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THE PRAGUE BLOG
DAY 5: Arrival, Brothers, and Olga.
The Corresponding Brother Post
Will typy-type for this blog soon. For now, enjoy this vid. Also: Scott Pilgrim was great.
NUMBERS:
Alex’s Total Spill Count (ATSC): 11 (By Drinks Only)
Total Pick Pockets Sighted and Encounters (TPPSE): 5
Total Times We’ve gotten Lost (TTWGL):9 ( By Number of Destinations)
Destinations Visited: -Ostrava: Cerdony(Beer Street) Family Olga
THE PRAGUE BLOG
DAY 4: Plzen and Its Brewery
In Where the Brothers Visit the Home Town of Their Grandmother.
The Corresponding Brother Post
Our time in Plzen flew by. It was my grand mother’s hometown before life dragged her elsewhere. Many native to the Czech Republic will recognize Plzen for its distinct product: Pilsner Urquell beer. Alex and I toured the brewery and, I don’t find the footage that breathtaking, but maybe some of you beer aficionados might. We also paid visit to one of the largest Jewish temples in the world. The Great Synagogue was so very quiet. I’m realizing that one of the things that makes the Czech Republic unique is its still standing artifacts of Jewish history. Jewish history covers all sorts of land, but there aren’t many buildings left from earlier history to attest for it. Seeing Terezin and the Great Synagogue of Plzen reignited my response to the story of a city’s map. On one side: a brewery dating back to the middle ages. On the other: A temple from the end of the 19th century.
More: More Tour + Even More Tour
NUMBERS:
Alex’s Total Spill Count (ATSC): 11 (By Drinks Only)
Total Pick Pockets Sighted and Encounters (TPPSE): 5
Total Times We’ve gotten Lost (TTWGL):9 ( By Number of Destinations)
Destinations Visited: -Plzen: Plzen Brewery Great Synagogue
THE PRAGUE BLOG
DAY 3: Terezin
Where in the Brothers Visit Theresienstadt, A Concentration Camp significant to Their Family Past.
In a perfect world, I would have some video of Terezin for you. But, in the hassle of travel, the footage must have been recorded over. In fact, I may have done it on purpose. A part of me must have felt shame to think it is right to post that kind of footage. Even though they are just pictures. Anyhow, I suggest the soundcast for this day. My thoughts on the trip are this: History seems stupid until you realize you are always connected to it. Not that I thought the Holocaust wasn’t to be taken seriously. It was the visit. It reminded me of how young I was and how much is left to happen in my life.
The Corresponding Brother Post
NUMBERS:
Alex’s Total Spill Count (ATSC): 9 (By Drinks Only)
Total Pick Pockets Sighted and Encounters (TPPSE): 5
Total Times We’ve gotten Lost (TTWGL):8 ( By Number of Destinations)
Destinations Visited: -Terezin: Ghetto Museum, Concentration Camp -New Town/Wenceslaus Square: Chinese Resterant
THE PRAGUE BLOG
DAY 2: Jewish 1/4, Old Town and New Town
In Which the Brothers Frequent Many Synagogues, a Kafka Cafe, The National Theatre, Old Town Hall, and Visit Wenceslas Square.
F or those of you bitching: Yes. It has been almost a year since the historic trip. For each of these posts I will be writing a summary of the feeling of that day, the highlights, and some experiences that may not have been caught on video or sound. The continuity of that day can better be studied by listening to my brother’s soundcasts. I will link the corresponding brother post for each post. Yes. I, too, shall have a wrap up post, in where I get somewhat weepy, remember, and think about what it meant, what it means, and what it may mean one day. And, yes. I do plan to return to my blog, in hopes of using it as a reason to write on a daily basis, and out of the kindness of my own heart. And now we return you to your regularly scheduled PRAGUE BLOG.
The Corresponding Brother Post
In every blog and wiki on Prague, there is a pic of the Astronomical Clock in Old Town. Yeah. It’s pretty. So, for your viewing pleasure, the Prague Blog’s personal venture into the bowels of Old Town Hall.
