Walking for Cieszyn

In April I did an article about Český Těšín where we spoke about Cieszyn, the polish part of the city, in this entry I would like to explain something more about this part of my new city (although now It will be my city only for three more months).As I said to you, Cieszyn is a really turistic city, it is confortable to walk, to do shopping and to visit museums, whereas Český Těšín is more industrial city, dormitory city.

Always that I have time I ride my bicycle and I visit the polish part, I need to change only crowns by zlotys (6.55kc is equal 1zl and 4zl is 1€) and I go to shopping or ride in the park or I have a tea in LAJA organization where there are more European Volunteers who organize differents workshops. I was in a feet massage workshop and It was such a great one, I learned a lot. 

I like also ride in Venecja Street because in the end you can found such great bar called Bar Cieszyńska Wenecja. It is so nice! 

Through the narrow streets of Cieszyn you can see elegant restaurants, grafities or relics as Studna Tří Bratří (the three brothers' well), the well is "hidden" among the narrow streets of the city and represents the meeting point of three royal brothers that said founded the city.

As in many wells and ancient sources tourists can shed their currencies to the well to get to see met any of their wishes. It is a city where Protestantism is very present, many people working for the church, gives speeches or works with children through the protestant church.

In the town hall square there are plenty of restaurants and movement of people, which is appreciated living in the industrial and quieter part of the city. 

On saturdays also there are markets in the streets, there is fresh food one in the old quarter and another near bus station where you can found clothes, flowers also food, as you can si in the photos. In this market I had the oportunity to try tipical slovak cheese, in the grill and served with one kind of jam, called Oštiepok.
In the first photo you can see one stand with different instruments to cut and to shape vegetables. Due to in Czech Republic and Poland the people tend to eat a lot of vegetables in salads, they put cabbage, beet, cucumber, parrots, etc. In the stand had different graters, strippers, destroyers of potatoes so confortable, wonderful! :) 

In the final analysis, Cieszyn is a city to discover that I recommend to all of you to visit.

¡Welcome Blanca!

After two months of waiting, of doubt, to see different curriculums and my organization raised different people and situations, the search for new European Volunteer finished and the result is: our dear Blanca.

She arrived a nine september with her suitcase under the arm and a lot of fresh ideas and the willingness to work. During his life, has had the opportunity to live in different cities, or from O Porto to Granada passing by Tarragona, to share experiences, learn and play, and with this force reaches Střep, directly from Huelva her hometown.
She is teacher and psicopedagogue and has worked for many years with children, like volunteer as social instructor.

The first day already surprised us with their ability to make outstanding tin and natural soap. Our house back to light, it becomes to hear noise, returns to life!
Blanca leads here a week and already we have had the opportunity to share recipes for food, shopping and cigarettes. Without a doubt, a great companion of experience.

Now she has in front of her an arduous journey of adaptation, at the same time, the schedules, language, way of being czech, etc. We are ather side to make it easier the way. It has a whole year ahead to live Czech Republic, traveling in Europe, learn of their customs and bring her culture to children from Český Těšín and Cieszyn.
I will keep you informed of its projects and activities adn sure will be fun and different.

¡Welcome Blanca!

Visit to Cesky Krumlov

One of the activities of the arrival training was a visit to Český Krumlov, a lovely city, a World Heritage Site since 1992, which does not surprise me. It is amazing how the city conforms to the around of the meanders of the Moldova river, the same that happens after by Rosemberk, the small town with great history where we stayed.

The way to know the city could not be better, since one of the highest view of the city our trainers said to us to make groups, they gave us a map of the city and a few questions, we also had to take a photo of a fridge of a home and then according to the group a photo of the highest part, more low, more beautiful Český Krumlov etc. , in this way and with a very simple activity, the trainers helped us to know the environment and the neighbors.

As for the time, we had two or three until seven in the evening to stroll along its streets and talk to the neighbors and the rest of visitors, is a very touristic city.

We know first hand how they live the Czechs in Český Krumlov, this helped us a lot at the end of the training to get an idea of the way of life, culture and the taboos of this country, as I said in the previous article the methodology used by the trainers I thought it was exceptional.

We were able to visit the castle, which is impressive but we did not pay for the entire visit, by what they told us not well worth it, the only thing the views from the towers. In the pit of the castle there are bears that can be viewed by entering the site, we did not have the luck to see them and I am glad I am not very fond of see confined animals like in a zoo of Ostrava.

As I said to you is a very touristic city which implies many restaurants of all types, souvenir shops and so on, both workers in the local as the neighbors understand and in general will reply you in English without any problem, which is a great help taking into account how difficult it is understood in Czech. We could also see a wax museum, art gallery, at that time with an exhibition of abstract art and the truth, the simple fact of being able to walk through the historic center is enough.

A great visit accompanied by other volunteers, a perfect location to explore the city and get to know each other better! Just prior to leaving we walked into a small grocery store where we bought fruit and wine necessary for a good spanish Sangria, that night was very fun as well, but that is another story... :)))

Plackovy Festival

Last Saturday, 30th of August, 2014 I was in the traditional Festival of Bukovec, we are speaking about the place more east of the Czech Republic, in the moravian-silesian region that account with a Nature Reserve since 1988 with more than 7,000 hectars and where much of its population is of Polish nationality and speaking the dialect of Silesian Cziescyn.
In this beautiful small town, Bukovec, we were able to enjoy a festival, which attracted not only to neighbors of the Czech Republic but also to various neighbors of Poland and Slovakia in addition, at least, a Spanish woman.
The main attraction of this event are the typical pancakes of the country, particularly in this area, It makes of potato and accompanied by cream, bacon, pork rinds, cheese, or even jam. Prepared by experts (handmade) and cooked on a griddle or fried, then the recipe:
Bramborové Placky:

Ingredients:

- 8 potatoes
- 250 grams of flour
- 1 egg
- salt

- breadcrumbs

Elaboration:
Boil the potatoes until they are tender and leave to cool, preferably until the next day. The potatoes, once cold are crushed and beaten down on the counter, add the flour, egg, salt, thicken with breadcrumbs screened and prepare to the earth, such as potato dumplings. We must work quickly so that the dough does not harden.
Once we have the earth doing this add or we put on the iron back and forth and once on the plate are mounted with jam or with cream and bacon cooking, and so on.

But this event, as always in Czech Republic, it is not only to eat, we could also enjoy the beer, enjoy a market with all kinds' stands, from pottery to children's toys and also different concerts.
The best concert without a doubt, I enjoyed most was of Friš, a group that includes traditional between their instruments the cymbal that you can see from the image, a stringed instrument played with a couple of harnesses and whose root is in the Hungarian gypsy culture.

We also enjoyed a tribute to ABBA, Kristina, a pop singer from Slovakia, Yesterdays, a rock group and up to a DJ. Without a doubt the organization managed catch all kinds of musical styles attracting all kinds of audiences, from families to adolescents and young people, a community atmosphere.