Summertime and the livin' is easy

Play Summertime on YouTube prior to and while reading on...to get that full summertime feelin'

Go to:  http://youtu.be/i3xkf7rkwIY

Summertime, and the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin', and the cotton is high

Your Daddy's rich, and your Mama is good lookin'

So, hush, little baby don't you cry

One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singin'

You're gonna spread your wings and take to the sky, take to the sky

But until that mornin' there's nothin' that can harm you

With Daddy and Mommy standin' by

Summertime

Yes, it's the time, I'm talking about summertime

And the livin', summer living, the livin' is so fine

Fish are jumpin, and the cotton is high

Your Daddy's rich, he's rich, your Daddy's filthy rich

And your Mama, hot mama, your Mama's so good lookin'

So, hush, little baby don't you cry

Summertime is a glorious time in the Czech Republic!  Although we don't have a coastline, we love the water and travel to the sea.  Croatia's my favorite go-to summertime spot and I hope you have the chance to visit.  Pretty much every Czech has either a chata (cabin) or chalupa (cottage) in the country and they'll head out of the city almost every weekend.  But for those of you who don't have a country home to escape to, there's still a ton to do just outside of Prague, as well as right in the city!

Fishing under the Charles Bridge

(not sure what he's catching, perhaps Water Sprites?!)

Boating

Take a boat cruise along the Vltava River

Or along Čertovka (Devil's Stream)

Dining ...or just relaxing 

With a glass of wine or a cold beer, kick back at one of the many cafes/restaurants overlooking the Vltava

Paddleboating

How about seeing the city from your very own paddleboat?

Horseback Riding

Music

The city is alive with music during the summer...

Strolling

Prague is a beautiful city to stroll through.  While you're at it, stop to feed the swans that call the Vltava their home

Biking

A popular activity and there are many parks in Prague to do so, as well as organized trips throughout the country

Castles

The Czech Republic is packed with castles and chateaux.  You can spend every day of the summer visiting a different one...heck you can spend well over a year trying to see them all!  

Jemnice

Karlštejn

The Czech Grand Canyon

Velká Amerika (Grand America) and Malá Amerika (Little America)

"Amerika" is the name for a system of long abandoned limestone pit quarries situated in the vicinity of  Karlštejn.  Walk or jog around...some folks find there way down to swim in the clear lagoons.

Be careful though...here you can see where the stone gave way

Prague Zoo and Troja

Because who doesn't love animals?

And right next door to the zoo we have the romantic Troja chateau, which also houses a fabulous wine cellar/shop (if you can find it!)

Jet Skiing

Launch your skis nearby the zoo and Troja, and have a blast on the Vltava!

Kayaking

Český Krumlov ...just go.  This medieval town is situated in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic and is worth the trip.  It's a charming city along the Vltava (yes, the same Vltava that flows through Prague!)

Hiking

(and more boats)

There are a ton of places to hike in the Czech Republic, but one place that I find spectacular is České Švýcarsko National Park (Bohemian Switzerland National Park).  The park was created on June 1, 2000, and links to the Sächsische Schweiz (Saxonian Switzerland) National Park on the German side, which was established in 1990.  You can take several paths, one that even leads to a wonderfully relaxing boat ride. 

Žluté Lázně

Located on the bank of the Vltava River in Prague 4, this place is a great place to spend a hot summer day.  Activities include everything from swimming in the river (errr....if you so desire) to beach volleyball to soccer...and so much more.  Food, cocktails, showers, restrooms, etc.  It's a great place to come and offers something for all ages.  At night it's a great place to meet friends and enjoy a few cold beers.  Live concerts take place as well throughout the summer.

Lakes

There are a lot of lakes in the Czech Republic, and Lhota is a personal favorite because of its sandy bottom (it reminds me of being on a beach at the ocean).  Lhota (u Staré Boleslavi) is a man-made lake about 20 km outside of Prague.  There's a large sandy beach (perfect for sand castles), food and drinks, restrooms, and a few concession stands.  

 

 

Another really popular lake and recreation area is Slapy.  Lake Slapy is a multipurpose reservoir built on the Vltava River about 40 km south of Prague.  There are a lot of cabins and cottages around the lake that you can rent for a peaceful weekend away from the city.  Enjoy sailing?  This is a great spot for it!

As I said, there are a ton of lakes throughout the Czech Republic...this is a random one in a village southeast of Prague...

4-Wheeling and Dirt Bike Riding

Because boys will be boys!

Spa Towns

Spa Towns are a wonderful way to relax.

