alexandriacardinals

‘Twas a beautiful day for a track meet at Alexandria Area High School.  OK, 50-ish and blustery, but who doesn’t like all the sunshine?  It was the True Team Section Meet – I don’t know what the means?  It been been scheduled for Thursday but rain changed it to Friday.  That made it possible for me to finally do some Cub Reporting this spring (hadn’t been to a single sports event yet) – Thursdays are always overbooked.  Anyway, there were nine teams involved – a feeble attempt at naming them all is Alex, Moorhead, Monticello, St. Cloud Tech, Sauk Rapids, St. Michael-Albertville, Brainerd, Bemidji, and Buffalo.  I did it!  I don’t know how to cover a big track meet.  I don’t think you can individually.  It started at 3:00 and didn’t end until after 8:00 (I’m told) – I left a little after 6:00 after being on my feet for three hours.  I don’t know many of our athletes.  I tried to shoot anyone in an Alex jersey.  It began with the field events.  I found a spot in the southeast corner where with my head on a swivel I could see the long jump, the high jump, the shot put, and the discus.  I don’t know who won anything (a coach this morning said he thought the boys finished 3rd and the girls 4th).  I’ll leave the individuals unnamed if I don’t know them and maybe you readers can fill me in?

[Blustery – get under a blanket like a football game!]

Girls long jump

[Hair gets a little windblown.  Like the STMA jumper warming up by hopping on the sidelines.]

[These were all taken from the stands . . . ]

[All the head on shots had to be taken through a chainlink fence.  Hence, the blue-gray hue.  I’m trying to get a press pass to get on field privileges – apparently you actually need qualifications?]

Girls high jump

Girls long jump (again)

[In individual events, each of the nine teams likely has three performers and each performer gets three attempts.  Alexandria arithmetic teachers taught me that means 81 attempts in such as the long jump, et al, which under the theory of relativity means each of these event takes at least an hour and a half to complete.]

Girls discus

[Duck!!  Not really.  This is Cheyenne Hendrickson.  We know her from the basketball team.  She also puts the shot.  She’s very good at both, I’m told.]

Girls 100-meter hurdles

Girls 100-meter dash

[Kelby Olson-Rodel from the basketball team.]

[On the next flight, I caught the Tech runner in a false start.  That’s tough, an hour bus ride and then can’t compete because one false start and you’re out.]

Boys 100-meter dash

[She ran a really tight ship for all the running events.  🙂  ]

[Jaran Roste, having a pretty special sophomore year.  Starting quarterback in football, starting guard in basketball, and at 6’2″, 200 pounds, a sprinter in track.]

Girls 4 x 200 (I think)

Girls 1600-meter

[Megan Hasz and Kiyana Miller (basketballer) take their places.]

[The distance races are all about the Hasz sisters.  Megan won here in 5:01; she was hoping to finish under 5:00 but it was a strong head wind on the back stretch.  Bethany later won the 3200-meter.]

[Her fellow Cardinals also finished nicely.]

Boys 1600-meter

Girls 4 x 100

[Alex took 2nd.  I left then with a bit of a sunburn, the Super no doubt awaiting my arrival.]

Two people kissing always look like fish.  ~  Andy Warhol [Well, it is fishing opener.]

Up next:  Back to Europe.

It’s not always just about ginormous trips.  There’s always plenty of excitement right here in Vacationland USA!

The Waybacks, Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale, April 2

The Cheesebots, Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale, April 4 (With the ever popular wine lovers’ plate.)

Easter, April 6 (W/Bebop-A-Rebop Rhubarb Pie)

Andrew Walesch, Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale, April 10 (With Smartie, Pike & Pint, and Cherry Street Books where Jami is now part-time employed.)

Anthony Miltich (well, his guitars), Carlos Creek Winery, April 11

Dock in (W/Patchouli on big screen TV with Google Chrome), April 13

Alexandria Golf Club (100th Anniversary Year), April 15

“Mary Poppins,” Alexandria Area High School, April 17

Salty Dogs, Carlos Creek Winery, April 18

Video of “Norwegian Wood”:

Patchouli, Sixth Avenue Wine & Ale, May 7  (Alex is always their first stop back North after a winter of entertaining the snowbirds in Florida.)

I will not meet you at the pier, as it will probably be chilly.  ~  Anton Chekhov (to Olga Knipper)

Up next:  Track meet?

When last we left you, Rocky and Bullwinkle had been captured and taken behind the Iron Curtain by Boris and Natasha. We’re on our way to Prague Castle to rescue them . . 

Prague

[We drove by Brahe and Kepler, major contributors to the science of the world.  Well, if you believe in science (sorry, couldn’t help myself).]    ]

[We have arrived at the Castle and Mike leads us to the gate.]

