Breasts for Peace

On Sunday, we headed to the local "watering hole" of Riegrovy Sady. Dave and I were the first to arrive at this lovely little spot, when my eyes focused on a bunch of hippies that were topless! There were 5 girls who had nothing but paint on their breasts and were going around to tables asking people to vote for who had the best body "painting". Dave and I just about died! It was so cold out, and the poor girls, who looked like they hadn't showered in days, had to have been just freezing! Only in the Czech Republic could you find topless women at a beer garden, trying to promote peace and smoking pot, all in one paint job... ahhh Prague.

America, America, the land of the free refills!

I am heading home to Los Angeles on Friday for 2 weeks. Lots of sun (if not then i am going to Palm Springs), lots of fun, and of course food and drink! I am of course so excited to see all of my dear friends and family, though to be honest, I'm a little nervous about coming home with out Dave. This will be the first time that i will be coming home when my mom won't be there to greet me at the airport or at the door. I don't count Christmas as the first time, because I was so emotional gone that i honestly barely remember the 2 weeks that I was there.

My plans while i am home.... well, Mexican is day one! A wedding of a dear friend is day two, along with a desperately needed haircut. Day 3 i will rest (what can i say... I'm faster than god). ahh... bible joke (wink). Venice Beach will be visited, as I need some crazy in my life and some new heart sun glasses. Father's Office and In and Out will be on the list and a little wine tasting!

I'll see you all in just a few short days!

Who Loves Birthday's? ME!

" Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world"

Anonymous

Well, some how i managed to make it another year with out perhaps getting any wiser. It was definitely an amazing birthday, a nice way to move another year closer to 30... jesus, I'm getting old! Friday night Dave and I decided to go to our favorite cocktail place, The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Mala Strana. These cocktails are amazing, and of course they come with the posh price tag to match! We ordered our favorite… the White Chocolate and Orange Martini. Though the prices are unreasonable, the bartenders who make these drinks are certainly worth every koruna that you pay!
Dave and I at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Mala Strana

Saturday morning we woke up early to greet God’s Best Day with a smile. For those of you who don’t know God’s Best day, it is of course, my Birthday!! I took a page from Czech women and made Dave and I breakfast, honing my Domestic Goddess skills. It seems I still have a long way to go however, as I still take most of what Dave says with a grain of salt. I opened the box that I received from my dad, which contained all sorts of goodies; wine markers, adorable kitchen towels, great summer-colored mixing bowls, and the most amazing FONDUE POT! As you can see from my face below, I was beyond excited about the new fondue parties I would have to start planning! God, I really do love cheese!
Holy Fondue pot! I'm pretty sure I made this same face when i was 3 years old shredding toilet paper!

Next was Dave’s presents, which were all expertly wrapped complete with cute little lady bug decorations. I received a beautiful cream colored plushy bath robe from Victoria’s Secret. And yes, this will be the only time in which the Czech Republic actually sells something for less than in the U.S. Along with my oh-so-comfy bath robe Dave also bought me two stunningly gorgeous martini glasses that look similar to tulips! What can I say; the men in my life did an excellent job at picking out presents… I’m sure my mother would be impressed!
Me and the gifts... I'm such a lucky lady!

After I rediscovered my love for opening gifts and eating an amazing breakfast, complete with cheese eggs and espresso, prepared by yours truly, Dave and I packed the waterproof picnic blanket, cheese, wine, raspberries, bread, and meat and trekked over to an area of Prague called Petrin Hill. The hill looks over the center of Prague and you are able to see as far back as the Zizkov tower. We were lucky and had absolutely perfect weather; blue skies, no clouds, and about 80 degrees. Our picnic spot was on a lush grassy field which was teeming with butterflies, being the butterfly enthusiast that I am, I took the opportunity to photograph my new friends who dropped by for my birthday celebration!
My birthday picnic at Petrin Hill

My butterfly guests who joined our picnic, but I'm pretty sure just wanted to wish me a Happy Birthday!

In the evening, after a lovely day of sunshine, wine, butterflies, and my handsome boyfriend by my side for all of it, we took a tram up to an area called Kobylisy for dinner at my favorite steak restaurant with our two friends Joanne and Lada. The restaurant is located in the basement of a house, and there is only one chef that prepares everything. The food takes FOREVER, but the steaks are the best in Prague and therefore worth the wait and the salivation over what you know is coming in an hour! We ordered a bottle of Bohamian Sekt (a cheap Champage-like beverage which is actually pretty tasty), to celebrate my new age. Jo and Lada gave me beautiful earrings that are made from Czech crystal, they are so fabulous and I can’t wait to wear them in the U.S. Dinner was a success, and as always the steak and atmosphere did not disappoint!
Jo, me, and Lada after my birthday dinner

After a wonderful dinner with our two good friends, sharing wine, stories, laughter, and good food; Dave and I went back into town to an area called Old Town. We went to another one of our favorite cocktail bars called Bar and Books, to have one last cocktail before heading home for the night.
Dave and I at the end of the night in Old Town

My birthday was truly a wonderful occasion. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and an absolutely perfect and handsome boyfriend. While this year has been difficult its days like last weekend that let me know just how lucky I really am. I of course need to say thank you to my mom who gave me the most wonderful weather possible and who made everything just as it should be on my 27th birthday… perfect.

