czech republic – Czech the Flip

Back to the Philippines after 10 years – Part 1

Published on February 19, 2017 by GraceLeave a comment

While the Czech Republic was knee-deep in snow, we went for a short trip to my motherland, the Philippines. It was the first trip for my family to this land of eternal sunshine, and we all enjoyed it immensely.

Our first few days were spent in Manila, where I was able to meet and spend time with my long-time friends. We stayed at a hotel in the Makati business district. I specifically chose this location because it was not too far from the airport and close to one of the popular malls in the city. Prior to our trip, I’ve read news about the worsening traffic in the metro, so I decided to have us stay in a place where meetups will be convenient and a trip to the airport will not melt the snow folks who are travelling with me.

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It was great bonding with my friends again and I was happy that my family instantly became comfortable with them.

After 3 days, we flew out to Bohol, where we spent the most time in. Everyday there was something in the itinerary. A few of the places we visited were….

SONY DSC The exotic animal park in Loay, where my son and my husband fearlessly petted a snake.

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The idea seemed cool, but it was not to my liking. I would rather watch them at a distance. On this trip, I was also able to show my kids where the rice comes from.

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If you have ever met a Filipino, you would know that we love rice. It is such an important element in our culture. I have yet to meet a Filipino who doesn’t like rice.

Another famous attraction that we visited is the Loboc floating restaurant.

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I have been to this restaurant several times during my younger years, and I was quite happy to go back there. I have noticed a few improvements from the last 10 years. The port is now well-built and those boats themselves had a little face lift.

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But what amused me though were the air-conditioned bathrooms. Finally someone figured out that a restroom should live up to its name — a place to rest. Those restrooms provided visitors a much-needed respite from the tropical heat.

On this same journey, we also hit another major spot, the Chocolate hills.

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The hills were not very “chocolatey” on this visit because it was just the end of the monsoon season. Every day it had its daily dose of rain.

On the way there, we also dropped by the Bilar man-made tropical forest, where we paid a visit to the all-knowing Tarsiers of Bohol at a conservation park nearby.

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Before heading out for home, we decided to drop by a butterfly sanctuary where there was much fun to be had.

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We had a very funny guide who told us that he used to work with a Czech volunteer. It was interesting to know that like Filipinos, Czechs are also everywhere.

Like this Czech butterfly for instance.

Stay tuned for the next part of this butterfly’s Philippine adventure.

What’s in a name?

Published on October 31, 2016November 4, 2016 by Grace2 Comments

There is no doubt that the Czech Republic is a beautiful country. Not only is it rich with architectural treasures and natural wonders, it also has a very colorful culture. One of these interesting cultural practices is the observance of a name day.

In Czech culture, the calendar has a set of names. This means that every Czech person’s name is based on the calendar. If you are Czech, forget about naming your child “Northwest” or “Vector Ion,” if you do not want to go through the trouble of obtaining a permit and paying a fine. Parents wanting to name their child differently would need a special permission from a Czech authority to be able to do so.

Having one’s name derived from the calendar also means that each person has a name day. So everyday in Czech is somebody’s name day. It is kind of a big deal. The name day is celebrated like a birthday. You wish the person a happy name day and give him or her a little present like a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

Two weeks ago, we celebrated my daughter’s name day. For our family, it is pretty much the last name day celebration for this year. In as much as I would like to observe all the cultural festivities in Czech, I’m glad we’re done celebrating name days. It is a celebration that I always forget. Perhaps because I don’t have one.

Helloween, your typical halloween with a Czech twist

Published on November 1, 2014November 4, 2016 by Grace6 Comments

A month ago, I got a flier from our mailbox regarding a “helloween” celebration in our community. I was excited and curious at the same time, since it sounded like a typical western halloween celebration, save for the fact that it wasn’t going to be celebrated on Oct 31, but a couple of days earlier. Whatever the reason for calling it so and picking out the date, it was one event that I was glad my family participated in.

As I have mentioned in previous entries, we live in a small community just outside of the city and close to the woods. Aside from its idyllic location, what I love most about this place is the atmosphere and the friendliness of our neighbors. We are the only multi-cultural household in this area, but that didn’t seem to make a difference in how we are treated by our neighbors.

