Spring in Prague

The weather has turned gray since I took this picture last week but Spring is definitely here. Next week? Spring in Paris. It is officially a go with tickets purchased and everything. Only a week and a half instead of three weeks in Paris but G Unit will come for a weekend visit. Stay tuned

Bunnies and Chocolate

I have fond memories of Easter growing up. Mostly revolving around eggs. Painting eggs, easter egg hunts (while singing christmas songs - apparently my sister and I were confused children), posing with the easter bunny, cadbury eggs, jelly beans, so much chocolate I'm amazed I never feel into a sugar coma. The typical American experience, I would think.

Here in Central Europe there are many similarities. Images of baby chicks, bunnies and chocolate shaped everything are everywhere. Painting eggs is a tradition as it is in the States but it's done in an elaborate fashion here and is an art form in its own right.

Compare the above to the Easter eggs I made this year. I will admit I did not spend much time on mine. It was more just to do it.

Here in Prague they even have what I've heard is not traditional but prevalent Easter Markets. The below photos are from the market near our apartment.

The whole atmosphere in Prague around Easter feels to me like a celebration of the Spring season and it is even more enjoyable with the work holiday it provides for the Monday following Easter. Apparently Easter Monday is the true holiday in Central Europe, but it is my co-workers unequivocal least favorite holiday. When it came to deciding who would work the Monday holiday both co-workers said, "I'm working. I hate Easter Monday. I don't want to go home." When I asked why they mentioned being hit with a stick and/or drenched with water. Say what? How did we go from eating too much chocolate and painting eggs to being wet and beaten?

Apparently the Central European Easter tradition involves unmarried women being awoken by being drenched with a bucket of water or hit with a pomlazka which is a braided whip made from pussy willow twigs and decorated with ribbons. All this is supposed to bring luck and fertility in the new year. These willow whips are on display and available for purchase everywhere in Prague at the moment from the Easter markets to the grocery stores.

There are variations of this tradition. I've read that the ladies are whipped on the legs in the morning and then in the afternoon they dump water on the men. But in Slovakia the ladies get water thrown on them in the morning possibly combined with the whipping. And in return for this blessing the ladies are supposed to give them men easter eggs and chocolate treats. Either way to me it seems like the ladies are getting the short end of the stick. I can't really blame the girls for not wanting to be at home for these particular traditions. 

Thankfully for me my Easter traditions still just include painted or dyed eggs, chocolate and enjoying the Spring weather. G Unit and are will be making our first trip to the beer garden today in celebration of Easter. I think that's better than being wet, shivering and having whip stung legs, but maybe that's just me.

Happy Easter!

Delayed Coffee

So this past week has been kinda hellish so thanks for re-scheduling coffee with me.

I had a bad work experience last week and it kinda threw me for a loop as these things do. The week has slowly gotten better and with the weather turning absolutely gorgeous today I'm feeling more positive again. I'm hoping to make up for my silence with some more posts this weekend since G Unit and I both have three whole days off because of Easter. I like this holiday. It should be celebrated with a day off back in the States too. Stupid separation between church and state. Wait why is Christmas a holiday then? I don't get it.

There's not much to catch you up on in regards to my week besides the crappy work part, which really dominated my whole outlook unfortunately. I did manage to raise my head from my book while nesting in bed to go to brunch with G Unit. As many of you know we love weekend brunch. It was my favorite thing when we lived in Berkeley to head to La Note or Rick and Ann's. Prague is a little behind on the whole brunch experience. We've tried Cafe Savoy which G Unit finds a bit too high class in the clientele, so when he heard about a new french cafe across the river from us we decided to try. And I'm glad we did. I still like Cafe Savoy but Cafe Amadine is closer, less crowded and a more relaxed atmosphere. Oh and the coffee is great. I meant to take a picture of my latte for this post, you know for vitual coffee, but of course I forgot to bring the camera. But here is a picture of their display case instead. Mmmmm pastries.

While Cafe Amadine cannot live up to my memories of potato pancakes at Rick and Ann's or creme fresh pancakes and raspberry jam at La Note it does have pan perdu, croissants, tartines, croque monsieur and pan au chocolat and various tartes I have not yet dared to try. It will do just fine thank you. Plus they are not afraid to be bold and I love their green and pink signs. So anyone want to come by some Sunday for brunch? I hate that you are all so far away. It's the one of the really sucky things of living in Europe.

But what is going on with all of you? How is the weather in your neck of the woods? Are you doing anything fun this weekend. We only just found out that G Unit actually does have Monday off so I think we're going to try to do a day trip somewhere. It's a little last minute so we'll see.

