EGYPT - TIA

Egypt mi opäť pripomenul Indiu, keď človek už len farbou pleti vie, že tam nepatrí, aj keď sa mu tam hrozne páči. Hurghada, mesto ktoré sa na pár dní stalo našou "základňou", je plná turistov. V podstate, keby nie turismu, tak nie je ani Hurghada. Dobrých 70% návštevníkov tvoria Rusi. "Zdrastvuj devočka, ty negavariš pa rusky? Pasmatri. Nenáda ničevo?" ma sprevádzalo hotelom aj celým bazárom (t.j. ulica predražených obchodov s nenásytnými predavačmi, často až príliš otravnými, s jediným cieľom, a to natiahnuť turistu o čo najviac $$$). Starší Egypťania po nás kričali Welcome to Egypt!  Mladší, asi po zhliadnutí filmu s Leonardom DiCapriom, Bloody Diamond kričali niečo oveľa pôsobivejšie: "Welcome to Africa!". Znie to dobre, že?

Vďaka mojej neschopnosti si na dovolenke zapamätať, aký je práve dátum (veď preto sa to volá Dovolenka, lebo si to môžem Dovoliť, že?) sme sa vychystali na safari na štvorkolkách (6 fliaš studenej vody, centimer opaľovacieho krému, dlhé nohavice a rukávy...) o deň neskôr.... 8-(((( Pomohli moje "psie oči" cez telefón a náš delegát nám ochotne ponúkol náhradu za zmarený výlet, a to výlet na jeepoch 50 km krížom púšťou, smer beduínska vesnička a v nej dobrá večera, jazda na velbloudovi a nezabudnuteľných 10 minút hala-hala-halllaaaa-halaaa beduínskeho folklóru (pre odvážnejších mám aj video...). Nebudem tu písať o špinavých detičkách z dedinky vďačne prijímajúcich roztečený keksík. TIA (This is Africa!). O chudobných detičkách, ktorým by človek aj chcel pomôcť, ale nevie ako, viz rok dozadu, stačilo.

Chýbajúci adrenalín zo sľubovaných štvorkoliek som si ešte pred odjazdom za fatamorgánou vynahradila jazdou na banáne. Nuž, šofér rýchločlnu bol skalopevne rozhodnutý nás vyklopiť do mora. Trimali sme še jak še dalo, aľe nepomohlo. Prudká zatáčka vpravo, potom hneď vľavo, brzdáááá....a už nám nebolo pomoci, sme vo vode. Rýchla Chiquita nás dostala. Škoda len, že som nevyužila poriadnejšie a častejšie all inclusive stravu (toľko dobrôt, mňam). Moja "mušia" váha tak preletela zo zadnej časti banánu do prednej na už ponárajúcu sa babu. Samozrejme som letela hlavou napred... už pri vynorení som malá hrču o veľkosti zrelej baracky (t.j. marhule). 

Zážitkom bol určite aj výlet do Luxoru a do Káhiry vo vraj 60 stupňových horúčavách. Neviem presne čo sme videli, lebo sme sa všetci hrozne ponáhľali do klimatizovaného autobusu... ale mám niečo vyfotené. Aj keď fotky sú riadne presvetlené od pražiaceho slnka. 8-)

Narodeniny som oslávila pod vodou, pri ostrove Giftún, so šnorchlom na hlave. Neviem čo za drogy tým rybám dávajú, ale oni sa vôbec ale vôbec neboja. Jednak je ich tam veľa, množstvo druhov a nemusíte sa ani unúvať sa za nimi potápať. Prídu samé... Krása. Tento výlet sa mi veľmi rátal, plus sme mali egyptského sprievodcu na našej mini jachte, ktorý sa v ten deň volal Ahmed, ale o deň neskôr už bol Jarda. 8-) A pláž na giftune jedna báseň. Voda číra, biely piesok, žiaden hotel. Škoda len, že na rozjímanie na toľkou krásou nám dali biedne dve hoďky a spolu s nami tam vylodili cca 200 ďalších turistov.... achrrr!

Poslednou zastávkou môjho príspevku bude náš hotel Sea Gull. Animátori sa naozaj snažili vyplniť náš čas na pláži rôznymi aktivitami (asi aby sme si to AI neniesli domov so sebou vo forme čerstvého tuku na brušku ). A keďže väčšina turistov sú Rusi, aj animátori už hovoria rusky..... tak napríklad pri pokriku "Vodná Eróóótika!" (ehm, ehm Vodná Aeróóbika!) som zbalila okuliare a šupla sa do mora. Inak by ma boli vytiahli na pláž pred všetkých hostí šaškovať na Bora Bora, kde najobľúbenejší cvik sa volal Russian Silicon (asi nemusím popisovať). Aby som im nekrivdila, tak ďalšie aktivity stáli za to (ako normálny aerobic, brušné tance, volley, vodné pólo, potápanie, petang atď.). 

