Departure Photo Exhibition Opening

Are we young and hip or are we getting old and petrified? Well, both answers could apply depending on how you interpret the following evening.

Last night we went to an art exhibition opening for our friend R. He has been taking photos for months and teasing us with the possible themes that his photos would take. R always gave an evil little grin and I could only imagine.

We found the building in the center after wandering round for a bit. The building was newly renovated, with modern glass and stone tiles. We were greeted at the door by a smartly dressed young woman with the guest list. Yep, the exhibition opening was by invitation only. After the smartly dressed young woman, we met a smartly dressed young man. He offered us champagne, which we took. Then another smartly young woman brought by colorful hors d'orves on a silver tray. Life is good in the world of art.

As we got closer to the photos, the buzz of congratulations and excitement filled the warm evening air. R's photos were hanging through the courtyard doorway. The prints were large, so it wasn't possible to miss the blond beauty in the photo laying on the bed with certain pieces of her anatomy exposed. (Trying to keep it rated PG for the kids!) The photos were tasteful and I was proud that R had pushed himself to be a better photographer in an area which he wasn't as comfortable with as buildings.

The theme was "Departure" and all the photos followed those lines. One focused on homelessness, another highlighted the lives of those affected by poverty. All photos expressed departing, and after sipping too much champagne, engaging in all the small talk we needed for a year and feeling full to the brim on life and culture...We, too, took our departure.

Botanicus

I'm a terrible gift buyer but luckily I've found a store here in Prague called Botanicus. It has lovely all natural soaps, body washes, cooking oils, herbs, handmade paper and many more goodies. A gift for everyone!

But more than just solving my gift needs, Botanicus gave me a lovely weekend adventure. It turns out that all those lovely natural products are grown just down the road from Prague in a little village called Ostrá. Besides having never ending French, English and wild gardens, Botanicus has also built its own village from the 1500s. The village is built to scale from authentic materials that would have been used 500 years ago. A few times during the summer there are medieval days where artisans work on candles, wool, blacksmithing in the small houses; jesters and theater troops perform in the streets and cozy outdoor theater; and baked goods full of fruits, jams and poppy seeds are sold at every turn.

I went with three teens and a mom and there was something for everyone. Mom spent lots of time smelling the flowers and enjoying the serenity of the gardens. The boys found a small labyrinth made from bushes and spent a long time chasing each other through the hidden trails. We young ladies enjoyed all the flaky warm pastries and dodging in and out of tiny doorways leading to novelties to smell, touch and try.

The train ride there had been full of energy and excitement and card playing. On the way back to Prague we were all quiet, dreaming of our lives we left back in the 1500s at Botanicus.

www.botanicus.cz

Karlštejn and beyond

There are so many things I love about the Czech Republic, but high on that list is the easy availability of walking trails. They are everywhere. No matter where you go, you will see the small green, blue, yellow or red squares painted on a tree or the side of a fence indicating that this is an official walking trail.

A great place to explore on these trails is the Berounka River valley. As this sluggish river winds its way through the crisp green foliage, little towns and villages sleepily await curious walkers. A few weekends ago my friend C. and I decided to go wake up these sleepy villages by speaking English in their streets and in their pubs.

We took a train to a little village called Srbsko (Serbia) and had a good filling Czech lunch to sustain our walk. Then we struck out for a small pilgrimage town called Svateho Jan pod Skalou. I'm afraid I don't know any of its historical significance beyond that there is a painting of Saint John above a spring that may bring you health if you drink it. (Or a bad case of stomach bacteria...)

We were feeling energetic after our 4 kilometer stroll to Svateho Jan, so we laughed at the sign indicating that Karlštejn Castle was 8.5 kilometers. We can do it! We are fit and young and adventurous!

After 2 kilometers of walking at what felt like a 90 degree angle up a never ending hill, we decided we were unhealthy and old and city folk and we wanted to go home! Luckily the hills evened out and our bodies adjusted and by the time we were in sight of the castle we said to ourselves, "That was no big deal! We could do it again right now." But we didn't. We had ice cream instead.