Lázně Poděbrady

Mariánské Lázně

 

Karlovy Vary

Beer

I hope you enjoy all this wonderful country has to offer this summer.  Whatever you do this summer, don't forget the cold beer... because nothing's better in the heat of summer than an ice cold pivo!

Yesterday's "House Insignia of the Day" Revealed

This adorable white lamb can be found in the Hradčany district at Úvoz 12.  At The White Lamb (U bílého beránka) was originally a Renaissance town house from the second half of the 16th century, rebuilt in Baroque style in the first half of the 18th century.  The facade dates from 1912 and the insignia, the white lamb, has been preserved, although the original figure did not survive.  The current white lamb is the work of sculptor Vincenc Vingler.

Now do you know what the lamb represents?

The symbol of a lamb was a widespread, long before its adoption by Christianity, across the realm of Mediterranean civilization where for thousands of years sheep played a central role in agriculture.  In the Hebrew tradition, the sheep was a symbol of the nation of the Israelites, as members of "God's flock".  Additionally, the lamb is linked to the traditional Jewish holiday of Passover when a lamb was sacrificed.  One echo of this ancient ritual in the Czech lands is the tradition of baking a cake in the form of a lamb at Easter.

  

For Christian theology, the lamb is the symbol of Jesus Christ as "Agnus Dei", the Lamb of God:  the symbol of purity, innocence and obedience.  

Happy Name Day,Bohuslava! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Bohuslava.  Happy Name Day, Bohuslava!

The name Bohuslava is of Czech origin and means "God's glory".

Did you feel it?

Apparently there was just a small earthquake in the Czech Republic today, and one on July 4th as well.  

But have no fear.  Worldwide there are over 8,000 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or less every day, and nobody feels them.  Apparently, earthquakes can start to be felt over 3.0, but even then they are very weak and rarely cause damage.  The earthquakes that cause major damage are usually in the 7.0 - 9.0 range...a million times stronger than a 1.9 would be.

Magnitude:  ML 1.9
Region:  CZECH REPUBLIC
Date time:  2011-07-06 03:26:08.4 UTC
Location:  49.83 N ; 18.54 E
Depth:  2 km
Distances:  19 km E Ostrava (pop 312,056 ; local time 05:26:08.4 2011-07-06)
3 km S Karviná (pop 63,346 ; local time 05:26:08.4 2011-07-06)

July 4th's earthquake was reported as:
Magnitude:  ML 2.5
Region:  CZECH REPUBLIC
Date time:  2011-07-04 17:34:13.3 UTC
Location:  49.83 N ; 18.46 E
Depth:  2 km
Distances:  14 km E Ostrava (pop 312,056 ; local time 19:34:13.3 2011-07-04)
5 km SE Orlová (pop 34,144 ; local time 19:34:13.3 2011-07-04)
4 km NW Horní suchá (pop 4,500 ; local time 19:34:13.3 2011-07-04)

House Insignia of the Day

Any ideas?

Happy Holiday...and the unofficial kickoff to summer!

Jan Hus monument in Old Town Square

Ever wonder what this monument, situated in the center of Old Town Square, signifies?  

It depicts the persecution of Czech nationalists and their reemergence 200 years later.

Today marks the 596th anniversary of the death of Jan Hus, a 15th century priest, reformer, and religious thinker who was burned at the stake by civil authorities as a heretic.  July 6th is a National holiday in the Czech Republic, with religious services held throughout the country commemorating Jan Hus's legacy.  Hus was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the 16th century, and his teachings had a strong influence on the states of Europe, most immediately in the approval for the existence reforming Bohemian religious domination, and, more than a century later, on Martin Luther himself.

Jan Hus

Saints Cyril and Methodius Day

Today is a National Holiday for us here in the Czech Republic, for today is Saints Cyril and Methodius Day.

Saints Cyril and Methodius Day was originally a Christian holiday, but now it has deep secular and historical connotations. Saints Cyril and Methodius were two brothers that invented the Cyrillic alphabet...

These two brothers also taught literacy to the Slavs and preached the gospel in the Czech lands.  Their cathedral in Prague was a place where the assassins of Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking German Nazi official, hid in 1942 and where they committed suicide to avoid capture by the German Nazis.

Cathedral of Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Built between 1730-1736

Happy Name Day, Prokop! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Prokop.  Happy Name Day, Prokop!

The name Prokop is of Greek origin and is mainly used in the Czech and Polish languages.  Its meaning is "in great abundance".

And the Czechs win Wimbledon! Go, Petra!

