Category: Everyday Life

Mushroom Hunting: A Czech Hobby

Published on by Grace31 Comments

Mushroom hunting is a favorite past-time for Czechs.   It is said that 7 in 10 Czechs go for some mushroom hunting between the months of July and November.

In keeping up with tradition, we had the opportunity of introducing Jakub to his first mushroom hunting activity this past weekend.

Dressed in our mushroom picking garb, we headed out to the woods close to Konarovice, a village close to Kolin.

Our first mushroom find got Jakub very excited.  Although he didn’t fully understand what a mushroom is, he was excited with the thought of looking for something and eventually finding it.

It was hard to explain that not all mushrooms are edible.

It became even more challenging when he started to pick out moss that was shaped like a mushroom.

I, on the other hand, had a hard time distinguishing the edible from the inedible ones since I am always more attracted to the colorful ones.  Most of the time, they are either poisonous or inedible.

But then they served a different purpose. If I can’t feast on them with my mouth, I might as well feast on them with my camera.

This year, we were not very lucky, because we didn’t follow one basic rule:  wake up with the sun.

When we got to the woods, a lot of people were already there before us.

But the whole activity in itself proved to be very worthwhile.  I found more enjoyment in communing with nature rather than picking the mushrooms.  I also enjoyed seeing my son seriously in the prowl for those precious goodies.

After finally admitting that there were no more to be found,  we found a precious spot were we rested and basked ourselves in the warm sun.

Our son on the otherhand, got busy pretending that he was drilling something in the trees.

It was such an awesome experience — one that we will definitely do over and over again.

Have you ever picked mushrooms in the woods?

This Little “Big boy” and His Crazy Mama

Published on by Grace16 Comments

I was on the Krokodyl facebook page today and saw a couple of pictures of Jakub from their school activities.     I always appreciate seeing these photos since I am curious to know how my son is thriving in school.  From the looks of it, he is having fun!

This is his “take-a-picture-of-me” photo.

Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif

And when I say he is a handful, this is what I mean.

Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif

It’s hard to keep him still, as he always wants to be on the move.  Worst part is, he always wants to do what the bigger kids are doing….or the opposite.

Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif

Sometimes, he even wants to do what mama does to him.

Oh, this boy!

On another note, while I was on my way to pick him up from school this morning, I was wondering why people were looking at me like as if a nut fell out of my head.  It was then when I realized that I was pushing an empty stroller.   So those people may have passed me off as a looney.

Oh well, what can I say….I have my hands full.  🙂

Destination: Olomouc

Published on by Grace11 Comments

Olomouc is the fifth largest city in the Czech Republic.  It is located in the heart of the Hana region in Moravia and currently inhabited by more than 100,000 citizens.

Map of Olomouc found at the city center

The first stop during our visit to Olomouc was the Holy Hill:  The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary .  In 1995, Pope John Paul II paid a visit at this church and it was also during that year when the Roman Catholic church declared it as a minor basilica.  Today, the Holy Hill is one of the most visited places in Olomouc.

My parents, being devout Catholics, were so happy to have had the opportunity to visit this place.

We also visited the St. Wenceslaus cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Olomouc.

Another famous landmark in Olomouc is the Holy Trinity column, which is currently listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Erected in the 18th century, this monument is the best example of a typical Central European column.

And of course, just like most cities in Europe, Olomouc has beautiful fountains.

There are only two astronomical clocks in the Czech Republic.  The first one is in Prague and the second one in Olomouc.

The Olomouc astronomical clock is quite unique because it was remodelled in the first few years of communism.  After the fall of communism in the ’80s, most of the prominent statues and monuments were removed, but the astronomical clock remained.  Today, it offers the viewer a glimpse of the communist era in Czech.  It has massive mosaics of workers and scientists and a dial that turns to display the International day of the Worker and the birthdays of Lenin and Stalin.

Like most cities here in Czech, the city of Olomouc  is laden with cobblestones and surrounded by beautiful architecture.

Although difficult for driving , a narrow street is my favorite passageway.

If you are craving for Asian food, there is always a Chinese restaurant somewhere.  In Olomouc, you can find it at the town square.

Olomouc is one of the cities that you should definitely see during your trip to the Czech Republic.

For more information about this city, you can visit this site.

Can You Drive?

Published on by Grace13 Comments

When my husband tells me that I can’t drive, I get annoyed and oftentimes it becomes a catalyst for me having a bad day.  I have a Philippine driver’s license and a California driver’s license.  Unfortunately,  both of them are not good enough for Europe, so there is still a need for me to get the Czech Driver’s license.  Since last month, I have been enrolled in a driving school to help me secure that Czech license.  Although confident with my driving skills, I soon later found out that driving in Prague can be stressful and can be hair-raising at times.

