eEJWvF186nHCoLSgDf4ud2E2iOlW80RJouPzumyFrBtjMZHxhDmw21deCOzqMW5zocOc8MFA0gzfLv9ZVsXdeoDslUsUEBap2vtTI7DvlTzsultBbyZbwuKYM9Q/s1600-h/mirror+chapel+music+stands1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPXwmtebu3Rqoz1h5eEJWvF186nHCoLSgDf4ud2E2iOlW80RJouPzumyFrBtjMZHxhDmw21deCOzqMW5zocOc8MFA0gzfLv9ZVsXdeoDslUsUEBap2vtTI7DvlTzsultBbyZbwuKYM9Q/s400/mirror+chapel+music+stands1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183267288238390082" /></a><br /><br />What the heck is this giant instrument, anyway?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV83e7ukiK41m4Z7XF-DpcB2e6Zygwb7Jr941VfE9fM3NsF5DRwWYArq1K9PQPyB2Mgoi-5r7heDe53rHFRmYQ7o4q0Yn0Az3VpQvCC3cnmv_0wVPNFJ7qO-1Yn_3aci3Msj1gVh6AZg/s1600-h/musicians+in+mirror+chapel1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV83e7ukiK41m4Z7XF-DpcB2e6Zygwb7Jr941VfE9fM3NsF5DRwWYArq1K9PQPyB2Mgoi-5r7heDe53rHFRmYQ7o4q0Yn0Az3VpQvCC3cnmv_0wVPNFJ7qO-1Yn_3aci3Msj1gVh6AZg/s400/musicians+in+mirror+chapel1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183267292533357394" /></a><br /><br /><br />.hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-73776962886574781842008-03-29T13:17:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:23.603-08:00The curious sight on the streets of Praha explained!Upon closer inspection...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lHV-gkl1dVTSf8AV30kouqLfNqleBCwBvGKgY9c2XjQXoB6Q1AgHEFYGIiR-7P7wNVuYdpKys5bkJN2dOUn4Sd3WlukGi3bQKF7y0NRqj9zLrJy3fQ0UiAG2wbohcyrtiz2J7IadAGY/s1600-h/Wazzat%3F%3F+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lHV-gkl1dVTSf8AV30kouqLfNqleBCwBvGKgY9c2XjQXoB6Q1AgHEFYGIiR-7P7wNVuYdpKys5bkJN2dOUn4Sd3WlukGi3bQKF7y0NRqj9zLrJy3fQ0UiAG2wbohcyrtiz2J7IadAGY/s400/Wazzat%3F%3F+sm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183261193679796978" /></a><br /><br />Happy Praguer!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h6VB_KyIlaQuDWJt-dT53oLcelbQKJJdgOsHqAQBBGPbCrtQjxm7VqOgKG39rDilzAfShc2AQ01wDNozcHuaoTROT750xwHwMVi4ZkkaGqUughmIicTulWRQX-S5rHS9poIPOeQxI0Y/s1600-h/Happy+Praguer+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h6VB_KyIlaQuDWJt-dT53oLcelbQKJJdgOsHqAQBBGPbCrtQjxm7VqOgKG39rDilzAfShc2AQ01wDNozcHuaoTROT750xwHwMVi4ZkkaGqUughmIicTulWRQX-S5rHS9poIPOeQxI0Y/s400/Happy+Praguer+sm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183261197974764290" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-52619020229928904682008-03-25T13:33:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:24.067-08:00Today's Word: StalwartYoYo here again.<br /><br />Burr... check out today's photo of the weather.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uCXC5YWTDfCUbHETDYAjTUro4IJEzuQAOLwFWH_JKNYKjQKEOpaBQR-kU6pu9rIP2ilYGBToQWhaaUATqziclvOYJll7oenSQnes8sCqtZP_Dg4V7XbybJ1Vilu4eMylUYMleNTpmVw/s1600-h/Blizzard+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uCXC5YWTDfCUbHETDYAjTUro4IJEzuQAOLwFWH_JKNYKjQKEOpaBQR-kU6pu9rIP2ilYGBToQWhaaUATqziclvOYJll7oenSQnes8sCqtZP_Dg4V7XbybJ1Vilu4eMylUYMleNTpmVw/s400/Blizzard+sm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181781281093581506" /></a><br /><br />It's so cold here, even the statues are chilly. (Sorry, couldn't resist!