Uniforms

Almost everyone wears a uniform of some kind here.

The local, and Arab women from other countries, wear abayas, the long black dresses.  The local men wear kandouras, the long white robes.

Most jobs require uniforms.  The men who pump the gas at the service station wear all-blue.  The guys who work inside the adjoining store, wear blue and white.  The ones who wash cars wear all-blue overalls.

Janitors wear uniforms.  The manager wears a different one.

Folks who work in the mall in the stores each wear a specific uniform for their particular store.  Again, the managers wear a different one.

There is a real effort made to distinguish folks here by class.  I think that's the main reason for the uniforms.  At a glance, you can tell the social standing of the person by what they're wearing.

VIP seating and sections abound.  I was at an outdoor bazaar a few days ago, and there was a VIP entrance, complete with a red carpet.  It appeared that anyone wishing to pay the extra cost, could use that entrance.  That is usually not the case.

In schools, the students wear uniforms.

Here, the wealth is new and proudly displayed, and with it, the prestige.  

On the other hand, it reminds me of some really wealthy folks, who are very inconspicuous.  There is no way they would be recognized as wealthy from the way they look or carry themselves.

Not so here.

I'm on my way to Kenya tonight for a safari trip.  I'll be ushering the New Year in with some critters.

More soon from the Mother Land.

Witty Writer

The topic is Spanx.  The article is long, but you get the gist of it on page one.

From The Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/at-spanx-the-battle-of-the-bulges-is-on/2012/12/26/15a1ab32-4542-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_story.html

Introducing Miss Milu

Ben and Lupe's pride and joy, and Grandma's newest sweetheart.

Just hours old

Look at all that hair!

A lovely family portrait

Babies are a reminder of the miracle that life, and giving birth is.  It is especially poignant at this time of year.

Thanks for allowing me to share our joy with you.

Mom's Letter to Her Two Year Old

A mom writes a letter to her daughter to be read when she's on her way to college.  I wish I would have thought of this.

As seen on The Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-wruble/college-advice-for-daughters_b_2264720.html

Camel Beauty Contest

There is an annual camel festival that is happening now.  It runs the last two weeks of December.  This is a huge event.  I went to a smaller version of this last year, and it was fun being a part of the festivities.  I intended to go to this one, but when I looked into it, I discovered the ride there is 3.5 hours long, 7.0 hours round trip.  I decided I didn't want to see the camels that bad.  Really, the thing I wanted to see was the camel beauty contest.

Enjoy this clip about it that was featured on www.cnn.com today.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2012/12/27/pkg-defterios-uae-most-beautiful-camel.cnn

Best Cookies . . . Ever!

Some of the best chocolate chips cookies on the planet can be found locally in Sacramento at the Doubletree Hotel.  They are baked fresh everyday.  They can be purchased at the coffee shop counter.  These are the cookies that they leave on your pillow when you stay there.  A dear friend sent me some, and even though they were delayed getting here, they were still absolutely delicious.

They make great gifts for the cookie lovers in your life.  They come in a lovely keepsake Doubletree tin.

If you're not in the Sacramento area, don't fret.  The Christie Cookie Company sells cookies nationally and they are cut from the same cookie cutter.  Pun intended.

The Christie Cookie Company offers several varieties.  The Doubletree, just one.

So, end your year sweetly, enjoying this wholesome, time-honored treat.

Yes.

I know.

I know.

I should be getting paid big bucks for these endorsements.

Side note - The other chocolate chips in my world are Ben and Frankie, and with Milu and Zadie, I now have mini chocolate chips.

Ben's a Daddy!

Milu Rogriguez Sharpe arrived just hours ago weighing 5lbs 5oz, 19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great.

Is he a proud papa or what?

More soon.

View from "Top of the World"

I decided at the last minute to spend Christmas in Dubai, visiting the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa.  Although I had seen it from afar many times, I had not made the trek to see it up close.

What follows is a video clip, that could serve as an ad for the place, but it features some interesting facts.

http://www.burjkhalifa.ae

Access to this magnificent structure is through the Dubai Mall, which is the world's largest mall, with 1200 stores.  It's crazy big.  All of the top retails stores in the world have stores here, including, but certainly not limited to - Hermes, Versace, Rolex, Burberry - and on and on.

