Blogs from Czech Republic, Europe - page 258

In 2002 there was a terrible flood in Prague. The Vltava overflowed its banks, flooding much of the old city and filling the subway lines with water. There are painted marks on many buildings showing the high point of the flood. Currently Prague is under a flood watch. The Vltava is at flood stage, the waters right at the edge of the river banks. The city has erected aluminum walls, designed to act as flood walls, along much of the river within the city. The high water is a result of rapid snow melt and heavy rain. We head a rumor that the subways system is to be closed today for fear of floodwaters flowing into and filling the tunnels that run under the river. We surely hope and pray that does not happen. People who ... read more

The steep hill beside the Prague palace faces the south and therefore receives lots of sun. Here are a number of beautiful terraced gardens. Some are being reconstructed, but others are in their full beauty. There is now a path alongside the outside wall of the palace where really wonderful views of the city and the gardens greet the walker. We are not sure when this path was opened, but this was the first time we gained access. Previously to this the gates were always locked. ... read more

that's right folks, i am writing to you from the gorgeous land of prague. i would start out with some greeting in czech but i have failed miserably at trying to pick anything up in the language. we have heard that it is one of the hardest languages to learn - i believe it. we have been here for a few days and will be leaving later this afternoon for vienna...it just keeps getting better and better. i suppose most have heard how romantic paris is but let me let you in on a little secret, prague is way more romantic then paris. at night the bridges, castles, and cathedrals ah.....it's amazing. and once again i have to admit that while we tried to take pictures, you just have to see it. we went last night ... read more

Greetings from Tesin Cesky, Czech Republic! We had a concert in Cesik Tesin last night and will have another one tonight so I finally have a chance to sit down long enough to share with you what has been going on and even upload some pictures (the church has wireless!!). I uploaded some pictures to go along with my last blogs. Team Well-being update Right now there are only 7 of us traveling as a team. During the first concert in Slovakia Karoline started to have intense pain in her back and could barely walk. She is such a fighter though. Despite all the pain and tears between each song she still performed that concert then collapsed in pain afterwards. She was taken to the hospital but all they were able to do was give her ... read more

The first room of the folk art museum is devoted to agriculture. The Czech countryside in May and early June is beautiful with large fields of green wheat and bright yellow flowering rapeseed plants. That wonderful cooking oil, Canola, is derived from the pressing of rape seed. The first exhibit houses both clothing and farming instruments. The summers are mild and the days are long in the Czech Republic. Prague is at 50 degrees latitude north. This is like central Canada in North America. Working outdoors is not nearly so hot and uncomfortable as in many places around the world. The wheat was ground into flour at mills driven by wind. There are still a few old wind mills in existence, but very few. We toured one a few years ago. On the wall were the ... read more