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#11
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Anna Maria - I know what you mean - we were there also in 1984 and did as
you did - fell in love with the country and the city. I had already grown to love the Chez people as I had worked for a film company here for a few years and everyone except me were Chezs - which is one reason we just felt we had to see their country. We were privileged to return in 1991 - and Oh what a difference ! We felt on a high all day to see the transformation. I think it did me good to see it under the iron curtain though, to be able realise what they had gone through and the joy of their release. God Bless Gwen -- Gwen Kelly "Anna MCM" wrote in message ... G.Kelly wrote: We managed to find a taxi and also managed to convey to him, without any of their language, that we wanted a budget hotel and he found us just the most perfect place right in the centre of the city. We went to pay him and showed him German money in a large denomination and he accepted it and gave me a handful of change and when we had booked into the hotel and checked the rate I had twice as much as I had offered him. I felt really bad as he had been so kind and I thought that he must have mistaken the note for a larger one in the dark. Next day we hailed another taxi ( too cold at minus 26 to walk too far) and he spoke some english and asked for german money saying that he would give us a good rate. This we gave him and to my amazement he returned it twofold. It seemed that this was the "black market" value - a free taxi ride and double your money. So much for the stupid communist idea of cashing the US dollars at the border - here we were two days in town with twice as much as when we arrived !!!! Bye God Bless Gwen Yes, you guessed right. The drivers applied the "black market" change. It was the main "business" of taxi drivers. I did that both in Czechoslovakia and USSR, I mean, I changed at the black market, I donīt remember the rate). I didnīt want to give my money to government. One could object that the money could go for not so clear pourposes (even if usually it was for "Western luxuries" as buying a fridge or a washing machine), but I felt more criminal giving money to the regimes. I was there in 1984 and it looked EXACTLY like one could imagine Orwellīs book. I felt in love with that country anyway and returning to Prague past year was a bit of returning home... Hugs, Anna Maria |
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#12
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Gwen and Anna Maria! I did not visit Prague till -95.
But after that, I have gone back four more times. I use to take an express bus from Oslo. That is an important part of the tour to me! We alway meet lots of czechs who are going *home* from Norway or Sweeden. They have learned me lots about their country and how it is to leave a country unwillingly! Some of them left in 48, and many in 68. They have family and *new lives* in SW. or Norw. now, but have often parents, aunts , uncles or siblings back in Chech. May be we should meet THERE one day? AUD :-) -- "G.Kelly" skrev i melding ... Anna Maria - I know what you mean - we were there also in 1984 and did as you did - fell in love with the country and the city. I had already grown to love the Chez people as I had worked for a film company here for a few years and everyone except me were Chezs - which is one reason we just felt we had to see their country. We were privileged to return in 1991 - and Oh what a difference ! We felt on a high all day to see the transformation. I think it did me good to see it under the iron curtain though, to be able realise what they had gone through and the joy of their release. God Bless Gwen -- Gwen Kelly "Anna MCM" wrote in message ... G.Kelly wrote: We managed to find a taxi and also managed to convey to him, without any of their language, that we wanted a budget hotel and he found us just the most perfect place right in the centre of the city. We went to pay him and showed him German money in a large denomination and he accepted it and gave me a handful of change and when we had booked into the hotel and checked the rate I had twice as much as I had offered him. I felt really bad as he had been so kind and I thought that he must have mistaken the note for a larger one in the dark. Next day we hailed another taxi ( too cold at minus 26 to walk too far) and he spoke some english and asked for german money saying that he would give us a good rate. This we gave him and to my amazement he returned it twofold. It seemed that this was the "black market" value - a free taxi ride and double your money. So much for the stupid communist idea of cashing the US dollars at the border - here we were two days in town with twice as much as when we arrived !!!! Bye God Bless Gwen Yes, you guessed right. The drivers applied the "black market" change. It was the main "business" of taxi drivers. I did that both in Czechoslovakia and USSR, I mean, I changed at the black market, I donīt remember the rate). I didnīt want to give my money to government. One could object that the money could go for not so clear pourposes (even if usually it was for "Western luxuries" as buying a fridge or a washing machine), but I felt more criminal giving money to the regimes. I was there in 1984 and it looked EXACTLY like one could imagine Orwellīs book. I felt in love with that country anyway and returning to Prague past year was a bit of returning home... Hugs, Anna Maria |