Back to the Burj Khalifa -

There is a fee of 100 dirhams, which is just over $27, to visit the observation deck on the 124th floor.  Or, if you choose not to wait in lines, you can purchase the 425 dirhams ($115) ticket and move to the front of each line.  It is best to purchase the tickets online, to avoid waiting in this line, too.

The elevator ride was the smoothest I've ever experienced.  We arrived on the 124th floor in a flash.  My ears popping was the only indication that we were going up or down, and moving really fast.  We arrived on the observation deck, that includes a terrace where you're outside, feeling the cool breeze.  It was a hazy day, but still the view was pretty amazing.

View from the car

View from a window on the way up

View of the city from the observation deck

Notice the shadow of the top of the building

Another amazing "straight up" view from the terrace

A better view of the shadow

The observation deck

Great view of the water, but not very clear in this photo.

This is the terrace.

My UAE brothers and sisters take extravagance to a whole new level.  For one of the smallest countries in the world, I wonder if this need for being recognized as the biggest and best is an effort on their part to be noticed by the world.  If so, they've succeeded.

Merry Christmas!

It's still Christmas Eve in the US, but it's Christmas morning in my world.

Last year at this time, I had just moved into my apartment, and was waiting for a furniture delivery.  Today, I'll be reading, resting, and watching TV.

Here's hoping that this holiday is wonderful for you and yours, and that this new year is the beginning of the best years of your life.

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Prague is not the place to be if you have a problem with drinking.  Beer, wine and hard liquor are everywhere - in the fruit stand across the street, in the grocery stores, in the makeshift winter wonderland outdoor kiosks - any place that sells food, sells liquor too.

I began the day going on a three mile roundtrip trek from the hotel, looking for the Futura Museum. When I arrived at the Google Map location, it was not there.  First of two times the Google boys failed me today.  The second was getting back home, when I lost internet service, and thus the mapping service.  OK, this one wasn't their fault.  Anyway, I was turned around, so I stopped to ask directions and wound up at a quaint little coffee shop where I was forced to sit and drink my cappuccino because they didn't have take away cups.  It was a lovely respite, and I'm glad I did.

Back outside, I headed in the general direction of the hotel, and by the grace of God, turned a corner and recognized my neighborhood.  I went to the stores nearby and picked up dinner because I knew I wouldn't be leaving the hotel anymore today.  The hotel only provides breakfast service.

There were snow flurries the entire time I was out, but it wasn't so bad as to prevent me from going.

I was looking for the sculptures of David Cerny.  It seems like Prague hasn't decided whether to laud him or condemn him.  Whatever your stand, there's no argument that his work is provocative.  A sample, and my favorite,  is below.

Not sure what he calls it, but I can think of a few names.  How about you?
You can stick your head inside to watch a video
of two politicians feeding each other.
Bizarre, yes.  Provocative, for sure.

What follows are more pictures of the area I was in today, they include a statue of Winston Churchill.

These guys are selling fish that are kept alive in the barrels.
You pick the one you want, and they kill it and prepare it for you.
I passed them several times, and when business was slow,
they were passing around a huge Vodka bottle.
That's one way to keep warm.

Another street view

Winston Churchill

This nativity scene is made completely out of straw
and is located inside the Prague Castle Complex.
This is from the guided tour.  I forgot to include it earlier.

This has been a great trip.  Tomorrow I'm headed home with many fond memories.

More soon.

Is It Better to Have Loved and Lost . . .

than to never have loved at all?

This came to mind as I was watching the movie, "Hope Springs."  Let me preface my comments by saying I love Meryl Streep.  She's an amazing actress and her partner in the movie, Tommy L. Jones, is also a favorite of mine.  Having said that, this movie was painful to watch.  In fact, just over half way through, I gave up.  To those of you who haven't heard about it, it's about a couple married for 31 years who go to a therapist to try to renew the passion in their lives.

Painful.  Painful.  Painful.

If they were trying for an adult rom-com, as I've read in some of the reviews, the writers missed it by a long shot.

Anyway, that got me to thinking about the adage that I began with -

"Is it better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?"

I don't know, but this is how I see it.

