Where is home? Brno...

I was born (later also worked) in Brno which is, after Prague, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, but grew up in the countryside about 26 km (16 miles) north west from Brno on the border of Brněnský kraj /Brno region and Kraj Vysočina /Highlands region.

 

My "backyard"...

Pernštejn Castle

Pernštejn Castle

 

 

Brno is about 200 km (125 miles) from Prague.

I miss my home in the heart of Europe. My downtown coffee sipping and catching up with friends after work, surrounded by historical buildings which I took for granted, the cobblestones that were killing my feet in the heel shoes - you get used to it eventually :-), swimming in the Brno dam and dreaming about the ocean we didn't have, hours of forest hiking and the madness of the mushroom picking that we Czechs are so famous for, and so many other things that I gladly, for the time being (?!), exchanged for other experiences elsewhere.

 

Brno and the area is one of my many homes and I will write about the other ones next time. In the meantime you can find out what is life in Brno like in this video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Brno Dam - would you believe that you can get right to the dam by a tram from the Brno downtown!

 

 

 Lednice Castle

 

 

 

Smoked Salmon Rotolos

 

I like to make this recipe as finger food. It is very easy, doesn't take a long time, you can prepare it in advance and it tastes great!

 

 

 

 

Ingredients (25 servings)

• 300g cream cheese
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped dill
• generous pinch of black pepper
• 4 large flour tortillas
• 350g smoked salmon

1. Mix the cream cheese with the lemon juice, chopped dill and black pepper. Spread over 4 large tortillas and cover with the smoked salmon.
2. Roll up like a Swiss roll, trim off the ends and discard. Wrap tightly in cling film, twisting the ends firmly.
3. Place in the fridge until you are ready to use (up to a day). To serve, take a sharp knife and slice on the diagonal (or as you wish).

"The Brain That Changes Itself"

I already mentioned one book regarding this topic in my other post under the label Books and this is the second one. I find both books incredibly interesting.

"The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science" by Norman Doidge, M.D.

Book Description

An astonishing new science called "neuroplasticity" is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable. In this revolutionary look at the brain, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge, M.D., provides an introduction to both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity and the people whose lives they've transformed. From stroke patients learning to speak again to the remarkable case of a woman born with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, The Brain That Changes Itself will permanently alter the way we look at our brains, human nature, and human potential.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For years the doctrine of neuroscientists has been that the brain is a machine: break a part and you lose that function permanently. But more and more evidence is turning up to show that the brain can rewire itself, even in the face of catastrophic trauma: essentially, the functions of the brain can be strengthened just like a weak muscle. Scientists have taught a woman with damaged inner ears, who for five years had had "a sense of perpetual falling," to regain her sense of balance with a sensor on her tongue, and a stroke victim to recover the ability to walk although 97% of the nerves from the cerebral cortex to the spine were destroyed. With detailed case studies reminiscent of Oliver Sachs, combined with extensive interviews with lead researchers, Doidge, a research psychiatrist and psychoanalyst at Columbia and the University of Toronto, slowly turns everything we thought we knew about the brain upside down. He is, perhaps, overenthusiastic about the possibilities, believing that this new science can fix every neurological problem, from learning disabilities to blindness. But Doidge writes interestingly and engagingly about some of the least understood marvels of the brain.

"Mind-bending, miracle-making, reality-busting stuff with implications for all human beings."
-The New York Times

"A remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain."
-Oliver Sacks

"The power of positive thinking finally gains scientific credibility."
-The New York Times

" My Stroke of Insight "

I loved reading this book as it covers one of my big interests - human brain/mind (there is another book I read on that topic - see Label Books). Here is what it is about.

"My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey" by Jill Bolte Taylor Ph.D.

