The Sunday run - again

Last Sunday, as usual, I was thinking of going for my normal Sunday run. The day was gray, boring and humid (the pictures in the last post were taken 2 weeks ago). As I got out I realised it was actually raining. I ran the first few kilometers not knowing if I would go down to the river or not, as I would get quite cold in the metro if I would get too wet. When I was at the top of the nice downhill road I decided to risk it and go all the way down to the river. To convince myself I thought "with this weather only true runners will be out running and you will be one of them!". As soon as I said this to myself, I saw another runner. On top of the road, where I have never ever seen another person running! After a few meters I can tell he is running at more or less my speed. He sees that as well and starts talking to me. He is Czech but speaks English. He asked me about my running plan and said if I wouldn't mind he could join me all the way, because he likes to run with company. We talked about many different things. He once belonged to the Czech junior team of athletics. We talked about running. Swimming. Birds. The path along the river. Other places to run. Jobs. Christmas runs. Adventures. It was all so entertaining that when I noticed we were already approaching the metro station. It was the fastest Sunday run ever. Both literally and mentally. 

Thinking I almost didn't go because it was such bad weather and then I meet this cool crazy runner. It's the second time in the same week that I felt rewarded for taking risks. I'm really glad I did it! And you know what? We didn't meet any other runner on the way. We were the only true runners of Prague... (yeah, keeping dreaming).

Prague bucket list #11 - my Sunday run

One of the items in my bucket list was to turn my usual Sunday run into a walk and photograph it, so I would have pictures to remember it later. I have no idea how many times I have ran this same course, but I did it many many weekends, because it's gorgeous and pleasant to run. Now, let me take you on my Sunday run. No, don't worry, you don't have to get up from your nice comfortable sofa. You just have to follow me virtually...

Um dos pontos da minha lista era tornar a minha corrida de Domingo numa caminhada, de modo a poder fotografa-la para ter algo que me recordasse deste caminho mais tarde. Não faço ideia de quantas vezes corri este percurso, mas foram com certeza muitos e muitos fins de semana, porque é uma percurso lindíssimo e agradável de correr. Por isso, agora deixem-me levar-vos pelo meu percurso de Domingos fora. Não, não se preocupem, não têm que se levantar desse sofá tão confortável. Basta seguirem-me virtualmente...

The run always starts at home and for the first few kilometers it just goes among buildings until we get to the neighbourhood of Bohnice. There we go past a few last houses and we head down to the river. 

Começamos sempre em casa e nos primeiros quilometros passamos por entre edificios sem graça até chegarmos ao bairro de Bohnice. Aí passamos pelas ultimas casas e começamos a descida para o rio.

This is my favourite part. The road is slightly inclined, just enough to make me feel like I'm flying, but not so much that my knees hurt. Besides that, running in the middle of the forest, listening to birds singing it's an amazing feeling, and on this road there are almost no cars (or people...).

Este é o meu pedaço preferido. A estrada é ligeiramente inclinada, o suficiente para eu sentir que estou a voar em vez de correr, e não tanto que me faça esforçar os joelhos demasiado. Além disso, correr no meio da floresta a ouvir os pássaros é fantástico e nesta estrada quase não passam carros (ou pessoas...).

 The trail run I did last month went across this road and the arrows were still there.

A corrida trail que fiz no mês passado atravessou esta estrada e as setas de marcação ainda estavam visíveis. 

The road keeps going, among the colourful trees.

A estrada continua por entre tantas árvores coloridas.

After less than 2 Km we get to the river...

Depois de menos de 2 Km chegamos ao rio...

And this is the view you get down to the river. This path along the river goes on and on. It actually goes around Czech Republic, some parts connecting to Austria, Germany and Slovakia. 

E esta é a vista perto do rio. O caminho que se vê na foto não tem fim. Dá a volta pela República Checa e em algumas partes liga-se à Austria, Alemanha e Eslovaquia. 

There's always a lot of people running, cycling and skating here (of course chose the empty moments to take the photos). By the way, the lookout point shown in this post here is just above the top of the yellow trees. 

Há sempre imensa gente a correr, andar de bicicleta ou a andar de patins aqui (claro que escolhemos os momentos sem gente para tirar as fotos). Já agora, o lugar que descrevi neste post aqui, fica por cima do topo das árvores amarelas.

 Who wouldn't want to walk/run/cycle here???

Quem não ia querer andar/correr/andar de bicicleta aqui???

Then, we pass by the zoo where sometimes we can hear the lions, and we come to a pedestrian bridge. Across the bridge is Stromovka park, one of the biggest in Prague. When we want to make a longer run we go across the the bridge and go a lap or to (or more) in the park.  

Depois passamos pelos zoo, onde às vezes se podem ouvir os leões, e chegamos à ponte pedestre. Do outro lado da ponte está o parque Stromovka, um dos maiores de Praga. Quando queremos correr mais quilómetros atravessamos a ponte e damos umas voltas no parque. 

If we continue our path, under the pedestrian bridge...
Continuando por baixo da ponte pedestre...

