Prague Peculiarities: Taking a Smoke

Taking a smoke.

Hi Everyone,
Jiri and I were out in Prague yesterday (near Vaclavske namesti), and saw this funny situation.  In the picture above, there's a guy sitting on a sign and taking a cigarette break (on the second floor of the building), balancing with one foot on the building's ledge, while his buddy (standing on a scaffold) is doing some flashing work on a window.  I just couldn't pass up this photo op.   Really, the guy smoking reminded me of a classic book, The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek.

Have a great day!

God bless,
Sher :0) 

PS  The photo quality isn't very good as it was taken with my cell phone--the only camera I had along that day.

Photo credit:  S. Vacik


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The Absurd and Funny: Life in the Twilight Zone

Hi Everyone,
Do you ever feel like you're living in the Twilight Zone?  I have this kind of experience every so often; it's a normal part of  life, isn't it?  Well, having Twilight Zone experiences has been a definite part of my life over the years.   This past week or so has been very interesting and challenging on many levels--from the weird to the funny and absurd.  

Debating with an Atheist

Last week, I was at a conference with my husband, and we were eating breakfast one morning when an acquaintance joined us.  Somehow, this person began talking about being an atheist and about some of the books they've read.  OK...that's interesting.  However, this person decided to pull me into the conversation, and wanted to debate about the issue of atheism and religion being the root of all evil in the world.  I don't want to discuss this topic here, on Czech Off the Beaten Path, but only wanted to mention it as part of my Twilight Zone week.  The conversation began nicely enough, but soon turned into a debate with me defending my own belief system. 

At the end of our debate, my atheistic debate acquaintance said he respected my views and found that I wasn't a blind believer (meaning I have not gone along with the flow--dogma--but have in fact questioned and tested the teachings of Christ on my own). From an atheist, that's a compliment! 

I should have known better than to be pulled into such a conversation in the first place.  Never discuss religion, politics, or money when attending a scientific conference and you're sitting in the middle of a a room full of scientists!  Well, I thought I had learned this lesson in the past, but evidently I didn't learn it well enough.  Hopefully this time I learned the lesson and won't have to face it again in the future!  

Elevator Craziness

This week has been full of weird experiences.  The next "Twilight Zone" experience took place when Jiri got stuck in our building's elevator.  This happens from time to time with all elevators.  They one day decide to act up and stop in between floors for no apparent reason.  Then the repairman comes and rescues those who are stuck and Life goes on.  Jiri was stuck in our elevator one morning as he was leaving for work.  Thankfully he was stuck in a spot where his cell phone would work, and he was able to call me.  Jiri also called the elevator company and they said they would send someone right over.  No problem, except we gave the elevator repairman the wrong address!  We had given him the address for a neighboring building, rather than our own building. 

It was very early in the morning when a brain isn't wanting to have to deal with these kinds of issues.  When Jiri told me the repairman was on the way, I watched for him and was able to catch the guy's attention, so he did come to the right building.  The repairman found where the elevator was stuck and let my husband out.  After looking at the elevator's mechanism, he said it was full of dust from when the building was first constructed.  The building owners know this, but don't want to pay to have the dust removed, and so our elevator regularly gets stuck.  Evidently it's cheaper to call the repairman every time someone's stuck (almost once a month) than it is to clean the elevator shaft and mechanism.  Now, after this episode, I'm trying to avoid riding the elevator when possible, which is usually when going the downstairs.  That way, the odds of being stuck in the elevator are cut in half, and it will only happen when riding up!

The Mystery of the Missing Lab Tests

The last Twilight Zone episode for this week was with my general practitioner.  I had to have some blood tests done, and I was told the results would be in the next day, and that I should call to hear the outcome of the tests.  The next day when I called the doctor, he said the results were not in yet as there was a problem at the lab where the blood work's done.  That's not something you want to hear when you're sick.  This is the first time I've ever heard of such a problem, and wondered if this was a Czech way of saying they were running further tests, or they lost my blood, etc.  

Well, the doctor said to call the next day and the results would be in.  My full expectation was, of course, that the test results would be done and in my doctor's hand the next time I called.  

Half the Tests Found

When I called the next day, the doctor informed me he had only received half of the blood test results.  I was very surprised and wondered now what?  My doctor proceeded to tell me that the half of the results we had were normal--that was good news.  Then he told me the problem with the lab was due to the lab making a move from their old place to a new place.  I almost started laughing with relief, but also at the ridiculousness of the situation.  I've never heard of this happening before, in all my years of having blood work done.  It was a bit on the absurd side!  Anyway, now we are waiting for the next half of the blood test results, and I'm wondering what the doctor will tell me when I call next.  Will he have all of this half of the blood test results?

