Yesterday, we voted in the Prague 1 municipal district, Prague City Assembly, and Senate elections.
Along with political views, the candidates’ age played an important role in our decision. Given what we have seen happening around the world when political leadership becomes dominated by people far removed from the realities and challenges facing younger generations, we believe that generational renewal matters.
What concerns us even more is the growing normalization of extremist and authoritarian tendencies in many democratic countries. We see increasing hostility toward minority groups, including LGBT people, the resurgence of racial prejudice, and a growing culture of blame where complex problems are reduced to simplistic slogans and easy scapegoats. Populism often offers simple answers to difficult questions and convenient enemies to explain our own failures. History teaches us that this is a dangerous path.
Earlier this year, during a visit to Berlin, we stopped at the memorial marking the site where the Nazis burned thousands of books in 1933. Standing there was a powerful reminder that intolerance rarely arrives all at once. It advances gradually, normalizing hatred step by step until the unthinkable becomes possible.
As the German writer Heinrich Heine warned nearly two centuries ago:
“Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people as well.”
History proved how tragically true those words were.
That is why we would encourage everyone to vote whenever they have the opportunity. Elections are not only about your own future, but also about the future your children and grandchildren will inherit. Every vote helps shape the society they will live in.
We should never take free and democratic elections for granted. The right to choose our representatives is still a privilege that millions of people around the world do not enjoy. If we have that right, we should use it.
Democracy survives only when citizens participate, stay informed, and refuse to become indifferent. 🇨🇿🗳️
We spent last weekend in Berlin, mostly to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary on September 28th. It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years, but I couldn’t think of a better city to celebrate in.
The timing of our trip happened to line up perfectly with the Berlin Marathon. On Sunday, we found ourselves near the Brandenburg Gate watching the runners. The energy around the city was pretty contagious. After the crowds got to be a bit much, we spent the rest of the afternoon just wandering around Museum Island. It’s always nice to slow down and take in the architecture there.
The real highlight of the weekend, though, was Saturday night at Bohème Sauvage. It was a great excuse to actually dress up and do something different to celebrate. The whole night felt like stepping back into the 1920s—there was a live swing band, a vintage casino, and even an absinthe bar. It was definitely a night to remember.
Aside from that, we mostly just ate our way through the city. We had some really good pasta in Wilmersdorf on Saturday afternoon before heading to KaDeWe. After an exhausting shopping session trying on new fashion pieces, we stopped by the Moët bar inside to relax with some oysters and wine. On Sunday night, we wrapped things up with dinner at Bless Gourmet Restaurant on Jerusalemer Straße. It’s a spot we love to visit every time we’re in Berlin—the kitchen, atmosphere, and service are always amazing.
It was a great weekend, and definitely a good way to celebrate seven years.
This visit to the State Opera actually took place earlier in the spring, but as life sometimes gets busy, not every story finds its way onto the blog right away. We’ve decided to revisit a few memorable moments and share them retrospectively, and this unforgettable evening certainly deserves its place among them.
We treated ourselves to a special evening out at the State Opera to see Puccini’s La Bohème. The performance itself was wonderful, but we enjoyed the evening even more because, at the last minute, we managed to find a beautiful evening gown for Vlasta.
The dark navy dress turned out to be a perfect choice and was beautifully complemented by the vibrant fuchsia Jimmy Choo pumps that Vlasta received from Míša for Christmas. Once the outfit was complete, it was clear that all the effort had been worth it. Vlasta looked fantastic and, most importantly, felt wonderful, which is what truly matters.
That said, as we often joke, Míša still managed to look even more stunning. 😊 And when you think about it, if we claimed the opposite, there would probably be something a little unusual about that. 😀
As usual, we attracted quite a bit of attention. Some people smiled, others took a second look, but we’re used to that by now. We see it as part of our journey and a reminder that everyone should be free to be themselves and enjoy life’s beautiful moments without unnecessary limitations.
And that is exactly what this evening was about. A magnificent opera, a beautiful setting, elegant outfits, and most importantly, time spent together. What more could we ask for? ✨👠🎭
At the turn of June and July, we spent two weeks sailing along the Croatian coast with friends. Together with Míša, Max, and our crew, we set off from Sukošan and headed south via Murter, Vodice, Rogoznica, Trogir, and all the way to Stari Grad on Hvar before making our way back north. In Trogir, we swapped part of the crew, which gave each week of the trip its own unique atmosphere.
This year brought a heatwave across much of Europe, and Croatia was no exception, so swimming became a daily routine. The end of the trip also delivered a bit of excitement when we were caught in a strong windstorm with gusts reaching around 40 knots. Luckily, everything worked out well, and we returned home with plenty of great memories, photos, and yet another reason to come back next year. ☀️⛵🌊
Sometimes you meet people with whom every moment is fun. People who enrich you and share the same sense of humor. People who entertain you from the first to the last moment.
