Uncategorized

One of our nights in Prague was spent on a river boat cruise, complete with a light dinner. Our friends had bought tickets for their family and another couple, in addition to us. There were eight in all, including our friend Franta, his son and wife, and their teenage son Jiri, who had served as a tour guide for us and also a translator. Despite the fact we lived in Prague for a year, we’d never been on the river, and the views were unique,  We got to sail around Holesovice, the part of the city surrounded by a hook in the river, and where we had lived during that year. There was much we didn’t recognize because of all the building over the years, but I did recognize the long stretches of road where I walked by the river on my way to a tram stop. One of the surprising parts of our evening aboard was the discovery that a choir was also taking the ride, and they serenaded us with enthusiasm and wonderful harmony from time to time. They climbed to the upper open deck to sing later, much to the delight of people walking over the Charles Bridge.  The choir sang lustily as we passed under the bridge, to enjoy the acoustics. In addition to the Charles Bridge, we had wonderful views of the castles complex, Mala Strana (New Town) and Kampa Island, a romantic place, surrounded by water and accessible from the Charles Bridge. One other thing of note is that one of our walks, we found ourselves in the middle of a marching  demonstration by vegans, protesting meat eating. There was one sign I can’t exactly reproduce, which said “Eat p—-, not meat!” After only three days, we left Prague with regret and headed to Cesky Budejovice, to visit another old friend. 0 0

After our adventure at the raptor center, Hubs and I drove to Mainz to visit with a colleague from our graduate student days. Our friend retired from the University of Mainz, where she was a Professor of Genetics, several years ago, but even in her 80s, is still healthy and vigorous.  She has a massive garden outside her house, a cat named Ivan (I think that’s right), and still actively works for the benefit of the University.  Lizzie is also a talented artist and has painted the outer walls of her house and garden. We had a lovely dinner with her, recalling old friends, and then stayed at a forgettable hotel in downtown Mainz before driving on to Prague the next day. We stayed at the Hotel Josef, which we would highly recommend. It is air-conditioned, which was welcome in the growing temperatures of a heat wave, and is located about 5 minutes’ walk from Old Town Square.  Our first night in Prague, we ate at a very traditional Czech pub and had vepřo knedlo zelo – roast pork in sauce with flour or potato dumplings and sauerkraut., a very traditional Czech meal with good Pilsen beer. The next day we took a long walk through Prague, with some tram rides, to get to the ridge along which is a monastery, national library and of course the Prague castle-government complex.  The Strahov Monastery is a Premonstratensian abbey founded in 1143, a medieval monastery with a vast library and a baroque church. It was a hot day, so naturally we stopped to have a beer and enjoy the spectacular view… After liquid refreshment, we walked down and along the ridge to the castle- government complex. The line to get into the castle was hours long, and since we had visited it many times during our year in Prague, we contented ourselves with watching the changing of the guard, which we had never seen. I do highly recommend that anyone visiting Prague for the first time visit the castle complex, and spend some time at Svaty Vit, St. Vitus Cathedral, inside the complex.  The first church built on the site was an early Romanesque rotunda founded by Wenceslaus I in 930 (yes, that good King Wenceslaus). Construction of the present-day Gothic Cathedral began in November of 1344. You can see Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements in its construction which continued until the 1920s! After weaving through the masses of tourists in the square in front of the castle, we walked down the long street to the bottom of the hill, marveling that some of the vinarnas (wine bars) that we had visited forty years before, were still there. Along the way, we stopped at Svaty Mikuláše Mikulas (Saint Nicholas), a baroque church in Mala Strana (New Town), one of Gene’s favorite churches. We were heading for lunch at U Tomas, an underground restaurant serving black beer that had been part of the Prague scene for centuries. It was closed for renovations, so we just picked a place for a small bite before heading on across the famous Charles Bridge, that crosses the Vltava river. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues, most of them in a baroque style, originally erected around 1700 but now all replaced by replicas because of deterioration. We finished by taking a tram back to a stop near our hotel, thoroughly exhausted! 0 0

We ended up in a wheat field the day we left Nijmegan because Hubs had chosen the wrong town to input into the GPS. Garbage in, garbage out. Once we’d figured that out – with the help of a real map – we got to Bedburg in record time. Bedburg is another very old town, existing as early as 893. It is notable for its werewolf. In the late 16th century, Bedburg was terrorized by a diabolical creature that slaughtered its cattle and snatched away its women and children, killing them with unspeakable cruelty. The shocked and horrified townspeople feared they were being victimized by a bloodthirsty werewolf who lived among them. A wealthy farmer known in the community as a pleasant enough widower and father of two adolescent children, turned out to be the deranged serial killer who wore a cloak of wolf’s skin. He even killed his own son, eating his brains. Yuck. He was caught and sentenced to a horrible death. We stayed in a hotel in Bedburg built into the old city wall, very charming with nice grounds. Our reason for being there was so I could visit one of my former post-docs, who is a neuroscientist at the Institute of Brain Research in Dusseldorf. The next day he took us to a center for birds of prey, where we got to see an amazing array of eagles, buzzards, falcons and owls from around the world. We arrived in time for one of their twice daily shows, where certain birds fly free (but return), and I got to hold on a heavy leather glove, a black-backed South American buzzard eagle, who liked to have its chest stroked. The birds were magnificent. After the show, we drove on to Mainz, to visit another former colleague and stay overnight. By then a heat wave had invaded Europe, and we were grateful for the car’s A/C. 0 0