These were some of the most absurd moments of my Twilight Zone week.  I'm hoping this weekend will be more normal!


Have a wonderful, normal and happy weekend!


God bless,
Sher :0) 

PS I would like to add none of these episodes of Twilight Zone Life took place because I live in the Czech Republic.  Each of these happenings could have taken place anywhere in the world.  It just so happens I'm currently living in the land of the Czechs and experiencing the Twilight Zone of Life! :0)


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Sher's Stuff


(c) 2010 by czechoffthebeatenpath

Image Credit:  GwenythC at Photobucket

Prague Eighth Most Expensive Place to Live in the West

Hi Everyone,
There is an article in the Prague Monitor today about Prague being the eighth most expensive place to live in the West! I've heard it said that living here is even more expensive than living in New York City, so that looks to be true! I can say, for certain, that Prague is no more expensive than the little town in the Rockies where I was living before moving here! Except for the gas--gas is much more expensive here, than it was back home in the mountains. Otherwise, prices are pretty similar. Even so, Prague is a very nice place to live and work and play!

You all have a great day!

God bless,
Sherry :0)

http://czechoffthebeatenpath.googlepages.com
(c) 2008 by czechoffthebeatenpath

Mobile Phone Car

Hi Everyone,
Just a quick note about these pictures…this is a car that was on display in Prague one day. The car was covered in mobile phones…it might have been an ad for one of the mobile phone companies, but I’m not sure! It was a great ad…and another typical Czech sense of humor!! So, I thought I would share that with you today, too!

Have a great weekend!

God bless,
Sherry :0)

PS My husband is coming along with his cold...he's almost over it. I don't know if it is due to the garlic soup, or just the cold has run its course!!! I just know that I am sick from smelling so much garlic this past week!! :0)

http://czechoffthebeatenpath.googlepages.com
Photos property of S. A. Vacik
© 2008 by czechoffthebeatenpath

Prague Peculiarities

Hi Everyone,
Today, I’m writing this post about some Prague Peculiarities--peculiarities that are to be found all over this city! It could make one never- ending blog post if I were to list them all! But, in the interest of time, I want to share three of these peculiarities with you today.

The first one is a bit strange…well, that’s a bit of an understatement…more than a bit…it’s downright strange and crude (by American standards)! It is called the “Pissing Statue”…you read that correctly! This statue, by David Černy, is located in the Kampa area of Prague. The statue is of two men urinating, while standing in a puddle that is shaped like the Czech Republic! My husband told me about this statue, but I didn’t believe such a thing existed, until he took me to see it! The statue is certainly an eye-full as the men are not dressed, and use their anatomically correct parts to “write” with while urinating. There is a number you can send an SMS to…whatever text you send, the statues will “write” into the puddle with their you-know-what parts. It’s true!!! Otherwise, they are “writing” quotes from some of the Czech Republic’s most famous writers and poets…yes…this is true!!! Please see my photo. Since this is a family-oriented blog, I chose to block out the anatomically correct parts. If you would like to see the statue without my artistic blocking, please see David's website. And you can find more information about David Černy, here in an interview with the Prague Compass Magazine. He is a very innovative artist, and has several works that can be seen around Prague. One of his most famous works was the Pink Tank! There was a Russian military tank on display in one square, here in Prague. It was seen as a symbol of the Soviet take-over of the Czech Republic. David Černy painted the entire tank pink, thus deflating the power of this symbol and turning it into something that was representative of the peace and freedom that is to be found nowadays in this country.

The next Prague Peculiarity is definitely very family-friendly! This one is called the John Lennon Wall. It is also found in the Kampa area, near the French Embassy. This was once just an ordinary wall that was completely blank. But in 1980, when John Lennon was killed, this wall became a symbol of peace and freedom to the Prague pacificists. John Lennon was a great symbol to the young people of Prague; in that time, they were still suffering under the communist regime. Lennon’s, and similar music, was banned by the communists because it was praising freedom and was seen as rebellious music. Many musicians who sang such music were even put in prison!

When John Lennon was killed, some young people decided to paint a graffiti commemoration to him on this wall. They painted his picture, along with graffiti defiant of the reigning regime. The authorities found all of this graffiti and used white paint to cover it up. This round of graffiti and painting over happened time and again! At one point, the wall was guarded at night, and also had surveillance cameras installed to watch it, but even so, the youth returned to paint again, even with the threat of prison if they were caught.