[Editor’s note:  There has been a complaint filed with the publisher that there have been too many trip photos of buildings and not enough of food.  To assuage the complainant, we humbly offer the following two food photos.]

[Appetites sated, we return to Mike who offers up the whys and wherefores of Prague Castle.]

[Something about a guy in uniform?]

[OK folks, please remember, do not feed the soldiers.]

[A quick look around – somehow we never went over to what appears to be an interesting vista in the immediate above photo?]

[OK, F Troop, let’s go in!   The castle is the residence and office of the Czech president and also the place where the crown jewels are stored.]

[A building of some import and cleanliness.  Darn if I can remember what it is?]

[The entry gate to the castle.]

[The is a white building with a flag flying overhead right above the head of the woman in the immediate foreground . . .]

[It’s the US Embassy.]

[Is that any way to greet visitors?]

[Not anyone we’re likely to know.  I could look it up, but it could take hundreds of hours and cost thousands of lives.]

[In the photo under the red limos, there’s a building on the left painted to give a 3-D effect – it works!  We also have another view of the Eiffel Tower (to be visited anon) and the spires of St. Vitus Cathedral.]

[All of the above are of St. Vitus Cathedral which is famous for being yet another European Gothic cathedral.  It is located entirely within the confines of the castle    ]

[We back outside again, checking out the cathedral from the other side.  It was windy – the fountain behind the Super was threatening her ‘do.]

[One really does get the feeling of being on the set of a medieval movie.  The exterior mosaics, the rose window, are all really quite spectacular.]

[Saying good-bye to the men in uniform and the castle.  This was end of our morning guided tour.]

[That afternoon we were free to venture out on our own.  Rita and her old nursing college roommate, Karen, arrived and were anxious for some sightseeing.  We decided to try the public transportation – go to the funicular, ride it up for a view of the city from the Eiffel Tower.  As what occasionally happens, we began by going in the wrong direction on the trolley.]

[We made it back to initial starting point (top) and kept going until we got to the Memorial to the Victims of Communism.  That’s Reetz on the bottom.]

[With the Super, Reetz, and Karen on the funicular ride to the top of Petrin Hill.]

[We’re halfway up!]

[Not Charles Lindbergh, but apparently a Czech ace from WW I.]

[Looking for the city overlook, we came up this park overlook.]

[The many sides of love . . .]

[And here we are at the aforementioned Eiffel Tower (junior). After some considerations, we decided not to climb it.]

[We began walking toward the monastery at the top of the hill for a scenic overlook.]

[We found some views of the city . . . and looking back, of the Eiffel Tower.]

[My kind of town, Prague is . . .]

[What?  Sinatra already did that song?]

[Upon further review, it’s a touchdown!]

[Group photos!  All taken from Strahov Monastery on Petrin Hill (where the Eiffel Tower is at the top.]

[Unfortunately, the monastery was not open to visitors on this day.]

[Since we had already started walking down the hill to get to the monastery, we decided to walk all the way down rather than going back to the funicular.  It was nice to find a “comfort station” from home along the way!  🙂  ]

[A bit steep, but my Fat Boys Walking legs were up to the challenge!]

[We’re all the way down now and looking for our trolley stop.  We could not see Lake L’Homme Dieu from Bugaboo in this instance.]

[We’re back to the hotel.  This event was going on the whole time we were there.  Very official looking people in business suits and ID badges were always mingling in the lobby – usually in groups of three, two guys and a gal.  Kind of a menage a trois of scientists?]

One more day in Prague, on our own.

Get the super sauce, Fred!  ~  Super Chicken

Up next:  How ’bout a boat trip?

Prague

*  Yes, this day was so big the second half will be treated as a sequel!

[Day two began in the same manner as our previous night’s stroll.  This time, however, we were on a guided tour.  I’m sure by now you’re wondering where’s the rest of our party? The Super and I flew from MSP to Amsterdam to Prague, where we would spend our first three days before the river cruise began from Budapest.  Rita (a/k/a, “Reetz” or “Biddy One”) and Karen’s arrival in Prague from Indianapolis was delayed one day for reasons we won’t go into here.  The Gross family were leaving D.C. for four preliminary days in Vienna, but the plane developed a galley fire, turned back, was cancelled, so they were a day late also.  The overall trip was not getting off to a good start!]

[A fine mosaic at the top of the Municipal House.]

[This is our guide, Michal.  He said call him”Mike.” He was raised partly in the Netherlands, where his mother is from, and partly in Czech, where his father is from. When I asked him how many languages he spoke, we were interrupted by business before he could finish – I believe we were up to six.]