I have to finish my coffee now. G Unit's co-workers are due here for dinner any minute. He is of course cooking up a storm. Risotto, chicken and I made no-bake mini vanilla cheesecakes. I hope they work out. I'll let you know and maybe take a picture or two. If I can sneak one in without anyone thinking I'm weird. 

Braiding!

Last week when I posted pictures of the zoo I was too tired to point out my hair. I always love having my hair braided but I've never been able to do it myself. I practically attack Michele every time we're around each other for more than a few hours and make her do my hair. And I love having long hair but the reason I usually chop it all off after I grow it out is because I don't know what to do with it besides put it up in a ponytail. Or a bun or a hair clip. Boring. Previously I was always frustrated when I tried to braid. I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing with the different pieces and it always looked wrong. 

But then Tracy posted a link to B Jones Style hair tutorials and it was like a light bulb went on. So I started practicing. This was my first success after a few attempts. 

Pippi Longstocking

Look at that - braids on the top of my head

This shows my mad braiding skills even better

Then later I tried out the bun in the back
instead of braids down the side

I'm still trying to perfect it as I'm still a bit of a novice but it's working out if I do say so myself. Score!

Virtual Caffine

If we were really meeting for coffee today I would be on my 5th or so cup. It's only Tuesday and I'm ready for the week to be over. I'm not sure what's going on. G Unit and I had a restful weekend that included naps, reading and the zoo but somehow I woke up Monday with bags under my eyes wishing I could stay in bed. Today was not much better

Unfortunately this means that our coffee chat today has to be a little brief as it's already getting late here in Prague and I'm in desperate need of some zzzs.

So today I'll leave you with some photos from our annual zoo trip. I can call it annual since it's the 2nd year in a row right? There's also a video or two that you might enjoy of the animals.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Fingers crossed that tomorrow is a bright eyed Wednesday for me.

Random photo op on our way to see the elephants 

Baby Gorilla!

so cute! so playful!

This is what Willoughby looks like. Are all cats the same?

Bench with a view - Photo op!

View towards the river

G Unit refusing to pose with Polar bears because
of the glare 

Polar Bears playing (note minimal glare)

Orangutangs - He's so soulful - Can I mention to get here
you have to go through a "twilight area" and there are bats
FYLING FREELY. Freaking crazy. I ran through, hunched
over. I kid you not.

And now the videos. I give you Elephants:

And some sort of wild cat kittens. I wanted to take one home!

Find more interesting conversation over at Amy's

Virtual Coffee

Happy Tuesday everybody! I feel like I should talk like a muppet when I say that as that is what it sounds like in my head.

First if we were really meeting for coffee I would take a minute to mention that it's my mother-in-law Leslie's birthday. I don't know how I got so lucky have her in for a mother-in-law, but I'm glad I did. I'm just sorry that G Unit and I are not closer so that we could celebrate her birthday with her, but I hope our phone call let her know how much she means to us even if it is only a lame message on the machine. Good thing she's coming to see us soon so that we can spoil her rotten in person. Happy Birthday Leslie!

So, how was everyone's weekend? Mine was fab-uuuu-lous. The weather has finally turned warm here in Prague and G Unit and I took full advantage. As you may know hubby ran the Prague 1/2 Marathon which was lots of fun for me. Sunday we decided to head to the park and have a picnic.

G Unit remarked as we were enjoying the sunshine that he would never have wanted to do this back in California. He said that he would have found it boring, but after 6 months of cold weather and the indoors any excuse to get outside is now jumped on.

It reminds me of a wise man (I'm looking at you Bob Larson) once telling me that as you get older you notice/pay more attention to the seasons. I didn't really believe Bob when he said that to me way back when as I had just graduated college and was working in a University environment. I didn't think I would ever not know when it was mid term time or Christmas break. And I don't know if I would notice it as much if I was still in California, but when there is a true distinction between the seasons, boy do you notice it. Walking around without a coat is like a miracle. I heart Prague in the Spring.

If we were really meeting for coffee I would completely change subjects and gush about my uncle Jerome (pronounced Jerem with a Belfast accent) who has written a play called LoveJig, a love story about two Irish dancers. He started writing the play when my cousin (his daughter) went on tour with an Irish dancing show. After getting back she and her friends said he should write a story for an Irish dancing show as the story-line on their gig was not so great. He started writing and LoveJig is the result. It's turning into a bit of a family affair. My cousin and her friends (I believe) are to provide the dancing for the play, another cousin is helping with the promoting and my aunt auditioned and is to be one of the leads. It's all very exciting. I just wish I could make it to see the damn thing. sigh. I'm afraid the timing won't work out though. It's right before G Unit and I leave for our vacation in Italy. I've told Jerome he has to tape one of the performances for my viewing pleasure or take it on tour to Europe. I'm fine either way. Fingers crossed. But if anyone else reading this is in the Toronto area June 24 - 26 you should totally check it out.