#13
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Aud wrote: Gwen and Anna Maria! I did not visit Prague till -95. But after that, I have gone back four more times. =20 I use to take an express bus from Oslo. That is an important part of the tour to me! We alway meet lots of czechs who are going *home* from Norway or Sweeden. =20 They have learned me lots about their country and how it is to leave a country unwillingly! Some of them left in 48, and many in 68. They have family and *new lives* in SW. or Norw. now, but have often parents, aunts , uncles or siblings back in Chech. =20 May be we should meet THERE one day? AUD :-) =20 Ahoj Aud! Don=B4t tell me twice! Which better place than the heart of our continent for a meeting? By the way, best wishes for a quick recovery to your King! Na shledanou! See you! Anna Maria |
#14
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Now Aud that is a brilliant idea - maybe it will come true one day - I also
have a wonderful Czech friend in Bludenz Austria - I will bring her along too !!!!! God Bless gwen -- Gwen Kelly "Aud" wrote in message ... Gwen and Anna Maria! I did not visit Prague till -95. But after that, I have gone back four more times. I use to take an express bus from Oslo. That is an important part of the tour to me! We alway meet lots of czechs who are going *home* from Norway or Sweeden. They have learned me lots about their country and how it is to leave a country unwillingly! Some of them left in 48, and many in 68. They have family and *new lives* in SW. or Norw. now, but have often parents, aunts , uncles or siblings back in Chech. May be we should meet THERE one day? AUD :-) -- "G.Kelly" skrev i melding ... Anna Maria - I know what you mean - we were there also in 1984 and did as you did - fell in love with the country and the city. I had already grown to love the Chez people as I had worked for a film company here for a few years and everyone except me were Chezs - which is one reason we just felt we had to see their country. We were privileged to return in 1991 - and Oh what a difference ! We felt on a high all day to see the transformation. I think it did me good to see it under the iron curtain though, to be able realise what they had gone through and the joy of their release. God Bless Gwen -- Gwen Kelly "Anna MCM" wrote in message ... G.Kelly wrote: We managed to find a taxi and also managed to convey to him, without any of their language, that we wanted a budget hotel and he found us just the most perfect place right in the centre of the city. We went to pay him and showed him German money in a large denomination and he accepted it and gave me a handful of change and when we had booked into the hotel and checked the rate I had twice as much as I had offered him. I felt really bad as he had been so kind and I thought that he must have mistaken the note for a larger one in the dark. Next day we hailed another taxi ( too cold at minus 26 to walk too far) and he spoke some english and asked for german money saying that he would give us a good rate. This we gave him and to my amazement he returned it twofold. It seemed that this was the "black market" value - a free taxi ride and double your money. So much for the stupid communist idea of cashing the US dollars at the border - here we were two days in town with twice as much as when we arrived !!!! Bye God Bless Gwen Yes, you guessed right. The drivers applied the "black market" change. It was the main "business" of taxi drivers. I did that both in Czechoslovakia and USSR, I mean, I changed at the black market, I donīt remember the rate). I didnīt want to give my money to government. One could object that the money could go for not so clear pourposes (even if usually it was for "Western luxuries" as buying a fridge or a washing machine), but I felt more criminal giving money to the regimes. I was there in 1984 and it looked EXACTLY like one could imagine Orwellīs book. I felt in love with that country anyway and returning to Prague past year was a bit of returning home... Hugs, Anna Maria |
#15
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Ahoj, Anna Maria and Gwen!
