my own pictures?!

it's been a while since i actually took my own pictures and didn't steal tessa's own. but my camera battery lasted me for more than five minutes last week, and i managed a couple shots of my time in prague.

before school started up, i wanted some time away for a bit of a personal retreat. so i took off to prague for a few days.

tessa and i spent a night at a friend's house. this friend, however, just so happens to be 84. quite fitting for two 20-somethings who act as though they are 84 year olds.

the national theater is the big buiilding in the middle; Jarmila lives just to the right.

my 84 year-old friend (her name is Jarmila - Yar-mill-uh) and i have a mutual friend, an american who's also 80-something (i just realized how many 80 year-old friends i have!). she got Jarmila and i connected, and a few weeks ago i went to meet Jarmila. she lives in a beautiful apartment in ritzy prague, right beside the national theater.

the view from Jarmila's living room.

the trip was exciting for us two hillbillies, especially because we had just watched "Anne of Green Gables," and i had just read the book. consequently, our imaginations were running high, and it was euphoric to be able to stay in such a beautiful location. tessa and i snuck out to the balconies during the night to get some pictures.

Jarmila's living room

and as if the location of the apartment wasn't good enough, the whole thing is decorated with antique Victorian furniture. that just pushed our little girl excitement over the edge.

the first day in prague i spent visiting friends, and i came across this site. here's a before and after picture:

pre-Christmas tree

post-Christmas tree

statues we saw on our walk

my friend Barca lives in pardubice but studies is Prague, so we celebrated her finishing an exam with a stroll around prague and a coffee.

Karel Schwarzenburg

i also went to an outdoor concert/rally for a presidential candidate. his name is Karel Schwarzenburg. i have no idea what was being said most of the time, but i was excited to be part of Czech history - it's the first time the people have voted directly for their president! however, in true czech fashion, the people were more excited about the concerts and beer and hot wine for sale in the nearby markets.

the Vltava

the least crowded i've ever seen the Charles Bridge

and then on my second day, i was able to enjoy reading, praying, and thanks to tessa's Christmas gift for me - drawing! i also went for a run around Jarmila's block. i don't usually running, but when it includes running along the Vltava river with the castle and national theater in view AND running over the Charles bridge, i'd say it's a pretty good run. i even called it...ahem...romantic. may i never call running romantic again.


after overstaying my welcome with Jarmila, i moved onto another friend's house in Prague. here's the view from her window, and coincidentally where the concert had been a few days earlier:

blue skies and a light snow. i also got some time to myself at her place to read and draw and pray, and got to enjoy the company of friends. and after overstaying my welcome with this friend, i grudgingly dragged my feet back to parubice where i've again been enjoying real life :)