Now back to the “helloween” celebration.

The event was held in one of the unoccupied vacant lots. Everyone brought their own food to share. I managed to whip up some chocolate cupcakes sans the halloween design. But who cares, it’s edible, right.

There was also hot red wine for those who were chilly. This is a typical autumn and winter drink here in Czech. I remember when we used to go skiing in California, my ex-boyfriend (now husband) is always left with the task of making this drink for the group.

And of course, halloween-themed treats … In my opinion, this is the best of them all.

The event started with pumpkin-carving where kids eagerly carved their own pumpkins with the help of their parents.

And of course, some parents were all game and came in costumes.

Then there were games for everyone to participate in. My Michaela was way too young to participate in any of these, but she was all happy watching it.

When darkness crept in, we lighted the pumpkins and displayed them in a single line on the side of the street.

Here is my son proudly posing with the pumpkin that him and his father carved.

We were blessed with perfect weather that day. It was not too hot nor was it too cold. And there was no rain!

The event was culminated with a short walk in the woods with the young kids. That means us because both our children fall into the young and gullible category. It was like going into a haunted house except that it was open-air. The organizers prepared a short trail where the older kids and some parents dressed up as ghosts, monsters, and whatever “i-will-scare-your-wits-off ” costume you can think of and tried to scare the younger ones. At the very end, a pumpkin full of candies awaited the braver ones. Fortunately, none of our kids got scared. But it was a very interesting walk for them — and for us.

There was no “trick or treat.” But I didn’t miss it that much. Because I’ve never really been to a “trick or treat.” I was already way too old for it when I moved to the States. Back in the Philippines where I grew up, the practice was not customary. It is the same over here in the Czech Republic. Even though adults and children love to dress up and scare each other during halloween, they haven’t gotten around the practice of doing a “trick or treat.” Albeit, there is a street in Prague where the “trick or treat” is being practiced. But it is where most American expats live, and they have managed to keep the tradition alive.

Anyhow, my little community’s helloween celebration was enough for me. I’m glad that my children got to experience this western tradition with a Czech twist.

So how was your halloween?

Lately

Published on October 20, 2014November 4, 2016 by Grace8 Comments

It seems like forever since I wrote my last post. Too many things have happened that I couldn’t seem to put them in order.

Anyhow, we’ve had several visits this summer and early fall. First off, my husband’s cousin and her son from Moravia to spend a weekend with us. We brought them to Prague and Kutna Hora, since it has been awhile since they visited these beautiful cities.

Here’s a picture of us in front of one of the most beautiful churches here in the Czech Republic, the St. Barbora Church in Kutna Hora.

The weather was not in our favor during their visit but we were still able to snap some beautiful pictures of Prague. It is breathtaking in any weather.

My friend Melba and her daughter also spent some time with us. It was nice for the babies to see each other again. This time, we contacted some alumni from the university where we had our bachelors and had a mini reunion in a cafe in Prague.

A couple of weeks ago, My friend Mymy also came for a visit with her son. She lives in Prague and it was her first long out of town drive since she got her license a year ago. She also has a toddler who is close to Michaela’s age, so it was nice sharing motherhood experiences with her.

Lastly, my son has started going to a state primary school and my daughter is turning one pretty soon. How time flies.

Photo credit: Jan Strnad (www.atelierkolin.cz)

It seems like only yesterday since we made the significant decision to move here in CZ. Since then, every year is marked with significant milestones.

Switzerland in Czech

Published on September 24, 2014November 4, 2016 by Grace5 Comments

This is a long overdue post. Been busy with other things lately that I haven’t found the time to pen down my thoughts.

Anyhow, I mentioned in a previous post about Decin, one of the beautiful places that we visited this past summer. It was actually a side trip for our actual destination – Czech Switzerland.

Before we got here, I initially thought that Czech is a boring place since it’s too far away from the sea, and it is relatively small. But after living here for 3 years now, its diverse topography really impressed me a lot. What do you know, they actually have miniatures of famous countries all within this small state.

