Question 1: What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Kraków do for fun?

Answer:

Tourists: sightseeing, shopping, clubbing, eating in restaurants, walking (source: the annual research of tourist traffic in Kraków).

Inhabitants: shopping, going to day spa, eating in restaurants, going to the zoo and boulevards of the Vistula river.

Question 2: What is one thing the public probably does NOT know about Kraków?

Answer:

Lajkonik, Hejnal z Wiezy Mariackiej, Muzeum Bursztynu, Muzeum Witrazu, Muzeum Lotnictwa, Twierdza Kraków. Also The nuclear/air-raid shelters in Nowa Huta, Crèches, The Dragon Monument and The Dog Monument (called Dzok [Jock]), the symbol of fidelity.

Question 3: What has Kraków contributed to the world?

Answer:

Pope John Paul the II, The Jagiellonian University, Poet Wislawa Szymborska, Rynek Glówny – Main Market Square – the biggest medieval square in Europe.

The post Kraków, Poland appeared first on Traveling Boy.

I imagined that a story about my trip to Ibiza would be about the constant party of hedonistic abandon the island’s reputation led me to expect. Instead, while that scenario may still play out occasionally in Ibiza, mostly I saw couples in their late twenties, early thirties – often with children – and some older couples and singles of both sexes, enjoying the beaches, museums and fine cuisine in the many local restaurants.

Ibiza, once the playground of Europe’s indulged youth, has matured into a destination with more sobering pursuits. Certainly, the party reputation lends some cache to the older folks looking for some cred with their offspring, and the clubs are still there, but visitors are finally noticing the historic sites and archaeological digs as they take in the charm and beauty of the island.

Ibiza’s old town, Dalt Vila, is surrounded by the best preserved ancient walls in the Mediterranean. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains a castle, cathedral, museum, and many private homes – all of which make up the original city of Eivissa. There are restaurants and bars, and tons of funky shops (a remnant of Ibiza’s hippie era) for distractions from the history – if you need them. I enjoyed the architecture and the views from the walls. I love being surrounded by the parapets and ramparts of ancient times; they give an often crazy world some perspective.
view of the castle at Old Town Ibiza.

But the history is not all contained within the walls. Spreading out below one gate is the Cuban barrio, created when those Ibizans who emigrated to Cuba returned and recreated their old neighborhoods below the walls. The distinctive architecture would be familiar to anyone who has visited Cuba.
burial caves at the Necropolis of Puig des Molins.

A short drive from there will take you to the Necropolis of Puig des Molins, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Phoenicians, who settled here before Christ was born, buried their dead. Subsequent conquering civilizations followed suit, so Carthaginian, Roman, Moor and Christian graves can be found here as well. While most of the graves were looted centuries ago, archaeologists still found ceramics and some jewelry in the stone coffins. I was surprised to see glass and metal that were found in some of the earliest ones. The onsite museum has a large display of them and exhibits that explain the different eras expertly.

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site (Spain has more than any other country) is the ruins of the Phoenician settlement in Sa Caleta, atop the red cliffs surrounding the secluded crescent beach and clear blue waters of Ses Salines. Dating from 654 BCE, it is one of the earliest settlements on the island. All that is left to see are the reconstructed foundations of the shelters built here eons ago.

Sharing the same vantage, and for the same reasons, are the remnants of concrete bunkers constructed in the 1930s to protect the island from enemy invasion. Below them, at the water’s edge, the rustic fisherman’s shacks line the shore providing easy access to the sea. Each element is picturesque in its own way, but together, especially at sunset, the sum is greater than its parts, and the beauty in the slanted sunlight is almost surreal.

You could almost say that about the whole island. Everywhere you look you’ll find stunning architecture and scenery – even underwater. In Playa de Figueretas is another UNESCO World Heritage site, the underwater Posidonia Meadows. Billed as the largest living organism in the world, the sea bed is covered with a posidonia plant that stretches for miles. Posidonia is like sea grass and integral to the livelihood of Ibiza. Its presence keeps the water of Ibiza’s famous beaches clear, while providing food and protection to various sea creatures. Because it is a deciduous plant, its leaves are washed ashore where they pile up and protect the beaches from storm erosion. They can be harvested and used for animal bedding, fertilizer on the fields, and in the early days were layered on roofs between clay as insulation. No wonder it is so protected!

