My Czech Republic Blog

Blog written by two Prague residents about life in the Czech Republic.

What Does Spring Mean to You?

By 3 Comments

Jeff and I went out today and wow, was it warm! Our thermometer showed an unbelievable 13°C and the real temperature was probably about 11°C (52°F). We were shocked when we stepped out and were hit by air that not only lacked the cold bite we got used to in the past four months (seems like eternity by now), but contained noticeable traces of WARMTH. We became almost ecstatic and big smiles spread over our faces. Instead of taking the tram to our destination, we happily walked, scarfless, gloveless, hatless, unzipping our jackets as we warmed up and pointing out people who weren’t even wearing jackets (gasp!). We didn’t care when it started drizzling and we thought, let anything come down as long as it’s not SNOW!

We’re going to have lunch at the Klášterní pivovar Strahov tomorrow. It’s set in a beautiful location that just invites you for a walk. I checked the weather forecast and couldn’t believe my eyes. It shows a whopping 17°C for Prague, 19°C in Southern Moravia (63 – 66°F)! What a great way to welcome Daylight Saving Time!

Too many exclamation points in this post? Well, I’m excited, believe you me!

Postřižiny or Cutting It Short

By Leave a Comment

TV Nova showed Bohumil Hrabal’s Postřižiny last night and I couldn’t help but watch it, for the umpteenth time. It’s a wonderful Czech classic that can be seen over and over. In my opinion, the film is best understood if you are a native Czech, appreciate Czech humor and like Hrabal’s “tender barbarian” style of writing.

This gentle comedy is a lovely view of Hrabal’s parents, the brewery his father ran in Nymburk, Hrabal’s unique uncle Pepin, and the times of “cutting it short” at the beginning of last century. It is one of those pleasant films that bring a smile to your face and just make you feel good. Something else the film can do is give you an irresistible craving for jitrnice and beer. Both of which I had for lunch today. 🙂

A Wacko from Czecho

By Leave a Comment

I came upon an interesting poll run by iDNES.cz in which readers are asked to choose their preferred one-word name of the Czech Republic. The options are: Czechia, Czechlands, Czech, Czecho. The current results can be seen here.

I don’t like any of the options and am not able to come up with a fifth one that would sound any better to me. I’m probably not the only one who feels that way. If I was, there would be no need to run this poll thirteen years after the Czech Republic came into existence. According to the article to which the poll is linked, the Czechs are being pressured by the United Nations to finally make up their minds and decide on a short name, for heaven’s sake.

I don’t know why the Slovaks are upset with us Czechs for having kept the flag after the split. Their country got out of the whole thing with a beautiful, perfectly fine name!