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubSewJHSwxaAf5ngRgi4vG0bCyiYgRAxEklz1jaiQkBPxq1suZvL-xcb-NrYsp1TLzIngUM_be7WuPlIem1lgcETAvaaF9F4bK8cMwfdYB55grNfulVU5Uv_zpE7jZIcPLiNnb8IAMd0/s1600-h/do+you+think+she+is+cold+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubSewJHSwxaAf5ngRgi4vG0bCyiYgRAxEklz1jaiQkBPxq1suZvL-xcb-NrYsp1TLzIngUM_be7WuPlIem1lgcETAvaaF9F4bK8cMwfdYB55grNfulVU5Uv_zpE7jZIcPLiNnb8IAMd0/s400/do+you+think+she+is+cold+sm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181781293978483426" /></a><br /><br />A very curious sight on the streets of Prague today...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcemPadLFc64UN-fCrmKYNfpKwtqs5q2eAS9IfaTeVDEZuUzzUTRpfOd7K5Ttvq4XWaO6X67zBL8Wyj9qtJAHI1Kv3-6CGeDHiIBKm1cSBKDfUsxtpn7xk30Q76n5CR6wNlOp_NwFyKWs/s1600-h/As+seen+on+the+streets+today+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcemPadLFc64UN-fCrmKYNfpKwtqs5q2eAS9IfaTeVDEZuUzzUTRpfOd7K5Ttvq4XWaO6X67zBL8Wyj9qtJAHI1Kv3-6CGeDHiIBKm1cSBKDfUsxtpn7xk30Q76n5CR6wNlOp_NwFyKWs/s400/As+seen+on+the+streets+today+sm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181781289683516114" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-54099461652932208522008-03-19T13:39:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:26.814-08:00Catching up on the photo logThese photos were taken over the last several days...<br /><br />Astronomical clock on Town Hall<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4pWypCqmoN_uOXV490NSVUQPl0Z4QqSYriZnxOP4-cAcD_vnFC19G5hev0vorQQP_CFm6Emr5SFi67_zg3PCtU7sswHltMjcPTCZz4gXYI7mtD7KVFQhbMfrb8ojvh5igKS45Kt5OiU/s1600-h/Astronomical+clock+1,+Prague+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4pWypCqmoN_uOXV490NSVUQPl0Z4QqSYriZnxOP4-cAcD_vnFC19G5hev0vorQQP_CFm6Emr5SFi67_zg3PCtU7sswHltMjcPTCZz4gXYI7mtD7KVFQhbMfrb8ojvh5igKS45Kt5OiU/s400/Astronomical+clock+1,+Prague+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179556088602294690" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jaEZ0eqR-gCDssucAKr_Tb67KgIaOwZpDx-XdlgJEnv8T_sjI7r-V0o5B0yN5_iJDdDIa6UHNF3otcVY8iM4LgBj__Uy3fmuTe41yzhaPALUEToHKtAj20dyIPF2pS7BLbfW_uG18Ck/s1600-h/Astronomical+clock+3+prague+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jaEZ0eqR-gCDssucAKr_Tb67KgIaOwZpDx-XdlgJEnv8T_sjI7r-V0o5B0yN5_iJDdDIa6UHNF3otcVY8iM4LgBj__Uy3fmuTe41yzhaPALUEToHKtAj20dyIPF2pS7BLbfW_uG18Ck/s400/Astronomical+clock+3+prague+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179557067854838194" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWWNHxHCA7zXeFlU6FPdj9bMOm7TJJYX8WvU7YtB6_DNk-DA5Lhl1WfGlGL5ZvRbsEA4rp3VOWaG5wtypwD9FkQbRMzC4NYqGFO6VImDxKDm2RaeLglfP3JJKbt4GjG0dN3SRqA8h190/s1600-h/Astrological+symbols,+prague+clock+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWWNHxHCA7zXeFlU6FPdj9bMOm7TJJYX8WvU7YtB6_DNk-DA5Lhl1WfGlGL5ZvRbsEA4rp3VOWaG5wtypwD9FkQbRMzC4NYqGFO6VImDxKDm2RaeLglfP3JJKbt4GjG0dN3SRqA8h190/s400/Astrological+symbols,+prague+clock+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179570863289793090" /></a><br /><br />Stained glass window in St Nicholas Church<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS9FU-sa4hyqjfueaI6Te0RFqVfkd0i0tA161SUlvsYHiTib-gWci-Zy6J8TifMSN6S2hvWd8qlEPbtHAb2GQX5hWpfuKT0Shxe_OmuS1rlaokOlMvBY6oohyphenhyphengBT36pInxgxqr5U24aE/s1600-h/Stained+glass+in+St+Nicholas+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS9FU-sa4hyqjfueaI6Te0RFqVfkd0i0tA161SUlvsYHiTib-gWci-Zy6J8TifMSN6S2hvWd8qlEPbtHAb2GQX5hWpfuKT0Shxe_OmuS1rlaokOlMvBY6oohyphenhyphengBT36pInxgxqr5U24aE/s400/Stained+glass+in+St+Nicholas+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179579302900529826" /></a><br /><br />Easter switches and eggs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLZZX9uv0-TvsSrjrr2BSJjncTzwuZEGSC64-nQLp4bZ62755lJJbJVjqPiAEZV0Z0ThLh9hjs2AVsLBAJaVj_u1SK0KzyhX3BnYLuDjGeZ-ChFbWkvRz9TLrgSrUYPkawthw59Cf0ic/s1600-h/Easter+switches,+Prague+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLZZX9uv0-TvsSrjrr2BSJjncTzwuZEGSC64-nQLp4bZ62755lJJbJVjqPiAEZV0Z0ThLh9hjs2AVsLBAJaVj_u1SK0KzyhX3BnYLuDjGeZ-ChFbWkvRz9TLrgSrUYPkawthw59Cf0ic/s400/Easter+switches,+Prague+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179558644107835842" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71Aq_hditjNHeGXn4Wy782iCAYaQMz0DlsZuIzTKcFX8mfUFTXjCmwBpr52Qjc5WXkPNRvwGuxo0uHpTJSEHGx2zSsa3Y7Azl3UxYG7qoxV1Ijg7t7XnnxrOCh18x992YTQs5wPiaO5k/s1600-h/Czech+Easter+Eggs,+Prague+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71Aq_hditjNHeGXn4Wy782iCAYaQMz0DlsZuIzTKcFX8mfUFTXjCmwBpr52Qjc5WXkPNRvwGuxo0uHpTJSEHGx2zSsa3Y7Azl3UxYG7qoxV1Ijg7t7XnnxrOCh18x992YTQs5wPiaO5k/s400/Czech+Easter+Eggs,+Prague+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179559034949859794" /></a><br /><br />Easter Tree in Old Town Square<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7alDvmmPVcArhRZrJNwhaiI47QLMGGFSj-EveyY52bMoToyVYJYIo8c0UUyI25OSOMkxVRzQz3gbbBRbLl47IuEgWqw5wzXkj3aMJKPTF70FGfEKoqsoUsSXiJ_3_TE_toEGNjp3r-dQ/s1600-h/Easter+tree+in+Old+Town+Square+Prague+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7alDvmmPVcArhRZrJNwhaiI47QLMGGFSj-EveyY52bMoToyVYJYIo8c0UUyI25OSOMkxVRzQz3gbbBRbLl47IuEgWqw5wzXkj3aMJKPTF70FGfEKoqsoUsSXiJ_3_TE_toEGNjp3r-dQ/s400/Easter+tree+in+Old+Town+Square+Prague+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179562324894808546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx48971NxIdD-QuNP7Tfix9MMjcP1q52wB3_FOiuq8ZnTyuQ1jnmj8xpy3MIoM7d27xDb4rZEWMcjeHR_ROIM3nQPd78clf6mqj3oxvJltk6OALLnKuAGZoBop1nBBZjmLJ9dmMshIIw/s1600-h/Old+Town+Square+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx48971NxIdD-QuNP7Tfix9MMjcP1q52wB3_FOiuq8ZnTyuQ1jnmj8xpy3MIoM7d27xDb4rZEWMcjeHR_ROIM3nQPd78clf6mqj3oxvJltk6OALLnKuAGZoBop1nBBZjmLJ9dmMshIIw/s400/Old+Town+Square+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179562986319772146" /></a><br /><br />Old Jewish Cemetery<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJiAK3rptsQKc23nfDncpZYSXmJV9hCyqEtF1Nq8qvm3DnRerW-NZhuV5m9i7isRWnG0BvEB9jLp2idM8iLCIXqwGmGxhwZoCwA9HxLtr4QSFXL1oTjl0CYGM5joTPyllPABr3BD1w9E/s1600-h/Jewish+cemetary+headstones+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJiAK3rptsQKc23nfDncpZYSXmJV9hCyqEtF1Nq8qvm3DnRerW-NZhuV5m9i7isRWnG0BvEB9jLp2idM8iLCIXqwGmGxhwZoCwA9HxLtr4QSFXL1oTjl0CYGM5joTPyllPABr3BD1w9E/s400/Jewish+cemetary+headstones+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179576786049694306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3onZtfvN_5_F3eKqfoiUIhTEefypD3Hma9n-ID6twf7XZ-BrunssxsaIqhf1PSN2z9JyhA-Y53BNU81GRbLLY-MOZL_1XPfEekU9R8E6FPRK_jz1eAehphVmqCkEH2nsRS9Qq59v7aEI/s1600-h/Flowers+in+the+desert+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3onZtfvN_5_F3eKqfoiUIhTEefypD3Hma9n-ID6twf7XZ-BrunssxsaIqhf1PSN2z9JyhA-Y53BNU81GRbLLY-MOZL_1XPfEekU9R8E6FPRK_jz1eAehphVmqCkEH2nsRS9Qq59v7aEI/s400/Flowers+in+the+desert+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179576781754726994" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4xMQJ7dC-vFGAuqP7PEE7TD13UNFeH6lDDLeefi-dfC6cgMzKSo6Ks2qf99-ZQxmVHjvssaSPwAJwuMX63gnxZykLkGgVxHNZdi0k6Jnvf9nAfJBhOSCJkoVP9bCInGQIbNuz27xV1I/s1600-h/Old+Jewish+Cemetary2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4xMQJ7dC-vFGAuqP7PEE7TD13UNFeH6lDDLeefi-dfC6cgMzKSo6Ks2qf99-ZQxmVHjvssaSPwAJwuMX63gnxZykLkGgVxHNZdi0k6Jnvf9nAfJBhOSCJkoVP9bCInGQIbNuz27xV1I/s400/Old+Jewish+Cemetary2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179576798934596242" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcTA2Ud-lmlnzjDvbM7lNHK3t6JFB8f86kOA9MjQnANpfxV4GVPU7P8FJfuyM6Ery6SDLIuBZDdnuiefNGdRBxrhOmXAgwpPVNhe94nL2j0WohVZ4BuXH3bMhLfgsJm9HALlrUMnTFvE/s1600-h/Life+anew+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcTA2Ud-lmlnzjDvbM7lNHK3t6JFB8f86kOA9MjQnANpfxV4GVPU7P8FJfuyM6Ery6SDLIuBZDdnuiefNGdRBxrhOmXAgwpPVNhe94nL2j0WohVZ4BuXH3bMhLfgsJm9HALlrUMnTFvE/s400/Life+anew+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179576794639628930" /></a><br /><br />We found the Golem...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh184Xq-cXq76nOzcsGPL7WaomiGFUjx5qbCOTSnGXCl6n0sPPp17DVCErEQoSV6cM2AaQsmUn6VUCsQJCBgLMkx0r4tHtyp05I4DA8s7trIsR9GCu32MJ-nTcD6b5iIYtOkfoQtFnHMr8/s1600-h/We+found+the+Golem+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh184Xq-cXq76nOzcsGPL7WaomiGFUjx5qbCOTSnGXCl6n0sPPp17DVCErEQoSV6cM2AaQsmUn6VUCsQJCBgLMkx0r4tHtyp05I4DA8s7trIsR9GCu32MJ-nTcD6b5iIYtOkfoQtFnHMr8/s400/We+found+the+Golem+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179579444634450610" /></a><br /><br />Jan Hus Memorial<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiAWCaqVY1Qkes7NKn4IVYut4DSMV2TlLoaEvA89-PeDDHk78QlejnVLdVFqtiDbIKmAC5ees5aDKkwfl_Qrda_zm1Dz4i_LW49K63ZiL6YD1U8pIAbmuYOL_0wKAl5DW9Lqj7wg-A6U/s1600-h/Jan+Hus+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiAWCaqVY1Qkes7NKn4IVYut4DSMV2TlLoaEvA89-PeDDHk78QlejnVLdVFqtiDbIKmAC5ees5aDKkwfl_Qrda_zm1Dz4i_LW49K63ZiL6YD1U8pIAbmuYOL_0wKAl5DW9Lqj7wg-A6U/s400/Jan+Hus+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179563768003820034" /></a><br /><br />Tyn Church - Hussite<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7DYuR9LdE6hPWPAIwGxcBMaheEMKeVEHYKQTvJrTbTMa_JF5tMAppTFavIhG9SowebHgp5gHxIroGhBoHwFOZRmeAlNXOVchsblSHJ-tzbIW73tEfl-wIN2_eoYXPSoHDxs2ZitcOqI/s1600-h/Tyn+Church,+Prague+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7DYuR9LdE6hPWPAIwGxcBMaheEMKeVEHYKQTvJrTbTMa_JF5tMAppTFavIhG9SowebHgp5gHxIroGhBoHwFOZRmeAlNXOVchsblSHJ-tzbIW73tEfl-wIN2_eoYXPSoHDxs2ZitcOqI/s400/Tyn+Church,+Prague+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179570476742736434" /></a><br /><br />Prague is a town of marionettes<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gqFZIcNoJs71vy73odCrvX7fG35YQoS7RzFF2N4EZEHhLbFSwhbShx0rg7zhiLa7X5hJL1bDeKCskhVCUEpTTg8HUEbQuaKTs3-BqJqOL38MMRur4Agefng0O60638sGf6rbhqkqoy4/s1600-h/Puppets+Prague+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gqFZIcNoJs71vy73odCrvX7fG35YQoS7RzFF2N4EZEHhLbFSwhbShx0rg7zhiLa7X5hJL1bDeKCskhVCUEpTTg8HUEbQuaKTs3-BqJqOL38MMRur4Agefng0O60638sGf6rbhqkqoy4/s400/Puppets+Prague+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179569866857380386" /></a><br /><br />And a Franz Kafka