And that’s exactly what Ingrid and Markus are like. This post is about them and our fun encounters.
It started subtly and slowly. Over the years that Míša and I have been writing our blog and sharing our stories on social media, you realize you’re not alone. People like you are all around. You follow each other, write to each other, like photos. But you rarely meet in real life. And when the opportunity arises, you often hesitate. You don’t know each other, and apart from wearing skirts or dresses, you might not have much in common. There can be awkward silences and clock-watching.
It was the same with Ingrid and Markus, who contacted us via Instagram in June 2022, saying they were in Prague and asking if we wanted to meet. We had been following them for a long time, liked their style, sense of fashion, and the fact that, like Míša and me, they were married. They seemed nice and happy. But even so, we hesitated. In the end, curiosity won, and we decided that meeting for coffee wouldn’t hurt. And thank goodness we did.
We met wonderful, kind, and smart Ingrid & Markus with their beautiful friend Cathy and formed a friendship that we value. We found that we share a joy for traveling, discovering new things, and many other values. We were surprised at how much we had in common.
What started as a coffee turned into whole day of exploring Prague, and since then, we have visited each other several times and enjoyed our time together exploring Bavaria and the Czech Republic.
Our Very First Meeting in Prague – June 2022
As we mentioned earlier, our first meeting turned from a planned short coffee into a full day of exploring Prague with Ingrid, Markus, and Cathy. We visited classic tourist spots like the Old Town Square, the Prague Astronomical Clock, and Prague Castle, and eventually ended up in a charming café at the Písek Gate. This gate, built in 1721 by architect Giovanni Battista Alliprandi based on a design by František Vogot, was part of Prague’s baroque fortifications.
In 1741, during the War of Austrian Succession, Charles Albert of Bavaria stormed through this gate into Prague, which was defended by only a handful of untrained townspeople and students.
For Ingrid and Markus, this wasn’t their first visit to Prague – they first came shortly after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. They had plenty of funny stories from that time, reminding us of our communist past. We laughed at them, but also realized that we wouldn’t want to experience those times again.
September 2022 – Bavaria
Regensburg
Regensburg, known as Řezno in Czech, is the only preserved medieval city in Germany and one of the oldest cities in the country. The fourth largest city in the state of Bavaria is located in a bend of the Danube River, where the Naab and Regen rivers flow into it. The river Regen gave the city its name. Its older form is reflected in the name of the Celtic fortress Radasbona, which stood on this site, and around 70 AD in the name of the Roman military camp Castra Regina. This camp was expanded in 179 by Marcus Aurelius, but it was destroyed by the Germans in the 4th century.
On the ruins of the Roman settlement, a city began to grow again, where in 739 Saint Boniface founded a bishopric. For more than two hundred years, this diocese included the Czech lands until the Prague bishopric was established. In 788, Charlemagne made Regensburg a residence of the Carolingians, turning the city into the political heart of the empire and a flourishing trade center. Its peak of prosperity was reached in the 12th century when it became a free imperial city, remaining so until the end of the Holy Roman Empire in the early 19th century. From 1663 to 1802, the Imperial Diet even met here.
More than two thousand years of history are reflected at every step. In the medieval core, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, there are 984 protected buildings. These include the Stone Bridge over the Danube from the 12th century, the old town hall with the Imperial Hall where the Imperial Diet met, the cathedral with its amazing stained glass windows, a museum protecting church treasures, the historic Adler-Apotheke pharmacy, and the only preserved Roman gate north of the Alps called Porta Praetoria, which formed the northern entrance to Castra Regina. Also worth visiting is the museum dedicated to the court astrologer of Rudolf II, Johannes Kepler, who lived and died here.
The Liberation Hall on the Michelsberg near Kelheim is one of the most important buildings of the 19th century. century in Germany. Built by King Ludwig I and designed by Leo von Klenze. It is one of the large, architecturally designed national monuments, in this respect only comparable to the Walhalla near Regensburg, also built by Klenez, the Völkerschlachtdenkmal and the Kyffhäuserdenkmal.
Kloster Weltenburg, Danube river
Weltenburg is truly a special place, one in which the artistic impact, the clerical and intellectual power of the Abbey and its church meet the beauty of the river landscape of the Danube Gorge and the force of nature that is the Danube.
On a culinary level, this matchless beauty is optimally complemented by the oldest abbey brewery of the world, with its premiered beers, and our Klosterschenke restaurant.
