The reconstruction of Prague’s main railway station is to continue for approximately another two years and although the improvement is already visible at first glance the ongoing work still presents some inconvenience to travelers. In an effort to make up for it Grandi Stazioni has invited an Italian artist to paint the cardboard walls separating the areas still under reconstruction. Italian painter Franco Huller has spent the last ten days in Prague, hard at work, painting replicas of pictures from the romanticist period. He explains what the project is all about.

click here to listen to the interview

http://kl.am/5InH

photos by Maria Louro

Pinturas de Franco Huller decoran la Estación Central de Praga

click here to listen to Radio Praha interview

Ah, this was a fantastic weekend. I dont actually know where to start.

Friday was okish. BFF had her first day back at the restaurant, so – just as I do for N when he has his gigs – I went to sit there and eat. She finished at 12AM, we had a drink, we went home, I fell asleep almost instantly.

Next day at 10AM, N rang my bell and came to pick me up. We had planned on going to the chech republik two weeks ago. I never thought we would be going all the way to Prague though! We got into the car, started driving and before I knew it, we where right in the middle of wide open spaces. It was so beautiful. N was talking about his new show that he wants to do next year, and I sat next to him, listening to sound samples and a great song called “Drac-ulla”, written by him and his dad. So funny, I will see if I can maybe post a bit of the lyrics at some point.

Finally, got to Prague after 3,5 hours and after another half an hour trying to find a parking space, got the chance to have a look around. It was – just – ah, no word to describe it! I just loved it. Prague is one of the loveliest  cities I have ever been to. My great grandmother lived there for a while and fell in love with it completely. I dedicated my trip to her. She would have loved me going there, I know it! My favourite part was probably sitting outside a Cafè on a Square, a huge christmas tree in front of us, surrounded by christmas market huts, the smell of sweet things and Glühwein and sausage stalls with Jazz music. No, I am not kidding – the sausage stalls had the nicest music, I promise!

The other thing that was nice, was the choir at the market. We just passed a stage in the middle of the christmas market where this woman was talking on a mikrophone. N insisted on waiting, and believe me, it was worth it. The choir that came on was just so good! They sang traditional chech songs, underlined with a little bit of fun (one of the men kept singing out of tune or really loud on purpouse to make us laugh. Hillarious!). N and I did obviously not know any of the songs and just sort of let the music creep its way under our skin. They finished of with “Kalinka”, which left us in a really upbeat mood. It was great!#

Afterwards, went home, (I DROVE, TOO!!!!! ) got to Hintertupfing at 3AM. Dont think I went to bed – oh no!! – I went to the bar to have a drink, a dance and a snog with the boyfriend and THEN I went home. Must not waste any precious weekend, I thought. Will be able to have a lie in, I thought.

WRONG! At percise 8.35AM my doorbell rang. As I slept more or less naked, it was lucky that I had remembered it in time!! As I opened the door, there is TE, my dear collegue, in a T shirt, shivering asking me to please, please drive him home. He had been out since 3AM, someone forgot to take him home! Poor guy! Instead of coming to mine straight away, he had slept outside! Silly man!

So had to drive him to his friends where he had to pick up his jacket and key. We arrived there, in the middle of nowhere in the most gorgeous house ever. His friends mum made me a coffee and I felt like staying there. I would have even married one of their sons, if there would be a chance to live there with them! They where lovely. Funny, I felt like I was still sleeping at the time. Or dreaming.

After that, breakfast with BFF, home, shower, got into NEW CAR!! and drove to mums who had her birthday. Nice food, nice cake afterwards, N came round, had some cake too and chat with Boyfriend, then we all left, then food, then bed.

The end.

Enjoy your week, my favourite friends.

Me x

P.S.: Almost forgot: http://countrygirluk.posterous.com/8391998 For photos!! x

http://grandtourblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/day-1-be-a-grandtourist/

We added two new not-so-secret gigs on our event list, both of them happening very soon and taking place in Prague.