In the Jewish Quarter of Prague lies a graveyard known as the Old Jewish Cemetery. Some scholars believe the cemetery was founded more than 1400 years ago. The history of this cemetery is extensive, and there are layers upon layers of tombs underneath the visible top layer of stones. Some estimate there are over 100.000 burials in the cemetery. Famous faces are buried here. One, particularly, close to my heart; Rabbi Low. The man rumored to have created the Golem, all those years ago.
-The Day Unrequited-
-First an explanation: The Day Unrequited is my way of presenting a hogdepodge of stories and other things not recorded in Alex’s sound or my video. Basically left over num-nums for you to peruse.
-Got lost on a road named Palleova. Saw some international embassies. I was almost illegally in China at one point.
-Visited the Cafe Kafka. Dedicated to the great native poet and literary mind.
-While in old town, me and Alex played a good game of ding dong ditch at the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn. Huge doors, and so many door bells.
-A pizza shop known simply as “Pizza Quick” was discovered. Just off of the main street, always filled with cheap pizza, it became our back up source of chow. Nearby was a great park where you could eat and observe the grafitti. I became fond of one tag that simply reads “Big Druid”.
-We got to hear the Old Town Hall ring at 5′ o clock.
-We visited Wenceslaus Square for the first time.
-A stranger asked if I was Czech at all, and i said “Yes, indeed i am. In fact, that’s why I’m here.” (Approximately inside the Old Town Hall)
NUMBERS:
Alex’s Total Spill Count (ATSC): 8 (By Drinks Only)
Total Pick Pockets Sighted and Encounters (TPPSE): 4
Total Times We’ve gotten Lost (TTWGL):6 ( By Number of Destinations)
Destinations Visited:-PRAGUE: Pizza Quick -Jewish Quarter: Old-New Synagogue Jewish Cemetery Pinkis Synagogue -Old Town:National Prague Theatre Astranomical Clock/Old Town Hall Cafe Kafka -Outside Of City: Letna Plan Metronom Pelleova St.
THE PRAGUE BLOG
DAY 1: Castle Day
In Where the Brothers Explore The Prague Castle and All That It’s Surroundings Offer.
Since traveling, me and Alex(Corresponding post) have already learned one important thing about the blog: It takes Time. So, where vids can be provided, they are. Otherwise my story reads as you do. I’ll start with a good ole’ quest.
The Quest In Which Alex and David partake in Bojambles, have their flights delayed in NC, get to Britain and Greet Their New Home:
We take a rest until the next day. For those of you interested, we did spend our extra time doing something in the airports: Moving Walkway Chat 1 and Moving Walk Way Chat 2.
We set out our course for our very first sight: The Castle Complex. Following a hotel map, we make a mistake and learn the very first thing about the geography of Prague: The Vtlava river- One Side; Nothing. The other; Everything. This was our first time getting lost,but like many of our mistakes to come, it led to another sight entirely: The Vtlava River.
Eventually we navigated ourselves to our first sight of Prague’s Castle complex; Loreto.
However we never ended up going into Loreto, and instead wandered through the complex, taking in our first view of Prague’s beautiful historical architecture. Being our first day, we still were stuttering with our basic words, but found happily that most people were happy to help us out with the decidedly undecided way to say thank you (naskeladanah). If you are near Loreto , I advise turning around and looking at the government building/Palace. In front you’ll find Jan’s Stone and the building behind it is home to some wierd ass history from the communist age, involving a defenestration (a word that can’t be used enough). We worked our way into the center of the complex, past the gates of Prague Castle, and at this time decided it was time to be silly.
We spent a whole basket of time in the castle complex. There we traveled through the castle itself and many of the surrounding sites including the powder tower, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Vitus’ Church. After such intense sightseeing we wandered into a side street of the Castle Complex known as Golden Lane. It was such named because back in its time it was home to many active alchemists. Thus in this site historical for voluntary human poisoning, we ate lunch.
To end the day we walked across the Charles Bridge. We were surrounded by men selling trinkets, performers, and artisans. The bridge has stone saints along its arch, and people push to and fro along it. As we crossed we wriggled down to a small cobbled alley to find or last stop of the night. The National Marionette Theatre. There we witnessed “Don Giovanni”, Mozart’s “Gift to Prague”. One and a half thumbs up.
