Just another manic... Wednesday

I had a meeting to discuss the possibility of doing an internship. It was this morning at 8 am. It was outside of the city and it would take me about an hour to get there. This was the closest I have gotten to an interview, so knowing myself and how clumsy I can be, I planed everything as much as I could to make it a success. I would have to take the first bus of the day to that part of the city, from the center, so I had to make sure I wouldn't miss it. As a precaution I took an earlier tram to make sure I would be at the bus stop in time. I got there at 7h20 and I froze while waiting for the bus. I proudly got to the meeting place at 7h50. 

Perfect, just like a Swede would do! No Sara way this time!

I was warmly welcome by members of staff but the responsible that would meet me was not there yet.

8:00... 8:10... 8:20...

Well, this is odd. Maybe something happened. Swedes are never late!

Let me check my email... ok, the meeting is at 9am!!!

She booked the meeting and sent me a notification straight from the outlook calendar, which for some stupid reason is in the portuguese timezone in my computer, and it automatically converted the time of the meeting! Luckily, it was portuguese time and not another one, and I got there an hour before and not after the meeting!

If only the book I had with me was not called "Barbara the slut" I could have read, but like that I didn't dare.

Just another day in the Sara world...

Sara Jump - České Budějovice

České Budějovice, December 2015

České Budějovice - Czech Republic

České Budějovice is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is also the city of birth of Budweiser, the Czech beer not the American Budweiser. Rumours say the Czech beer was the first to be invented, but someone enjoyed it so much that exported both the idea and the name to the U.S. I have tried both and there's no doubt that the Czech one is much better than the american version.

České Budějovice é a maior cidade na região da Boémia do Sul da República Checa. É também a cidade onde nasceu a cerveja Budweiser, a cerveja checa, não confundir com a Budweiser americana. Os rumores dizem que a cerveja checa foi a primeira a ser inventada, mas alguém gostou tanto que exportou a ideia e o nome para os EUA. Eu já provei as ambas e não há dúvida de que a checa é muito melhor do que a versão americana.

Budweiser is also one of the most popular beers in the Czech Republic and I couldn't miss the chance to visit it's birth place when I was still living there. We only spent a day in České Budějovice but we got a good impression of the city and we had a lovely lunch at the brewery. All the buildings in the Old Town center are beautiful and we really enjoyed ourselves getting lost in the streets of the city. Come and get lost with me.

A Budweiser também é uma das cervejas mais populares na República Checa e eu não poderia perder a oportunidade de visitar o seu lugar de origem enquanto estava a viver lá. Só passamos um dia em České Budějovice mas ficamos com uma boa impressão da cidade e da comida que provamos na própria cervejaria. Todos os prédios na parte mais antiga da cidade são muito bonitos e nós deixamo-nos perder pelas ruas da cidade. Venham e percam-se comigo.

The Black Tower and St. Nicholas Cathedral / A Torre Negra e a catedral de São Nicolau

 Christmas market at Ottokar II square / Mercado de Natal na Praça Ottokar II

Meat, potato dumplings and cabbage: it just couldn't get more Czech. The food was delicious, especially when washed down with a dark Budweiser. 

Carne, dumpling de batata e repolho: mais Checo que isto não há. A comida estava óptima e soube ainda melhor quando acompanhada por uma Budweiser escura. 

The brewery is a bit off the Old Town and we took the chance to also explore the more modern neighbourhoods. 

A cervejaria fica fora do centro e tivemos a oportunidade de explorar também a parte mais nova da cidade. 

 I love this reflection with the bicycle / Adoro o reflexo da bicicleta na água

We finished off our visit with another tour around the center, after the sunset to enjoy the lights. Another nice day in the Czech Republic.
Terminamos o dia com mais uma volta pelo centro, desta vez já depois do pôr do sol para vermos a cidade iluminada. Mais um dia bem passado na República Checa.

The Newbie - Swedish supermarkets

I have a thing for supermarkets. Don't ask... When I was small I liked to play supermarket, saving a lot of boxes and packages, and as an adult is a place that makes me happy. I enjoy learning more about a country through its supermarkets and in my trips I always visit local shops. That doesn't mean I spend hours in the supermarket here. Quite the opposite actually. On a regular basis I like to get through my shopping list as soon as possible and I do that by learning where my favourites thing are in "my" supermarket. However, now and then, I enjoy taking the time and explore new shops or even unusual shelves (those I go seldom to).

I think a supermarket says a lot about the lifestyle and culture of a country and my latest post on the Newbie Guide to Sweden is exactly about that. You can read my post here.

Picture I made for my Swedish class, in which I also wrote about supermarkets

The small things

I was in school and I felt happy. I was not really sure whether it was happiness or more of an excitation feeling in the chest. Maybe I even had some small butterflies in my stomach. But why?

"Why am I so excited? I can't really tell... Is it because new students are coming to the course now? Now, that's not it... Nothing else new has happened... what is it?"

I thought about it the whole morning without being able to figure where was all the excitement coming from. Until I started walking home during lunch break. Then I found what it was...

The avocados that I bought 3 days before had matured to perfection earlier than I thought, and I would be able to enjoy one for my lunch. I would make a nice and delicious boiled egg-avocado sandwich and THAT made me feel happy and excited the whole morning.

People say happiness is in the small things. Well, it is! Not always. Not everyday. But now and then it is. Like in the perfectly matured avocado.

Now tell me... what is it that makes you happy?

Art here and there #8 - Brno

Passion for sports

 So real and surreal at the same time

Brno - Czech Republic

It was just over a year ago that me, J. and my sister made a trip to the south of the Czech Republic. It was December, we had just left our job and we were about to leave the country and move to Sweden. Our first stop was Brno, the second biggest city of the country. It is a beautiful city, with colourful buildings, gardens and the castle sitting on top of a hill, presenting us with a gorgeous view over the city. 

Foi há pouco mais de um ano que eu, o J. e a minha irmã fizemos uma viagem ao sul da República Checa. Era dezembro, tínhamos acabado de deixar nosso emprego e estávamos prestes a deixar o país para nos mudarmos para a Suécia. A primeira paragem foi Brno, a segunda maior cidade do país. É uma bela cidade, com edifícios coloridos, jardins e o castelo no topo de uma colina, que nos proporciona uma vista deslumbrante sobre a cidade.

The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul / A Catedral de São Pedro e São Paulo

Parnas fountain / Fonte Parnas

 Park Denisovy Sady / Parque Denisovy Sady

 Park with the castle on top of the hill / O parque com o castelo no topo da colina

 Castle gardens / Jardins do castelo

Špilberk Castle

 Castle's old pharmacy / A antiga farmácia do castelo

 Freedom square / Praça da Liberdade 

Modern art? / Arte moderna?

A pause for tea and cake / Uma pausa para beber chá e comer bolo

 The National Theatre / O Teatro Nacional

Christmas markets in Brno / Mercados de Natal em Brno 

Brno is definitely worth a visit, even if it is a day trip from Prague (2h by train). The architecture is beautiful and there is not a million tourists around, which gives the city a much more honest and real atmosphere. If you go, don't miss the cakes! A friendly advice!

Vale absolutamente a pena visitar, mesmo que seja só uma viagem de ida e volta de Praga (2h de comboio). A arquitetura é bonita e não há um milhão de turistas na rua, o que dá a cidade uma atmosfera mais honesta e real. Se forem não percam os bolos! Conselho de amiga!