Leaving Prague

The Sun set on our "Excellent European Adventure". We are off to new lands.

destruction

Note on the entry way hall said destruction on our flat starts in the morning :(

Looks like they are replacing all the plumbing in the whole building. They have been hammering and cutting into concrete all this week. We are next.

Concert at the Rudolfinum

Finally, after 3 years, we decided to buy tickets to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. They normally play in a beautiful large hall called the Rudolphinum.

This is what it looks like at night.





The inside is very grand and well-appointed with vaulted, painted ceilings, marble columns, and beautiful chandeliers.

We chose to sit in the center balcony , and we think we had perfect seats. We could see the entire stage, and the sound was perfect.

The director this evening was Sir Colin Davis from London. The printed program went into detail about his long and illustrious career, and then ended with a simple sentence: "Sir Colin Davis was born in Weybridge, Surrey in 1927." It took me a moment to think "Gosh, he's older than we are" and then I thought "Way older!" I did the math, and decided he had to be 85! What a blessing that he is able to continue to pursue his passion in such a grand manner.

It was a very enjoyable evening.

Is it a hawk or an owl?

No wonder we have not seen any rodents around the area.

Update: It's a bird called a lesser kestrel, of the falcon family. There are a pair of them that nest across the street from us. :-)

Jack Olaf Dinnie

Finally snow on the rooftop

We had our first major snowstorm yesterday! It was quite beautiful to be out and about amongst the swirling flakes.

Especially nice, since chances are there won't be any more until next year!! :-)

The neighbors

We have new neighbors. They are on the same floor as we are, but their entrance is on the other side of the building so we never see them in the hall or elevator,so we don't know anything about them. We knew they were there because after months of quiet on the other side of the wall, we heard moving in noises. You know, furniture being moved around and tapping on the walls as pictures were hung. Then we heard noises on the front terrace for a couple of days. When we eventually went out to investigate, this is what we saw!

For some reason, they have enclosed their entire terrace in this netting. We checked the back balcony, and it too is totally enclosed.

So,we are now extremely curious as to why!

Are they afraid of heights? Afraid of pigeons? Are they raising urban chickens? Growing hops on the netting? Creating an indoor batting cage? We can't figure out if they are trying to keep something out - or perhaps something in!

If we ever figure it out, we'll definitely report!!