While in Ibiza I strolled the cobblestone streets, explored the red cliffs and blue sea-caressed beaches, snorkeled the Posidonia Meadows, visited the museums, and dined in some of the finest restaurants. Oh – and I also went to Pacha, the club, to see what all the fuss was about and dance off the many calories I consumed with all that fine dining. It wasn’t hedonistic, it wasn’t drug-crazed, and it wasn’t a drunken party. It was just another side of the complexity that is Ibiza – the jewel of the Mediterranean.

To learn more about Ibiza check out http://tourism.eivissa.es

The post Spain: Ibiza’s Heritage and History Outshine Its Party Image appeared first on Traveling Boy.

The Joys of Colonoscopy

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Hoo Hah! I just had my insides probed by a staff of three. It was supposed to start at 3:30pm but it actually began 2 hours later. As soon as I get back in shape I’m going to chasten the scheduler in the gastroenterology department. I didn’t want to say anything before the procedure otherwise I would have been at the mercy of those guys. That’s one of the things I realized as I waited in that lonely cubicle: I felt so helpless. There I was lying in a hospital bed with tubes sticking out and prepped up for the operation, naked underneath the flimsy hospital gown. My biggest concern: what to do if there was a 9.5 earthquake or a fire alarm sounded or Godzilla were to attack — I would have to had run out butt naked and then interviewed by a CNN reporter.

I wondered how different things would have been if I were someone important like Elon Musk. I bet he’d go through the whole waiting and probing procedure in half an hour. But even he probably would have had to drink all that nauseating concoction to clear his intestines like us ordinary humans. (Unless of course, he’s really an alien from another planet.) Isn’t it reassuring that rich boys also grow old so one day they will also face the operating table? Think of all the aging celebrities — plastic surgery can fake the appearance but their clocks still tick to their appointment with agonizing, excruciatingly painful death — just like the rest of us.

This hospital does about 64 colonoscopies a day. Yesterday, when I had mine, they had been doing over 70 for several days. Ka-ching! No wonder the facilities can afford to look so clean. No wonder there were so many personnel bustling about. That place was a beehive of activities. It was like I was in the middle of the soap opera General Hospital TV show – there was the pretty receptionist doing nothing but answer phone calls, the unkempt guy with the ruffled haircut pushing carts here and there, the respected all-knowing surgeon with the gray hair and glasses, the sweet caring nurse, the serious nurse who carried the weight of the world on her shoulder, and there were the guest stars — patients like me.

“When was the last time you ate solid food? Why? Didn’t you read the instructions?” said Nurse Serious.

“I’m so sorry for the wait,” said Nurse Compassionate. “There is one patient ahead of you … well, actually two … but don’t you worry, we’ll get to you eventually … I hope. Think positive! Would you like an extra blanket?”

“Hi I’m Doctor Colonoscopy. No, I can’t shake your germ infested hand. See the gray hair? See the tired eyes? You’re my 70th patient today. Relax! I’ve had 20 cups of coffee so I’m good … just goooood! A little shaky but none of my patients have died … yet! We’ll wheel you in now – Nya ha ha!”

“Hello Mr. Raoul, welcome to the operating room. Please lie on your left side. Smile for the camera! No need to be shy, I’m the guy from Beta Phi … I’m certified or hope to die! I’m the practicing doctor and we’re gonna have a fun time tonight! Nurse, crank up that funky music! Yeah baby! Get down tonight! Get down … get down .. get down … get down tonight!”

“Hello, I’m your nurse for today. And I’m just going to start the anesthesia and …”

The next thing I know, my wife is with me and the nurses are pushing us out of the hospital because I’m the last patient and they are anxious to go home.

When I get home, the world is still spinning around and I crash to bed. I sleep soundly for 5 hours … best sleep I ever had! I can’t wait to do this again! Not!

SERIOUS COLONOSCOPY TIPS
I was given written instructions but (men aren’t good with instructions so) I had to call to make sure I was doing things right. If you are planning to have a colonoscopy soon, and you’re as confused as I was with the instructions to prepare for the procedure, here’s my unprofessional medical advice.

You will be given a list of medications to buy. But the only one you really need is the Miralax (or Purelax or any of the other laxative brands). The goal is to ingest something to make you empty your stomach. Anything else beyond that is just to make it easier on you. Before I had a whole gallon of this absolutely yucky “coconut juice” I needed to drink — made me throw up and poop. This new procedure is better tasting. I didn’t throw up.