The day after The Blogger’s Bash, Hubs and I flew to Amsterdam and rented a car. One of the men at Budget programed the car’s GPS for us and we drove to the tiny town of Huissen, about halfway between Arnhem and Nijmegan in western Holland. We had scheduled a visit with an old colleague of mine from my academic career (we were in the same field) who lived in Huissen; we were staying in an old three story, narrow hotel in Nijmegan. Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands, with its first historical mention in the 1st century BC, when the Romans built a military camp on the place where Nijmegen was to appear; the location had great strategic value because of the surrounding hills, which gave (and continue to give) a good view over the Waal and Rhine valley. In 2005, it celebrated 2,000 years of existence. You can see the diversion of the river on the left constructed to handle the overflow of water from snow runoff in the spring, which can flood the city. Nijmegan is situated on the Wall River, close to the German border, and in 1940, it was the first Dutch city to fall into German hands during the invasion. Nijmegen was liberated from German occupation by the British Grenadier Guards and the Guards Armored Division along with well as elements of the American 82nd Airborne Division (to which I have a direct tie) in September 1944. . This is the historical watchtower, built in 1900, that greets you as you enter the city,     Our hotel room was on the fourth floor of the hotel, which had no lift! The hotel had undergone an extensive modernization so we had a lovely room under the eaves, with a bathtub in the room, set down slightly from the wooden floor. The next day, my colleague took us to see the oldest castle in the Netherlands, Doomenberg Castle, which dates from the 13th century. Unfortunately, the castle was closed because they were filming a children’s show in the courtyard, but we walked around it, admiring its structure and the moat. It was occupied until the 19th century. After that it fell into disrepair and became a ruin, but was completely restored between 1947 and 1968. After lunch, we walked around Nijmegan itself, visiting the older parts           of the city, including the Old Market Square. We had dinner at a restaurant overlooking the river, and admired the old wooden floodgates. The next day we spent some time programming our GPS on our own and ended up in a wheat field. 0 0

Megan McCullum, the Capital Nerd at https://mccullum001.wordpress.com – book reviewer growing into herself, just became my 1000th follower. To all of you following me: MEGA THANKS. You make blogging worthwhile and are my extended family! Go visit Megan and give her a book to review. Go on, I know so many of you have written books! 0 0

I’ll say at the outset, I really enjoyed this film. Yes, it is another super-hero movie, but it’s more than a good super-hero movie – it’s a damn fine movie, with wonderful performances by its two main characters, played by Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, and a strong story line. Synopsis: We are introduced to Diana as a small girl with determination. Raised on the hidden paradise island of Themyscira, which is populated by Amazons, Diana is trained to be a warrior by Antiope, played by the magnificent Robin Wright, and tutored by her mother, Hyppolita (Connie Nielsen). When a WW II plane crashes through the fog hiding the island, Diana rescues the American pilot, a spy named Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), who tells her about the massive war raging in the outside world. Diana has been taught by her mother that Ares, the god of war, is responsible for all conflicts, and Diana believes she must find and destroy him to end this war. Diana leaves her home, never to return, to fight alongside men and find Ares. In doing so, she realizes her full powers and in the end, her destiny. The story is not kitchy, as the TV series Wonder Woman was; it’s more rational, in a Marvel comics sort of way. Plus Diana’s outfit is rather modest, in contrast to the revealing bustier worn by Linda Carter! Diana only gradually becomes Wonder Woman, and Gal Gadot’s nuanced performance allows you to experience her transformation from an emotional standpoint. She’s got a good career ahead of her. Her developing relationship with Steve Trevor is fun, tender, and heart-touching. Chris Pine is at his best – roguish and sarcastic with funny cast-off lines and the heart of a hero. I’ll admit, I adore this actor. I completely agree with reviewer David Orr: “Befitting its World War I setting, Wonder Woman has a certain throwback charm, with Gadot and Pine playing off one another as good-naturedly as partners in a 1930s screwball comedy.” The secondary characters playing Trevor’s band of men are well wrought – Eugene Brave Rock as the Chief (yes, there’s a Native American in the movie), Said Taghmaoui as Sameer, and Ewen Bremner as Charlie, the singing Scot – plus Etta Candy as Trevor’s nattering secretary. There were a few two-dimensional characters, unfortunately – Danny Huston as General Ludendorff and Elena Anaya as Dr. Poison. But overall, the plot is very character-driven. There were a few oops moments: one, the sailboat, with no winds in its sails, sailed itself to England while Trevor and Diana slept (how did they get there?); and two, Sir Patrick, who is really Ares, being the point man in the British government who is pushing for peace and who sends Trevor, Diana and his merry men to stop General Ludendorff from interfering with the peace process. The logic escaped me. Oh well, maybe I missed something. The special effects are about what you would expect for a movie of this type, but they are not the reason to see the film. It’s a good movie. Go see it! 0 0