[OK, you already know this place . . . ]

[The Czech National Bank, right across the street from the Powder Tower.]

[As a denizen of Lake Darling, the name caught my eye.  No other reason.]

[OK, we passed through the Powder Tower, but because it’s morning you’re seeing it in an entirely different light.  😉  ]

[We didn’t think it appropriate that Mike had already given our group an “F”!]

[Side streets sometimes go through buildings.]

[The spires of Tyn Church, closing in on Old Town Square again.]

[Church of St. James.  There is a mummified forearm, hanging by chain from the ceiling, just to the right of the above photo.  It’s the arm of a jewel thief that was cut off by the monks upon his capture over 400 years ago.  Didn’t take a photo, thought it a bit ghoulish, but if you are so inclined you can find several shots of it on the internet.]

[It’s a bomb!]

[It’s an alley!]

[In Old Town Square, the Jan Hus fountain.]

[Displaying photographic bona fides, Mr. Hus with the Old Town City Hall clock tower.]

[The Tyn spires . . .]

[The family Gross were going on to four days in Transylvania at the end of our cruise.  I do believe I captured the essence of Transylvania in this photo . . . bwa-ha-ha!]

[Jewish Town Hall clock.]

[Taking five in the Old Town Square, we found the fuel supply for the following . . .]

[Beer and a brat, over a wood fired stove.]

[The Astronomical Clock on the Old Town City Hall.  There will be a video on this later.]

[Looks like they wallpapered the building exterior.]

[OK, listen up.  Ruthie, you run a 10-yard square out.  The rest of you stay in to block.  On three!]

[Another little square with outdoor dining.]

[Got any trdelnik?]

[Just stuff you wander into . . .]

[OK, it looks like we’re approaching Charles Bridge . . .]

[And here we are again!]

[We have better lighting for sightseeing and photography in the morning.]

[The Prague Castle over the top of the Super’s head . . . and we’re heading that way.]

[Local group of some fame, either the Czech Mates or the Bouncing Czechs, I don’t recall (OK, OK, too easy).]

[Because inquiring minds want to know, why are we wearing jackets?  Well, I thought the temperatures were just perfect throughout the trip, jacket weather in the morning, optional in the afternoon, great for lots of walking.  The temps were pretty much what we have at home this time of year.  The key to remember is that Prague is farther north than Winnipeg.  Yup.  And Bucharest, at the end of our trip, is just about the same north latitude as Minneapolis.]

[Just walkin’ across the bridge.]

[The Eiffel Tower in the distance.  It is!  Built as a mini version of Paris’s Eiffel Tower, the Petrin Observation Tower was built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition.  The tower is 60m tall, which doesn’t seem particularly high until you add in the fact that it sits at the summit of Petrin Hill, which is 318m (1043 feet) high.  Climb the 299 steps to reach the top of the tower and the view over Prague is magnificent. On a clear day it is possible to see the highest peak in the Czech Republic, Snezka, which is 150km away [Prague experience.com].]

[Quintessential old Europe . . . well, except for the modern river cruise boat.]

[We came from back there . . . ]

[Rubbing for luck . . .]

[It’s a movie!  I’m looking for Liam Neeson . . .]

[This latter is the most multi-figured statuary on the bridge.  The guy on the left with a blue jacket similar to mine is Dale, a retired gym teacher from Chicago.  Just in case you were wondering.]

[WHOA . . . back to the trdelnik place!  🙂  ]

[And this is what I get?  OK, it’s a lovely croissant.  Goes well with the flower and my pork pie hat with the Gopher football stick pin.]

[And what goes better with a brunch croissant . . . a pilsner?]

[Just sit back and watch the world cross the bridge.]

[Doesn’t get much better than this!]

[And now we’re across the bridge and walking to a bus to take us to Prague Castle.]

[The Vltava floods from time to time.  It’s a river!  The last big one was just 13 years ago – see the water line marked on the wall.]

[Now down at the movie set . . . no Liam Nesson.  Kim Kardashian, maybe?]

[The Super with a plane tree.]

[Stretching with friends . . .]

[I’m sure these have a deeper, artistic meaning . . . I just saw cute baby butts.]

[It is what it is.]

[Another naked lady statue . . .]

[We’re down at the river level, ISO our bus . . .]

[We’re climbing the hill by bus, past this 200,000-seat soccer stadium where the Rollingstones have played five times (well, not soccer), on the way to the castle.  We’ll end Part I here.]

Intelligent women always marry fools.  ~  Anatole France  [Editor’s note:  Well I guess that doesn’t speak too highly of me?]

Up next:  Need I tell you?