Happy New Year

After a nice stateside holiday visit we returned on January 3rd. The weather here has been truly wintry: freezing (teens & low 20s) and grey (inversion). Finally yesterday beheld blue skies and mid-30s; today it's raining.

We've spent the last two weeks enjoying Prague. On Sunday we got Molly into St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle. It's probably tourist destination #1...and only took her six months to get there. While at the castle we also attended a classical concert in the basilica. Other highlights from the last few weeks include several art exhibitions and our ongoing exploration of Prague's cafes. Regarding the latter, I'm developing a serious two cappuccino per day habit which might require an intervention. To temper all this culture, we hosted dinner with friends on Friday night. Copious amounts of beer and wine were consumed. Nothing fancy.


World Affairs
The Czech Republic assumed the EU presidency from France on January 1 (the EU presidency rotates among the member countries every six months). Consequently the EU flag is flying more prominently around town. This is the Letna Park metronome near our apartment, complete with new EU flag.

Trivia: Where the metronome stands today originally stood this enormous statue of Joseph Stalin. It was removed in 1962 and replaced by the metronome in 1991.