Starting March off the right way...
There is only one way to start a month perfectly and that is to have visitors coming :)
Sure there is some work leading up to their arrival...cleaning, moving things out of the guest room, coming up with a quasi plan of things to see and do...but it is all done with a cheerful smile and yes, even a tune being hummed because you know that you are soon going to see people you love.
March 8th through the 16th were wonderfully happy days for us...our great friend David and his parents had shelled out hard-earned cash to visit us from the States and it could have only been made better if they had been able to stay longer ;)
Even though we had the bedrooms available, we felt that 2 bathrooms were not going to be enough for (5) adults and (1) child to share so David's parents - Art & Mary - were able to experience Prague in the comfort of their own flat...in our old building in Vinohrady! So much better than a hotel room, not to mention cheaper, they were able to enjoy a foyer, a full bathroom - including washing machine, a full kitchen with dining area, and a living/bedroom complete with Sky Satellite Television and Internet. Honestly, if any of our readers plan on visiting Prague please let me help with the accommodations (unless you are staying with us of course!) and set you up in style. If you prefer to do it on your own, please allow me to suggest our friends at this website because they are da bomb www.pragueclassicrentals.cz
We had some terrific weather to help make the sightseeing more agreeable - it was almost Springlike - and were able to cover some of the basic highlights of the city. However, with three days planned in Moravia, we were not able to give Prague its due...so they will just have to come back again...and again...and again :)
Unfortunately, Alex was ill the night before our departure so she and Ben stayed behind while the rest of us explored Moravia with the help of our friends, the Spevak Family. They are an unbelievably gracious family who gave us an intimate look at their hometown of Horni Hut, Dubnany, and many surrounding areas as well. Frank, the patriarch of the family, runs a rather large vineyard and I suggest getting your hands on any one of their fabulous wines to compliment your next meal!
Because of their many business connections and friends, we were able to have private tours of a castle and their eldest son David's school - which of course, given the area, was dedicated to the production of wine :) We also were treated to a walk around the grounds of another castle in the midst of reconstruction and one of their own vineyards.
I will have to dedicate another entry to the beauty of Moravia to do it justice and try to give some perspective on just how different this area of the Czech Republic is from ours.
Getting back to the real point of this entry, we had a fabulous time sharing our new surroundings with folks that we have considered true family members for many a year. Alex had David tuck her in and read her bedtime stories and sing some songs (Fergie's 'Glamorous' is "their song" and I am sure there were a few Mary J tunes thrown in as well), and by the 3rd day she was calling his parents Grampy Art & Grammy Mary.
She and Logan were as thrilled as we were to have them all here and were very saddened by their departure. When I returned from accompanying them to the airport the day of their departure, Alex saw me crying and after hearing why I was so sad she said, "I understand but they had to go back to America. We do not live there anymore, we live in Prague now. But we can visit sometime...Grampy Art even said so!"
What is it about kids that they never seem to listen to or retain your comments about cleaning up their toys or basic rules of behavior, but someone in another room mentions a vacation (this happened to be to the Cape on our next visit back) and not only will they hear it, but that will be fresh on their minds - and inquired about almost daily - until it happens?!?! Oh well, that could be another whole blog entry!
Many thanks to David, Art, and Mary for giving us this fantastic gift...it honestly meant the world to us to have you here and we are already planning your next visit :)
Sure there is some work leading up to their arrival...cleaning, moving things out of the guest room, coming up with a quasi plan of things to see and do...but it is all done with a cheerful smile and yes, even a tune being hummed because you know that you are soon going to see people you love.
March 8th through the 16th were wonderfully happy days for us...our great friend David and his parents had shelled out hard-earned cash to visit us from the States and it could have only been made better if they had been able to stay longer ;)
Even though we had the bedrooms available, we felt that 2 bathrooms were not going to be enough for (5) adults and (1) child to share so David's parents - Art & Mary - were able to experience Prague in the comfort of their own flat...in our old building in Vinohrady! So much better than a hotel room, not to mention cheaper, they were able to enjoy a foyer, a full bathroom - including washing machine, a full kitchen with dining area, and a living/bedroom complete with Sky Satellite Television and Internet. Honestly, if any of our readers plan on visiting Prague please let me help with the accommodations (unless you are staying with us of course!) and set you up in style. If you prefer to do it on your own, please allow me to suggest our friends at this website because they are da bomb www.pragueclassicrentals.cz
We had some terrific weather to help make the sightseeing more agreeable - it was almost Springlike - and were able to cover some of the basic highlights of the city. However, with three days planned in Moravia, we were not able to give Prague its due...so they will just have to come back again...and again...and again :)
Unfortunately, Alex was ill the night before our departure so she and Ben stayed behind while the rest of us explored Moravia with the help of our friends, the Spevak Family. They are an unbelievably gracious family who gave us an intimate look at their hometown of Horni Hut, Dubnany, and many surrounding areas as well. Frank, the patriarch of the family, runs a rather large vineyard and I suggest getting your hands on any one of their fabulous wines to compliment your next meal!
Because of their many business connections and friends, we were able to have private tours of a castle and their eldest son David's school - which of course, given the area, was dedicated to the production of wine :) We also were treated to a walk around the grounds of another castle in the midst of reconstruction and one of their own vineyards.
I will have to dedicate another entry to the beauty of Moravia to do it justice and try to give some perspective on just how different this area of the Czech Republic is from ours.
Getting back to the real point of this entry, we had a fabulous time sharing our new surroundings with folks that we have considered true family members for many a year. Alex had David tuck her in and read her bedtime stories and sing some songs (Fergie's 'Glamorous' is "their song" and I am sure there were a few Mary J tunes thrown in as well), and by the 3rd day she was calling his parents Grampy Art & Grammy Mary.
She and Logan were as thrilled as we were to have them all here and were very saddened by their departure. When I returned from accompanying them to the airport the day of their departure, Alex saw me crying and after hearing why I was so sad she said, "I understand but they had to go back to America. We do not live there anymore, we live in Prague now. But we can visit sometime...Grampy Art even said so!"
What is it about kids that they never seem to listen to or retain your comments about cleaning up their toys or basic rules of behavior, but someone in another room mentions a vacation (this happened to be to the Cape on our next visit back) and not only will they hear it, but that will be fresh on their minds - and inquired about almost daily - until it happens?!?! Oh well, that could be another whole blog entry!
Many thanks to David, Art, and Mary for giving us this fantastic gift...it honestly meant the world to us to have you here and we are already planning your next visit :)
posted by Pam at
5:43 AM
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