town<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSSPkS6z8NmCETSrRV1T9C9agYCPl3WL6QoTaom9xtXLfAEkmeoapeDNxqi7sSBEjgRmbbqbHV-AAzktMZAaUfWvJLxnKZk1KOq6v5eA290sLuF7F69En6hh38Yp3t_RC0zEvmF8fCew/s1600-h/Kafka+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSSPkS6z8NmCETSrRV1T9C9agYCPl3WL6QoTaom9xtXLfAEkmeoapeDNxqi7sSBEjgRmbbqbHV-AAzktMZAaUfWvJLxnKZk1KOq6v5eA290sLuF7F69En6hh38Yp3t_RC0zEvmF8fCew/s400/Kafka+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179576790344661618" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-34412011194849679922008-03-19T08:57:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:27.537-08:00Another cold day in Prague...Your intrepid YoYo here...<br /><br />Resolute. Yes, that's the ticket. Remain resolute and all will be well. Shut up, button up, and remain resolute. Desert rats be warned, Spring in Prague is really freakin' cold. Just saying.<br /><br />The cold didn't stop us from spending 7 hours exploring the city and it's lovely cultural offerings. And here are some pics of St James Basilica for your viewing pleasure.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJJiA2ZPCbCFDnSPHP1vaUVqDFCBPKl6D8yrCtbk2ahYe2OiglUweO5fc-Y8nYx5PDmOG6sGuVRpUiiuJVLDpKiJvcMIpwKk4yNQrfnF1vCcgIF2PomOGm2ikuHGrRqWdEK7-1I22ubw/s1600-h/St+James+Basilica+4a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJJiA2ZPCbCFDnSPHP1vaUVqDFCBPKl6D8yrCtbk2ahYe2OiglUweO5fc-Y8nYx5PDmOG6sGuVRpUiiuJVLDpKiJvcMIpwKk4yNQrfnF1vCcgIF2PomOGm2ikuHGrRqWdEK7-1I22ubw/s320/St+James+Basilica+4a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179484154315021586" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqFzRieWJZ_k6HhM8hzoEQdVD2kUTHbUQIQWbwk_fIrE6zPiuNGvW6K8s2h02LXuDaIeqcp0TQ02RjgOlXcvZBbVf4cfwUYTY9q6iY45GToO4aaSXMwy4XxPEJkFQjzEhGZ1G14NCHuc/s1600-h/St+James+Basilica+3a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqFzRieWJZ_k6HhM8hzoEQdVD2kUTHbUQIQWbwk_fIrE6zPiuNGvW6K8s2h02LXuDaIeqcp0TQ02RjgOlXcvZBbVf4cfwUYTY9q6iY45GToO4aaSXMwy4XxPEJkFQjzEhGZ1G14NCHuc/s320/St+James+Basilica+3a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179484493617437986" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrY8c4k1AZz1enwTR14_BlgVv0bpj3cplSQM8pUfH3GBRe0Z7FbZXlAcDoCouSMOgy0PBTPQY8BK9udRmd68r0Wg_mf-MUPpKgQhzsDHooMGZy9zQ4O0raOLuZwUwZL9gOSqWUq2eFjw/s1600-h/St+James+angles+1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrY8c4k1AZz1enwTR14_BlgVv0bpj3cplSQM8pUfH3GBRe0Z7FbZXlAcDoCouSMOgy0PBTPQY8BK9udRmd68r0Wg_mf-MUPpKgQhzsDHooMGZy9zQ4O0raOLuZwUwZL9gOSqWUq2eFjw/s400/St+James+angles+1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179487603173760370" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE9A9RaMtmIbyoby3A_xe0pq1q33BXq8II-lvZq_SN31mAucx7x-N0-shdRK1kPuUiq4Hd5i0wKCv5xRJyzXBos1fKG-yULfgQf_Qr4h5cgCo-yWXJe0G7priSAfPcMwE2_9MR_QZpOA/s1600-h/St+James+Basilica+2a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE9A9RaMtmIbyoby3A_xe0pq1q33BXq8II-lvZq_SN31mAucx7x-N0-shdRK1kPuUiq4Hd5i0wKCv5xRJyzXBos1fKG-yULfgQf_Qr4h5cgCo-yWXJe0G7priSAfPcMwE2_9MR_QZpOA/s400/St+James+Basilica+2a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179486447827557698" /></a><br /><br />In the other news...