There was this neighborhood restaurant that the boys and I used to go to a lot for breakfast, and they always had these beautiful pies for sale in the front counter where you paid.  They were garnished just so, and looked delicious.

They were not.

The crusts tasted like cardboard and the filling was straight from the can, leaving that metallic taste behind.

They were not good.  At all.

In fact, I tried several, thinking I was always picking the wrong one, but none of them ever tasted as good as they looked.

So, would it have been better to imagine how good they would be, or was it better to eat some and be incredibly disappointed?

Same thing with falling in love -

Is it better to experience it and get hurt, or keep the image of what you expect it to be, and live in blissful ignorance?

What do you think?

It's a Cold, Cold World

The low was 27 degrees last night, with a high expected today of 34.  There's a chance for snow tomorrow.

Thankfully, my hotel room and every other building I've been in have been mercifully heated well.

Side note - Please forgive me in advance for painting with a broad brush.

That being said, I have a theory about dressing for the cold - If I see white folks with their coats on, I know I need to grab three (a sweater, light coat, with a heavy one on top), plus hat, gloves and scarf.  So far, it has held up.

I opted not to ride the "hop on, hop off" bus today, and took a walk to Wencelas Square, as it is only a half mile from my hotel.  Moving at a pretty brisk pace kept me warm, so did the new heavy duty wool gloves I bought.  I had to ditch the cute leather ones for something warmer and more practical.

This really is a walking city.  You see lots of people walking, and taking the public transportation. It's laid out well, making it relatively easy to get around.

One of the things I've noticed as I've traveled through the city, is the number of book stores I've seen.  Small Mom & Pop shops and a large chain-like one that I browsed through.  I appreciate my electronic gadgets that allow me to read on them, but I miss holding a book and turning the pages, coming to the end, having that feeling of satisfaction at finishing it.  It's just not the same with the gadgets.  And of course, as much as I love Amazon and appreciate all that it offers, the demise of local bookstores can be leveled square in its lap.

So, anyway, I spent some time just browsing through some of the storefronts on the square.  I referred to the map that the hotel gave me to get there, but followed a different path getting home and realized that I was lost.  Thank God, I had Google Maps downloaded on my phone.  I activated the internet, plugged in the hotel's name and viola, the walking route was highlighted with a moving ball for me to follow and it took me right to the hotel.

I love those Google boys!

If that didn't work, Plan B would have been to hail a cab.

Another thing that I've noticed in all of the places I've visited, is the number people who smoke, especially young people.  It's like they didn't get the memo that smoking is hazardous to your health.  The protection from smokers and their smoke is not like it is in the US.  Again, it's like they haven't heard about the dangers of secondhand smoke either.

I remember when smoking was outlawed on flights for passengers, but the pilots were still allowed to smoke.  I don't know if that is still in effect.  I just googled it, and it looks like it is in place.  If the guy, or gal, needs to smoke to calm their nerves up there and that allows them to more effectively do their job, smoke on.

Now a note about the food -

The folks here seem to eat a lot of sausages and cold cuts.  Reminds me a lot of Germany.  I think the food is better here though.  I especially like the sausages. They are very much like the ones we had back home in Texas.  They cook them outside on an open flame, browning the outside until they're crisp.  Yummy.

Again, there are McDonald's, KFC, and Starbucks and some other brands that we have in the UAE.

Also, as before, I have heard American pop music piped in stores, on the square, and in the cabs.  R & B, too.  There was even Country Western Christmas carols on the cab radio yesterday.  Surprise.  Surprise.

Here are a few more pictures taken on Wescelas Square.

Enjoy!

Monkey Protesting Unequal Pay

This video is less than three minutes long.  Watch it til the end.  FASCINATING!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mynrRd7Ak&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs

It's a Pale, Pale World

It is striking how different the color landscape of the people is here, compared to the UAE.  There are more blonds than I've ever seen in one place.  But, I counted four black folks today, and had a great conversation with one of them, a kid from Morocco.

I boarded a "hop on, hop off" bus around the city and stopped at several places to get a closer look.

Side note -

As I was waiting for the bus, I noticed what looked like a stationary crane beside a building.  It was an elevator shaft for lifting materials to the roof.  Very interesting.