Toľko z ďalšej navštívenej krajiny, zase raz bližšie rovníku. Ak by som si dnes mala vybrať dovolenku pri mori (čo si asi tak skoro nevyberiem), tak vyberám Egypt. Aj keď pláž tam nie je práve taká, na akú sme zvyknutý od Stredozemného mora (je rozparcelovaná hotelmi) ale Červené more, miestna teplota, možnosti k videniu, kultúra..... tak neváham a idem.

BODIES Exhibition - highly recommended!

I've just got back from an excellent exhibition - BODIES - right now
held in Prague. And I can tell you it was worth the 300-czech-crown-
ticket. Although the moral aspect of the real human skinless body
exposed in freaking poses are discussed in every single press and the
origin of the bodies are questioned, i believe it is a right way how
to teach people with no medical education about US.

Visit recommended, mainly for smokers....

Learn more at the official web site:

http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/bodies.html

Uscita lato destro

I will start with the end, so it might look like it has never ended…. The flight back to Prague was the most noise one and the most crazy one. Plane was filled with Italian teenager (mostly girls) with no guardian. They were screaming during the take-off, yelling during the whole flight, and again screaming and clapping hands during landing. One gets the feeling as on rollercoaster (BUT on the rollercoaster you need to bear the noise and scream just for max. two minutes… not for two hours and something...). “Bravoooo!”, still sounds in my ears. After that I appreciate to be back home (even though I have to study a lot right now).

 

Things I’ve seen in Rome, nowhere else:

- many many much scooters 8-)

- so many Smart and Mini cars

- so many beggars – even fake beggars!!!

- too many historical monuments. I feel exhausted after running from one to another for 4 days and I also feel little depressed than we haven’t seen a half of it!

- people wildly trying to get inside the Metro, while people from inside are trying to get out, basically “no-line-respectful”

- such a concentration of "Gelaterias" (ice-cream shops), yummi!

Basically Rome is a wonderful city. In the small old streets (built with absolutely no logic) u can easily get lost… how romantic. Stilll, you can mind the dirt on the street and homeless people sleeping everywhere (I mean everywhere, even at the entrance to Pantheon!). Nevertheless, Romans are warm-hearted, nice people always with a smile on face. They are amazing cooks and even better rhetors. According to average luxury levels of the cars, I would also say they’re good businessmen (or are priests driving Alfa-Romeo’s and Porsche’s?).

 

As I mentioned, street are too short and narrow and cars trying to get into the centre are many – I guess that’s the reason why they use Smart cars and scooter with such a popularity.

 

See Rome and die. Is this phrase right? Have I seen everything now and it’s safe to die?

 

I say:“NO!”. I say:”NEXT…!”

Visiting Rome - coming soon!

Post under construction. I am gonna work on that soon. My apologies for the inconvenience.

8-))) 

So exciting to try out real italian pizza&pasta, to wait for my sicilian friend for hours, to turn deaf standing next to crazy italian shouting woman, to learn some "pazzo" words.... yeah, I am gonna visit Catholic mecca!

Just one more day to go... 

Viva Cuba

Hey,

I just got back from the much-anticipated holiday and I am full of
excitement and adventurous memories which I'd like to share.... it
might encourage you to go and explore Cuba or any other interesting
country.
Here is my story, read it or ignore it 8-)

Our journey started very traditionally in Havana. This city is full of
old american cars from the 50's, which are randomly being repaired on
every other corner. Small streets, colorful old houses, ladies smoking
huge cuban cigars, local band playing salsa, literally thousands of
primary school kids in purple uniforms.....and it makes this place so
photogenic! I took a tour in a rum factory ( Havana Club) with one
tasting shot included, yummy and also in the tobacco factory (Partagas
- they roll Cohiba's). That was something. Approximately 300 people
rolling every kind of cigars you can think about, almost without
break, one by one, individually... Every day at 1pm they read them
some stories to cheer the employees up. I didn't have an idea how
complicated process of making a cigar it is. From growing the leaves,
dividing them according the size and flavor, choosing the right blend
for the particular type of cigar, style of rolling, which leaf is
going inside, and which outside (which one into the middle), how long
it needs to be pressed, what kind of glue..... bla bla...i guess that
Smokers know the difference. Later on we tried mojito in well-known
Bodeguita del Medio (very crowded but huge, fat bar-attender was quite
charming 8-). First disappointment came when we took a taxi to
Tropicana (=best cabaret ever) and were trying to get inside for 25
bucks (as Lonely Planet says it's possible!). Well, lady at the
entrance desk informed us that the entrance fee is $70 and there is a
mistake in the Book ! ! ! We took a taxi back to our " casa
particular" and never ever trusted The Book again!