... we come to the rapids, or Prague's Canoeing center. There's always someone practicing there, during all seasons. 

... chegamos aos rápidos ou ao Centro de Canoagem de Praga. Há sempre alguém a treinar, seja lá qual for a estação do ano.

From the rapids to the new bridge is very short and we get almost to the end of the course.
Dos rápidos à ponte nova é um saltinho e estamos quase no fim do percurso.

We then cross the bridge, enjoy the view over the river one more time and sprint to the metro stop. And that's it! 12.6 Km done!

A seguir atravessamos a ponte, apreciamos a vista só mais uma vez e fazemos um sprint até à estação de metro. E é isso! 12.6 Km feitos!

How did you enjoy your run with me? Did I convince you that my Sunday run is awesome?
E vocês? Gostaram de vir correr comigo? Convenci-vos de que a minha corrida de Domingo é o máximo?

Prague bucket list #10 - Botanic Gardens

Prague's Botanic Gardens, like Prague's Zoo, are located on a hill. We started our visit on top, not far from where we live, and walked all the way down. It was halloween and the trees were still full of colourful leaves. It was one of those Autumn days where the sun shines and the sky is so blue that almost hurts your eyes. It was a very well spent afternoon.

Os Jardins Botânicos de Praga, tal como o Zoo, ficam ao longo de uma encosta. Nós começamos a visita por cima, porque é mais perto de casa e fomos andando até chegarmos ao novel do rio. Era dia de halloween e as árvores ainda estavam cheias de folhas coloridas, num dia de Outono em que o sol brilhava e o céu era tão azul que doíam os olhos só de olhar. Foi uma tarde mesmo muito bem passada. 

 View over Prague / Vista sobre Praga

Iron tower where one can climb to the top and take the photo below.

Torre em ferro, à qual se pode subir para se tirar a foto em baixo.

 Beautiful giraffe iron structures / Esculturas em ferro bonitas na forma de girafas

You can also rest in a hammock or play with kites.

Também se pode descansar ou lançar papagaios de papel.

 Pumpkin garden to celebrate halloween / Jardim de abóboras para festejar o halloween

 Japanese Garden / Jardim Japonês

I fell in love with the red tree, but the name was only written in czech and it got lost in my memory...

Amei a árvore vermelha mas o nome só estava escrito em checo e perdeu-se na minha memoria...

Inside the botanic gardens there's a vineyard. A great program is after getting tired walking around the botanic gardens, go and walk through the vineyard and then sit down in their cafe, taste some Czech wines and enjoy the view.

Dentro dos jardins botânicos há uma vinha. Um bom programa é depois de nos cansarmos a passear pelos jardins, atravessarmos a vinha e sentarmo-nos no café a provar vinhos checos e a apreciar a vista sobre a cidade. 

View from the vineyard cafe / Vista do café dentro da vinha

At the bottom of the hill, outside the gardens perimeter but still as part of it, we can find Fata Morgana, a big green house with tropical plants and aquariums. I think living in Brazil has spoiled us regarding tropical plants and flowers, but it was still interesting to see the fishes and revisiting some trees with giant leaves. 

No sopé da encosta, fora dos jardins botânicos mas ainda parte deles, podemos encontrar Fata Morgana, uma estufa enorme com plantas tropicais e aquários. Acho que depois de morar no Brasil nunca mais vamos olhar para plantas e flores tropicais da mesma maneira. Ainda assim foi interessante ver os peixes coloridos e rever arvores de folhas gigantes. 

Entrance to the aquariums / Entrada para os aquários

We ended the afternoon with a stunning sunset sky!

Acabamos a tarde com um pôr do sol fantástico!

Six degrees of separation

Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. (in wikipedia)

My teacher of Czech language (when I had classes two years ago) is an artist. Among other things she sings and belongs to a band - Martina Trchova & Trio. One of my favourite places to see them playing is in a bar called Jazz Dock. They were playing there yesterday. I planned to go and as J. is in Sweden now, I tried to contact some of our former colleagues, thinking we could all book a table and catch up. No one could make it. I decided to go on my own, nothing booked, hoping I would make new friends.

As soon as I got into the bar I saw Martina. She pointed out a girl standing in a corner, one of her current students, that had also come alone to the concert. I introduced myself. She is brazilian (B.) and we were both happy to be able to have a conversation in portuguese. She is also a scientist and after 5 minutes talking we found friends in common. Of course, because Brazil is a small country...

Just before the concert started she waved to another girl that had just arrived (G.). G. had booked a table for 4, expecting to easily convince at least 3 other people to go with her. Well, she didn't. She was in panic because she was only expecting another friend, N., and she would have 2 free seats, which would be frown upon by the staff as the bar was full. Me and B. got invited to join her table. When we were one song into the concert her friend N. arrived. I know N.! He was one of my classmates as well, one that I haven't seen in a year and one that I forgot to contact to go to the concert... The first few moments of his arrival were very funny. His face was totally puzzled trying to figure out how the hell did I know those two girls. The two girls also looked very confused, questioning how the hell did I know their friend when I had just met them half an hour ago. And I was laughing at all this. 

