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: Holašovice

Published on by Grace7 Comments

Holašovice is a small historical farming village in the Southern part of the Czech Republic. After visiting Cesky Krumlov, we decided to take a quick peek at this little village which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the 15th century, this village was nearly wiped out by the Bubonic plague.  Its significance lies in the fact that it is a typical Bohemian farming village.  It has been abandoned during the second world war and post communist Czech, and was only recently restored in 1990.

It was amazing to see how old these houses were.

The current population of this village is approximately 140.  Thus, its quiet surroundings and natural charm somehow provide a calming effect and a welcome reprieve for the stresses of city living.

For those who are visiting Cesky Krumlov or Ceske Budejovice, I would recommend this place as a great side trip.

More information about Holašovice can be found here.  

 

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.

Burčák: The Happy Drink

Published on by Grace15 Comments

It’s burčák season once again.

Burčák is a Moravian drink made from grape juice normally produced between August to November.   It is actually the earliest stage of wine fermentation, thus it is often called “young wine.”  Each winemaker has his/her own secret technique in burčák-making, but the basic steps remain the same:  juice derived from crushed grapes are fermented and at some point taken out for consumption.  The alcohol level in Burčák is somewhere between 5%-8% and because  it tastes like juice, it can be very deceiving.

My husband and I were at a county fair last weekend and we ended up buying burčák.  Last night, burčák’s deceptive taste made me happy all night.  At dinnertime, I generously consumed this sweet-tasting drink and ended up getting tipsy.  The burčák that we bought must’ve had the maximum amount of alcohol allowed by law.  I can’t believe it hit me that fast.  I know I get drunk pretty easily, but eversince I’ve been here, I have increased my tolerance for alcohol.  Gone were the days when a bottle of beer could get me drunk.  Or so I thought.  But I was no match for burčák.  This sweet alcoholic drink is dangerous!

So if you are ever in the Czech Republic between August to November, beware of this cloudy white liquid that may proliferate in pubs, bars or county fairs.    It may look and taste harmless, but may leave you crawling back home.

Na Zdravi!

Destination: Grandma’s Valley & Adršpach

Published on by Grace4 Comments

After visiting some castles and chateaus, our next goal was to see the Czech countryside.

Our first stop was the former cottage of the greatest Czech female writer,  Božena Němcová.  This place is called “Grandma’s Valley,” and is presently an open-air museum.  It was the setting for Nemcova’s famous novel, “Babicka,” (grandmother) which is currently a required reading in Czech schools.

Although I have never read the novel, it was interesting for me to visit the place.

This place used to serve as a multi-functional area:  as a dining room, a bedroom, a living room and a room where her grandmother used to weave cloth.

This was their food processing and storage area.

For one who has a creative mind, I wouldn’t wonder why she got so inspired to write her novel.  The valley itself is awe-inspiring.

My Jakub had a great time with his own babicka.

As for the adults, we had fun just walking around and enjoying the beauty of this place.

More information about this place can be found here.

 

On that same day, we also visited one of our favorite places in Czech – Adršpach.


The last time we were there, Jakub was still on a stroller.  This time he bravely walked, climbed and explored the place with us.

My husband and I  were also very fortunate to have had this chance to travel with both our parents.    Although it was a long hike, they enjoyed it as much as we did.

During your next visit to the Czech Republic, this place is definitely one spot you shouldn’t miss.

More information about this can be found here.

Destination: Konopiště Castle

Published on by Grace4 Comments

One of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic is the  Konopiště Castle.

Situated close to the the town of Benesov,  its original purpose was as a gothic fortress for the people of Benesov.

Its most important owner was Archduke Frantisek (Franz) Ferdinand d’Este, whose killing in Sarajevo in 1941 initiated the first World War.

In it can be found a baroque rose garden and luxurious baroque style interiors.  It is also fully decorated with Franz Ferdinand’s hunting trophies.

There are trams in the parking lot that can take you to the entrance of the castle for a minimal fee.

Jakub had a great time riding in it.

There is also a souvenir shop with lots of kids’ toys that little kids or the kid in you will surely love.

All tours are guided, and are offered in both Czech and English.   Other languages are also available with the use of an electronic translator.

It took us an hour to get to our final destination, but the sight that awaited us was so worth it.

More information about the castle can be found here.