Vinales. Small city on the west side of the island known for the
natural beauty - mogotes. Mogotes look like small rocky hills suddenly
growing up from the ground. It is all covered with green palm trees,
and under some of them are hidden caves which I've heard are worth to
see. Heaven for rock-climbers. We rented a scooter to explore the
whole area around, stopped by the divine Playa Jutias with white sand,
crystal clear water - tea temperature and unfortunately very annoying
mosquitos. After hot and sunny day we rode into a tropical storm
(twice!). Fortunately I just scratched my knee while falling down from
the slipping motorbike 8-)))) As I said, it was adventurous 8-)

Traveling in Cuba is not always fun. There are very few buses running
and tourists are allowed to get just into the most expensive ones
(when Cubans are paying for the tickets 24 cuban pesos = $1, tourist
are paying 24 pesos convertibles = $24). Renting a car is more
expensive than in The United States (ok, ok, almost!). For trains you
need to make a reservation few days ago... and you can buy your ticket
just if there are no Cubans wanting to buy one! Cubans are prohibited
to give a lift to foreigners. Few of them are still doing it, but if
you get caught by police (as we did) you are in a trouble... There are
also taxis - called " collectivos", which pick up people on highways
and for few pesos you can get across the island. But... they don't
take tourists. Most of the population is traveling by trucks,
tractors, horse carters, buffalo carters... whatever is running.
So after trying everything mentioned (even overcrowded local buses,
which are just pretending to be buses but in reality they are trucks
with doors on sides.... who was in India would not be surprised by
it), we continued traveling mostly by regular taxi, charging
incredible money for it. We always tried to share it with other
tourist and save some money for evening mojito or freshly caught and
cooked lobster in local families. Btw cuban cuisine is the worst I've
ever tried... at least what they sell on the street... " jamon con
queso por cinco peso" or "pizza con queso" for the same price... yuk!
Local people are trying to make some money for living by approaching
foreigners and inviting them for a lunch or dinner at their house
(illegally of course) and their fish and seafood is on the contrary
very delicious.
I did some snorkeling on Playa Ancon near Trinidad, and also on Playa
Santa Lucia near Camaguey. That was our 10th day on the island and our
budget got veeeeeeery low. Yes, I forgot to mention that we forgot to
withdraw enough money before departure, our american credit cards were
not working because of the american embargo and our only hope, french
credit card, got stucked in the ATM in Havana..... Literally we were
in the stage of starving when just by accident we overheard our mother
tongue - Slovak language. Two Slovak guys and one Cuban guy (who was
15 years ago working in my country so he spoke fluent Slovak as well),
were sitting on the beach. We said hello, and after they get to know
what happened to us, they run to the hotel kitchen (all inclusive, I'm
lovin' it!) and brought us burgers, bananas and some snacks 8-) They
took us for another snorkeling on catamaran and said their goodbye
with $50 so we could buy some food on the way home. My biggest Thanks
to them and I wish I can help somebody in need in the future. I get to
know how it is to get stucked somewhere without money.
Anyway this Cuban-Slovak guy is a fisherman, so he took us to coral
reefs where we could see beautiful colorful fish, orangish, bluish,
even phosphor. Guys, they saw even barracudas and rays . I was not
that brave to follow after hearing the story from the previous day,
when this Cuban guy was hunting a huge turtle and a shark bit one leg
and head off it. He is fearless, he still took the turtle home and
made a lunch from the rest of it...

I was complaining about different prices for locals and for tourist a
lot. Just later on I have realized, that most of the Cubans are
earning as little as $25 a month. That's very little.
It is still very poor country, but at least nobody is starving here.
Government is taking care about the housing, education, health care
and pension. In the same time government takes everything from the
people what would make them little bit richer than others, what would
make their lives more bearable. Well... socialism.... There are no
other billboards in whole country just the ones saying: "Viva Fidel,
80 anos mas", or "Socialismo por siempre" or "Patria o muerte", "Cada
dia una obra mejor", or "Volveran!".