Czech Switzerland is the youngest among CZ’s national parks. The Elbe river, which separates Czech and Germany splits the park as well. Hence, it is both called Czech Switzerland and Saxon Switzerland. It’s romantic name can be credited to Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff, two Swiss painters and teacher that the Dresden Academy in the mid-18th century. As they were travelling to places close to the Elbe, their painting gained popularity and became the basis for the promotion of the beauties of nature.

Since my daughter is still too young to do any serious hikes, we were only able to visit the parts with easy trails.

This was the landscape that greeted us on our way to our hotel in Tisa.

We did a short hike on paved road, and everyone enjoyed it immensely.

Although there was a time when our little man had a temper tantrum.

But there’s nothing that can’t be fixed by a small joke, a hug and a kiss. And he’s a happy trooper again.

The walk was all worthwhile after we saw the view that awaited us.

Out here you can see the key cities in the region. Even Mr. Grumpy enjoyed the sight.

The area that we visited is just a tip of the iceberg. There are still far more beautiful sights in this national park. But I’m glad we were able to visit the place, so then we can come back for more.

If you would like to know more about Czech Switzerland, you can visit their site here.

A quick visit to Děčín

Published on August 28, 2014November 4, 2016 by Grace3 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, we visited the town of Děčín, located in the northwest Bohemia. We were on our way to visit a famous Czech national park and decided to do a quick stop in this beautiful town.

We were not able to visit the historic castle due to time constraints, so we just simply roamed the town square.

Like any other Czech town, it is filled with beautiful fountains and beautiful architecture.

The town is bordered by the Elbe river . Děčín lies on the right bank, while the German town Bodenbach lies on the left. It has a very low elevation, one of the lowest in the country. Thus, it has experienced its own share of natural disasters.

In 2002, a great flood caused catastrophic damage to the town. Fortunately, most of the historic sites were undamaged and still stands up to this day.

A Visit to Panská skála (Lord’s Rock)

Published on August 13, 2014November 4, 2016 by Grace1 Comment

On a recent trip to North Bohemia, we had the opportunity to visit one of the country’s most visited geological formation: Panská skála (Lord’s Rock).

The Lord’s Rock is a remnant of a basalt hill. About 30 million years ago, the rocks made up of basalt magma were pushed up and never went to the surface. This trapped magma began to cool very slowly, forming the typical jointing which we now observe today.

With quarrying, a lake was also formed, which became an interesting addition to this geological wonder. Now this area is protected, and is developed solely for tourism purposes.

We were very lucky to find it along the way. My boys didn’t waste the chance to go up the hill.

And here they are ….. Can you see them?

The organ-like rock formation is one of the site’s most insteresting features.

My girl and I were again left behind.

We didn’t mind. I think this site is better viewed from afar.

Several pictures and further information about this attraction can be found here .

Adventures in Vltava

Published on July 29, 2014November 4, 2016 by Grace2 Comments

One of the most popular past times among Czechs is water rafting and canoeing.

A couple of weeks ago, we were with some friends in Kemp Branna, a camp close to the Vltava river. The main purpose of our trip was water rafting. It was also the first time for us to go camping with the kids. Although, we didn’t stay in a tent because my daughter was way too young for this kind of accommodation. There was an option to stay in a little cottage, so that’s what we opted for. The camp was quite nice and the facilities were clean and very well-developed.

The day we arrived, my kids immediately socialized at the camp.

Because my daughter is still a baby, we decided to split the next day’s activity. The boys went with the rest of the group on a raft, while we girls spent our time travelling in a car or on foot.

Can you see my boy? Good I wasn’t there on the boat with them. I’d be nervous to let him sit on the edge of the boat. But I was glad he had this experience. At least he won’t be as wimpy as his mommy.

Anyhow, my daughter and I followed them to Rozmberk where we all had lunch, and I had the opportunity to snap this photo of the castle.

I didn’t get the chance to go inside, but was happy viewing it from the outside.

Under pristine waters, it looks very serene.

The rest of the afternoon was a bonding trip for me and my daughter. We went to the medieval old town, Cesky Krumlov.

Look who’s enjoying the ride.

We also went to a small park adjacent to the castle where we relaxed a bit…..