This is the elevator at the top of the building.

Now to today's adventure -

First though, a note about the weather.

It was cold as a booger bear outside where I spent most of the day.  All of that bragging I was doing about how pleasant the weather was, well it did not apply today.  It was bone chilling cold.

My first stop was a cable car ride to Petrin Hill which has a magnificent panoramic view of the city.  Huge thanks to Houran for suggesting this.

This is an observation tower shaped like the Eiffel Tower.
It's on Petrin Hill.

Twice today I was reminded of Cape Town.  The first time was the cable ride to the top of Petrin.  This car had a railroad track to ride on.  The one in Cape Town taking you from the bottom of the mountain to the top, dangled from the cables suspended overhead stretching across to the top of Table Mountain.

The second reminder was the closer examination of the "haunting men" sculpture from yesterday.  Although it's not easy to look at when you consider it represents how the people were treated under communism, somehow it draws you in and you can sense the pain it stands for.  Likewise the visit to Robben Island were Mandala was imprisoned, leaves a lasting impression.

Next stop, Old Town Square, and the first thing I did was get some hot red wine.

Yes, you read it right.

On the outing yesterday I noticed signs for it, and asked about it.  The guy I was chatting with noted that the heat probably causes the alcohol content to be minuscule.

So . . .

I had a cup of red wine heated just right.

By now, the world knows I don't drink, but my curiosity and the freaking cold weather got the best of me.  After sipping about half of it, I remembered why I don't drink the stuff.  Immediately my stomach was upset, so the chucked the rest of it and continued my journey to . . .

Old Town Square -

It really was a winter wonderland of shops, food vendors, beautiful decorations and lots and lots of people.

Oldest working astronomical clock.
It was built in 1410.

People milling about Old Town Square

Another view

Beautiful, enormous Christmas tree

Another lovely building

More Old Town Square

A Shetland pony

More farm animals

Decorative scene

Old & Dumb - Sheikh Version

I know.

Another traffic report.

Sorry.

It's a serious pet peeve of mine.

Everyday huge SUVs (that make Suburbans look like Smart cars, they're so freaking big) can be seen barreling down the road, flashing their lights for the person in front of them to move out of the way.  If you don't, or can't, move over fast enough, they tailgate so closely you can no longer see the front end of the car in the rearview mirror.

Insane.

Anyway.

I thought the Sheikhs all had drivers.  In this case, he should have.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/abu-dhabi-police-catch-sheikh-abdullah-texting-while-driving

Young & Dumb - Rich Version

I'm interrupting my love affair with Prague, to bring you this outrageous story found in today's edition of The National Paper (UAE).

This is an example of having so much money, you don't know what to do with it.

Crazy, crazy, crazy!  And they wonder why there were over 600 accidents in one day last week!

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/dubai-police-catch-300kph-jet-fuel-road-racers?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily%2BNewsletter%2B20-12-2012

What a Beautiful City!

I took lots of pictures today, but they don't come close to depicting just how beautiful this city is.

Many were taken on the tour bus and you can see the glare of the window.  Others were taken as we walked around the Prague Castle.

Enjoy!

Very gothic looking building

I loved how bright and cheerful the landscape was,
even on an overcast day.

Frank Gehry Building depicting Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
You can't see him from this angle.
The flared bottom represents the flare of her dress.

Fred Astaire is portrayed on the right, with a top hat.

Again, the colors are wonderful.

The Charles Bridge

A breathtaking palace in the Prague Castle complex.
The walls are textured, lending a 3-D effect.

Inside the Castle complex

The backside of the castle.

The front of Prague Castle.
There are no words to describe how magnificent this structure is.

Another view of the first picture - cool gothic building

This firewood is being sold in the middle of town square.

Street view

A picturesque hôtel

This view is overlooking the city.
You can't tell, but it was a "wow" view.

Me, just inside the castle gates.

This doorway to the castle is called "the golden gate."

This scene is haunting.
It is a memorial to the victims of communism.
There is a plaque that reads:
"205486 convicted, 248 executed, 4500 died in prison,
327 annihilated at the border, 170938 emigrated". 
It begins with a whole man, with each progressive man loosing more and more of himself,
until the only thing left is a foot.
It is a sobering site.