On our way back to States we had a day and a half to spend in Mexico.
Too little for such a country but we used every minute of it. After
visiting a Mayan pyramide in Chichen Itza we spent a night in a
touristy resort near Playa del Carmen. Finally our american cards had
worked, so we even bought ourselves some frozen fruit margaritas,
yummy! I had to try the mexican cuisine..... I ate the special Mayan
lime soup in one blink of the eye, although I guess I was still hungry
and I wouldn't eat it very often. But everything else we tried there
was delicious !!!
One more morning glory at the beach and I was ready to go.... ready to
see my family, after 8 months of being somewhere, doing something....
I am ready to go home. At least for a while.....

But I will definitely update you soon with another traveling fever. I
like it and I enjoy it.

Here are links to some picture:
http://static.flickr.com/82/265961598_c53020e8cb.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/121/265958839_9ff72c232a.jpg?v=0

I miss you all ! ! !

Viera

Nieco je vo vzduchu... 8-)

Co sa udialo vcera ma este dnes rozosmieva ked si na to spomeniem.... 8-)

 

Zacalo to v praci ked sa kolegynke podarilo zarezervovat dve masaze a jednu celo-telovu masku, vsetky tri s nejakou ocnou masazou, ktoru robi len jedna kozmeticka u nas, takze by sa musela rozkrojit aby to vsetko stihla 8-) Prve staznosti hned zrana... hehe.... hned na to prisiel parik, obaja na masaz....a chlapik mal rezervovanu specialnu terapeuticku masaz, ktoru u nas robi len jedna masazistka a ta presne v tom case vyucuje yogu, takze ho nemohla vziat.... 8-).... pohoda, ved Vierka im to vsetko vysvetli a ospravedlni sa..... Ako tam ti dvaja stali, sklamani a nasrani..... tak sa objavila asi 80 rocna babka, ze ma u nas rezervovanu manikuru. Pozriem do knihy a vidim presne v tom case, ze nejaka Connie ma prist na manikuru. Ani ma nenapadlo si pytat meno. Ved aka by to musela byt nahoda, aby sa v rovnakom case niekto len tak objavil na rovnaky treatment. Babicku som zaviedla si vybrat farbu na nechtiky. Stale sa ospravedlnujem pariku za nedorozumenie, ktore sposobila kolegyna, ked spoza chrbta pocujem...:"Dobry den, ja som Connie, prisla som na manikuru o 11". Moj dobry zvyk ked sa vsetko se.... je sa rozosmiat. Neporusila som tradiciu ani tentokrat 8-)  Vrazim to saloniku, kde uz ma babicka ostrihane nechty na pravej ruke a pytam sa jej, kde sa nechala objednat na manikuru, u nas ci v druhom salone v meste? Ona sa len previnilo usmieva a milo mi hovori, ze si uz nepamata.... Stale vyrehotana som sa to snazila vysvetlit pani Connie, ako naj funny historku, aka sa nam tu snad stala, ale jej to velmi vtipne neprislo a bez pozdravu odisla. Nuz...

Vecer v restike som sa zoznamila s novym chalanom, bulharom, vola sa Kiko. Bola to jeho prva noc. (mozno aj posledna 8-). Jeho naplnou prace je upratovat stoly. Vcera pracoval s kamoskou servirkou. Prave ked jej usadili dve velke skupiny a bola najviac zaneprazdnena, ma jeden z jej stolou rozculene zavolal. Kym vnucik pomahal starkej rozkrajat klepeta, niekto mu ukradol jeho lobstra zo stola. Bezim za Kikom a vysvetlujem mu co spravil a ze sa to uz nesmie opakovat. Nech sa radsej 2 krat opyta, ci moze, kym odnesie tanier zo stola. V rovnakom case mu jeho servirka nakazala odniest chlieb pre stol ktory sa prave usadil. Odniesol ho stolu, ktory uz dojedol hlavny chod. Prvy stol bez chleba si ma odchytil, ze servirka zmizla a oni nemaju ani len chlieb na stole.... Kiko!!!!! Pri druhom stole uz vidim managerku ako sa ospravedlnuje za strateneho lobstra a ponuka im dezert zdarma. Kika to asi riadne znervoznilo... lebo nepreslo ani 15 minut a stol bez lobstra takmer s placom na mna krici, ze im na stole chyba pecene kura........ Ach Kiko.....