This monument to Lennon became an important place for those who loved his music and desired peace, and was also seen as a monument for freedom and non-violent rebellion of the Czechs against the communists. The original painting of Lennon is gone (covered under many layers of paint), but the wall is still an important place for people to express themselves…mostly, there are signs of love and peace written here, now. There is also an insert of a sculpture of Lennon’s head that can be seen on the wall. It is really a pretty place, and somehow very peaceful and calming! I had no idea that such a commemoration to Lennon even existed here, in Prague! The Lennon wall is free to see…I would recommend it highly as a place to visit during your stay here!

The last Prague Peculiarity I would like to share with you today is of a wheel barrow! As we were walking in the Kampa area, near Mala Strana, we came across a place where they were busy reconstructing the street. There were no workmen in sight, they must have been on a break. The man using this wheel barrow was obviously worried about someone stealing it while he was on break!

Well, that’s all for today from Prague! Have a great day! And, as they say here, “Hezky vikend” (have a great weekend)!

God bless,
Sherry :0)

http://czechoffthebeatenpath.googlepages.com
© 2008 by czechoffthebeatenpath
All photos property of S. A. Vacik

Prague Peculiarities

Hi Everyone,

It's been a month since I last updated! I can't let that happen again! I've had a couple of funny adventures since my last update. I want to call this Prague Peculiarities...and will add to these from time-to-time!


One day, I was doing some shopping near Dejvicka, which is a main square not far from where we live, in Prague 6. The square offers many different shops--everything from groceries, to clothing, to KFC! This is where we shop for our groceries--at the once Delvita that is now Billa. I was at Billa to pick up a couple of things...one of which was some credit for my pre-paid cell phone. The new credit comes in the form of a card you buy...I had seen these on an earlier trip to Billa, but had not looked to see how they worked. Well, I assumed (never assume...it makes an ass of u and me!) that the cards work like they do in the US. In the US, you buy a refill card, scratch off that silver stuff on the back to reveal a code, call an 800 number and type the code into your phone and that's it! Of course, it couldn't be that easy here! I proceeded to the checkout to pay for my purchases. The cashier was scanning everything, and when she got to the phone card, she said something to me. I didn't understand her, and so said I didn't speak Czech. Well, that was a problem! But there was a younger woman behind me who did speak very good English, so she began translating for the cashier and I.



This younger woman told me that the cashier wanted my phone number. She didn't explain why, and so this put me on guard. You never give out your number to anyone! That's just basic common sense. I had no idea what they wanted the number for...I thought it was because I was going to pay with my debit card from my American bank! So, I told them I didn't have a phone! They were shocked and not believing me...you don't have a phone?!! Well, this is true...we don't have a land-line phone here--it's very expensive, so my husband and I rely on our cell phones. So, I was telling the truth! They were not believing that. I didn't understand why they were not believing that! Now, in hindsight, I understand they were wondering why in the world I was buying refill credit for a cell phone if I didn't have a phone. At the time, it was not explained to me that I needed to give the cashier my cell phone number! The cashier said I would have to input some phone number into the little computer that is located where you check out...similar to the computers they have at the checkouts at home. OK...so I tried typing in my husband's cell phone number. The little computer did not like that. I didn't know what to do, so asked if I could input my number from the US. The ladies were aghast at how stupid I was! No...that would not work! OK. I said I had one more number I could try...still not realizing why they needed a phone number!



Well, it finally dawned on me that they needed my phone number for the refill card that I was trying to buy for my cell phone! I still didn't understand why that was. So, I typed in my cell phone number, after telling them I didn't have a phone...and the computer didn't like it. So, I had to try one more time...by now, there were several people in line behind us, and they were waiting and wondering what was taking so long. The younger woman who was translating was becoming a little annoyed with me, too.



I went ahead and typed in my cell phone number one more time, and low and behold, the little computer liked it this time! The cashier was relieved...and so was the younger woman translator...now, things were moving forward! I paid and was getting ready to take the receipt for my purchases, when my cell phone went "ta-dah!!!! It does this to notify me that a new text message has come in. I keep the cell phone in a pouch around my neck, under my coat, to keep it safe from pickpockets. So, it was very noticable when it went "ta-dah"!!!! They both looked at me...and shook their heads and rolled their eyes...I know they were thinking, "What a stupid foreigner...she said she didn't have a phone!!!"



My face turned a very bright red, and I hurriedly grabbed my things and left!!! I learned more from this trip than I have in a while, so that is a good thing...and next time, I will surely know how to purchase refill credit for my phone...and why they want the phone number!!!!!! Instead of refilling the credit as it is done in the US, here, the cashier is the one who activates the new credit for your phone!!! And I learned never to assume anything anywhere, or I will make an ass of u and me!!!!



That's all for now...you all have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry :0)