BERLIN PHOTOS

This is way past due, but I just realized I never put up my Berlin photos! Here's some of them.

Berlin this weekend!

So Yesterday David and I decided to take a trip to Berlin this weekend!

We found a sweet deal with 'Eurolines,' that was buy two tickets for the price of one. So our total damage was 1,700 CZK ($98). The bus ride will take 5 hours. We found a hostel with a great location called "Heart of Gold Hostel." The only thing that sucks is that we have to stay in the room with 26 beds! I just need to make sure I find some ear plugs!

Our bus leaves at 6:15am... So right now I'm getting ready to leave. Hopefully everything goes smoothly. The dogs are staying with Pepik and the family. Since we're only going to be gone for 2 night/3 days, I think they be ok. Once I get back Monday I'll make sure to post a longer blog with tons of pictures! See you later!

U.S. Embassy Warden Message: 17th of November Celebrations Commemorating the Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is a national holiday here... I can't wait to celebrate! I want to go see the reenactments and march! I'll be posting photos of this event afterward! Also, CNN will be showing a feature on the Velvet Revolution if anyone's interested...

Katie (my friend from N.Carolina) sent me this notice...

U.S. Embassy Warden Message

17th of November Celebrations Commemorating the Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

This Warden Message informs U.S. citizens that on November 17, Prague will host events to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the end of communism. There will be a commemorative march from Albertov to Narodni Trida from 3:30 pm until approximately 5:00 pm, as well as an open concert throughout the evening. Police are expecting as many as 20,000 participants at events focusing on Narodni Trida. Police will monitor this celebration to ensure public safety. Due to the size and visibility of this event, there is a possibility that extremist groups may attend as well. As with all large, high-visibility gatherings, the potential for disturbances exists at the primary venue and areas where groups may congregate (e.g., the downtown tourist area and metro stations such as Mustek). American citizens are urged to exercise caution during the celebrations and be vigilant for any unexpected disturbances.

Please note that although the U.S. Embassy in Prague will be closed Tuesday, November 17, 2009, a communist group will protest in the front of the Embassy against U.S. military bases in the Czech Republic from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. This event is expected to be peaceful and police will provide extra officers.

We remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence without warning. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution when in the vicinity of any demonstrations. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.

Czech National Holiday! Nov. 17th

From The NEW YORK TIMES:

"On Nov. 17, 20 years to the day since the start of the Velvet Revolution, when the police beat hundreds of protesting university students on Narodni Street...

(((The protest was located right on the street one of my classes is on. Plus Pepik told me that he took me near the protest (when I was still a baby) when it was happening!!)))

"We Czechs and Slovaks have a tradition of dealing with various issues in the pub rather than on the battlefield,” Mr. Havel said at a recent news conference to mark the revolution’s anniversary.

You can get a feel for the early dissident days at Vltava (www.restauracevltava.cz), a pub where Mr. Havel and his fellow rebels often discussed Charter 77, the anti-Communist manifesto of 1977 that was a precursor to the revolution a decade later..."

Interesting... right?!

Halloween in Prague.

I must admit I was totally unprepared for this Halloween. I ran upstairs to Pepik's (my dad) apartment and borrowed a witch hat and Chert horns from Erik (my half brother). I must admit that although our costumes were quite basic, they were fun and turned out ok. Our friend Katie was a 1920s flapper. At first we headed to Katie's apartment to dress up and than headed out to this party where dressing up was required. If we had costumes we could get in for free and get free shots. Unfortunatly when we arrived they were already full, so we went to meet up with two other friends (Frank and Dima- who are also in our IEPS Masters Program). Even though we didn't get into the one place we had fun just hanging out in other local clubs.

I hope you enjoy the photos, some are pretty funny...

This is the first time David's ever put on make up, haha!
Before we went to Katie's to dress up, we went to the pub to talk and hang out with family. Above is David with Bara, and below is Cindy (half sister), her boyfriend Martin, and Pepik.

Czech Passes the Lisbon Treaty...

I don't know if anyone back in the States cares, but Vaclav Klaus was finally forced to sign (by the Czech Courts) the Lisbon Treaty. He was the last of 27 European leaders to sign the treaty because he thinks that by signing it the Czech Republic will cease to be a sovereign state. Klaus may be eurosceptic, but I think that I would be too. The Czech Republic isn't exactly a huge country who is going to have a very powerful say within the EU... For those of you who don't know what the Lisbon Treaty is: It's going to create a new post of an EU presidency and of a high representitive for foreign affairs. Also, more decisions are going to be by majority vote rather than unanimity.

I think it's a pretty interesting topic...

Here's the article if anyone wants to read it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/world/europe/04europe.html?hp