Uz je rano.... som opat v praci....  vcera sme boli v spa uplne zabookovany, takze sa vytvorila nekonecna kopa pradla na pranie. Zacala som s tym uz vcera. Dnes som nasla odkaz od kolegyne, ktora to po mne vcera preberala.....ze sa akosi pomylila, a ked do pracky niesla spinave pradlo a chystala sa vybrat ciste a poskladat ho..... tak sa jej poplietli kosiky a dala opat vyprat ciste pradlo a spinave priniesla na skladanie..... 8-))))))

 

Neviem co sa vcera dialo, ale som rada ze ma to viacmenej obislo a mohla som sa na tom len cely den dobre bavit 8-))))))

Long Island News

V nedelu rano som prehovorila dve kolegynky aby rozdelili moju sichtu a s Durkom sme nasadli do naseho noveho, vtedy este funkcneho, Volva. Po takmer dvoch hodkach jazdy krizom cez ostrovy a za pomoci dvoch ferry sme sa ocitli v este bohatsej casti Long Islandu ako je Montauk, v meste Mattituck. Na cestach snad boli len limuziny a my... 8-) Ale nemaju v nedelu otvorene ochutnavky na viniciach, takze stratili hned 5 bodov! Za drahe peniaze sme si tam pozicali na dve hodky kayak a vypadlovali sme to pomedzi milionove super sexy jachty cez zalivik az do oceanu....na pieskovu plaz kde si uz moje rucicky pytali oddych. Zasluzeny, ved som veslovala ako dracica! 8-)))) Po peknom predpoludni sme sa hnali nikdy nekonciacimi zapchami Long Islandu na nocnu sichtu do restiky....

Ale hned v stredu nam stastie prialo a dostala som OFFa v oboch pracach, takze rannym (pre mna nocnym, to bolo len 5 am) vlakom, super silne klimatizovnym (po Indii to pre mna znamenalo dlhy rukav a deku so sebou!) sme sa previezli do New Yorku a odtial busom do New Yersey do vodneho parku Hurricane Harbour (Six Flags). Nuz, co si budem klamat, zase som mala srdce v gatiach ked ma Duro nutil sa spustat sialenymi topoganmi, na nafukovacich kruhoch a aj bez nich.... Keby bolo po mojom, tak stravim den v bazeniku s vodou po kolena kde kazdych 10 minut pustali vlny....alebo vlnky, vlnocky..... este mensie ako na Sirave ked sa pri brehu prejde skuter 8-) Ale uzili sme si, az na moj upal.... nepomohli ani ladove sprchy, mokre triko na hlave a ruzove pilulky....8-(

Vecer nam zostala chvilka, kedze vlak spat na Long ISland fici az po polnoci....Duro pocul o nejakom starom pristave dole v Manhatane, isli sme to obzriet. Pajaaada! Romanticka vecera s vyhladom na stare plachetnice, mrakodrapy, v pozadi len mesiacik....pod nami na jednej strane tancovali pariky salsu a na druhej strane v bariku na zivu hudbu dve hulu tanecnice krutili ritkami. A do toho yummi lososik a Corona...... mnam!

Nemoze nam ale predsa vsetko tak hladko vychadzat. Hned dalsi den si prisiel Duro vyzdvihnut brejle ku mne do prace a uz sa s autom dalej nepohol. Nestartujeme..... Kamos, mechanik, sa nam na to prisiel vcera mrknut a ze vraj pumpa na benzin je znicena. 8-( Bud sa nam to podari vratit zenskej, ktora nam tak vierohodne tvrdila, ze s autom nemala nikdy problem, ale ideme investovat dalsich 130 bubakou do naseho fara!

 

Nuz ale stale sme na tom lepsie ako kamoska bulharka, ktora sa pohadala s domacimi, tak ju vykopli z domu a tyzden spala v stane v pristave (v strede leta je tu tazke zohnat ubytko). Vcera sa valila burka, tak som jej ponukla nech pride na par dni spat k nam. Sice prisla, ale aj tak si rozlozila spacak pred domom na travniku 8-) A za svitania vzala scateboard a uz jej cely den nebolo..... ma zjavne kocovnu krv a trosku aj vyzera ako cigoska. Sama si to aj prizna, ze niekde v prarodicoch nejaky romsky predok musel byt 8-)

 

Tolko Hot News zpoza mlacky.....tuna ziadne oblacky, len vtacky..... 8-)))) uz mi sibe, to je nedostatkom spanku... pa pa