The Marionette Theatre
NUMBERS:
Alex’s Total Spill Count (ATSC): 6 (By Drinks Only)
Total Pick Pockets Sighted and Encounters (TPPSE): 1
Total Times We’ve gotten Lost (TTWGL):2 ( By Number of Destinations)
Destinations Visited: WPB, FL – USA Charlotte, NC- USA Gatwick, London-Britain Heathrow,London- Britain -PRAGUE: Prague Castle St. Peter’s Basilica Loreto St. Vitus’ Church Vtlava River Golden Lane Powder Tower National Marronette Theatre Charles Bridge
Kosher Blog
Things have been happening while at home and because college is looming the information is flooding the gates.
1. Lady has started her own blog. Feel free to give her some traffic.
2. FGCU’s music dean sent me a letter asking if i want to be part of the Freshman convocation symphony. Cool opportunity cus we open for the Greg Mortenson (Up for Nobel prize and writer of Three Cups of Tea/Required college reading). My first college gig.
3. Day 1 and 2 of Prague will be updated in video and text later on tonight. Check in later for more.
4. Chocolate egg toys won so far:Day 1: Ice Age Clip. Day 2: Random cartoon clip with plastic chain.
Hello from Prague. Me and the bro are currently situating THE PRAGUE BLOG where it was meant to be. Discoveries and changes have been made. Brits have been met and damn are we sick of airports. Some of our story might have to wait, we found out today that the video camera won’t import onto the PB’s central computer. But our still cameras will. The video of our beginning might have to wait.
Sky Mall was selling Horcruxes on our way to Charlotte.
I‘m tired as something terrible so I’ll be lazy and let you catch up on Alex’s post. I’ll just post a few photos he might not have shown you, so you don’t feel incredibly cheated by visiting the door stop of my side of the blog.
The US Airways Demon Mistress Desk Ladies. "I thought I smelt brimstone."
Face of contemplative evile.
After being stuck in Charlotte and eating some well divined Bojambles, we had to deal with demons as these. They led us astray and eventually we found our own way, by a majestic enchanted ticket desk operator who could only tell the truth.
After tireless hours of delays, we arrive to the Gatwick Airport. My first real British food.
If you have read this far, I thought I might leave you with my first thoughts of the City of Prague and it’s people. When I visit a new and exciting place I look out the window and try to absorb everything for about the entire day, so much of what I’ve seen today is summed up in this blurry photo.
First photo on land in Prague, taken at night to the way to our hotel.
However, the people, the places, as a whole is a much lager and complex picture I hope to illustrate by the end of our voyage. We have already encountered so much and met so many challenges. I can already feel a collage of reason and image behind our actions. I feel it is only the beginning to the enchantment of our travels.
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Next Post: Castle Day
In the next month, the blog will take on a face of travel. New people, places, and ideas. Prague, London, goodbyes, College, and beginnings.
Soon our distance will change. A few days ago, it changed as well.
I was off on my college orientation. College has never seemed so tumultuous. The dorms were absolute zero and the parking lots were the surface of the sun. And the lectures lasted for days.
We stayed in FGCU's Everglades dorm.
In much more exciting news, tomorrow me and Alex leave for Prague. I realize my coverage of our plans has been sporadic, so I’ll post you some good stuff: Plotted Map of Our Travels
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THER PRAGUER BLARG ITIRNERARIUM
(THE PRAGUE BLOG ITINERARY)
Aug. 2
Leave the Palm Bizzle– 7:10 pm
US Airways
Arrive in Philly—9:40 p.m.
Switch flights to US Airways
Arrive in London Heath Row 11:04 am
Switch flights to Czech Airlines –Leave for the Pizzle
Aug. 3
Arrive in Praha—5:45 pm
8 p.m. Nat’l Marionette theater- don Giovanni
Aug. 5 -Old Prague and Jew Town
Kafka Tour, 3 pm. Charles Bridge
Aug. 6- The Most despertaining day in history
Terezin
Ghostly Prague walking tour,
Aug. 7 Plzen
Underground- 11 am entrance at Perlova 4
Brewery tour- 12:30
Sightseeing: St. Bartholomew
Great Synagogue
Jewish cemetery
Search for Krausova
Holocaust memorial
Folklore evening party
Aug. 8 Ostrava
Take the metro.