<br />While it is very nice to have a washing machine in the apartment, it would be far nicer to have one that wasn't possessed by some discontent spirit. Each time I wash a load it takes at least half again as long as the previous load AND the machine likes to walk around the bathroom bumping in to things and knocking items on the ground. The last load took nearly 3 hours and the clothing came out tied in multiple tight knots. This would be the load of delicates, of course. One of Hoops' shirts is worse for the wear as it is now an indescribable color. The closest I can get to describing the new color is "distressed yellow." If Lisa were here she would no doubt have a better description. Keeping in step with the theme for the day, I shall focus on how nice it is to be able to continually rid our clothing of the nasty cigarette smoke stench we pick up every time we walk into an eating or drinking establishment. The concept of a no-smoking section is not common here.<br /><br />The weather forecast for tomorrow is even grimmer...hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-64433947885723329392008-03-18T12:16:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:28.129-08:00More pics and weird weather<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNy1O9LIab-pPgHupWuOVINjdXHvxcgHosYVTGwhNCK4DNBfJohKnkAtYoDWd-dYoQvROYwkhAnnJc_HvYnLoXOdXTnuuy4v2rx0Bg4W7iCGWGsA87fnTTHcWNd9heaBc2Joz9-kS1HVg/s1600-h/bundled+up.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNy1O9LIab-pPgHupWuOVINjdXHvxcgHosYVTGwhNCK4DNBfJohKnkAtYoDWd-dYoQvROYwkhAnnJc_HvYnLoXOdXTnuuy4v2rx0Bg4W7iCGWGsA87fnTTHcWNd9heaBc2Joz9-kS1HVg/s320/bundled+up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179165201453685938" /></a><br />YoYo here...<br />The weather couldn't make up its mind today. First thing in the morning, it was all about the sunshine. Still cold, but nice and shiny. By mid-day we had a snow storm. Nice pretty swirling snow flakes. Even colder, but tolerable. By the end of the day we had seen sunshine and snow swirls repeatedly. However, the day ended positively freezing and Hoops has gone to bed with a chill. Burr!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE_IIruC2NhdptV3TxEinq6o74anfwlp4UFHlRg8F2a-jdPCkybfV1FwGHb6j15e0h7m3_VgU4ov9I61goaBLyC2a5z_LpLZ6wH4mGkb9S2eI2dXDetaa7H7KT5JgBgFbq1HIyoJU5Mo/s1600-h/snow+on+flowers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE_IIruC2NhdptV3TxEinq6o74anfwlp4UFHlRg8F2a-jdPCkybfV1FwGHb6j15e0h7m3_VgU4ov9I61goaBLyC2a5z_LpLZ6wH4mGkb9S2eI2dXDetaa7H7KT5JgBgFbq1HIyoJU5Mo/s320/snow+on+flowers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179176162210225410" /></a><br /><br /><br />Hope you enjoy the photos from today. The library is in the Strahov Monastery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzk02iSt_XeRI8hvR4wGbOpFrWf9ozhTMkSlqbT8N4M7T_O4puREth42BxuHZYgEjr3h1f7x6pNEyEbnwCBcahuHZOKbH2KCwWGnmLaN6n103qTVPCpxxiWDAOyyUfC041yE26AeipTk/s1600-h/Monastary+Library.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzk02iSt_XeRI8hvR4wGbOpFrWf9ozhTMkSlqbT8N4M7T_O4puREth42BxuHZYgEjr3h1f7x6pNEyEbnwCBcahuHZOKbH2KCwWGnmLaN6n103qTVPCpxxiWDAOyyUfC041yE26AeipTk/s400/Monastary+Library.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179171497875741906" /></a><br /><br /> The bearded lady is from the Loreta Church.