Cross-Country Skiiing in Harrachov, CZ ::part two::

I wanted to finish my first skiing experience {See my first post here}as I'm heading out to (hopefully) ski with my Italian employers in Cortina d'Ampezzo for the next two weeks.

Around this time last year I was attempting to slide my feet back and forth as I tried to push my body forward on these two slim sticks which were attached to my arms and legs. Nothing felt more foreign. Snow shoeing, no problem. But cross-country skiing! And with strong semi-pro Czech men! I spent half of the day wondering what I had gotten myself into. We left our little pension early, rented our gear, and headed out to no man's land. Literally, I had no idea where we were. They dropped us somewhere along the border of the Czech Republic and Poland. (So, I guess you could say I've been to Poland, but I don't count it because I only saw it's vast ski-culture)

Amy, my American confidant who also was skiing for the first time actually began strong. I, however, spent two out of the four hours at the end of the group. Thankfully, Dimitri, stayed behind with me, coaching me along. I'm so thankful for his encouragement. He really is a great memory!

After a break at a log cabin-turned restaurant, we finished the loop and headed back to our car. Somewhere. It was a wonderful break in a rustic place with people speaking Czech, Polish, and German. Eating hot food-goulash, soup, sausages, beer. Once we regained our energy, we took a group photo and slid downhill. I felt much better after our pit-stop. I finally was getting somewhere on my skis and enjoyed the time sliding down, then across flat plains of snow, then down again laughing all the way. I think Dimitri was worried at some points because I was going so fast. But I've always had good balance. I kept my knees bent, arms in, and head down so I wouldn't hit any branches. With my poles I kept beckoning the snow around me to help me go faster.

It was a lovely winter day in the mountains.

In the late afternoon we returned our gear, got into our cars and made our way back to Prague. Exhausted and spent, but full of happy memories and sore muscles.

the south of france ::a provincial life::

Two summers ago, in 2011, I went to visit my dear friends in Provence for the second time (the first was in 2006). I had just finished my first year of teaching in Prague and was eager to be around old friends. It was the first of my return destinations as I made my way back home to Florida after months away. Those two weeks in the south under the warmth of the sun, my casual laid-back self came out again. I felt at ease there, as I knew I would. French southern hospitality may be some of the best in the world. 

We spent days waking up late, eating breakfast outside, walking into town and market for ingredients for that evening's dinner, driving around with windows open and hair flying and music singing, we wandered together though nameless villages with no aim in mind, took pictures and laughed about old memories of Florida and France and Italy, and made plans for future ones to come in Australia and around the world. 

The photographs above are a combination of mine and my French "sister's" of a village so beautiful, but nameless in my memory. 

Here's to another summer in France this year and to a new baby girl on her way! 

Snow Shoeing in Harrachov, Czech Republic

Remembering this weekend gives me smile after smile. The reason I chose this destination for this week's Wonder Where Wednesday is because a couple of weeks from now I'll be heading to the north of Italy with my employers for two weeks of skiing and living in a winter wonderland. I'm pretty excited! Rome's sunshine is great, but I miss the overall feel of winter. I'm not sick of it yet like I was living in Prague; I have yet to really experience this year's winter. 

To my travel story....Last year I randomly went on this mini-ski excursion for a weekend with some Czechs who were friends-of-friends and one of my actual friends, Amy. It was sort of a last minute thing, but I'm telling you! The smaller, community-based weekend excursions and day-trips around the Czech Republic last year were some of my highlights and fondest memories! 

We all packed into two cars and drove north from Prague, playing car games and mystery games along the way. The road snaked along and eventually lost sight completely to the magical whiteness that abounded around us. Later, we strapped on our snowshoes (awkwardly, since it was my first time) and slowly walked into the great white wilderness like scuba divers. I admit, I felt a little self-conscious among such hearty Czechs who were basically born in snow. But they were kind and guided us 'newbies' along, showing us how to step and where to step. The entire weekend was so encouraging and a true taste of Czech culture! 

We meandered through the woods for hours, taking our time and enjoying the fresh air away from city life. We exchanged stories and jokes and memories and passions. There really is something special connected with walking and talking to people. Together we explored some old World War II bunkers hiding under snow, threw snowballs, and watched as families and couples skied past. 

We rewarded ourselves with a full, warm Czech lunch at a restaurant in an old house in a town that was only accessible by walking (with snowshoes) or skiing into. We sat around a large wooden table with full pints of beer and chatted some more while big burly Czech men guzzled down their beers and cheered around us. (We were clearly the only international group in town) Afterwards, we walked back to our car and slept soundly after a relaxing sauna visit and homemade beer from our pension owner. 

The next day would be grueling....my first cross-country skiing effort. But I did it! Over four hours of trying to move my whole body while simultaneously sliding my feet forward and not slipping backward with my next step. I finally started to really enjoy it at about hour three. 

Part Two coming soon... 

Where is this? Please, guess!

Bright star! would I were steadfast as thou art—
   Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night,
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
   Like Nature's patient sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
   Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft fallen mask
   Of snow upon the mountains and the moors—
No—yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
   Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
   Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever—or else swoon to death.

                                            ~John Keats

                                                                 

On Friday I'm going to the Keats & Shelley Museum in Rome as part of my 

one-museum-a-week-habit-for-Rome. 

Happy travels & reflections! 

Sevilla, Spain

The answer to this week's wonder where wednesday is SEVILLA, SPAIN! 

Last February I traveled to Spain with two wonderful traveling companions. We were all working in Prague at the time and wanted to get away from the chilly, wintry days to a warmer and friendlier atmosphere. I had a week off (spring break in February, apparently the Czechs were anxious for spring to come just as much as I was). So, as my students were heading out to ski or to bundle up in their country cottages, I left the country for a spin through southern Spain. 

This collection of photographs is from one lovely evening spent out in Sevilla. We had just arrived that afternoon from Malaga, with many adventures and mishaps happening along the way. We met up with our hosts (friends-of friends-of friends) who were also hosting a "couchsurfer" and out we went to explore the town with a semi-native. I'm telling you, even if sometimes it's not a 4-star experience, staying with a local changes your complete experience of a place. We never get lost, we receive first-hand advice and recommendations, instant invitations to things, the current climate of the place--politics, religion, pop culture, etc. It's wonderful!

Our night out in Sevilla consisted of a lovely walk around a delightfully quiet city (remember, it's February and cold to the Spaniards), a stop at a wine bar to try Sevilla's famous orange wine, a late dinner al fresco with an array of tapas, and a FREE Flamenco show (with the purchase of a drink). We sipped on Sangria late into the night mesmerized with the voice of the cantora, the strumming of the guitarist, and the pounding and twirling feet of the dancer. They would sometimes break and keep the flow going with their rhythmic clapping which calls deep into the soul of the audience. It truly was a mystical evening in such a culturally rich city. 

Those eight days in southern Spain....ahhhh.....such wonderful memories!

Currently my travel companions are teaching English in Thailand and studying Law in Connecticut. Our gracious hosts have since moved back stateside. Things change too fast sometimes, but I guess it just comes with the territory of being single, in our 20s, and can't seem to remedy this travel bug.