I’m in Northern Moravia for a few days and we had our first snow here today. When I looked out the window this morning, I saw that the ground was covered with snow. It’s been snowing for most of the day, snowing so hard at times that one inevitably thinks of Christmas. Large, wet chunks of snow are falling from the sky slowly and quietly, creating an idyllic winter scene outside. Too bad I don’t have a camera with me.

Bummer. We pretty much had a Northern California winter through Saturday, and it was great. The highs were always somewhere around 10°C (50°F), with the occasional jump up to 14°C (57°F). We loved not having to bundle up, we enjoyed the green grass everywhere and the blooming tree at Petřín park, we appreciated being able to have a cup of tea and a pint of beer on an outdoor terrace of a local café. We forgot what snow was and that Czech winter air smells of burning coal. It didn’t look like the real Czech winter would ever come this season. Jeff and I sure didn’t miss it.

Well, winter is here now. It’s Tuesday morning and it’s freezing. What’s worse, it is not supposed to get above freezing for the rest of the week. They say we should be getting some snow today. Looks like it’s time to switch to winter boots.

I feel like a child whose candy was taken away, but I know I really shouldn’t. After all, January’s almost over. Heck, anyone can take Czech winter for a couple of months, right?