…and we had our first “date” in a coffee shop. Although I was the only one who had coffee.

All in all the trip was a great bonding experience for me and my daughter, and for my husband and our son.

Hopefully next time, we will all be in the raft together.

Destination: Valtice and Lednice

Published on July 8, 2014November 4, 2016 by Grace1 Comment

On our way back to Czech, my father-in-law took us to two of the most beautiful places in Moravia: Valtice & Lednice. These places are currently protected as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The chateaus in both towns originally belonged to the Lichtenstein family, when they were still ruling the area.

We left our hotel right after breakfast, and the Valtice Colonnade was our first stop.

This structure was situated atop a small hill in the middle of wine vineyards, home of the famous Valtice wine.

Since it was getting close to lunch time, we emptied our food bags and had a little picnic under a shaded area.

Afterwhich, we climbed 89 steps to get to the top of the colonnade.

It was tiring, but all worth it because of the view from the top – the beautiful Moravian countryside.

During the communist era, this structure also served a less desirable purpose. It used to be a lookout tower for the national guards, searching for vehicles trying to cross the Austrian border.

But all that is now just a part of history. This place has now been fully restored, and is one of the important cultural sights in the area.

Next stop was a quick exploration of the town of Valtice.

We also went to the chateau, the structure whose image can be found on the label of Valtice wine.

We didn’t get to go to the museum due to time constraints, but we were satisfied just walking through town and viewing the buildings from the outside.

We then headed out to the Lednice area for lunch. This place is also notable for having one of the most beautiful chateaus in the area.

I’m glad we took my in-laws in this trip. We got to explore not only Vienna but the beautiful Moravian wine country as well.

Next time around, when the kids are a bit older, we hope to go back and stay longer, exploring this beautiful place aboard our bicycles. But for now, I’ll just have to wait.

Destination: Mikulov

Published on June 25, 2014 by Grace3 Comments

This past weekend, we travelled with my husband’s parents to the Southern part of Moravia and Lower Austria (Vienna).

Our first stop was in Mikulov, a beautiful town which used to be ruled by the Lichtenstein family (the noble family whose name is the same as the little country that they still rule to this day) when this part of the country used to be part of the Austrian empire.

According to other writers, this part of Moravia used to be Sigmund Freud’s playground.

Sigmund Freud, the famous Austrian neurologist and the founding father of psychoanalysis was born in Příbor, a little town in South Moravia. That was back during the day when Moravia was still part of the Austrian empire. It is said that when he is tired of the hustle and bustle in Vienna, he is a frequent visitor of Mikulov. No wonder, it is just and hour’s drive from Vienna, and very very close to the Austrian border.

Perhaps the most famous and most prominent historical spot in this town is the Chateau.

This chateau used to be the summer residence of the Lichtenstein noble family. Later on, it was sold to the Dietrichstein family who occupied this place until 1945.

In fact, another notable monument is the Dietrichstein tomb, where the remains of the family members now lie.

Inside the chateau grounds, is a beautiful garden which is open to the public all year round.

Up in the chateau grounds, one can view the whole town.

In the distance, one can also see another interesting monument, the Svatý kopeček (Holy Hill), where the St. Sebastian chapel can be found.

We never really went to this place because it sits on a different hill.

It seems like there were a few pilgrims who made their way to the top. But on the other hand, they may not be pilgrims. This hill is also home to several rare plants and animal species and has been declared a nature reserve.

Still on a different hill, one can also find the Kozí hrádek (Goat Tower).

This was a very significant tower for the protection of Mikulov in the 15th century. It contains a two-storey bombarding tower, which at that time was considered an advanced defense system in the Central European context. Today, it is has been landscaped and included as a recreational area.

There were still a lot of interesting places that we didn’t get to see due to time constraints. But with what I saw, I am not wondering why Freud loved this place.

Mikulov offers a wide range or nature activities and for those who appreciate good wine, this town also has a rich viticulture tradition. The historical monuments I mentioned was just a tip of the iceberg.

I have just added this in my list of favorite places to visit. Not sure when we can go back, but we definitely will.

If you would like to know more about Mikulov, please click here.

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