KOFOLA - POPULAR DRINK IN CZECH REPUBLIC

This photo by Martin Strachoň / Wikimedia Commons

As a child and a teenager in communist Czechoslovakia, I used to drink mostly water, tea, and coffee. But my mom would occasionally buy Kofola. Kofola is sort of like Coca-Cola, but not really.

If you read a history of Coca-Cola, you would know that John Pemberton invented this drink in late 1800's. To learn more about Coca-Cola history, then CLICK HERE.

Now let's look at Kofola: it was invented about 80 years later because Coca-Cola and Pepsi - drinks in slinky bottles - were costly and in a low supply. However, many restaurant patrons liked to order these expensive soft drinks as a way to show off. Nonetheless, Kofola became very popular for its specific taste and the price. After the VELVET REVOLUTION, there was a decline in Kofola production. But then, as with anything successful - a great innovative advertising came along and Kofola is back in the saddle. If you would like to read some history about Kofola, you can click on THIS LINK. It is interesting read.

In the meantime look at some fun videos by clicking on the links below:

THESE ADS HELPED KOFOLA TO BE POPULAR AGAIN
(an animated trouble prone dog with a lisp who pronounces Kofola as FOFOLA - some videos have subtitles)

AMERICANS TRYING KOFOLA
Kofola tasting young American adults :-)

A CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSIC CONTEST IN NYC

THIS CONTEST IS POSTPONED TO THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT YEAR (2018)

To Czech and Slovak Comunity - this is an urgent post. You have 3 and 1/2 days respond to sign up your child (children) for a music contest. The deadline is November 5, 2017. CLICK HERE.

FLASH MOB VIDEOS IN CZECH & SLOVAK REPUBLICS

Screen Shot of a Flash Mob Video in Bratislava, Slovakia

I have seen many flash mobs - and I enjoy most of them. I've seen some done in Grand Central Station in Manhattan, Some in Boston area, some in Germany, some in Down Under - you name a country and they probably did a flash mob. I have seen one even in Azerbaijan. And all of them were fun to watch. On YouTube. The other day I was doing some research and came across a flash mob done in the Czech Republic. And one video led to another, and I saw another, then I saw one done in Slovakia - so here we are: let's see what they have to offer to us.

 Enjoy couple of Czech and Slovak Flash Mobs below. They are enlightening.

Some classical for Janacek's lovers:

Well done Skyfall by Moravskoslezske Sinfoniety:

How about some salsa at the Bratislava's Castle?

Or first dance flash mob at the mall in Bratislava, Slovakia

And that is about it - I hope you were entertained
HAVE A GREAT DAY AND VISIT CZECH AND SLOVAK REPUBLICS.

EASTER 2016

I like to share stuff that people can enjoy. Something that makes them laugh or smile, something that they can recreate. Easter is around the corner and I found something very interesting on the good old Internet. Many people decorate their houses and have parties with Easter egg hunts. Mom and dad's decorate eggs with the children. What I will share with you is quite fun. I haven't tried it yet but I will. Enjoy THIS LITTLE PRESENTATION VIDEO that someone posted on the Internet.

I come from Czechoslovakia, which now divided into two countries - Czech Republic and Slovakia. However, in both parts people decorate their Easter eggs in a similar manner. First they paint the eggs (or use just plain brown ones) and then they use wax to paint on these eggs. HERE is another video how to decorate Easter eggs that you may very much enjoy. It is in check language but you can watch, how this talented YouTube creator is decorating her eggs. It's a very crafty skill that one have to develop. You need a very steady hand and a very good sense for geometrics. On top of that you need to keep your wax at the optimal temperature. If you can do that you can make absolutely beautiful Easter eggs that everyone will admire you for.


Materials: 
Colored Eggs
Melted Crayons
Pin with glass head
Regular metal sewing pin
Old metal spoon
Glass Jar (for spoon to hang onto)
Tea candle

Happy Easter everyone.

TANK AND ART

I have to write this post. I was doing some marketing for my YouTube channel and answering my fans questions on the Internet today, and I came across this interesting website. I saw a beautifully painted tanks by an Iranian artist Neda Taiyebi. In one of the images she is pictured with many boys. (I wonder if they helped her to paint her tanks). These images brought me back to the past.

They reminded me of a Czech artist David Černý. On April 27th it will be 25 years when the Pink Tank first emerged on Štefánik square in Prague, Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia). That night (on April 27, 1991) David Černý and several of his artist friend students painted a tank (that was erected on the square after the World War II ended in 1945) with a pink paint. David Černý was arrested and the tank was painted back to green color. But 15 newly elected politicians took advantage of their immunity and painted the tank pink again. The tank was painted green and pink back and forth several more times but you can read more about the history of this tank at this link.

Google search for růžový tank in Czech language - click HERE
Google search for big tank in English language - click HERE

Now, we are coming full circle back to Neda Taiyebi and her tanks. I think that she must have learned about David Černý while taking art classes in her college. I think that his idea appealed to her and this is the way that she fights for the peace with her beautiful designs on very ugly and dangerous tanks. Click HERE to read the article about Neda's artwork, and to see more images of her tanks.

And remember that ART MATTERS.

PHOTO CREDIT: GOODIMPACT.ORG

SELFIE STICK WAS CZECH IDEA

Who would know? I never saw a movie "Zabil jsem Einsteina pánové...." (I Killed Einstein, gentlemen....) from the 70s. There was some nudity and my parents never allowed me to see movies like that.

Recently, I discovered  a .gif which somebody made with using a clip from this movie. In the image (see a link below) you see a very famous Czech actress Iva Janžurová taking an image of herself and her husband with a selfie stick, prior to his trip to the past. However, this stick was much better and faster than old Polaroid cameras, because it printed images immediately, which were displayed on the handle. To see how this futuristic camera works click HERE.

An information about this futuristic comedy (made in the former Czechoslovakia during a communist regime) can be found HERE.

And HERE is the link to the movie on YouTube, although it is in Czech with Spanish subtitles, and who knows how long it will be there. The scene starts around 9:25.

ARTICLES ABOUT CZECH REPUBLIC

From time to time I come across different articles about the Czech Republic. Some of them are educational, others entertaining.

Today I came across the one that is quite funny and very entertaining. Although it is not completely accurate some of it is true.

But what I really enjoyed as well as the article where all the comments below the written word. So, if you read this article yourself don't forget to scroll down and read what people have to say. It may liven up your day. Enjoy.

Czech Republic – Where No One Gives a Fuck