DESIGN CONCERT

The earlier one is on Friday 11.12. 2009. Together with The Fakes, The Prostitutes will play as a very special guest of design SUPERMARKET in a building formerly known as the department store Perla, Perlová street no. 5. It is a corner of Perlová and Jungmannovo náměstí. Here is the map and here is a Facebook event. The concert starts at 21.00 and the entry should be free.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

The second gig is a bit secret and will be on Monday 14.12. 2009. Right after Umakart concert at Kino Oko we’ll move to 2. patro but we are not allowed to tell what it is and where is it, you should know or find out for yourself. From approximately 20:00 there will be a theatrical play of Pixy, a famous comic book by Max Andersson. And around 22:00 we will start our very special, Christmas concert with piano, acoustic guitars, bass and drums. We’ll play couple of semi-unplugged versions of our songs plus our country favs in the coolest place in Prague these days. Entrance free again. A must-go.

View from Charles Bridge

PRAGUE WAS AWESOME!

I loved every single bit about Prague! Everything turned out just as I had expected, and some even exceeded my expectations. Here’s what’s awesome about the trip:

• Weather was fantastic
• Christmas markets were so beautifully decorated and there were so much traditional food to try! The moment I arrived at the Old Town Square I immediately felt so Christmas-sy!
• Food was so, so cheap! Approximately €8.00 for soup + starter + main course + two jugs of beer
• Beer (and alcohol) was even cheaper
• Super cheap 4-star hotel (in fact cheaper than usual hostel rates) with the best buffet breakfast ever!
• Celebrating Seong Seong’s birthday
• Seeing Pavel & Jan once again! I can’t believe I managed to meet up with Pavel and Jan; I never thought I’ll ever see them again after leaving our summer jobs at Glacier Park … the feeling was so surreal
• Amazing architecture, modern buildings and ultra clean streets
• Very unique souvenirs!
• Hot wine and Trdelník = YUMS!
• Super cheap transport ticket that even allows you to ride the cable car
• There’s a proper shopping mall where we found Marks & Spencer, TOPSHOP and Starbucks!
• Free rock candy given out at the rock candy shop (and they kept giving us more and more free rock candies to sample!)
• Basically Prague has everything that Italy doesn’t

And here’s what’s not:

• Rabbit meat :/
• Absinth

My only regret about the trip is not being able to spend time at Pavel’s hometown in Zlin and see Czech Republic’s countryside. I promise I’ll CZECH IT OUT one day

V průběhu listopadu a prosince 2009 probíhá proces schvalování nového územního plánu Prahy. Ten nebezpečně otevírá možnosti developerským společnostem. Hrozí, že se mnohé z veřejných městských prostorů promění v exkluzivní místa bezvýhradně podléhající čistě ekonomické logice, bez toho, aby byly brán v úvahu sociální či ekologický rozměr změn. Hrozí, že z města zmizí další více či méně svobodné prostory a že Praha bude ještě více kolonizována standardizovanou kulturou nadnárodních korporací. Výstava MĚSTO: NA PRODEJ  se tématu plánovaných proměn Prahy dotkne.

Zde nabízímě několik odkazů, kdeje možné najít informace k novému územnímu plánu:

• O procesu schvalování územního plánu; Jak do něj mohou zasahovat obyvatelé a obyvatelky (ze stránek sdružení Arnika)
• Koncept nového pražského územního plánu
• Propagační web nového pražského územního plánu

m mai scris/spus că eu  atunci cînd  eu sunt supărată  sau nu mă simt bine  îmi caut ‘alinare’  într-un (aparent) talmeş-balmeş;

astfel fac şi acum ( doar este blogul meu)

Leagăn pentru toată copilăria

de Adrian Păunescu

Pune-ţi, copile, capul pe pernă,

Te-asteaptă vise, prunc adormit,

În vise viaţa este eternă,

Cu ceruri blânde şi fără sfârşit.

Ce ştii tu-n lume câte se-ntâmplă,

Nici nu e bine tu să le şti,

Lumea-ngenunche la a ta tâmplă,

Şi, lângă tine suflet, cor de copii.

Astăzi, copile, eu îţi dau pâine,

Tu pâinea asta o muşti firesc,

Ce-ţi dau eu astăzi tu-mi vei da mâine,

Eu, legănându-te, îmbătrânesc.

Trupul tau fraged ca un mesteacăn

Să se îndoaie galeş în somn,

Ca să creşti mare, plâng şi te leagan,

Copile dulce, prea tinere domn.