Dobrý vecher! (My machine do not write all czech letters!LOL!) This really IS a brilliant Idea! Bring your friend, Gwen, and may be more of *us* will come! At least a few who lives in Europe, ...and may be ELS is visiting Holland, then she will certainly come! ...and may be some others from the US and Canada and Australia want to join us! Here we go! We are experts on tour planning! I can see us sitting in the sun by the river Vltava,with view to the castle, talking, laghing and sipping to an icecold Becherovca! Na zdraví! AUD ;-) -- "G.Kelly" skrev i melding ... Now Aud that is a brilliant idea - maybe it will come true one day - I also have a wonderful Czech friend in Bludenz Austria - I will bring her along too !!!!! God Bless gwen -- Gwen Kelly "Aud" wrote in message ... Gwen and Anna Maria! I did not visit Prague till -95. But after that, I have gone back four more times. I use to take an express bus from Oslo. That is an important part of the tour to me! We alway meet lots of czechs who are going *home* from Norway or Sweeden. They have learned me lots about their country and how it is to leave a country unwillingly! Some of them left in 48, and many in 68. They have family and *new lives* in SW. or Norw. now, but have often parents, aunts , uncles or siblings back in Chech. May be we should meet THERE one day? AUD :-) -- "G.Kelly" skrev i melding ... Anna Maria - I know what you mean - we were there also in 1984 and did as you did - fell in love with the country and the city. I had already grown to love the Chez people as I had worked for a film company here for a few years and everyone except me were Chezs - which is one reason we just felt we had to see their country. We were privileged to return in 1991 - and Oh what a difference ! We felt on a high all day to see the transformation. I think it did me good to see it under the iron curtain though, to be able realise what they had gone through and the joy of their release. God Bless Gwen -- Gwen Kelly "Anna MCM" wrote in message ... G.Kelly wrote: We managed to find a taxi and also managed to convey to him, without any of their language, that we wanted a budget hotel and he found us just the most perfect place right in the centre of the city. We went to pay him and showed him German money in a large denomination and he accepted it and gave me a handful of change and when we had booked into the hotel and checked the rate I had twice as much as I had offered him. I felt really bad as he had been so kind and I thought that he must have mistaken the note for a larger one in the dark. Next day we hailed another taxi ( too cold at minus 26 to walk too far) and he spoke some english and asked for german money saying that he would give us a good rate. This we gave him and to my amazement he returned it twofold. It seemed that this was the "black market" value - a free taxi ride and double your money. So much for the stupid communist idea of cashing the US dollars at the border - here we were two days in town with twice as much as when we arrived !!!! Bye God Bless Gwen Yes, you guessed right. The drivers applied the "black market" change. It was the main "business" of taxi drivers. I did that both in Czechoslovakia and USSR, I mean, I changed at the black market, I donīt remember the rate). I didnīt want to give my money to government. One could object that the money could go for not so clear pourposes (even if usually it was for "Western luxuries" as buying a fridge or a washing machine), but I felt more criminal giving money to the regimes. I was there in 1984 and it looked EXACTLY like one could imagine Orwellīs book. I felt in love with that country anyway and returning to Prague past year was a bit of returning home... Hugs, Anna Maria |
#16
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Hi Aud,
Make sure you take a picture of the castle and send me a copy for my DH. Hugs, Nora |
#17
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I promise, Nora!
.... If not you and DH are sitting there too??? AUD ;-)) -- "NoraBalcer" skrev i melding ... Hi Aud, Make sure you take a picture of the castle and send me a copy for my DH. Hugs, Nora |
#18
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Aud wrote: =20 I can see us sitting in the sun by the river Vltava,with view to the ca= stle, talking, laghing and sipping to an icecold Becherovca! Na zdrav=ED! =20 Dobr=FD vecer, Aud! I know a lovely fishermen restaurant on Kampa island (Mal=E1 Strana), not= =20 so far from Charles bridge Then we could continue on soldier Svejk=B4s beer tour :-))) Hugs, Anna Maria |
#19
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Hi Aud,
Well, if we hit the lottery we'll be there. Hugs, Nora |
#20
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You guys keep talking beer in Brno (and other places g - I just couldn't
resist the alliteration), I'm gonna come along! Lots of relatives stayed over there when the rest got out in '68. Apparently because, somewhat to the dismay of Dad's older brother and sister upon a visit later, *those* relatives were, um, *deeply* Communist. LOL. Anyway, I love beer, I could go for shopping for Czech glass beads, and I even know a few helpful Czech phrases! Such as, "What did you say?", and "Please translate that to English." bg Oh, and nazdravie, of course. (phonetic spelling, there. Dad's family spoke Czech, albeit a 60-yr-old dialect, but he never *taught* it to me, darn it. most annoying.) Just keep the slivovitz. *Please*. That stuff is deadly. I was 12 in '68 when Dad's second cousin and family came to visit - a month before the Russians went in - and a bottle of slivovitz was one of the few things they could bring. Of course we had to drink a toast right away. Lucky I didn't make the mistake of sipping...but even gulping it down in one go, man, my sinuses nearly exploded! I swear half of it evaporated as soon as it hit my tongue. *You* guys can drink all the slivovitz. I'll stick to beer. ) Hey, shouldn't we be able to get some line flax over there??? Monica - somewhat more disjointed than usual from d'loading graphics for about the last 7 hours... CMMPDX2 at aol remove 'eat.spam' to email me --------- "No, that isn't me you saw - I'm not here, I'm incognito!" (Me, Myself & I) Support our Troops!! http://www.wtv-zone.com/kjsb/bataan.html |
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