the dolls we brought home from Eastern Europe

I’m a doll collector. Wanted to be one ever since I was six when my parents (or was it my grandmother?) bought me a very pretty and dainty Filipina porcelain doll wearing the Philippine national costume. Wanted to be one ever since I was six when I played with my cheap but really cute United Nations dolls – they were dolls wearing different national costumes (I wonder what happened to them….). And as it happens, when you grow old, you forget about your childhood dreams. Until something reminds you of them.

I worked in a Japanese company hence it was but natural that we have displays of Japanese dolls in the visitors lounge in the office. Seeing the dolls, there came remembrance. One of my best friends, Dhonna gave me my first doll, an omiyage (present) after her first assignment from Japan. And it went rolling from then on. Whenever I travel, I buy the doll of that country. Friends have been very generous as well with their gifts in that whenever they travel to some countries, they also think of me and my collection and buy me a doll. Most of my collection are in my parents’ home in Davao now. With the exception of this exquisite Belgian porcelain lady which my manager in my previous company thoughtfully asked her brother to buy for me. I had it with me because it was the latest doll that was given to me and I wasn’t able to bring her to Davao before I moved to Japan. Customs check ruined her hair and hat and necklace though. 🙁 Seeing her not in her perfect state just breaks my heart. 🙁 Sorry, she’s surrounded by neighbors who can’t be posted here hence I can only share her bust. 🙂

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It was but natural therefore for us to buy dolls during our recent trip to Eastern Europe. I’m having regrets now though that I didn’t buy a porcelain one. Albeit I’m still mighty happy with these new addition to our collection.

Magnet couple dolls we bought in Vienna.

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Rustic mother and daughter doll we bought in Cesky Krumlov. Rustic – very Bohemian.

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And of course, a marionette that we bought in Prague. It was only during this travel that I learned marionettes originated in Czechoslovakia. It took me a long time to decide which marionette to buy though because most of the original design ones are scary looking and reminds me of witches. Hence I ended up buying this wooden Czech boy.

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Friends, hope you remember me during your travels. 🙂

Charles Bridge and the search for John and George Café

Atsushi and I tried as much as possible to have our lunch and dinner (and sometimes snacks besides) in the restaurants which were highly recommended by Rick Steves in his “Best of Europe 2010” guidebook. Hence whenever lunchtime or dinnertime found us in a particular area, I immediately leaf through the book and check for a recommended restaurant near the area.

Dinner time on our first full day in Praha found us in the famous Charles Bridge (Karlûv most), erected back in 1357. Yep, back in the 14th century. The bridge was named after Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV who was crowned King of Bohemia and Count of Luxemburg on the same year the bridge was constructed.

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One of our takes on Charles Bridge albeit it didn’t do justice on the bridge’s beauty. Took this photo of the Charles Bridge the following morning, on the bridge running parallel with Charles Bridge which is much less grander than Charles.

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We crossed the bridge from the Old Town side on to the Little or Lesser Quarter which I presume was named “lesser” because it was right below the much grander Castle Quarter. The square right beneath Karluv Most which is part of the Lesser Quarter was pretty nice though. I wouldn’t call it “lesser” at all.

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Since we were in the Little Quarter area, there was only one restaurant I was so intent on eating in – The John and George Café which was (as described in the book) in a little alley right beside the Lennon Wall. So off we went a-hunting for the Lennon Wall.

Of course, when on a trip, even when you have a destination in mind, you should take some time to “smell the flowers” as they say. After all, you went on a trip for sightseeing, right?

This here is the Charles Bridge’ tower on the Little Quarter side.

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Charming. That’s the best word that would describe Bohemia.

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Took one of our numerous A&M feet shots.

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It took longer than expected to find the John Lennon Wall. Lost. And we were brave enough to go to where nobody else wanted to go.

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A word to fellow tourist. When you see this poster, you’ll know you’re on the right track.

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It’s a harbinger yes for we found ze wall.

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This graffiti wall came to be the day John Lennon died. Fans comforted each other in this quiet side of the town and expressed their grief by writing on the wall. Remember, this was 1980 when Czechoslovakia was still under Communist Regime. The authorities would paint the wall clean only to be repainted with new graffiti the following day. It’s still there now so One can easily guess who won. Nowadays though it’s more for the younger generation’s expression for love and peace.

Whew! This came in longer than expected!
Up in next post, the John and George Café filler.

Campanulla

A note: This is a continuation of my Charles Bridge and the search for John and George Café post in our atsushiandmarjorie.wordpress.com blog.
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So we found the Lennon Wall. But there were only two restaurants in site. I figure John and George Café would be a bit modern.

But this one is very Czech, complete with duck and Pork knee entree (the conversion rate is pretty good though).

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And the other is this.

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This cafe’s summer garden points to the very same spot that was described as the location of John and George Cafe – by a small alley just right beside the Lennon Wall. Hungry and not up for pork knee, we decided to try Campanulla instead, hoping that John and George had changed their name to Campanulla. A number of people were already seated in the summer Café and it wasn’t really summer already. It was actually cold what with autumn in full gear. And it was getting dark by the minute so we really couldn’t enjoy the garden much anymore. Hence we decided to eat inside instead. Took a few shots of the garden.

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I later learned that Ludwig van Beethoven himself likes to hang around this garden.

Although we missed the chance to lounge in a place where a famous composer used to hang around, we still loved (and preferred) to stay inside the cozy Cafe. My guess is that this is a Tonino Lamborghini restaurant.

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Photos of famous personalities who used to hang around the place (?) were on display.

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I love G12’s shots on the place that I’m posting the shots I took inside the cafe unedited save for the watermark. The places we went to were really beautiful and breathtaking. Yet this shot is one of my favorites.

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This is Italian yes. There are lots of stuff in the place that suggests the place is Italian actually. Really good juice.

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The bread that’s on the house was really good too.

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Curiously, the smell of salami followed me everywhere we go in Praha hence I didn’t order for a pork dish anymore. Ordered a salmon even when I had salmon already the day before.
I tasted Atsushi’s pork before eating my fish and the moment I ate it, I regretted not ordering pork. The meat tasted so flavorful my mouth waters now at the memory of it. Pork tenderloin with green pepper sauce.

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When I tasted my salmon though, I got happy I didn’t make the wrong decision after all. Salmon was cooked just right. I ate three salmon dishes during our Praha visit and this salmon is the best one I had. And it’s easily one of the best salmon I’ve ever had. A far cry from the salmon in El Nido even. Grilled salmon with chipotle sauce, cream, butter, onions and chipotle chilies.

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The tourists.

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Of course we capped our meal with dessert – apricot crumble cake.

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Had it with uber rich hot orange chocolate drink that was just simply marvelous.

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I wanted to have our anniversary dinner here again, the following evening, but of course we had to try out other Czech restaurants to have more experience with the place.

But if ever I’ll be back in Praha, I’d surely eat here again. And again.

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