Czechesotans: Olympia

Happy Holidays, all!! Veselé Vánoce a šťastný nový rok!

My new Puma running shoes from Santa were great and all, but they couldn't hold a candle to the Christmas present that flew in to see us - my firecracker forever friend H, the woman I've known since preschool! We got to have her right here in Praha, all the way from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.

H is one of those people who is just plain excited about life at all times, and was such a blessing having her in the place I've waxed poetic about for years.

We had a lovely, cozy Czech-American Christmas...

Christmas Eve Day started off under Charles Bridge, where a few Czechs still release a carp into the Vltava River; fried carp and potato salad is a traditional Christmas Eve meal. Here we are with the TyVoles!

Then it was a robust late lunch at Olympia, one of our favorite "fancy" Czech spots in Prague.

A walk around Prague helped us digest.

We rounded off our evening with a trip to the Old Town Square Christmas markets, anchored by a spectacularly baubled tree.

Then, Christmas morning. J-dog gnawed on stockings.

We set up our bristly little Tesco tree and unwrapped the presents under it - unlike Czechs, who do gifts on Christmas Eve when Ježíšek (baby Jesus) comes. Fun fact: I recently learned that Dec. 24 is the name day for Adam and Eva.

We cooked a huge Christmas lunch of spiced ham, roasted veg, candied yams, toasted pear salad, etc. Note the bottle in the upper-right hand corner - it's vaječný likér, i.e. egg liquor, a sweet Czech treat.

We cleaned up and took a selfie for family and friends. Ah, the ubiquitous nature of social media.

And then we walked into central Prague again.

There were Christmas markets near Prague Castle;

busy downhill Nerudova Street;

a stop at the Kellyixer Alchemist Lab Pub for hot wine;

photos at the John Lennon Wall;

the Czech Press Photo exhibit at Old Town Hall;

and - my personal favorite - a Prague Symphony Orchestra Christmas Mass at Sts. Simon and Judy Church. Breathtaking, and I was thrilled to realize I could understand bits of it!

We hope you had a joyful, blessed Christmas - or whatever holiday you celebrate! Peace and good tidings to you and yours.

A POST BY JAYDA. WOOF.

My little paw pads are used to the cobblestones now. I have adapted to Czech dog food, which has overt chunks of animal parts in it. The city sounds no longer inspire me to bark inappropriately. I've made some doggie buddies whom I see on strolls around the neighborhood. And I'm allowed to go pretty much everywhere mom and dad go.

I am living the high life!

Mom's coworkers gave me my very own chair to sit in at dinner last night. It was even at a fancier place, called Olympia Restaurant, near the theater where mom is directing the school play.