In the morning before my colonoscopy scheduled for 3:30pm, I didn’t eat anything solid the whole day. In a pitcher, I mixed eight laxative powder caps (using the bottle cap as a measure) with 2 half bottles of Gatoraid (preferably with zero sugar and not the flavor with a red dye). I had to consume the pitcher within an hour. I drank 3 whole pitchers in 3 timed intervals. (For me it was from 4pm, then 7pm and then 10 am the next morning which was the day of the colonoscopy). There’s a recommendation for Laxative pills (to soften the stool) and Gas-x (to relieve gas pain) but I don’t think they were necessary. The Purelax was good enough to flush everything out.

On the day of the operation, wear comfortable clothing, bring your Driver’s License and insurance card. Leave your wallet, rings and jewelry. You can bring your cell phone. You cannot come alone using Uber. You need a responsible adult to bring you there and take you home — warn that person to wait 3 to 4 hours. The actual probe only lasts 20 to 30 minutes but the hospital may overbook (like they did in my case). When they say you have to be there at 9:10. Be there by 9:10 — the prep time and wait time are already taken into account (in other words, no need to be there too early).

I hope you find this helpful. TGIF people!

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Quotes of the Week

“Laughter is the best medicine – unless you’re diabetic, then chocolate, insulin, crying, comes pretty high on the list.” — Jasper Carrott

“My doctor gave me two weeks to live. I hope they’re in August.” — Ronnie Shakes

“I was going to have cosmetic surgery until I noticed that the doctor’s office was full of portraits by Picasso.” — Rita Rudner

“Nineteen percent of doctors say that they’d be able to give their patients a lethal injection. But they also went on to say that the patient would have to be really, really behind on payments.” — Jay Leno

“After twelve years of therapy, my psychiatrist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said: ‘No hablo ingles.'” — Ronnie Shakes

“I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” — Psalm 117:17

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” — John 10:10

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this website.

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The post Major Accident appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Do you know what a NARROW BOAT is? You might well wonder why I pose such a question – I mean it should be obvious: a boat that’s very slim and trim. Well, you’re almost right. A Narrowboat (notice NO hyphen) epitomizes the often weird and many wonderful ways of tourism in Great Britain.

Brits call them Narrowboats, as it IS one word, and depending on their size and length, they can hold from 2 to 10 people. Research indicates there are over 38,000 Narrowboats in the UK, and they’re a wonderful leisurely way to see the 3,000 (yes, THREE THOUSAND!) miles of handsomely historic waterways that, Britain being Britain, envelops you in over 200 years of (mostly!) fascinating local and national history. To slightly alter a well-known cliché, the sights are a joy for fresh eyes!

Although a large percentage of Narrowboats are permanent homes for many people, there are still lots of places they can be rented, hired, or enjoyed as a special trip. Prices and itineraries online: Type in “Narrowboats in England.” Maximum length is 72 feet (2.13m) and to see WHY they’re called NARROWboats, go online and check out the multitude of nifty photos.

My first sighting of these gaily colored boats was on a trip to Great Britain. I was having “A Ploughman’s Lunch” (usually bread, cheese, and fresh, absolutely deeeeeelicious (!) ham, green salad, hard boiled eggs and an apple …. Plus a superb only in the UK pickled onion… aaaah, I can taste and sense the mouthwatering aroma right now), and it was in one of those classic riverside pubs.

Off to my left there was a long, narrow (!) bridge that spanned a gorgeous, lushly green valley below. What totally stunned me, and made me wonder if what I saw was REAL or a dream, was that the bridge was not (as I expected) for a roadway or railway, but a water canal! Adding to my joy and “visual senses,” was that coming towards us on the bridge waterway, was a slim, trim highly imaginative, full of character, multicolored Narrowboat.

I’ve always loved “chatting up the locals” wherever I go, and near my lunch table was a middle aged couple who looked as if they’d stepped out of a British Tourist office poster advertising Britain and her people. The woman smiled at me, noticing the obvious surprise of seeing what was now very near to us. “Yes,” she said in a marvelous – but a somewhat hard to understand local brogue, “they ARE lovely aren’t they… you can rent them, and some offer you the chance to step off the Narrowboat and stay overnight in one of the many waterside cottages.”

To get an even better “feel” for Narrowboats, check out the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. At 3 miles in length, it is the deepest canal in Britain, and took 16 years to build and, as you’ll see, has some absolutely exquisite local scenery along the canal route.

