Zatkovy Pasta

Zatkovy Pasta : Brezi, CZ

On the our last, full day in the Czech Republic, we hired a van and driver and headed south to České Budějovice. Commonly known in English and German as Budweis, České Budějovice is the home of the original, real Budweiser beer. Not far from Budweis is a little village called Brezi. It is here that Maya's father's family owned a pasta factory. Zatkovy Pasta is still in operation and still produces pasta. In fact, right before we all left Prague, our friends Rachel and Chris popped into the local Tesco and found Zatkovy pasta. They bought us a bag and we brought home some Zatkovy penné pasta.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Fractured English II

Here You Are : Castle Křivoklát : Křivoklát, CZ

One of the things that most stood out in the Czech Republic was the near-perfect English on signs and in menus and in the English translations of the exhibits for Růžena Zátková at the Prague Castle. (It stood out in sharp contrast to the almost lazy, passive-aggressive translations from French into English that are encountered daily in France and that are more exasperating that laughable.) The Czech Republic wasn't completely free of fractured English, though. My very favorite was at Castle Křivoklát on the orientation map just out the castle entrance. Next to a target symbol indicating our location were the confident and bold words, "Here You Are."

 English-Specking : Prague, CZ

Second place goes to a hair salon on Karlova Street not far from the Charles Bridge. "English-Specking," it declares. I'm not sure if this is a new treatment involving English stylists using bacon or if they just trusted the sign maker too much!

Help Drink : Brezi, CZ

Finally, third place goes to a sign seen in Brezi, when we visited the Zatkovy Pasta Factory. I think this is meant to support a drink-drive campaign. Or, it's meant to boost sales of Czech beer while also encouraging good social responsibility. Either way--it would seem a taxi is in order!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11