When I came home from driving school one night, my little boy eagerly ran to greet me.

He asked:  “Mama, can you drive?”  Thinking that he was touted by his dad to ask me that question, I annoyingly replied:  “Of course, mama can drive!  Mama has been driving for years!”

But then he asked me again:  “Can you drive in a police car?”

Now that’s another story.

The Little Boy Goes to School

Published on by Grace15 Comments

This past week had been a busy one for us.  Our little boy had his first day of school last Thursday and I started a new gig.  For a two year old,  Jakub is pretty good with separation anxiety.  In the beginning, he was overwhelmed with the new surroundings and the new faces, so he was clinging on to me.  But as soon as he saw the toys and warmed up to the people, he was perfectly fine.

Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif

Sending him to school was like replaying those memories when I had to put him in daycare because I had to go back to work.  It was a little bit tough to go back home to an empty house.  And of course, it is also normal for a mom to be anxious about her child’s safety when in somebody else’s care.  But because I know that  he is safe and can survive by himself, it was a lot easier for me.  There were no tears shed.  When I picked him up that afternoon, both of us came home happy and satisfied.

He is recently attending a private preschool close to our place.  The place is called Krokodyl Kolin and it is operating on its first year this year.  After a quick search on preschools within our area, I opted to let him go to Krokodyl because of its  Montessori pedagogy approach that favors individual work of children, where the caregiver is a guide and mentor and the child is encouraged to get things tested and explored.   Tasks like  dressing, hygiene, working with utilities, cleaning, preparing snacks etc. are just a few of the activities that they teach.  Teaching is mainly in Czech which is perfect for Jakub’s adaptation into Czech society.

Photo courtesy of Zuzana Yousif

Krokodyl offers a variety of programs to suit each child’s needs.   Whether you prefer sending your child to school the whole week, 2x a week or even once per week, the choice is yours.  Since Jakub is only 2, I decided to let him attend classes two times per week, halfday.  Besides, we have an exercise class that we regularly attend on Mondays, and I wanted to spend the other 2 days with him.  Ten hours of “me” time per week is enough for me.   So far, I have observed that he is quite happy with this arrangement.  He comes home with artwork that he did in class and sometimes I would catch him singing nursery rhymes that I am not familiar with.

The little guy serving his own meal.

If you would like to know more about Krokodyl, please click on this link.  You can also find them on facebook here.

On his first day, his teacher promised to send me a text message to update me on how he is doing.  She said:  “Jakub is perfectly fine…the quickest child here.”  I am not so surprised.  Even if he is my only child, I already have my hands full.

Destination: Český Krumlov

Published on by Grace13 Comments

One of my favorite places in the Czech Republic is Český Krumlov.  Located in Southern Bohemia, the town is a 2 and a half  hour drive from Prague.

Due to its old-world charm and natural beauty, it is one of the most visited places in Czech.  On our trip there, I was surprised to see a lot of Asian tourists.  Other than Prague, this town had the most diverse tourist population compared to the other places we visited.

The castle, with its beautiful gardens, offers breath-taking views of the city.

But the inner city is not to be outdone.  It also has its own charm that enchants every visitor.

Český Krumlov is a city bordered by the Vlatava river.  Thus, it is not surprising to see that canoeing, kayaking and rafting is one of its best attractions.

During our trip, we didn’t get to do this, but it gave us motivation to go back.  Perhaps when Jakub is older, we can try it.

I felt that the 2 days that we spent there was a very short trip, but it gave us reason to come back for more.

For those of you who are interested in checking out this place, more information can be found here.

Destination: Karlstejn Castle and Czech America

Published on by Grace9 Comments

Although the Czech Republic is a small country, they have a lot of things to see.

My dear readers, I apologize for the irregular updates.  Our schedule has been packed these past few days and I literally didn’t have time to open my computer.

Anyhow, the next leg of our tour took us to the Karlstejn Castle and Czech America.

Karlstejn Castle is a castle that was built by the Charles IV to protect the crown jewels of the Bohemian kingdom.  Like any other castle it is situated in a steep hill which made invasion difficult for all its unwanted intruders.

Taking pictures inside the castle was prohibited so I can only show you an aerial view of the castle.

However, the things to be seen and explored inside the castle makes up for the steep climb.  All tours are guided and can be availed in both Czech or English.

Aside from its amazing architecture, what was interesting for me were the relics that were supposedly hidden inside the castle.  In one of its chapel walls, a relic from the cross where Jesus was crucified was believed to have been imbedded in there.  If you are into architecture, European history and religion, this is definitely a must for you.  More information about the castle can be found here.

Another great spot to visit as a side trip to Karlstejn is Czech America.