Talking with some Narrowboat owners, I was intrigued to hear that another joy of Narrowboating, is the number of Locks you’ll go up or down through. The UK has 1,569 locks and 53 tunnels that some canals go through, plus 3,112 canal carrying bridges, and even 370 water canal aqueducts.

For photo buffs, I urge you to check out – and for sure photograph – the BINGLEY FIVE RISE LOCKS on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Bingley. If shot with a wide angle lens, it looks as if the five lock gates are part of some Steeple Chase canal adventure. It’s too confusing to describe how they function, as you’ll get a much better idea of WHY they’re so intriguing, by a personal visit. I’d heartily recommend you go in the summer months.

Don’t be narrow minded: experience a trip in a Narrowboat in the UK.

The post A “Narrowboat” Adventure in the United Kingdom, IS a Super Getaway appeared first on Traveling Boy.

On a dreary overcast morning, George Clooney was nowhere to be found. His canary-colored mansion on Lake Como was only viewable from the water and we saw just one person on the terrace.

“That’s probably someone on the cleaning staff,” said our tour guide, as we zipped past the mansion in a small tourist skipper, the chilly wind against our scarf-clad faces, all six of us. Due to the cloud cover, the temperature felt barely above freezing.

We were present far outside the tourist season, when Clooney usually arrived. A few other boats lilted on the water, but there wasn’t much activity.

Our gazes remained on the mansion, which together with a tall cypress tree, a mix of laurels and broadleaf evergreens, cast a shimmering zig-zag pastiche of yellow and green reflections on the water, as if our group had sailed straight into an oil painting. With my phone, I snapped a dozen photos.

Clooney purchased the villa more than 20 years earlier. Back then, not many foreign celebrities gallivanted around these parts. He invested a few million to fix up the place and triggered a generation of sightseers. According to gossip from the locals, Clooney was now sick of people sneaking photos from the lake. I couldn’t blame him.

While others in our group swiveled their heads to scan the landscape surrounding Clooney’s home, I instead fixated on the reflections and gave thanks, not just for the sheer privilege of a business trip to Como, but also for shaking off the paparazzi impulse I once had, around 2010, when I saw photographers hounding Clooney’s then-partner while she waltzed out of LAX.

That was a different business trip, a different me.

Yet there on Lake Como, the memory came right back.

After returning from a long trip overseas and landing that day at LAX, I slumped at the back of an inter-terminal bus on a 90-degree afternoon. Hordes of sweaty passengers crammed their way through the doors, all struggling with various sizes of luggage. Everybody seemed miserable.

Out in front, on the road, we saw a woman stride confidently across the sun-baked asphalt, but with something draped over most of her head. A small mob of photographers encircled her as she walked, capturing images in rapid-fire fashion from every direction as she approached the garage. Unfazed, she ignored them all, not giving an inch.

After the woman disappeared, the paparazzi dispersed and a few of them boarded the bus. One sat next to me, spreading across two seats when he only needed one. A camera hung over his shoulder while he flipped through photos on a second camera.

“Who was it?” I asked him.

“George Clooney’s girlfriend,” he said, without looking up.

As the bus lurched its way forward through the mess of traffic, with sounds of shifting transmissions and horns outside, a toxic thought came to me. My travel writing career was circling the drain. I would never make any real money and I was going broke. I could land assignments that took me far away, but I rarely got to write anything interesting or elevate the stories of marginalized people the way I really wanted.

Watching the paparazzi, I thought, maybe I could do this. I could be one of these jerks. Get into the business for a few months, make a quick fortune peddling photos, then bail. Done.

After a few seconds, maybe a few minutes, the idea dissolved. Luckily. But for a brief spell, after witnessing those guys, I actually thought about it. I really did. In a life of bad decisions, that would have been a bad decision.

Now with killer shots of the reflections on Lake Como, I’d happily give away the photo on social media. My journalism career was still adrift, but I’d managed to plug the drain for a few more years. Thankfully, I never turned into one of those paparazzi creeps.

As we zoomed past the villa, the person on the terrace shuffled back into the building. I didn’t care either way if Clooney was around. I had my artsy photo of the water and I felt fantastic.

With the reflections now behind me, I turned around for one last glimpse of Clooney’s mansion. I heard the motor of the boat and nothing else but pure, pristine water rippling in the wind.