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ba2GVp-2tIAyY6aEJ6Mhe4dLRvaJiZk-KgV8Lf6NG4LMEgPQDTK73jE6mdGm3Kc0uHbTzr0Ef3ouLStSySSu-7WhuSOHDtMppieukewbP2AfvN8KNaaHkK5uXW38XQcQ3zYMmaB9__4/s1600-h/bearded+lady+of+Loredo1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ba2GVp-2tIAyY6aEJ6Mhe4dLRvaJiZk-KgV8Lf6NG4LMEgPQDTK73jE6mdGm3Kc0uHbTzr0Ef3ouLStSySSu-7WhuSOHDtMppieukewbP2AfvN8KNaaHkK5uXW38XQcQ3zYMmaB9__4/s400/bearded+lady+of+Loredo1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179175749893364978" /></a><br /><br />The story about the lady goes something like this: <br />Father: I want you to marry this brute here.<br />Daughter: No.<br />Father: You must marry him! I insist and I am your father. So there.<br />Daughter: No.<br />Father: You will marry the brute and that's that.<br />Daughter: Dear God, save me!<br />Father: Ok, you don't have to marry the brute.<br />Daughter: Thank God!<br />God: Well, there is a price to pay for this boon. You are now a man.<br />Daughter: But I don't look good in a beard.<br />Father: You're right, you don't look good in a beard. Therefor, I shall crucify you.<br />Daughter: I weep.<br /><br />Let's hope the weather tomorrow is more clement.hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-35999829623508589412008-03-17T17:35:00.000-07:002008-12-08T19:00:28.445-08:00Scenes from the streets and pubs of Prague...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-ljYFBA0f_PPHkVlAekyDc7dAZ4_vtyw-Ljeiewe0u2Vld0p6wRaqRbGQGxp6FIGtW-8F0C20VJ9nSoySvBMnyjr1UNPm-5NQKiPdb309JttxrSIYnZT8_3KY_ZH4bW66n6qFeF9fXI/s1600-h/Wee+Prague+Irish+gal2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-ljYFBA0f_PPHkVlAekyDc7dAZ4_vtyw-Ljeiewe0u2Vld0p6wRaqRbGQGxp6FIGtW-8F0C20VJ9nSoySvBMnyjr1UNPm-5NQKiPdb309JttxrSIYnZT8_3KY_ZH4bW66n6qFeF9fXI/s320/Wee+Prague+Irish+gal2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178875428600159394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn4P97c_Ppb6JQ392sXh28auHVI6hfYv0enLDpveKmSB5-SqhtCYi355C1zrqOxUtBrguDowmnKL2D1PAwNmIeodrRmWnZolL7b2u_STWY9Vb7SM39BJZrgGZrsNGLqd8f5c5CaDTQ6A/s1600-h/Another+wee+lassie2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn4P97c_Ppb6JQ392sXh28auHVI6hfYv0enLDpveKmSB5-SqhtCYi355C1zrqOxUtBrguDowmnKL2D1PAwNmIeodrRmWnZolL7b2u_STWY9Vb7SM39BJZrgGZrsNGLqd8f5c5CaDTQ6A/s320/Another+wee+lassie2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178875003398397074" /></a>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-58014373167228485712008-03-15T08:04:00.000-07:002008-03-18T22:59:26.961-07:00Day 1 - Friday March 14, 2008We made it. No problems with the flights. No trouble with customs or security. In fact, it seemed rather light in those areas. hmm.. I noticed that in the airport in Paris, many people were allowed to go through security without having to take their shoes off. What's that about? <div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>We were greeted in Prague by the taxi driver that had been arranged by the apartment owner.</div><div>It's great being picked up at the airport in a strange city and not having to try to figure out how much it should cost and how to communicate while you try to give someone the address to your lodging, especially when you are not even sure how to pronounce the street name.