In the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco, this place is just a short walk from the ballpark, train station and the Metreon. We can get downtown easily enough walking or by public transportation. I’ve always wanted to live in San Francisco, and can’t wait to move into the house now that it’s settled where we’re going to live. More than that though, I can’t wait to move in with Juanjo and start a life with him!
The highlight of my visit so far from a cultural perspective has been the Prague Museum of Communism. The museum chronicles the rise of communism more generally, then specifically in the Czech Republic—formerly Czechoslovakia – focusing on the oppression and harsh political conditions under which people lived during Soviet Rule and highlighting the Czech resistance. From the Prague Spring where the Prague resistance was squashed early on to the Charter 77 group in 1977 and the Velvet Revolution in 1989, the museum goes through the key moments of communism for the Czechs. Through the Czech case I saw some of what the Soviet Union was like—for a country that lived the years under communism as an occupation, as oppression from outside powers.
Part of the museum was a room where you sat and watched a video that included footage of many important moments in the Czech Republic’s history with communism. Most strking was the footage of the Velvet Revolution, seeing young people filling the town square and protesting the regime despite the dangers still posed by the totalitarian government. People had so much courage, were so brave to stand up against this totalitarian government that had police who worked for the state regime, not for the people. Most striking were images of plainclothes policemen beating people -young students- in the middle of the street. Seeing the images brought home how the system pitted one Czech against another.
Climbing a hill above Prague. We opted out of the funicular because of long lines and climbed the hill on foot. At the top of the hill there is a tower that is a copy of the Eiffel Tower. The park we are in is stunning, with luscious vegetation, old castle walls and small churches. In the park there is also a “Hunger Wall”, which, as legend has it, was built by starving people during the reign of Charles IV – they worked building the wall in exchange for food. See more pictures.
On the way home from my first evening out in Prague. Prague so far measures up to the built up expectations I had from all the wonderful things people had told me. The charm of the looping river, the red and green copper rooftops, the old gothic to baroque to art deco buildings. Bridge after bridge gracefully arches across the Vltava River, which dominates the city in a large sweeping loop. The streets are filled with people late into the night, both tourists (mostly European) and local Czech people (mostly young couples). The city has the grandeur and majesty of the old European capitals, but feels intimate and small like a charming town. I have only caught a glimpse of the city, but to see more pictures (not yet organized or labeled-sorry!) go to my Flikr page.
