nPostednOctober 28, 2016
n
n
n
n
Apparentlynmany cities in the Czech Republic have streets named “October 28thnStreet” (in the Czech language, of course!).
Apparentlynmany cities in the Czech Republic have streets named “October 28thnStreet” (in the Czech language, of course!).n
n
n
nThat’snbecause Czechs had hungered for reforms and rights under the AustriannEmpire (later called the Austro-Hungarian Empire). A movement tonrevive the Czech language and national identity had begun. When thenAustro-Hungarian Empire collapsed at the end of World War I,nCzechoslovakia was created on October 28, 1918.
n
n
n
nSincenthen, there have been many changes for the people of Czechoslovakia –nbeing occupied by Germany during WWII, becoming a communist statenunder Soviet influence during the Cold War, being occupied by Sovietntroops after the attempt at reform called the Prague Spring, becomingna republic after the 1989 Velvet Revolution and fall of communism,nand peacefully dividing from Slovakia in 1993. n
n
n
n
nStill,nOctober 28 remains an important historical touchstone – thenanniversary of the day when the Czech people were able to realizentheir goal of becoming an independent, self-governing nation!
n
n
n
n(Slovakiandoes not celebrate October 28.)
n
n
n
nI’venposted before about the Czech Republic, but here are a few new tidbits:
n
- n
-
nThe Czech Republic is divided into two main regions: Bohemia andn Moravia. Apparently the identity as Moravians – separate fromn being “Czechs” – is pretty strong among people who live in the eastern region, and a quarter of alln Moravians actually want to split off from the Czech Republic to ben their own nation.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nOf course, that means that three quarters of all Moravians do NOT want such a split! (This polling info is about four years old, by the way, but I hope it is still current.)
n
nIn general, Moravia is a bit more rural than Bohemia. I read that it is very green. Um…yeah!
n
n
n
n
n
 |
| Even this cave (Punkevni) is pretty darned green! |
n
n
n
n
- n
-
n
In read that many Czechs and Slovaks did not want Czechoslovakia ton split up, and that the peoples of the two nations often refers ton each other as “brothers.” Again, there seems to be a disparityn in urban/rural, industrial/agricultural – with the Czech Republicn being more urban and industrial, with its largest city, Prague,n being one of the cultural centers of Europe!n
-
nEvenn though most people think that Germany or Wales are the castlen capitals of the world, the Guiness Book of World Records statedn that, aside from the teeny-tiny principality of Liechtenstein,n Czechoslovakia was the most densely “castellated” country inn Europe. Of course, that was before Czechoslovakia was devided inton two separate countries. Still, we can say that the Czech Republic isn up there in having lots of castles, chateaux, and palaces –n including ruins of each – per square kilometer.
n
n
n
nn
n
nn
n
nn
n
nn
n
nn
n
nn
n
nn
n
nn
n
n
Somen of the castles / chateaux are being used in a variety of ways, thesen days (at least one as a home for the elderly, which is very nice),n some are tourist destinations, some are ruins, and some aren privately owned and closed to visitors. There are so many that it’sn impossible to buy a castle map and just see them all, but touristsn are urged to buy several different castle-tour maps and to maken their own discoveries of great spots.n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nFrankenstein Friday
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nCostumenDesigner Edith Head’s birthday
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nChefnAuguste Escoffier’s birthday
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nOhinDay in Cyprus and Greece
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversarynof the opening of the Gateway Arch
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nPlannahead:
n
n
n
n
n
nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
n
- n
-
n
-
n
-
n
n
n
n
nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
n
- n
-
nNovembern holidays
n
-
nNovembern birthdays
n
-
nHistoricaln anniversaries in November
n
n
n
n
n
n