Prague (Praha) at night...

Another day draws to a close in the gorgeous city of Praha. Gold on the tower's figures glint in the setting sun

A chill starts to descend throughout the streets in late September.

Sculptures and people alike feel the darkness starting to descend. Here a modern 'key' sculpture

beckons the adjacent church to join the darkness:

In Old Town Square, jet trailings point the way to evening above the old City Hall

where even the ancient sun dial no longer catches a glimmer of rays even as spectators crowd around every hour to watch and hear:

Let the joyous night festoon and light our souls with brilliance for another day!

Máme vás rádi Praha! (We love you, Prague!)

Disclaimer: This blog is not an official University of Minnesota or Fulbright Program blog. The views expressed are my own and not those of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations, or the University of Minnesota.

You're cordially invited to a reception at the U.S. Ambassador's Residence, Prague (Praha)!

During our Fulbright Orientation week in Prague, we visited the US Embassy Office at the American Center.

Later in the week, however, everyone in the Fulbright Program received an invitation from The Charge d'Affaires, Mr. John Ordway, to attend a reception at the U.S. Ambassador's Residence, located near to the Vila Lanna where we were staying:

So, we all gathered at this stunningly beautiful residence on Thursday evening for a reception and speeches by the Czech Fulbright Commission Chairman of the Board (who is from my host university, Jihoceska Univerzita, Ceske Budejovice), our Czech Fulbright Director, and The Charge d'Affaires.
(Note, of course, that at the present time we do not have a US Ambassador to the Czech Republic--one has been nominated by President Obama but has yet to be confirmed by the Senate).

Join us for a delightful evening of wine and hors d'oeuvres while we walk around the house and grounds.

The outdoor patio (above) and pool room (below)

Another view of the patio.

Some of the lovely grounds to stroll through...

Mark sitting outside on the patio, waiting for hor d'euvres!

Neil in the library...

Other views of rooms inside, each of which had multiple chandeliers of exquisite Bohemian leaded crystal.

The mansion has a sad story (see the website: http://prague.usembassy.gov/ambassadors_residence.html). It was built by a wealthy Jewish family in the 1920s, the Petscheks. They sold all of their holdings in Czechoslovakia when the Nazi invasion was imminent, moving to the U.S. (where family members still live). During the war years, Nazi troops used the mansion; later the Soviets did also. Fortunately most of it was left untouched. The family was later compensated for their losses.

At night, the scene as we left....gorgeous no matter what time of day or night.

Disclaimer: This blog is not an official University of Minnesota or Fulbright Program blog. The views expressed are my own and not those of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations, or the University of Minnesota.

Late September Peaches!! (unbelievable...)

When we were at the farmer's market in Ceske Budejovice the last Saturday in September, we stopped by one of the vendors...our dear friend who often sells us eggs and shelled walnuts. She had a plastic bag full of small dark colored fruit, saying something in Czech that we didn't understand. We bought the whole bag for 30 kroners.  Mark thought they must be plums, which were still in season. Neil, however, noticed that they were fuzzy and thought.....peaches?!?
When we brought them home and cut them open....voila!

Can you believe it?! Purple and red peaches harvested in late September right here in South Bohemia. They were/are absolutely delicious.
I have enquired with my Czech colleagues in Horticulture what the name might be. They're looking and will report back. They believe it to be a very old cultivar that has been grown here for some time. Apparently our vendor has her own trees from which these came.

Here's a picture of other plums and the treasured peaches that we got that day. The little yellow plums are also a late variety, as most of this type were ripe in July and August when we first got here.

Disclaimer: This blog is not an official University of Minnesota or Fulbright Program blog. The views expressed are my own and not those of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations, or the University of Minnesota.

Off to the Opera!

Well, what an opportunity we had the second evening that we were in Prague for the Fulbright Orientation. Off we all went, all gussied up, to the National Theater to see Mozart's Don Giovanni!

Of course, it was at night time, so this picture (above) is from earlier in the afternoon when we passed the Theater on our Arts Tour.
Here's your ticket (courtesy o Fulbright--Thanks!)....do come along (get your top hat or long gown on, pl

We had prime seats in the center balcony of the theater to get a grand view of the orchestra and stage. Mark took a few picture before the opera started as, of course, photography wasn't allowed during the show!

Well, Neil got a bit cut out of the picture...

 Mark, however, shines gallantly but a bit serious!

What you must know, of course, is that this is THE THEATER where Mozart first conducted Don Giovanni on Oct. 29, 1787!  And here we are in the same theater some ~223 years later. You can almost see Mozart down there merrily conducting with his endless enthusiasm!  Pinch me....it's so!

Don Giovanni was originally entitled: "I1 Dissoluto Punito, ossia il Don Giovanni" (The Reprobate Punished, or Don Giovanni). Mozart wrote this to be first performed in Prague, as he liked the way Bondini's troupe performed "The Marriage of Figaro" nearly one year prior to this.

Disclaimer: This blog is not an official University of Minnesota or Fulbright Program blog. The views expressed are my own and not those of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations, or the University of Minnesota.

Food in Prague (Praha) and the Cubism Restaurant!

Well, of course, we dined exquisitely while in the lovely city of Praha.....from sumptuous breakfasts at The Vila Lanna, to Fulbright Orientation lunches at the Vila, to dining out on the town at night and on the weekend.
Where does one begin, but with the first course of Czech lunches or dinners...soup!  Here are some tasty ones we delighted in.
Many Czech soups are with a clear broth with added garlic, vegetables, pasta or potatoes. This one was delightfully tasty with a chicken stock base, parsnips, carrots, fresh herbs (parsley, lovage).

And then how about a creamy, fresh tomato soup surrounded by dollops of aged Balsamic vinegar, a floating island of mint and chives with crusty grilled bread coated with pesto to add the necessary textural "crunch"?

Then, on to the main courses.  Sometimes they were in restaurants or often just from street vendors, as there were so many delicious smells wafting up and down the city streets....who could resist old Prague ham or Prosciutto?

 Mark couldn't resist!!

Then on to desserts....where else, but let's start at the Cubism Cafe and Restaurant...recently refurbished in its original cubic delights. The outdoor cafe was too cold and rainy the day we were there,

 so upstairs we went on the Vytah (lift), rather than the stairs (shown here....so difficult to do with a wheel chair!)

 and sat, reading out English newspapers, to sip coffee and have some delightful desserts while soaking up the cubic ambience.

Mark chose his favorite...strawberry crepes with lots of whipped cream (of course!). I can just hear my Mother, Bea, saying 'Mark, have some more crepes with your whipped cream!'

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Neil dined on Raspberry tart...

Then, off we went back to explore more of the city.  Mark spots an interesting sign (in his new glasses!)...

Hmmm...it says it all

although maybe talking about food would be our primary function here on this blog, eh?

More to come on our Prague trip with the special reception at the U.S. Ambassador's Residence, the Theater, and many more sites!


Disclaimer: This blog is not an official University of Minnesota or Fulbright Program blog. The views expressed are my own and not those of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State or any of its partner organizations, or the University of Minnesota.