Book Description

The astonishing New York Times bestseller that chronicles how a brain scientist's own stroke led to enlightenment

On the morning of December 10, 1996, Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist, experienced a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side of her brain. A neuroanatomist by profession, she observed her own mind completely deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life, all within the space of four brief hours. As the damaged left side of her brain--the rational, grounded, detail- and time-oriented side--swung in and out of function, Taylor alternated between two distinct and opposite realties: the euphoric nirvana of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace; and the logical, sequential left brain, which recognized Jill was having a stroke, and enabled her to seek help before she was lost completely.For Taylor, her stroke was a blessing and a revelation. It taught her that by "stepping to the right" of our left brains, we can uncover feelings of well-being that are often sidelined by "brain chatter." Reaching wide audiences through her talk at the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference and her appearance on Oprah's online Soul Series, Taylor provides a valuable recovery guide for those touched by brain injury and an inspiring testimony that inner peace is accessible to anyone.

Editorial Reviews

A brain scientist's journey from a debilitating stroke to full recovery becomes an inspiring exploration of human consciousness and its possibilities

In My Stroke of Insight, Taylor shares her unique perspective on the brain and its capacity for recovery, and the sense of omniscient understanding she gained from this unusual and inspiring voyage out of the abyss of a wounded brain. It would take eight years for Taylor to heal completely. Because of her knowledge of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and most of all an amazing mother, Taylor completely repaired her mind and recalibrated her understanding of the world according to the insights gained from her right brain that morning of December 10th.

Today Taylor is convinced that the stroke was the best thing that could have happened to her. It has taught her that the feeling of nirvana is never more than a mere thought away. By stepping to the right of our left brains, we can all uncover the feelings of well-being and peace that are so often sidelined by our own brain chatter. A fascinating journey into the mechanics of the human mind.

 

 

Tornado - in Moore / Oklahoma

There is definitely one thing I hate about this country and it is the weather.

There is just nowhere to go - if you don't deal with fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, severe storms and extreme temperatures in summer/winter, there is a tornado somewhere. Yesterday it hit Oklahoma state, Oklahoma City area of Moore and it hit it hard. It is absolutely devastating to watch.

 

Residents of this region are familiar with tornadoes because they live in so called Tornado Alley and get them frequently, but also say that they had never experienced a tornado of this strengths and size.

 

 

 

 

http://www.cnn.com/

Finger Lakes - New York State

When I was planning our trip to Canada, our friend from Erieau recommended that we should also visit the Finger Lakes back in the USA. I did some research and was so surprised. I had never heard about this area and it looked so beautiful from the descriptions on various websites.

There are 11 lakes: Otisco Lake, Skaneateles Lake, Owasco Lake, Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, Keuka Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Honeoye Lake, Canadice Lake, Hemlock Lake, and Conesus Lake.
They are called finger lakes because they resemble fingers - long and narrow, oriented from north to south, formed by glaciers in the Upstate New York region.

We decided to visit the area around the lake Cayuga and Seneca. The lakes are huge, Cayuga is the longest, about 61 km (38 miles), but only about 6km (3.5 miles) wide. Seneca is is the largest and also the deepest -188m (615 feet).
Unfortunately, we didn't have many days of our vacation left and stayed only for a couple of days. It was definitely worth it, but you could enjoy this region for weeks. It is a perfect spot for hiking enthusiasts, like my husband and myself, because of its rolling hills, waterfalls, gorges, lakes, forest, but the area is also known for its vineyards, so if this is something that appeals to you, there are numerous wine-tasting tours and trails. There is so much more to do, the list would be very long. You can find out more about the region here.

To organize this part of our trip was the most difficult as I had to synchronize everything with our previous accommodations in Canada. I just couldn't find a place to stay for that particular week and days. This region is extremely popular and when there is a special event in the area, it is almost impossible to find an accommodation. If you want to visit the region, book well in advance and be prepare to reach deep into your pocket. It gets really expensive. I couldn't believe that we had to pay more (much more!) here in the countryside than we payed in Toronto. Well, I guess it is called Upstate New York! It is only about 4 hours (...for my European friends: in American terms it is a short trip:-)  from New York city and I believe a very popular destination for long weekends etc.
In the end we got a room at Hilton Garden Inn in Ithaca.