Follow Me! On Instagram! 😀Great outfits!What a smile 🙂
June 2023
Kitchen Prelude 😀
We had arranged for Ingrid and Markus to come over on Friday around six in the evening. But we also had some workers coming in the morning to fix our poorly installed kitchen. We asked the workers how long it would take, and they estimated about 2-3 hours. So we thought it would work out perfectly – the kitchen would be done by lunchtime, we’d clean up, and when Ingrid and Markus arrived, we’d be all set.
But as things often go, it didn’t quite turn out that way. When the workers arrived, they realized they couldn’t just fix it; they had to basically dismantle the whole kitchen and then reassemble it correctly. They said they should be done by six. So we hoped for the best. As six o’clock approached and the kitchen was still far from finished, our nerves started to fray. It looked like the installation would be delayed by about half an hour, which would still be okay.
In the meantime, Ingrid and Markus arrived, and we seated them in the living room, where the entire contents of the kitchen were spread out on the floor. Luckily, we have a big living room, so everything fit.
Everything seemed fine, the guys in the kitchen were packing up, and one of them had the bright idea to secure the side panel of the dishwasher with one more screw into the wall. And as he did, he… drilled into a water pipe. 😀
Try finding a plumber on a Friday evening. It all turned out fine in the end, but the kitchen wasn’t finished until ten o’clock at night. 😀
This building that started as a late 13th century Gothic castle belonged over the years to some of the most prominent historical figures. The last owner was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown Archduke Franz Ferdinand d´Este who, was, together with his wife Sophia, assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914.
The picturesque Konopiště Castle is located just a short distance from Prague, but most tourists who visit Prague never make it here. This is a great pity because the castle has a rich history and well-preserved interiors and exteriors, including a beautiful botanical garden and a castle park. We were glad to have secured the last three tickets for the second castle tour – the private rooms – in English. So, in the end, Míša had to wait for us in the castle courtyard.
Interestingly, we had prepared a Viennese breakfast at home before our departure in the morning, and then during the castle tour, we came across an almost identically set table.
Follow me! This way, on Instagram! 😀
Prague – Day 1
Fun fact, in case you didn’t notice – Ingrid and Markus swapped clothes during the day. 😉
Prague – Day 2
August 2024 – Bavaria
Walhalla
In a high position, which dominates the surrounding landscape, the Walhalla rises near Regensburg over the Danube. With this classicist building in the form of a temple surrounded by columns, one of the most important German national monuments of the 19th century was created here on behalf of the Bavarian King Ludwig I. (r. 1825-1848).
As you can see in the photos, our tour was a blast, not just for us but also for the other tourists who thought we were an attraction. One lady even asked Markus if we were some kind of “movement.” We laughed and said we definitely were, because we had to move a lot to climb all those steep stairs. But the funniest part was taking photos outside, where Markus’s hat kept flying off because of the strong wind. Míša was holding it from the back, Ingrid from the front, but she had to let go for the photo, and the hat immediately flipped up, making Markus look like Speedy Gonzales. 😀
Nepal Himalaya Park
This visit was really hectic. In one day, we managed to visit the Bavarian Walhalla, the Nepalese Himalayas, and on our way home, we also stopped in Italy (a large Italian store in the center of Regensburg). We don’t have any photos from our visit to Italy, so please enjoy the ones from Nepal instead.
As you can see, it was challenging 😀
Although we just came from our last visit, we are already looking forward to the next one. Sort of… 😀
Over the weekend, after all the vacations we took with and without the kids last month, we stopped by Michaela’s parents in Ústí nad Labem for a visit and Saturday lunch. And since Ústí nad Labem is right on the German border and Dresden is just a stone’s throw away, we usually stop there too. And last weekend was no different.
We love Dresden for its laid-back atmosphere, reconstructed historic center, beautiful villa districts that rise above the Elbe River, friendly people, and the opportunity for a nice romantic walk along the water. And also for the shopping opportunities for fashionable clothing, which can often be found here at great discounts, and there is usually a larger selection than in stores in Prague. But we also like to come here just to stroll around the center, have a coffee or beer, enjoy good food, and then head back home to Prague.
And this time was no different. Since it was a beautiful summer day, we just went for a walk, had dinner, and then headed home.
We usually take photos with our mobile phones, but this time we had our Sony mirrorless camera with us, so we had a bit of a harder time finding someone to take our picture, as the controls are a bit more complicated than on a mobile phone. So I looked around until I saw someone with a DSLR camera whom I could ask. And after a while, I noticed three older gentlemen with DSLRs in their hands passing by. Sometimes you see such groups, which are often part of a photography course, which seemed to be the case here. So I asked them if they could take a few photos of us.