</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>It had rained, so the streets were wet and the cobble stones were quite slippery. It was cold out, but not unbearable. The apartment was cold, but gladly we have central heating, so we cracked it up to take the chill off. </div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>We have several restaurants and pubs on the street were we are staying. We picked the one our driver recommended and tried to fit in with the locals as we ordered beer and roasted chicken breast with ham and chips. The ham was draped over the chicken breast. The chips were really french fries. All three of these were piled upon each other with a nice layer of melted cheese on top. It sounds bad now, but it was quite yummy at the time. After dinner, it was time to rest.</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Our sleeping patterns are whacked out so we ended up going to bed by 2:00 p.m. </div><div>I managed to get up and go foraging for supplies at around 7:30 p.m. We needed the staples, bread, milk, tea, peanut butter. I figured the staff at the Four Seasons hotel were guaranteed to speak english, so I headed straight there to ask for directions and get a map. Good choice.</div><div>The magic store is called Tesco. It's much like our Walgreens or Target, but it was quite a hoof away. but that was fine with me. I was ready to go adventuring. </div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>I made my way through the Old town square. It was hopping. It was like a carnival. They had booths selling goodies all around. I made it to Tesco and back in a out 2 hours. By the time I got back the apartment was quite toasty. I backed the temp back down a bit and settled in to read about the Golem. There were no streets sounds, no voices from other rooms. Just the sound of creaking wood floors every now and then. Oooh, spooky... The knock on the door was only slightly startling. The apartment owner stopped by to check in on us. I guess she's a late night person. It was well after 10:00 p.m. At least by that time the temperature had calmed back down.</div>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8968059848684685103.post-54403889877814486232008-03-12T20:44:00.000-07:002008-03-12T21:05:41.879-07:00Wednesday March 12, 2008<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;">In 9 hours, we'll be on a plane. It's hard to believe that after 3 years of planning this is finally going to happen. bwahaha. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;">Happily, I was able to see my mother today to say goodbye. It's always nice to be able to give your mother a big hug before you go out on a great adventure. It's very exciting. </span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We will fly into Atlanta, then on to Paris by morning. In the wee hours, we will arrive in Prague. It will be raining, but I don't care. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We plan to stumble about for two or three days while we get our sea legs back. I plan to dive head first into "The Golem" by Yudl Rosenberg. I figure with the sleep debt, jet lag and foggy rain, I'll be in for some severe spookiness. Nothing a dram or two can't shake off.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Ok. Back to the packing and such.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Hoops</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div>hoopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13473928510895150293noreply@blogger.com4