Search for Beers
Jewish cemetery? Chaiworks?
Silesin-ostrava castle
Fairytale Ghost cellar
Vystaviste Cerna louka
Mining museum
Aug. 9 Cesky Raj- Turnov
Depart 8:00
More bus.
Aug. 10 Leave for Manchester
Czech Airlines
Departure (PRG): August 10, 7:40 PM CEST (evening)
Aug. 11 Liverpool to London
Beatles tour
Aug. 12 Londres Apollo
Windsor Castle
Piccadilly circus
Big Ben
London Dungeon
Westminster Abbey
London tower
Arcadia 7:30
Aug. 13 Stonehenge
Aug. 14 Leave London
Home.
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NEXT Post: On the plane and more. See You In Prague.
P.S. Seventeen hours on flight, expect some book reviews.
Since THE PRAGUE BLOG will be traveling in a multimedia way, I’ve decided to practice with some footage taken a week ago, so later editing will certainly be easier and faster (and better). None of it is hard news, but if you haven’t been reading up to this point, watch the first video. It’ll introduce you to me and my bro. The PB’s mission and so on. If you have, the others are worth a glance, they’re just for shits.
THE SECRET TO WRITING A GOOD BLOG:
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Next: Who knows.. maybe a review on Bebop vs. Evangelion; right before i leave.
Kosher Blog In the Case of a blog relating to David. Such a symbol will appear. Shalom.
Welcome to our first kosher blog. Within, you shall find kosher blogging to your approval. Enjoy.
Not so long ago, me and my aforementioned brother were given new freedom to think of travel. The opportunity progressed quite naturally. No permanent job responsibilities, none coming up anytime soon, leaving for college soon, summer; all reasons to break from the mundane tide of the norm and imagine. My leave for further academia and adult life growing near, we saw occasion for one last act of community. Before our complete family, once again, becomes not so. It is within those thoughts, that we fashioned the idea to travel to Europe in spirit of family: present and past.
Prague
A Prelude To PRAGUE BLOG:
It is curious that, in the origin stages of my blog, the first story I should tell would be on the investigation of the origins of my family.
My family finds it’s roots in Europe. My Grandfather (on my father’s side) told us a story at the dinner table of how, when traced to the very beginning, our family blood was found in the Mongolian empire. He told that the name Tiegen was an Ellis Island fluke and, in truth, our Mongolian roots knew us by the tribe of Titzegen. Who knows how true this is?
History soon had my family within it’s momentum. Ancestors traveled from Russia, Poland, and Germany to where their life would take them. Two world wars, both my Grandfather (on my father’s side) would witness in his time in America. Meanwhile my Grandfather (on my mother’s side) faced the Nazis in his country of Czechoslovakia. If you haven’t figured it out; I’m Jewish, bubs.
So, me and my brother plan to set out on a journey to understand the culture, meet the Golem, and find more of our family history, in the country that is now the Czech republic. We’ll post everyday. Cataloging our findings as best we can. We’ll spend the majority of our time in the Czech republic, visiting such places as the National Marrionette Theatre, The Golem and a distant branch of our family, just recently contacted (Olga’s Side of the Family/My Granfather’s(on My mother’s side)). In the last leg of our trip we’ll take a small detour to London and give Stonehenge a big slap on the willy (Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge, Say no more).
Both me and Alex will be posting: The collective of these posts, shall be known as THE PRAGUE BLOG.
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My order of business: A “Who’s More Awesome” post.
Oddly enough, this also has to do with my brother. A few days ago, we were eating when he brought up one of his latest creations:
Despertaining-Something that is both depressing and entertaining at the same time.
This word is his own idea. And over some taunting, we made a bet of it. He bets the word will show up into the dictionary next year. All he needs to do is get it into American circulation and it will be part of next year’s dictionary addition. If I win (The word doesn’t make it), I get a hundred bucks. If he wins, I have to buy him and his imaginary girlfriend dinner. Despite her immateriality, she’s got a great personality and wants world peace. I ask you, the small amount of my blog viewers, to give me your opinion. My word is:
Ungrammarize-The act of making correct grammar a large amount of incorrect grammar.
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Next Post: Video test for the PRAGUE BLOG and shtuff.