And a funny situation ensued, which you can see from the photos. One of the men took our camera, and the others started giving him instructions – how to compose the shot, to take it vertically, horizontally, in detail, that he was too close, etc. We all had a great laugh. And only after we started talking did we find out that the gentlemen were friends from France, traveling around Europe together and just passing through Dresden. So once again, we thank them for the nice photos and lots of laughs.
And as a special treat, we included another photo from the “staring until our eyes fall out” series as the final image. 😀
We decided to add some events that have already taken place in the distant past, but still could be interesting and inspiring for someone.
In March 4th 2020, I was as a CIO of the General University Hospital in Prague, one of the speakers at the IDC Security Forum conference at the Czech National Bank. I gave a presentation in one of the parallel sessions on the topic of healthcare users security, who have the impression that they are not “Amazon workers” (I apologize to the Amazon workers), and that they are so intelligent that they cannot fall for any computer attack. Which was completely wrong, of course. 😀
In today’s light, it seems as if it was 10 years ago, but it was only last year. We went on a week-long trip around Italy in the spring and one of the stops was Milan. And one evening we went to the opera house Teatro alla Scala. It was an amazing experience, and we look forward to another visit.
From today’s point of view, when I look at those photos, I would probably wear a longer dress. It is interesting how fast women’s fashion changes. 😊
The photos are from a mobile phone, so it’s not a great quality, but they captured the atmosphere anyway. Enjoy them. ❤
After the performance, we went to a nearby world-famous shopping gallery Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to a restaurant for a glass of wine, and we took advantage of the fact that at that time the gallery was already completely empty, and we danced a walz under the dome. 💃💃
Just a few pictures from my birthday. We went out to dinner with the kids yesterday and during the day we walked through Prague, stopped at our favorite restaurants, had some drinks and during the time we exchanged several outfits, as you can see. Michaela baked me Pavlova’s amazing cake, and I got beautiful flowers from her. The last stop was in our favorite restaurant Tiskárna, where we had our wedding reception a year ago.
Today was a beautiful warm sunny day in Prague, so we went for a walk to the newly built replica of the original Marian column on the Old Town Square. Column stood here for almost 370 years, and was overthrown by an enraged mob after the declaration of Czechoslovak independence in 1918.
The Marian Column on the Old Town Square also indicated the local Prague time. Although mechanical clocks date back to the 14th century and the Old Town Astronomical Clock dates back to the early 15th century, their adjustment depended on solar time. Each village had its own time given by the meridian that passed through the village. The line that defined the Prague meridian was marked by three strips of paving stones and headed north from the center of the column.
After a hundred years of walking around the square without the column, it was no longer clear to many of us why the meridian was marked in the pavement. But with the construction of the replica it became clear. So today we went to see how the column measures noon again. The shadow showed noon thanks to daylight saving time at 12:58 – 2 minutes ahead. 🙂
Michaela picked for me combination of polka-dot dress with new jacket. We were surprised at how well it matched together. On the way home we stopped at the Swarovski store to look at some bracelets, and then we were glad to relax with cafe in the House of the Black Madonna.
We have seen Tosca at The State Opera yesterday. The performance was breathtaking. And we finally enjoyed the opportunity to wear evening dress. 🙂
Due to the covid pandemic, the performance was moved from the spring term, and took place in a slightly modified mode. The individual groups of visitors were separated from each other, including separate entrances. We thought for a while if we should go at all, but in the end we were glad we did. Even though the performance was sold out, in the end one third of visitors did not arrive. So even the social distancing was artificially created.
Yesterday we went for a walk around Prague, but in the end we did not go very far. Along the way, we came across a shoe store with huge sale, where we spent almost the entire afternoon. This is one of the accompanying phenomena of the ongoing pandemic – almost everything is on sale, almost everything can be bought for 50% or less. The less hilarious part is that it’s almost nowhere to wear. But this is hopefully just a transitional state.
On the way back home, we stopped at our favorite restaurant Tiskárna for a late lunch. We had a meal that all Czechs from school cafeterias know – dill sauce. One Czech proverb says: “When two do the same thing, it is not always the same”. In this case, it was more true than ever. 🙂
We had beef in traditional creamy dill sauce, baked potatoes, cured egg yolk, and for dessert we had homemade blueberry ice lolly. The food was, as always, amazing. Pilsner beer here is probably the best beer in the whole of Prague, and the service in the restaurant is excellent, friendly and professional. Definitely worth a visit.
And one more interesting thing. From the moment we know each other, we have one habit that helps us stay fit. In addition to walking a few kilometers every day. We share the meals in the restaurants. Usually we only have one main course, no appetizers. You wouldn’t believe how little food is enough for us, and how we as people are constantly overeating. And as every girl knows, and the men should know as well – it is not very good for your figure. 😀