Castle Adventures- Bank Holiday Weekends

Konopiste Castle outside of Prague





Dave and I have started taking day trips outside of Prague, and our new passion has become castle adventures! Last weekend we took a trip to Konopiste castle (above). We took one of the old communist era-looking trains to a small town about an hour away. On our way there we saw some Czech workers building a bridge and then i saw the most insane thing since i have been living in this crazy country; A bridge worker with a blow torch in one hand, a steel rod in another, dressed in... i KID YOU NOT a speedo and hiking boots! Only in the Czech Republic would that be considered appropriate work attire for building a bridge!



Konpiste castle was occupied by Franz Ferdinand D'Este (Austrian-Hungarian Empire) with his Czech wife and three children. We took a tour of the families apartment, which was HUGE and went all the way around the top floor of the apartment. Some of the furnishings were so ornate, not to mention the bathrooms were nicer than half of the new ones we saw in Prague while looking for an apartment! Everything is almost as they left it after they were assassinated in Sarajevo, which subsequently started the First World War. I wish we could have come to the Czech Republic for a history tour when we had to learn about the First WW in history class. I think it would have all clicked a little quicker... names, dates, titles, etc!

We were super happy about how awesome the tour was!

Me at a beer garden at Karlstejn Castle

Two weekends ago we took another trip by train (a much nicer one i might add) to Karlstejn to see where Charles the 4th lived in the Czech Republic. While we didn't go into the castle we did enjoy the walk around it and bought a really amazing piece of Czech glass/crystal. Dave managed to barter with the women selling this huge "soup bowl" looking item for about the equivalent of $50.. not bad at all! It's an amazing piece but we are still trying to figure out where to put it because it's so big!

We stayed at the castle for a couple of hours and enjoyed the weather, the hell's angel bikers, and the numerous amounts of WW2 and Nazi memorabilia (being sold in the Bazzars), which was pretty strange to be honest. It was a nice walk but i definitely enjoyed the one from this weekend much better.

Karlstejn Castle, looking up from the road. It was a really long walk!

Spring time and EASTER!

Blooming tree in Riegrovy Sady



SPRING IS HERE! Well, after the most miserable winter of my entire life"real winter" for 6 months is not fun; I am so very happy to finally welcome in Spring! Prague has planted more Cherry trees than any other place i have ever been to or lived in... the blossoms are just stunning! I love Spring specifically because the birds are finally out again, people are walking, beer gardens are open, and it makes me feel like i am going to make it through all of this in one piece. I suppose Easter couldn't have come at a better time! All is right with the world once more!

Ah... Easter fun! Last weekend I had Easter dinner at my house with some of my "UN friends" to celebrate the "rising of the Jesus". I made a ham with a fabulous brown sugar glaze... one that i believe my mother would probably be in disbelief of it was that good! We ate, laughed, ate WAY too much desert and just had a really wonderful time. Easter in Prague is something special. Besides the fact that they have Easter markets, which i absolutely love and adore... Hello... hand painted eggs, they also have a special tradition that involves alcohol and a whip! SOOO... men make whips out of willow branches and tie colorful streamers on the end of them. They then run around their villages in "trick or treat" like style, going from door to door asking for slivovice (plum brandy) and painted eggs. The premise behind this idea is the women (who have prepared slivovice and the painted eggs) will give these items to the men and in return will be whipped for another year or being beautiful and staying young... Ahh Pagan traditions... i love this place!


Dave's first attempt at blowing eggs. One busted in his face and he was less than happy about it. But we managed to get them all blown with only one causality.

President Obama Comes to Town

As some of you may know, OBAMA came to town on Saturday and Sunday of last week!!! I of course was a good American and did my patriotic duty and arrived early to hear him speak at Prague Castle Square on Sunday morning. The 6:30am wake up call was a little much for me! I however put on my best face (yes make-up) and walked out the door with Dave! Dave and I made it through security with little hassel and were in the gates at 8:20am! I was personally loving the fact that Mr. Klaus, president of the Czech Republic flew the American flag over Prague castle... not only does he REFUSE to fly the European Union flag over the castle (even though they currently hold the EU presidency), the only other flag, besides the United States that he has flown, has been an orange heart! Of course no event in Prague is complete with out your klobasa (sausage) and Non Alcoholic Beer... god i do love this country!

One day at a time

One day at a time... one step at a time... one moment at a time. I loved writing in my journal before December 12, 2008, but since then I'm afraid i can't pick up my pen and put it to paper. The heart in the snow, a gift from my mother, symbolizes the eternal love that I will always have in my heart for her; in Czech it's Vecne Lasky. My hope is, with time, I will be able to do the things I loved so dearly before, but instead of a journal I will be able to share them with you.

"Love the people who treat you right; forget the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason; If you get a chance, Take it; If it changes your life, Let It! Nobody said it would be easy... they just promised it would be worth it."- Unknown, Ellen O'Brien