Watch the win here:

http://youtu.be/9RIqqRBKWOg

Here's an article from FOX Sports:
Petra Kvitova, a 21-year-old from the Czech Republic, burst out of the pack of young players trying to establish dominance in the women's game by blasting Maria Sharapova off the Centre Court (6-3, 6-4) to win Wimbledon in sensational style.


Kvitova had dared to suggest that she plays tennis like Juan Martin del Potro — well, now we can see why. Hard and flat. The tall Argentine certainly hits the ball that way, and Kvitova offered ample evidence that she can do the same, as she played the best tennis of her life in her first Grand Slam final.

Her huge left-handed serve is clearly her biggest weapon, but she didn't just hit it with great power. She mixed it up, pulling Sharapova out wide in the ad court on occasion, but also often going for that under-used serve into the body, jamming the tall Russian and forcing her into cramped returns.

Kvitova unleashed some blockbluster service returns of her own and seemed nerveless at potentially pivotal moments of the match, such as the moment when Sharapova, having picked up her own spotty game with some big returns, broke back in the second set to level at 3-3

Kvitova had even shrugged off the loss of her serve in the opening game of the match, when her nerves were obviously jangling, and immediately broke back. It was a thoroughly impressive performance, and it broke the mold of Czech-born players at Grand Slam level. The Czechs have been notoriously slow starters, and it took great champions like Jaroslav Drobny, Ivan Lendl, Jana Novotna (remember the Centre Court tears when she lost her first final?) and even the great Martina Navratilova a long time to get their acts into gear in Slam finals.

But not this kid. Kvitova surprised herself with the way she handled the biggest moment of her life.

"I was surprised how I was feeling on court because I was so focused on the point and I was very happy about that," she said. "Before the game when I served for the match, I said to myself, 'I have to do it now'; and then it was 40-0, and then the ace, and it was (the) most unbelievable feeling."

The feeling was all too much for her father, who burst into tears.

"My father is still crying," she laughed. "He always cries when I win."

For Kvitova herself, the tears came only after she had been greeted by Navratilova and Novotna in the member's enclosure.

"They said they were so happy, and then I cried," she said.

Recalling her semifinal loss to Serena Williams here last year, Kvitova said, "Against Serena, I didn't think I could beat her. I wasn't ready. Today I knew I could win."

Sharapova had no excuses and did not try to manufacture any.

"She has a very powerful game and was hitting winners from all over the court," Sharapova said. "She goes for her shots, and they're very flat. Today, she created offensive opportunities from tough positions on the court. She turned a defensive shot into an offensive one. Her second serve was pretty big as well. I felt I could have reacted a little bit better on those serves. But she placed the ball really well, too."

In other words, the Russian was outplayed, and she knew it.

But despite the tears that have flowed on numerous occasions behind the scenes during the long months of recovery from shoulder surgery, Sharapova seemed well capable of taking a positive view of her performances over the past few weeks. She  has surprised many by winning a big clay-court title in Rome and then going on to reach the semifinal at Roland Garros.

"It's been a big step forward, especially considering my results here in the last few years haven't been that good," she said. "It's a big step because my game is improving, and it's a big step because it gives me an enormous amount of confidence going forward. I just want to be a better player, and I want to keep working."

Asked whether she was even more determined to win another Grand Slam, Sharapova's eyes narrowed.

"I'm determined no matter what," she said. "You know, I love playing on this stage. As a tennis player, that's the dream, to be playing in the finals stages of Grand Slam and, obviously, hoping to win them. I would have loved to have turned that match around, but it didn't happen today. Maybe it will happen tomorrow."

Happy Name Day, Radomír! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Radomír.  Happy Name Day, Radomír!

The name Radomír is of Slavic origin and is derived from the Slavic elements rad "care, joy: and mir "peace, world, fame".  Nicknames are Radek, Radko, Mirek, Mirko.

Happy Name Day, Patricie! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Patricie.  Happy Name Day, Patricie!

The name Patricie is Czech for Patricia.  Its source is Patricius, a Latin name meaning "aristrocrat".  

Yesterday's "House Insignia of the Day" Revealed

Any ideas who may have lived here at one time?

It's a somewhat crudely carved image of a wheel with a section of shaft-rod and a carpenter's ax and bears the date 1555.  A wheelwright by the name of Jan Štefl lived and worked his trade in this house.  In the 17th century, a different owner added to the facade a gold crown, overshadowing the much simpler original insignia.

Happy Name Day, Jaroslava! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Jaroslava.  Happy Name Day, Jaroslava!

The name Jaroslava is of Slavonic origin and means "glory of spring".