Ithaca
It is a college town located at the south end of Cayuga Lake. In the tourist guides you will read a lot about Ithaca Commons (downtown Ithaca) and its variety of shops, restaurants, galleries, theatres and historic architecture. Although there are some nice places to see, have a dinner etc., to be honest this area needs a bit of "TLC".  The streets don't look very maintained, but perhaps some places I would recommend if you want to eat somewhere - Waffle Frolic - Waffle bar & Coffee house. We had a delicious hemp and buckwheat waffle and more than once :-) for a dessert and unforgettable dinner at Mia - Pan Asian Cuisine restaurant. If you like Asian cuisine, don't waste your money and head directly to this place. We tried other restaurants in Ithaca, but definitely remember this one. You will pay a bit more here, but leave with a great dining experience.



Ithaca

Mia Restaurant

I am also an art lover and had to pop in a local craft shop American Crafts by Robbie Dein. They have beautiful artwork of all kinds which made me stay and admire for a long time :-)  I purchased a very nice mug with a matching spoon and a picture of a dragonfly on it.

We did some hiking around Ithaca and some around Watkins Glen which is a town at Senaca Lake.
I was really annoyed as I was so looking forward to swimming at the base of the Buttermilk Falls, but unfortunately the area had been already closed for the season :-(
Otherwise, I had a great time hiking, being surrounded by forest, lots of water, gorges and hills that I miss so much here in Chicago.

 

 

 

Taughhannock Falls State Park

 

Watkins Glen State Park

So, this was an addition to our Canadian vacation. From Ithaca we were returning home along the south part of Lake Erie this time.

Niagara Falls and more - Canada - Part 3

From Toronto we were off to Niagara Falls, but we made two other stops.

First in Mississauga. I really like the name of this place and  don't know why, but according to the Wikipedia it comes from the Anishinaabe word Misi-zaagiing which means "[Those at the] Great River-mouth."

Unfortunately, it was pouring with rain that day, so we didn't want to hang around for too long, but I enjoyed the work of Chinese architect Yansong Ma - "Absolute World" (completed in 2011) - two condo towers near Square One Shopping Centre. I have read that because of the building's curves the residents call the first tower "Marilyn" in honour of Marilyn Monroe.
It was so foggy that my photo wouldn't do justice to the building's architecture, so I am using one from the internet.

  

Instead of just driving directly south on our way to Niagara Falls, we decided to see more of the coast and visited a town called Niagara-on-the-Lake, our second stop.

But before we got there we stopped in a small town - Grimsby to eat something and discovered NYF / New York Fries - Canadian franchise restaurant. I am not a big fan of fast food restaurants, but I will say it, this was tasty and different. We don't have this franchise in Chicagoland.

It was still raining, but we were so glad that we took this detour. What a charming historic town with Georgian and Neo-Classical homes and shops. This region is just beautiful! You can take Niagara Parkway, a scenic road that runs along Niagara River. It begins at Fort Erie and ends at Fort George which is southeast from Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Nice place to eat is Epicurean restaurant (see picture below)

Niagara-on-the-Lake

There are many attractions along the river including Whirlpool Rapids.

 

In the late afternoon we finally reached Niagara Falls.

The Falls are amazing and the town itself is amazingly kitschy, but you can't help yourself, you have to see it :-)

We were also lucky to be at the right time at the right place. You can witness SKYWALK, a rope walking performance of 68 year old Jay Cochrane, when you look up in the sky in the evening. Unbelievable!

You have to watch this video to understand. By the way, he talks to the crowds as he walks...like he is just sitting in his living room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQMAGPMGtoo

We enjoyed our time in Canada so much and would love to see more of this beautiful country in the future.

In my next post I will tell you how we got back home...