We ended up having a great time chatting, listening to our friend singing and laughing a lot. I like to think that in some level this was all meant to be. Especially after hearing that G. had booked a table for 4 hoping to fill it up. And she did! She just didn't know with whom until it actually happened.

A minha professora de checo (quando ainda tinha aulas, há dois anos) é uma artista multifacetada. Entre outras coisas ela canta e pertence a uma banda - Martina Trchova & Trio. Um dos meus locais preferidos para ir ver um concerto deles é um bar chamado Jazz Dock. Há uns dias atrás havia um concerto deles nesse bar. Eu queria ir mas não tinha companhia porque o J. está neste momento na Suécia. Contactei os meus antigos colegas da aula de checo a pensar que poderíamos reservar uma mesa e pôr a conversa em dia, mas por coincidência nenhum deles podia ir. Como queria mesmo ir decidi ir sozinha, na esperança de fazer novos amigos. 

Assim que entrei no bar vi a Martina. Quando ela percebeu que eu estava sozinha apontou para uma rapariga em pé ao canto do balcão e disse-me que era uma das suas estudantes que também tinha vindo sozinha ao concerto. Fui ter com ela e apresentei-me. Ela é brasileira (B.) e ficamos as duas felizes por podermos conversar em português. Ela também trabalha em ciência e depois de 5 minutos de conversa descobrimos amigos em comum. Claro, porque o Brasil é um país pequeno...

Mesmo antes de o concerto começar ela acenou a uma outra rapariga que tinha acabado de entrar (G.). A G. tinha reservado uma mesa para 4, supondo que facilmente arranjaria 3 amigos para a acompanhar. Mas não conseguiu. Ela estava quase em pânico porque estava só à espera de outro amigo, o N., e teria 2 lugares vagos, temendo que o pessoal do bar a olhasse de lado porque o bar estava cheio. Assim, convidou-nos para a mesa e nós aceitamos. Ainda durante a primeira canção o N. chegou e eu percebo que o conheço! Ele também era um dos meus colegas nas aulas de checo, que nunca mais tinha voltado a ver e provavelmente o único que não me lembrei de contactar a perguntar se ia ao concerto... Os primeiros momentos foram muito engraçados. O N. super confuso e a perguntar-se como é que eu conhecia as duas raparigas. As raparigas a perguntarem-se como raio é que eu conhecia o N. E eu a rir-me de tudo!

A noite acabou por ser super divertida connosco a conversar, a rir muito e a ouvir a voz da nossa amiga Martina. Gosto de pensar que de alguma forma isto estava tudo escrito para ser assim. Especialmente se pensarmos que a G. reservou mesa para 4, na esperança de a encher, o que no fim aconteceu, só não foi da maneira que ela esperava.

The ridiculousnesses of my job #2

Basic Info:

Material 1 has to go through Process A before it can be used. 

Process A is not complex, but it requires a handy operator. 

Process A is not the focus of my work.

Historical:

More than 2 years ago, in my first week at this job, I got Material 1 ready to use. 

Ten months ago I learned about Process A, from the most experienced person - let's call him BS- so I wouldn't depend on anybody else to get more Material 1. 

I was never great at Process A, but for my own use it was enough. I also never had the time to improve it as I only had to do it 3 or 4 times. 

Recently:

BS says I should teach process A to a new person. I reply I don't feel comfortable with that, as I have only done a few times and I think someone more experienced should teach it (I didn't say it clearly, but I meant himself).

He says he will ask person L. I thought Person L was experienced in Processes B and C, which are similar but not the same, but maybe Person L was trained in Process A recently.

Person L comes to my office and asks me details about Process A. Person L has never done Process A.

Present:

I am teaching Process A to the new person and to Person L. Wish me luck...

Prague bucket list #9 - Divoká Šárka

Divoká Šárka is a nature reserve just outside of Prague. It contains a lake, a gorge, through which one can walk through, cliffs to walk up and enjoy the views, and a lot of different paths to walk or cycle around. According to the legend, it was named after Šárka, a female warrior, who threw herself off one of the cliffs after betraying her lover. 

Although it's November, today was a beautiful sunny day, with a bright blue sky and 20 ºC. The great weather together with the colours of the Autumn made up for some great photos. I hope you like them.

Divoká Šárka é uma reserva natural mesmo no limite de Praga. Contém um lago, um desfiladeiro, o qual se pode atravessar a pé, penhascos onde se pode subir para apreciar as vistas e muitos caminhos e trilhos para caminhar ou andar de bicicleta. Reza a lenda que a reserva tem este nome porque uma guerreira, a Šárka, se atirou de um dos penhascos abaixo depois de ter traído o seu amor. 

Apesar de estarmos em Novembro hoje esteve um dia lindo e solarengo, com um céu azul brilhante e 20 ºC. O tempo ameno juntamente com as cores do Outono reuniram as condições ideais para visitar esta reserva e tirar muitas fotos. Espero que gostem.

 Grandparents with grandchildren playing with kites / Avós e netos a lançar papagaios