This blog will now step out of the time/space continuum. Due to the lack of internet service for 2 1/2 weeks in England, I fear I’ll never catch up with myself, so I’m jumping to Prague as of today and hope to fill in ‘missing England’ as I can. So… Prague. Flying in from London, I was struck by how GREEN it is in the Czech Republic. (Perhaps I should just settle down and admit that spring is green in this hemisphere and get over it.) We settled into our new apartment – we’re here for a month while Rog teaches International Arbitration at Charles (Karlova) University. The location is perfect: just off the Old Square (which, in this country, is REALLY old) and within walking distance of school. For the voyeurs among you, here are a few shots of the apartment (sans people, sorry!) It’s quite a hike to our front door – we’re on the top floor of an 18th century building (can you say ‘no elevator’?) and the multiple staircases were modeled on a State Fair fun house. My favorite aspect of one of the staircases is that, at the steepest point, the individual steps, instead of being flat like a normal stairstep, actually slope downward. The tiniest slip of the foot and you will find yourself quickly deposited 3 floors down. Sober is the only way to meet the challenge of the stairs.
Prague is in the middle of its annual music festival, “Prague Spring”, and strains of classical music and jazz can be heard in any church, park, concert hall or tavern all day, every day. Since new music scares us, we attended a concert this evening of the Greatest Hits of Vivaldi and Mozart and the Greatest Hit of Pachelbel. The concert hall, poetically named The Municipal Hall, (can you say ‘past communist control’?) is a gargantuan space, full of delicate putti, faded murals and seating for thousands. You’ll notice the definitive nod to capitalism in the photo – please note the back of the concert stage – the artful and subtle acknowledgement of their corporate sponsors is something we should consider doing in our sports and ball parks (if there was a committe meeting that allowed this, I wish I’d been there!) So, now we’ve attended the requisite festival concert and can go back to watching the BBC in our apartment.
Wow! I really enjoyed seeing your apartment and the concert halls. It’s fun to be in Prague with you this way.
Keep the photos and articles coming.
This is fun, Elaine! Your writing is very entertaining, and with you and Roger always on the go, this is a good way to keep up with you!
Your description of the staircase in your apartment is very amusing. And, knowing you, you were probably whining about it the entire way up with Roger diplomatically nodding his head (or was he thinking about the lawsuit possibilities?). 🙂