Hidden Prague - Playground in Old Town

Hidden Prague
Secret spots off the beaten cobblestones of Prague

---

What: Kid's playground
Where: Corner of Malá Štupartská and Týnská in Old Town.
Public Transport: Staroměstská or Náměstí Republiky (each about 750 meters away)
Map: Click Here
Price: Free!

Looking for a place for the kids to run off a bit of extra energy while the "big kids explore the Gothic architecture of Prague's Old Town? Look no farther than the creatively named "Dětské Hřiště" or "Children's Playground," just a couple of blocks away from the famous Astronomical Clock of Old Town Square. You really have to know this place is there to find it. It's worth the extra search though! The playground is hidden in an an urban canyon - tucked behind a fenced-in football pitch, and invisible from the road. A residential building forms two walls of the park, and a brightly painted mural the third. The play equipment and sandbox is new and well maintained, and the entire playground is covered with a rubber surface to save those little knees from all but the most tragic of falls. There's a limited amount of parking in front of the playground, but driving through the warren of one-way streets around Old Town is never fun. Public transport to either Staroměstská or Náměstí Republiky gets you to within about 3/4 of a kilometer from the park. Make sure you have a good map with you as you navigate through the narrow streets and alleyways leading out of Old Town Square. When you get to the "T" corner of Malá Štupartská and Týnská, turn around (facing East) and you'll see a small soccer field (with an artificial surface) surrounded by a chain-link fence. Go through the gates to the right of the field, following the signs to Dětské Hřiště. The playground is hidden out of sight, behind the soccer field. Hungry after trying out all the playground equipment? Treat yourself to one of the many international food offerings on the top floor of the Palladium Mall - just above the Náměstí Republiky metro stop. The restaurants of the Patro Gourmet aren't cheap... but they sure do taste good... and the gelato stands on the ground floor offer the best ice cream I've tasted outside of Italy! Happy hunting!

Date Night #14 - Dilly Dali'ing in Old Town

Date Night 14 - April 12, 2008
Temperature: High - 55 °F/13 °C; Low - 39 °F/4 °C
Location: The Gallery at the White Unicorn (Click here for map)

Have you ever had a really strange dream? One filled with odd images, weird figures and stories that make perfect sense - but only while you're still dreaming? Maybe they're fueled by bad curry. Maybe by stress. Whatever caused the weird dreams, Salvador Dali must have had a lot of them... and then remembered them well enough to paint them as well! I guess they don't call him a surrealist for nothing!

Spring is springing into full force here in Prague. This means not only the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining more, but also that tourists are popping up all over Prague in the busloads! We walked across the Charles Bridge, dodging packs of tour groups, heading towards Old Town Square through the quiet courtyards of the Klementinum. We'd seen the sign advertising the Salvador Dali exhibition at the Gallery of the White Unicorn for months now - and decided that tonight was the night to finally get around to visiting it! The collection was pretty large - a combination of paintings, prints, ceramics and even some small sculptures, as well as a collection of photographs of Dali, taken in Paris by Czech Photographer Václav Chochola. Well worth the visit and the Czk 150 admission fee.

Our appetites worked up by the weird weird art, we headed off to find some grub. Not being especially good at planning these things ahead of time, our dinner selection was the first thing that caught our eye from the current issue of Prague in Your Pocket. Unfortunately, that first thing was U Musketyra (At the Muscateer). Just down the road from the National Museum at the top of Wenceslas Square, the restaurant is easy to miss unless you're looking for it. The basement was dark and a little dingy... decorated with fake wooden shields and swords. Service was decent (and even in English)... but the selection was pretty slim - no goulash to be found, despite the advertisement for "Moravian Wine, Czech Cuisine" outside the restaurant.

The garlic soup was tasty, but the cheese plate consisted of a slab of butter just about as large as the three varieties of bland cheese. We settled for two plates of just average Pork and dumplings, and left without too big of a dent in our wallet (Czk 500 for appetizers, entrees and drinks).