This place is called Czech America because it resembles an American canyon.  During the summertime, you can find locals taking a dip in its pristine waters.  Although it may look natural, this place is actually a side product of quarrying.  It is not commonly found in tourist books since it hasn’t been officially developed as a major tourist site.  But for the inquisitive and adventurous travellers, this is one place worth checking out.  More information about this place can be found here.

Have a great weekend!

Destination: Kutná Hora

Published on by Grace11 Comments

If you have ever been on a group tour to Prague, you must’ve visited Kutná Hora.

Kutná Hora is one of the most visited sites in the Czech Republic.  In it stands the famous St. Barbara Church, with its distinct gothic structure.

Front view of St. Barbara Church

Adjacent to the church, you will also find the Jesuit University.  This university houses different types of art exhibits, showcasing Czech artists and a few other artists in Europe.

At the side of the church, there is a viewpoint that provides breath-taking views of the town.

A visit to Kutna Hora is not complete without walking its cobbled streets…..

A visit to the Italian Court, the former King of Bohemia’s weekend house, is not to be missed.

For an amazing view of the St. Barbara Church as a background to your pictures, there is a viewpoint in the adjoining park.

For more information about Kutná Hora, please visit this site.

A Trip to Terezin and Litoměřice

Published on by Grace17 Comments

It had been a very busy week for us.  This past weekend, my parents arrived from the Philippines.  Since their arrival,  I found myself caught up with household work and travelling.

Despite meeting them personally for the first time, Jakub immediately became comfortable with his grandparents.

My parents’ first 2 days in Kolin were spent resting and readjusting their body clocks.

We only started our first out of town trip yesterday.  Our first stop:  The Terezin Memorial in the village of Terezin.

Terezin is a former garrison town which was later on turned into a concentration camp by the Nazis.  We visited the Small Fortress with a private tour from a friend, Ms. Rosa Machackova, who is a tour guide in the memorial.

Growing up in Asia, I was not familiar with the names and places of the Nazi concentration camps.  Back then, Europe seemed so far away and I was not very interested in European history.  I remember learning about the Jewish concentration camps only through books and movies.  When I moved to the US, this knowledge did not change.

The visit to Terezin afforded me a whole new experience in viewing the Holocaust.

Walking through the path where those murdered Jews have tread gave me an eerie feeling.

In the main entrance, the inscriptions “Work Frees” (translated from German) is written on top of the gate.

This quarter over here used to house close to a hundred Jews.  It only had one bathroom and one heater.  Imagine living in such small space.

Being a fortress, escape was almost impossible in this place.

It is bordered by gates composed of an inner and outer wall in between a water moat.  Those who have tried and were unsuccessful were punished either through shooting or hanging in this.

But while the inmates were living in squalor, the gestapo lived in these quarters.

They even had their own pool.

The trip to Terezin left me with a heavy heart.  The succeeding trip to the Ghetto museum where it showed the artwork of the children in the camp was even more heartbreaking.

Our next stop for this trip was Litoměřice.

Litoměřice  is a very beautiful city.  It used to be called the “Garden of Bohemia” during the 17th century due to its fertile landscape.  Presently, the gothic and baroque structures surrounding the city are enough to enchant the adventurous tourist.

But for us Filipinos, the significance of this city has historical origins.  This is the city where  Jose Rizal, our national hero, spent some time to write his novels, and also formed a very close friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt, a Czech national.   Needless to say, it was our first documented contact with Czechs.

When we got there, the goal was to find the Rizal bust, which was built in commemoration of the friendship between Rizal and Blumetritt.

But in the process of looking for the Rizal bust, I was momentarily captivated with this.

We didn’t have enough time to view the whole city, but I know that this will not be the first time I will visit this place.  I will be back.

Despite the long walk and the sultry sunny weather, the trip was very worthwhile.  It is one of the places I can definitely recommend on your visit to the Czech Republic.

More information about the city can be found here.

One Happy Mama

Published on by Grace17 Comments

Today is one of those days when I feel like we hit a significant milestone.

On a normal day, Jakub plays like this.

He is either on his bike or pulling his toy trucks.  Sometimes he will be pushing his toy mower.

Since I was busy with house work, I allowed him to play by himself in his room.  When everything got quiet, I thought he fell asleep.

Some days, it is normal to find him like this.

Sleeping on the living room couch.

But it was way too early for a nap, so I got nervous.  What happened to my son?  Did he get into an accident?

But here he was…reading a book.

Apparently, he took a chair to go up and get the book.

Normally, he would take my hand, point to a book and ask me to read it to him.  But today he decided to do it himself.

Although going on top of the chair can be dangerous, I appreciated the fact that he loves to read!

To add to my joy, he even handed me a flower he made out of his legos.

Today, I am one happy mama.