La geam lumina lunii ţi-o scapăr

Luminii tale să-i dau ecou,

Dormi, fericitule, că eu te apăr,

Că eu în tine mă nasc din nou.

Capu-l pe perna pune-l, copile,

Totul e bine, ai tai sunt vii

Şi mai au viaţă şi mai au zile,

Să crezi că pururea ei vor trăi.

Mama şi tata ţie-ţi vor face

Leagăn de stele şi de ninsori,

Să-ţi fie bine, să dormi în pace,

Să ai lumina la ursitori.

Pune-ţi, copile, capul pe pernă,

Dormi şi viseaza bunul tău vis,

Că-n vise viaţa este eternă,

Visul e lumea ce eu ţi-am promis.

Pat de rachită mirositoare,

Leagăn albastru şi-ncondeiat,

Pentru copilul care răsare

Şi-ai cărui ochi ritmul lumii îl bat.

Mama te leagană, veghează tata,

Somnul ţi-l apară ochi părinteşti,

Dormi şi visează că lumea-i gata

Şi te asteaptă numai să creşti.

Mie-mi trec anii, ţie-ţi vin anii,

Poate că mâine îţi va fi greu,

S-accepti ca astăzi eu ţi-am spus nani,

Dar nani-nani, frumosul meu.

vedere din Praha

şi o baladă superbă, cu imagini ca’ntr-o poveste

\’ORIUNDE-AI FI\’ — O-ZONE

Det er første søndag i advent. I stuevinduet og kjolekroken på soverommet henger det sjøgrønne og fløyelsrøde julekuler og glimter i fattigmannssølv.

Ute er det kaldt og klart, og den skarpe, isende luften inviterer til søndagstur og kulderøde vinterkinn. Varm sjokolade i rosekopper til frokost, vinerluft og kvikklunsj til lunsj. Prahaskattene har flyttet inn i vinduskarmen og på pulten, og venter i spenning på nye eventyr.

(Og kanhende blir de herlig hverdagsdetaljene enda litt vakrere på en slik krystallklar første søndag i advent.)

Olvidando las caras y volviendo a ver sólo las formas…

Det er varmt i Praha – til og med når vinden biter iskaldt. Mennesker slentrer smilende langs fortauene, og fortauene er kunstverk av ørsmå brosteiner under de smilendes føtter. Praha florerer i romansk, gotisk, barokk, kubistisk, art noveau-stil og sannsynligvis også i alle stilarter du kan finne på å nevne. I gatene venter små, personlige kafeer, og særegne butikker som selger alt fra hundre typer piper til åtti typer te, eller sekstisyv typer kaker. Turistkioskene lever på bohemsk krystall, Kafka, Mocha og dukketeaterdukker. Karlsbroen i solnedgang er magisk, den gamle jødiske kirkegården setter merker i deg, og St. Vitus er mektig der den troner trofast mot himmelen.

Og hvis du noen gang vil handle vintage, antikk eller second hand i Praha anbefales Bric à Brac; En nydelig antikk/brukt-butikk fylt til randen av skatter. Mannen som eier den byr på mørk sjokolade og grønn te til de som går seg vill i skattekameret og blir der lenge. Han forteller historier om sin kone og om magiske tilfeldigheter, og viser fram skattene i butikken med stor stolthet (det kan neste virke som om han helst ikke ville selge dem..). Bric à Brac byr på nydelige perlesmykker, fløyelsvifter, gamle globuser, teaterkostymer, flosshatter, fantastiske esker og vesker, glasstøy, stokker, hjemmelagede poesibøker, gamle kamera og mange andre magiske ting.

Laly Vintage Clothes er en drøm for dem som liker å gå på skattejakt blant gamle klær som har historier sydd inn i sømmene. Laly Vintage byr på god service, fine og rimelige klær, hatter vesker og sko, herlig, varm atmofære, og en utrolig hyggelig kjolesyerske som gjerne syr om klærne slik at de passer deg (for en billig penge og i en fei).

Praha oppfordrer sterkt til 60-tallsperler, polkadottkjoler, sløyfer eller roser i håret og hjertelig latter.

Og det bor svaner under Karlsbroen.