I got up this morning as usual at 6:30 – no alarm clock – this is when I take Angel out for her morning pee. Then it hit me, a blow to the heart. She wasn’t there. No stretching and shaking and preceding me down the hallway to the stairs, eager to start the day. No lick for my hand when I attach the leash to her collar. Yesterday we had helped her over the rainbow bridge, as they say. Our constant companion for the past seventeen years, our little feisty girl had needed help as her heart slowly gave out. Her walks got shorter and shorter, her naps longer and longer, and when she tried to follow me upstairs, she would faint from the exertion. Angel was always up for something new – a walk, a ride in the car, a trip to get her nails trimmed, an introduction to other dogs. She never met another dog she didn’t like. She was our house alarm, alerting us to anyone or anything that shouldn’t be in our yard. The house is so quiet now! And with the death of our second dog, Rock, I became her alpha, her anchor. She followed me everywhere and greeted me when I came home with joy and jumping, even if I was gone for only an hour. During our recent trip to Europe, she spent every day by the door, waiting for me, according to my daughter. This is so very hard for me to write, but I need to do something to mark her passing. Angel was a huge part of our lives, loyal, energetic, funny, loving. I miss her acutely and always will. A part of my heart is gone.   0 0

There have been a ton of posts from the wonderful people who attended the Blogger’s Bash in London in early June. Since Hubs and I were off wandering Europe for three weeks after that, I was guaranteed to be the very last person to post on the Bash. Huge thanks to Sasha, Ali, Hugh, Geoff and all the other organizers who took so much of their precious time to organize the Bash and ensure that all of us had lots of time to meet, mingle and chat. I loved it! I got a chance to meet some long time, long-distance friends and to make new ones. What can I say – it was a blogger’s blast! One more thing before the rogue’s gallery. I was honored to earn second place in the Bollger’s Bash writing contest on the subject of Connection. If I could figure out how to download it (I’m digitally impaired), I’d show you my badge! Here are some of my pictures – one or two complete with a finger. I’m only sorry I didn’t get more but Hugh did such a fantastic job videoing everyone that it doesn’t matter – except maybe for the finger!   0 0

I was tickled ‘peach’ with Diana’s review of Death by Pumpkin: Death by Pumpkin was my second read in Granger’s Rhe Brewster series and a pure joy ride. Rhe is a single mom, ER nurse, and police department consultant in the small Maine town of Pequod. She, once again, takes an active role in a police department investigation when the pumpkin-drop at a local festival reveals a murder. She rapidly goes from investigator to target as an old nemesis is determined to make her and those she cares for suffer. The book is fast-paced and well-researched. The scene in the small plane was particularly riveting and highlighted Granger’s attention to detail. Other than the villain, the characters are all beautifully three-dimensional and full of quirky personality. I thoroughly enjoyed the interplay in the authentic relationships. In addition to the murder investigation, romantic and political subplots add interest and tension. A perfect read for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with plenty of thrills. Thank you, Diana! 0 0

I had many new followers appear while I was away. I’d like to recognize some of them: Free Soul – A flawed human, a seeker of truth, enjoying my journey on this earth. Willeke-Maya at https://irelandms.com gjseth converseit scskillman  Warwick, UK fellow writer Lance Greenfield at lancegreenfield.wordpress.com Anjali Singh  at https://sabakuchsocial.wordpress.com/ Poornima M Reddy at https://purnisfoodblog.wordpress.com Ruth at https://imageandword.wordpress.com/t Jessica Norrie – writer, linguist, teacher, mother at https://jessicanorrie.wordpress.com/ Professional Child Wrangler at https://confessionsofanurseryassistant.wordpress.com Ellen Best at https://ellenbest24.wordpress.com Helen Jones at https://journeytoambeth.com    https://freeandvibrantlife.wordpress.com https://overresearch.wordpress.com thewebbhomestead Lab Works blog at https://labworksweb.wordpress.com Prajahma Cruces at https://intrepidiamcom.wordpress.com/ Antonio Tarnawiecki  at https://tarnawieckisart.wordpress.com I appreciate your interest! 0 0