Surreal art, followed by real food. Not a bad night out!

Easter Story Cookies

Here's a fun family Easter tradition we started last year.

Easter Story Cookies
(make these the evening before easter)

1 cup whole pecans, 1 tsp vinegar, 1 cup sugar, pinch of salt, 3 egg whites, wooden spoon or rolling pin, tape, zip lock baggie, Bible

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important - do it now)
• Place pecans in zip lock baggies. Let the children beat them with the wooden spoon (or rolling pin) to break them into small pieces (explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him - John 19:1-3).
  
  
  
  
• Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl (explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink - John 19:28-30).
  
  
  
  
  
  

Click here for the rest of the recipe

• Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and then bruch the rest into the bowl. (explain that this represents the salty tears showed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sin - Luke 23:27).
  
  
  
  
  
  

So far, the ingredients are not that appetizing

• Add 1 cup sugar. (Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus dies because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him - Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16).
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Beat with a mixer for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. (explain that the white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus (Isa 1:18 and John 3:1-3).
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Fold in broken nuts.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. (Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus body laid - Matthew 27:57-60).
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
• Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. (Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed - Matthew 27:65-66).
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Go to bed. (Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed - John 16:20 & 22).
• On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! (On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty - Matthew 29:1-9)
  
  
  

Recipe from Name Cookin' - A collection of Favorite Recipes from our folks in Northern Africa & Middle East.

Date Night #13 - At the Tomcat

Date Night 13 -March 3, 2008
Temperature: High - 50 °F/10 °C; Low - 35 °F/2 °C
Location: Pubs in Prague's "Mala Strana." (Click here for map)

The Mala Strana neighborhood at the foot of Prague castle is normally bustling with tourists - but this Sunday night, it was strangely quiet. Prague minus the tourists is a rare, and almost magical experience. If you time it just right, you can have the place almost to yourself, as we did tonight. Lamplights glistened on the cobblestones, and our footsteps echoed in the narrow alleyways snaking between the ancient buildings. The very oldest building in the United States would probably count as "recent construction" in this part of town, where the average building is over four hundred years old. A few steps off the main street, and you're transported back in time!

We had a hankering for good Czech "soul food" the other night, and figured that a real Czech pub would hit the spot. Despite being located smack dab in the middle of Prague "tourist central", most pubs in Mala Strana neighborhood are the real thing - hard wooden chairs, a simple menu heavy with dumplings and pork, cheep beer, and an ice hockey game blaring on the TV. Taking furtive peeks at our tourist guidebook, we headed first to "U Hrocha" (at the Hippo). Unfortunately, the four tables of the hippo were already full, so we wandered down the alleyway to "U Kocoura" (at the Tomcat).

We quickly settled on plates of ham and pork, piled with dumplings, cheese and cabbage. The bill is calculated on a slip of paper on your table. The price for each item gets jotted down as your order is taken. You use a shorthand for beer - a quick hash-mark on a horizontal line each time another 1/2 liter is dropped off. Non-smoking dining is a concept that hasn't yet reached the Czech Republic, especially in Czech pubs. But the food was good, the Bernard Beer excellent, and the ambiance a slice of real Czech life. Total damage? Just under 300 Crowns ($18)

We moved on for desert to U Kostela (at the Cathedral) at Malostranska Namesti just a couple blocks away. This place had a live pianist, and decent deserts and coffee, but it was a definite tourist trap, and its prices proved it! We paid as much for desert as we did for our entire pub dinner! Another date night on the books - so many places to visit - so little time!

A Star Lemonade Maker

You know the saying, "When life gives you a lemon, make lemonade." Well, here in Prague, we have a Czech friend who is a star lemonade maker! Marie is a nurse who started working in the health unit at the embassy about the same that Kevin started his new job. When we showed up, all 5 of us, at the health unit for our orientation and the first round of shots, Marie was there. She took an immediate interest in Jad and Danna and used her positive personality and smiles to quickly win them over as friends. She even allowed Danna to take her blood pressure. When it came time for me to get a shot, Nurse Marie let Danna put the bandaid on me. Danna declared that she wanted to be a nurse just like Nurse Marie when she grew up. Very quickly, Nurse Marie became a favorite in the Rubesh house! December 2nd is when life decided to throw Marie a lemon. While horseback riding, she was thrown off the horse and broke her spine. The first prognosis was paralysis from the waist down. In January, Jad, Danna, and I went to visit her at the hospital. When we arrived, she used her very strong arms to get out of her bed and into her wheelchair so that we could sit on her bed. (By the way, Jad and Danna thoroughly enjoyed her bed since it had buttons to push to make it go up and down. They tested each button numerous times!) During that visit Marie told us that she was beginning to get some feelings in her hips, which was very encouraging. Marie was very upbeat and positive because that is how she is! A couple of days ago all 3 kids and I went to visit Marie again, but this time at the rehabilitation center. She met us with a huge smile and then treated the kids to ice cream. During our visit she shared that she could move her hips -- wahoo!! And several times she told us how fortunate she is because she has the use of her arms. Her positive outlook is amazing!! She invited us to go with her to her rehab lesson where she learned how to maneuver her wheelchair on the escalator. Jad and Danna cheered her on as she tackled the escalator (and won)! So, in our book, Nurse Marie is a star lemonade maker because she continues to smile, to have a positive outlook, and to be thankful. This world needs more Nurse Maries!

My "big" kids

There is never a dull moment with Jad and Danna around. Yesterday was a glorious spring day -- clear blue sky, lots of sunshine, and a chilly breeze which all combined, just beckoned us outside. So, while Kyler napped, "the big kids" (aka Jad & Danna) and I ventured into our backyard to play. Our empty sandbox was semi-full of water from previous rain so that was an instant attraction! Jad decided to use the water to make rain (not the best choice) and Danna decided to use the water to fill up her buckets so that she could water the grass - very resourceful. After awhile the water ran out, so they moved on to the bucket of outdoor toys. Jad found 2 trucks and a shovel, which he immediately put to use in a patch of dirt. If that isn't a perfect image of "BOY", then I don't know what is!! Meanwhile, Danna found a pair of swim goggles, the kind that has each eye piece shaped like a starfish. She was convinced she had found a longlost treasure. So, wearing her coat, her gloves, and her hat she donned her yellow starfish goggles and pretended to be swimming in the sea. Such an imagination! It was such a beautiful moment-- so full of joy and happiness. I wish I could have somehow captured that moment properly, but such bliss can't be bottled up and saved for later.

Danna then decided to play a game of basketball with me, a former basketball junkie! I was quite impressed at how many baskets she made. Of course, the Little Tikes basketball hoop was not at the standard regulation height, but just half-a-head higher than Danna (who is exactly 1 meter tall). While playing, Danna informed me that when she grows up, she wants to play basketball AND be a mommy. After about 5 minutes of taking turns shooting and making baskets, Danna declared that she had won 65 to 2. Wait a minute!! I know I made more than one basket! But apparently she was the official scorekeeper as well! And since when has she been able to count to 65?? (Sesame Street only goes up to 20!)

Later Jad walked over to me and said, "Cacophony." I looked at him and with a puzzled voice said, "What did you just say??" He answered, "I said 'cacophony'. It means a really loud noise." And then he turned on his heel and walked away. I looked after him with such a feeling of love and pride, but also with such bewilderment. I'm quite sure I haven't used that word since my college days, yet how did he know it? And that is when it hit me that my "big" kids are growing up and I am no longer there one source of all information and knowledge. As much as I want to hang onto them, I realize that this is part of growing up (for them) and letting go (for me). I love my "big" kids!

Photo Shoot

Kyler looked so miserable in the Escape from Bulovka post that I just had to post evidence that he's well on the road to recovery. While the rest of the family was taking an afternoon nap today, Kyler and I had some fun with a camera, a drumstick and suitcase. For all the outtakes, click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.rubesh/KylerPhotoShoot.