And apparently this week I'm obsessed with all things Irish, as I'm dying to tell you about a new documentary about Irish Dancing. It's called Jig.



For anyone who ever wondered or was curious about what I was talking about when I mentioned an Irish Dancing Feis and the crazy world of Irish dancing competition you would probably be interested. I sometimes wish that I was as great an Irish dancer as these kids or my cousins are, but I really do not have the drive for it. Sometimes it bothers me that I don't have the drive not only regarding Irish dancing but studying/school and any other hobbies I start. But maybe it's not drive but plain lack of competitiveness. Or passion. It can be a little upsetting when I think about it. But don't worry; this feeling usually passes, probably more quickly than it should and I shrug my shoulders and get on with my world happy with who I am and what I have done.

And that's it for me today. What's new with all of you? I'd love to hear what's going on in your neck of the woods.

Join Virtual Coffee with Amy at Lucky Number 13

Spring, with a bang!

Spring has officially arrived in Prague and this past weekend was the kick off event.

G Unit ran his first 1/2 marathon. He's been training since January and Saturday was THE day. We got up early, I got dolled up and he got prepped to run. We left with plenty of time to get to the starting point. It was a gorgeous day, probably in the low 70s. I was comfortable in a skirt and light sweater. G Unit thought it was too hot. He's used to running in freezing conditions.

Man were there a lot of people at this thing. 9500 people running and then all their family and friends. It was intense.

G Unit packed up his stuff handed me his bag, took a mandatory pre run photo with the wife and then left me to go and find out where he needed to be and make sure he was all ready to go.

Then I pushed my way through the crowds and found myself a place to watch the start of the race. There were a lot of pushy people trying to get past me as they had to take a picture of their "friends". What the hell is my husband chopped liver? I unfortunately didn't manage to catch a glimpse of G Unit at the start. SO MANY PEOPLE but I did manage to catch the front runners and a lot of other random people

Look at those strides - crazy fast

After looking at all these random people, reaching the end of the group and not seeing G Unit, I grabbed my things and ran off towards work. I had a surprise. Secretly I had made signs. Oh Yes. G Unit had a "team building" dinner earlier in the week and it was perfect timing. I colored my signs while watching my tv shows. (side note: I think I may need to buy coloring books for myself. I found it oddly relaxing to be coloring in the lines.) Behold the genius of my signs, which I totally stole from other people. 

G Unit asked earlier where his sign was while traveling to the start

I played the horrified wife pretending that I had not thought to make him a sign
and now felt totally guilty at my lack of support - I'm sneaky like that

People at work totally appreciated my sign making abilities. I grabbed the signs and picked up Bara and Martina who wanted to help me cheer G Unit on. I was a little worried that he might have reached the bridge where we decided to wait for him before we got there, but I tried to relax while Martina and I held up the signs for others to read. 

This was probably the best part of the day for me. Lots of the runners going by smiled, smirked or out right laughed. I could see them reading the signs as they went by and they would then look up at me and I'd give them a huge smile. And Martina was cracking jokes next to me. It was great. All the while though we were frantically searching for G Unit. Do you know how hard it is to find a white with red trim shirt during a marathon? Practically impossible. I've already told him he needs to get a pink or purple shirt for the next one. And then Bara spotted him and then there he was right in front of us. He didn't even read my signs, but we yelled and screamed at him anyways as he went by. Apparently he could hear us giggling halfway down the bridge.

I had lunch with the girls and then headed over towards the finish. I got there around 2:20 which is about the time we thought he would finish. To make a long story short I had just missed him but didn't know it so I sat there with my camera waiting for him, hoping to get a picture of him finishing. I didn't get a glory shot of him coming in on the home stretch but I got these other random pictures.

And then I wondered where could hubby be. He should have finished by now. He said he would text me. And then I started to worry. What if he passed out somewhere. Who would I call? How would I find him?

This is me worried. I had my hand up like where is he?

And then I decided to text him. And then I heard a strange buzzing. Coming from his bag. Damnit! He had left his phone with me. So I ran over to where we said we would meet if I missed him at the finish. And there he was. Bad wife. I tried to cheer him on at the end and he ended up having to wait for me. {le sigh}. I'll do better next time. We got a picture of him with his metal even if it was delayed. Isn't he cute?

Now I'm trying to convince him to do the 1/2 marathon in Brussels. I've also told him he has to put a full marathon on his list. I want to make more signs. And get pictures of him finishing the race. And eat Belgian fries and gaufres. I like this whole traveling to cheer him on thing. He says he'll do the full marathon if I do a half marathon. I'm thinking I like the sidelines better.