Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Czech Language--or Klingon?

Is it just me, or does this Czech word look like Klingon or some equally intimidating language? 

baťůžkář
"Insult my honor, and I will destroy you with my baťůžkář of death!"

Okay, so it actually means "backpacker" in Czech, but I think it sounds more appropriate in the above example.  I love the Czech language, and I'm getting slowly better and better at it, but some of it's just a little more complicated that what seems necessary. 

Friday, June 10, 2016

Živá Voda Aquarium, Czech Republi

In Modrá, by the folk skansen and near the impressive basilica and pilgrimage site of Velehrad, you can visit Živá Voda.  It's a cool place with an herb garden, outdoor representations of the different environments in the Czech Republic, a pond you can wade in (complete with frogs and fish), interactive exhibits good for kids, and the most awesome thing:  a glass tunnel under the freshwater pond where you can see giant fish from below.  The biggest fish there is a Beluga (European Sturgeon) measuring 2 meters!  It's apparently the largest freshwater fish.  You can also watch a lot of huge carp and other cool fish.  Amazing to see them from that close.

   It's hard to show the true size, but here's a hint--with one of the smaller fish.


Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Bees in Buchlovice

Wow.  That's all I have to say.  I wouldn't want to get to close to this mass of seething life.  My friends with beekeeping knowledge, however, say that when they're swarming around looking for a new home--that's when they're calmest.  They certainly didn't sound calm.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Velehrad, Czech Republic

Though the current basilica and other buildings are fairly new (by European architectural standards), this location has been a holy place for more than 800 years.  It was more impressive than I expected.


If you go...
Velehrad has good connections by bus from Uherské Hradiště or Staré Město.  Also consider combining the trip with a visit to Modrá, right next to Velehrad, with its folk skansen and the Živá Voda ecology center and aquarium.  

And if you go in spring, you might see this in the pretty little lakes there: