Journey to Czech Republic - Dishes

Typical foods in Czech Republic are mostly fatty. But we are used to it. So, let's eat!

• Svíčková

It is most common dish in restaurants in Czech lands. There is not an universal recipe, because each family do it in a little different way, but it has still the same taste.

In it is sirloin with vegetable sauce (root vegetable such as carrot, parsley root, onion, etc. with cream and some flour).

It is served with houskové knedlíky (kind of dumpling), whipped cream and cranberry jam. Just melt in this taste!

• Vepřo knedlo zelo

Other favourite dish. As the name said it is pork with dumlpings and sauerkraut. 

The gravy is so tasty!

• Smažený sýr or smažák

This is the rival of svíčková in restaurants. The name literally means fried cheese. It is slice of cheese (for example Eidam) breaded in eggs, flour, breadcrumbs (like schnitzel is covered). You can have smažák with boiled potatoes or chips.

Served with chips, vegetables and tartar sauce

• Bramboráky 

or cmunda / vošouch (in Pilsen) 

or strik / striky (in Czech Silesia)

Grated potatoes with some seasoning fried on oil. My mum adds marjoram in it. This meal is very tasty but be careful - it is so greasy! You can eat it as a main meal or as a side dish.

Good appetit!

Your Esi Cedarwood

The Journey to Czech Silesia

Hi,
today I'm going to tell you something about the smallest historical land of Czech Republic. It is Czech Silesia, situated to the north-east. In Czech it is called Slezsko [slesko].

Small window of history

Czech Silesia was always disputed territory, bacause it is part of Silesia - the rest of this historical land is now situated in Poland. In history Bohemian Crown held whole Silesia, than Bohemian Crown was under the Habsburg Monarchy so it belonged to it. After the First Silesian War the part of Silesia which is now in Poland was token by Prussia. 

Coat of arms

Unless I've not already said that Czech Silesia was part of Sudeten area which became a part of German Reich by Munich Agreement in 1938 (it was caused by the policy of appeasement for no war, although it didn't help, obviously). Following the end of the Second World War in 1945, restored Czechoslovakia gained back Czech Silesia.

Language

Mostly around town Ostrava people speak with shortened vowels - this seems very funny for Bohemians and we call it that Ostravian people have short beaks, in Czech "Ostraváci mají krátké zobáky" and we pronounce it very shortly so it shoud be written like "Ostravaci maji kratke zobaky" because accent above the vowel means it's pronounced long. (Did you have it, understand? If you have any question write it in comments below ☺).

Dialects in Czech Silesia is mostly more resebling to Polish than to Czech. It is caused by nearness of Poland border. 

Silesian language is used in whole Silesian area. It is ranked to West Slavic lect with its reseblance to Polish, Czech and Lusatian. Silesian is sometimes called Lach.

Towns

Opava - situated to the east of Czech Silesia, former capital

Tower Hláska

Ostrava - the largest, on the Moravian-Silesian border

Ostrava is industry town

Český Těšín (Czech Teschen) - in the heart of Czech Silesia

Karviná - to the east

Jeseník - to the north-west

Jeseník is in mountains called Jeseníky

Havířov - to the east of Czech Silesia

The runner Pavel Maslák was born there

People

There is a significant Polish minority. And local people wear folk costumes. Some exaples:

So, why don't have a look in this country? It is beautiful, our little Czech Republic, the heart of Europe.

Your Esi Ceadrwood

The Journey to Moravia

Part of Czech Repubic situated to the east - this is Moravia, the land of wine!

Moravians have an another culture, then Czechs. Not so different but it is more eastern. The national music is more sprightly and lively than the Czech's one.

The origin of name

It is simple - the river Morava pass through the Moravia, so there is the name - in Czech it's called Morava, same as the name of the river. 

Moravian's coat of arms
(the white colour is actually silver)

Small window of  history

Moravia was individual state in the ancient Europe and it has even included Bohemia. It was called the Great Moravia. Unfortunately, it hasn't last for a long time - begins in 833 with annexation Principality of Nitra and ends in 906/907 for obscure reason. But the Great Moravia was the most powerful tribal area in these times.

Moravians and Bohemians

Yes, as in the each state there is some intolerance. It has old roots in history. Moravians don't like Bohemians. I don't know what about other Bohemians, but I have nothing against them. Maybe I like them more than us - they are more friendly and sprightly than mistrustful and carping Bohemians (in Czech we say "cold muzzles"). I think Moravians don't like us even more than we them (but I think Bohemians do not hate tham at all... but who knows.)

Vine everywhere, wine everytime

There, the most popular drink is vine. Absolutely. And than some fruit handmade hard liquor. I like the cherry one! And I want to taste the walnut one! Yummy! If you have ever gone to Moravia, don't forget to come to visit some of the wine cellar!

Wine cellar with players in national costumes!

Great for cycletourism!

County towns

• Brno - situanted to the south of Moravia, the capital of Moravia

The second biggest town in Czech Republic
and the capital of historical land Moravia

• Ostrava - to the north-east (small part of Ostrava lies behind the Moravian-Silesian border)

The third of the biggest towns in Czech Republic

• Olomouc - almost in the middle of Moravia

Olomouc was the capital of ancient Moravia

• Zlín - to the east

The town of  Baťa Shoes!

• Jihlava - to the west

This town lies on the Bohemian-Moravian border

And there are also some other big towns, such as Frýdek-Místek, which is situated on the Moravian-Czech Silesian border (Frýdek is in Silesia, Místek in Moravia), than Přerov, Prostějov and others.

Language

There are lots of dialects, much diversed than in Bohemian area. So: the Bohemian-Moravian, the Central Moravian (Hanakian), the Eastern Moravian (Moravian-Slovak) and Lach dialect (used more in Silesia). Sometimes, they more resemble to Slovak language than to Bohemian, especially the ones which are used in the area near the Czech's-Slovakian border.

Amazing Morava river

Your Esi Cedarwood

Today's photos ♥

It was too cold today! And I've ridden a bike to buy books. Yep, that's our mad Esi! :D

One is for me and one for my brother! :)

101 mandal pro krásný den (101 mandalas for beautiful day)

Let's colour it!

You can aslo tear out the page you like the most

The first has been coloured...

And the second book is for my brother:

Zlá hodina by Gabriel García Marquéz

(La Mara Hora in Spanish, In Evil Hour in English version)

Gorgeous dust jacket!

Zoom it and take a look at written Czech!

The last photo is my drawing for school. It have to be some letter with things with the first letter same as which you've chosen. It is E with small cheeses - emmethales or Edams (ementály, Eidamy in Czech). :)

 Your Esi Cedarwood

The Journey to Bohemia

Hi to everyone, who is reading this right now! Let's continue. :)

Today, I'm going to tell something about historical richness of my country. So...

Generally, there are three historical lands - Bohemia, Moravia and a part of Silesia. It is written from the biggest to the smallest.

Historical lands with their coats of arms

Bohemia

The biggest part of Czech Republic is situated to the west of this state. The origin of it's coat of arms is explained by The Legend of Bruncvík.

Bruncvík and Bohemia's lion

Bruncvík's father, the Bohemian prince, has gained an eagle to Bohemians coat of arms. After father's death Bruncvík was rulling wisely and fairly. But he wanted to change the arms, so he has decided to set out to the world. Once on this journey, he saw some lion fighting with the dragon. Bruncvík didn't hesitate and he immediately helped the lion to kill the dragon. The lion was gratefull for Bruncvík's help and he has followed the prince of Bohemia to his land. Therefore Bruncvík has finally gained the new animal for land's coat of arms.

Big towns

From the biggest to the smallest (according to numbers of inhabitants):

• Prague (the capital of Czech Republic) - in the middle of Bohemia

Prague Castle and Charles Bridge

• Plzeň (Pilsen) - to the west; 2015 European Capital of Culture

Cathedral of Saint Barotloměj

• Liberec - to the north

The town hall of Liberec

• Ústí nad Labem (Aussig in German) - to the north-west

This city is situated over the river Elbe

• Hradec Králové - to the east

Big square (Velké náměstí)

• České Budějovice - to the south

The Black Tower in the backround

• Pardubice - to the east

Pernštýnské square
with The Green Gate on the left

• Kladno - to the south-west of Prague

Floriánské square

• Karlovy Vary - to the west; Karlovy Vary International Film Festval

Wonderful spa town

• Jihlava - to the south-east

One of the biggest square in Czech Republic

So that's listing of county towns. There are also other big towns without this title, such as Most, Děčín etc. And Kladno is not the county town, but it is the biggest town in Středočeský district - it's official county town is Prague, but Prague is county town to onself, so it's complicated...

Origin of the name - the Legend about forefather Čech

As you can see, all towns have the historical centre, because Bohemia has the old roots of settlement. The first settlers were Celts (since 3rd century) and Germans (tribe Marcomanni; since 1st century). And than Slavs (since 5th century) - since than it has begun! There is the Legend about forefather Čech (Czech version). (He and his tribe were Slavs.)

Forefther Čech

Once upon a time, Čech and his brother Lech decided to find new better country than their Charvat land above the river Visla with many battles there. They set of to the south-west with their tribes. One day, after a lots of days of journey, Čech led his people on the round hill (now called Říp) and let them to have a rest. While they were relaxing, he looked around the nature. There were wonderful forest, rivers and meadows. He said: "This is the land for us, we will settle down here!" And the people started to shouted with pleasure: "This land will be named after you! It is Čechy!"
His brother Lech wasn't happy with this land. He decided to make his own castle and village and after hertbreaking goodbyes Lech and his tribe left Čechy. But forefather Čech and his people stay here so far.

Some drawing of Čech and his people

Říp

From the other view

I wish you enjoyed this post. I'm looking forward for the next one!

Your Esi Cedarwood

The Journey to Czech Republic - Politics

The heart of Europe - it used to be called in the Middle Ages. Now it is... what? How can I describe my country? Maybe like: It's a land of beer and glass.  We are the ones of drinking up litres of beer per year. :D

Location & very small window of history

Our neighbours are, to the west-north, Germany, to the south is Austria, to the east is Slovakia and to the north is Poland.

We've been one state with Slovakia for years. It was Czechoslovakia, which has been created in October 28 in 1918 and divided in two politically independent states, Czech Republic and Slovakia, on January the First in 1993. But during the World War II we weren't one state, beacause the others states (Great Britain, France, Germany and Italia) has decided to give our frontier area to Germany (by Munich Pact - we call it About us without us, beacuse the Czechoslavakia had banned to participate on it) and 'our brothers' Slovakians made their own state and joined to Germany. But after the end of war we unite our states again and we have there communism regime till the Velvet revolution. Now we are separated in two democratic states.

You can see at the picture that Czech Republic is still the heart of Europe, but it is for it's location. In the Middle Ages it was meant as the beating heart, heart of culture and education. It used to be gold ages for Czech lands - the reign of Charles the Fourth, the King of Bohemia and the Holy Roman Emperor.

President Miloš Zeman

Miloš Zeman

For now, Czech Republic is the parliamentary republic with Senate, the Chamber of Deputies and president - Miloš Zeman. Maybe you know this name, because our head of state is infamous person. People are divided in two teams - somebody hate him and the others adore him. I think the team, which includes haters, is stronger.
He was the first directly elected president in Czech Republic. He won with 54,80 %. Even at this time the people were divided. He is the third president of independent Czech Republic and, in my opinion, also the most controversial president ever.

Red card for Zeman
on November 17, year 2014

He is suspected for being drunk when the Bohemian Crown Jewells were showed (after his electing to president). And he said some vulgar words in the live broadcast in Lány. That was the last straw for haters, so the eggs were throwing on him and red cards were shown during his speech on November 17. I walked past there while they were gathering and I was scared of this crowd... I don't know why, maybe maybe because I don't like that hords of people at one time in one place.

People with national flag 

and with red cards standin against Miloš Zeman, year 2014

His wife with green card,
while they're visiting
Pardubice

The Velvet revolution on November 17 in 1989 & Václav Havel

The first President
of Czech Republic

The November 17 is the bank (national holiday). At this date in 1989 there was a demonstration against the communistic goverment and this event has launched the Velvet Revolution, because of which we are now the independent democratic state. You must know Václav Havel, the first President of our republic and I think also the most favourite. I don't know what he'll say to appearance of our current head of state.
He died three years ago and it was a great tragedy for Czech people, but I am glad to he can't see Miloš Zeman in the high position of Czech Republic.

The Velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia
on November 17 in 1989

See ya at the next post about nature's richness of Czech Republic!

Your Esi Cedarwood