The post George Clooney Inspires Paparazzi Memories appeared first on Traveling Boy.

QUESTION:
What are the prophetic signs of who the anti Christ will be?

ANSWER:
According to Christian biblical prophecy, the Antichrist (also called the “man of lawlessness,” “man of sin,” or “the beast”) is a future individual world leader who will rise during the end times (the Tribulation period described in the Book of Revelation and Daniel). He is not just any deceiver—there are already “many antichrists” (1 John 2:18)—but one ultimate figure empowered by Satan who will deceive the world, demand worship as God, and persecute believers before being defeated by Jesus Christ at His second coming.

The Bible does not give a name, birth date, or exact identity in advance but provides clear prophetic signs and characteristics drawn primarily from Daniel, 2 Thessalonians, Revelation, and 1 John. These are the key biblical markers that will identify him when he appears. Here is a consolidated list of the main signs, with direct Scripture references:

Core Identity and Nature

•  He will be a real human man (not a system or spirit only) who opposes everything about God and exalts himself above all gods, even sitting in the rebuilt Jewish temple and declaring himself to be God (the “abomination of desolation”).
→ 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Daniel 11:36-37; Matthew 24:15.

•  He will deny that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) and reject the truth that Jesus came in the flesh as God incarnate.
→ 1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7.

•  He will be completely lawless—a master of rebellion against God’s laws, changing times, seasons, and moral standards while honoring only military power and wealth.
→ 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (called the “lawless one” or “wicked one”); Daniel 7:25; 11:38-39.

Rise to Power and Deception

•  He will initially appear as a charismatic peacemaker and skilled politician, offering a false sense of global peace and stability (often linked to the first seal in Revelation). He will confirm a 7-year covenant/treaty with Israel and many nations.
→ Revelation 6:2; Daniel 9:27; 11:21-24 (described as a master of intrigue and flattery).

•  He will perform great signs, false miracles, and wonders empowered directly by Satan to deceive the world (making fire come down from heaven, etc.).
→ 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 13:13-14.

•  He will suffer a fatal wound that is miraculously healed, leading the world to worship him in awe.
→ Revelation 13:3.

Global Rule and Actions

•  He will gain worldwide political, economic, and religious control for 42 months (3½ years), blaspheming God and making war on the saints (persecuting Jews and Christians intensely).
→ Revelation 13:5-7; Daniel 7:21, 25.

•  He will enforce the “mark of the beast” (666)—a mandatory mark on the right hand or forehead required to buy or sell. This will create a one-world economy under his control.
→ Revelation 13:16-18.

•  He will desecrate the rebuilt Temple halfway through the 7-year period, stop Jewish sacrifices, set up an image of himself to be worshiped, and demand global allegiance (triggering the Great Tribulation).
→ Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

•  He will invade and divide Israel/Jerusalem and ultimately gather the world’s armies against Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.
→ Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 16:16; 19:19.

Other Notable Traits (from Daniel 11:36-39)

•  He will prosper temporarily and be widely admired.

•  He will not regard the God of his fathers or “the desire of women” (interpretations vary: some see this as rejecting traditional faith or marriage/sexual norms).

•  He will be hostile to the true God, love war and hoarding wealth, and think of himself as greater than any deity.

His Ultimate Fate

He will be destroyed by Jesus at His return—slain “with the breath of His mouth” and cast into the lake of fire along with the false prophet.

→ 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:20.

These signs are drawn consistently across major Christian interpretations of end-times prophecy (especially the futurist view held by many evangelicals). Note that some traditions (e.g., historicist or preterist) see the Antichrist as a past figure, a papal system, or a symbolic force of evil rather than one future man—but the question focuses on the singular prophetic figure described in Scripture.

The Bible warns believers to watch and test everything against God’s Word rather than guessing current leaders (many have been wrongly labeled the Antichrist over centuries). His full revelation is tied to a great apostasy (falling away from faith) and the removal of the “restrainer” (widely understood as the Holy Spirit working through the Church). 

For deeper study, key chapters are Daniel 7–12, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation 13. The ultimate antidote is knowing the true Christ—Jesus warns of many false christs and deceivers in the last days (Matthew 24:4-5, 24). If you’re exploring this from faith, prayer, and Scripture are the best guides.

We invite you to join the discussion. You can also submit your questions to Mr. Robot. Send them to ra***@**********oy.com.

The post Who Is the Anti-Christ? appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic is a photographer’s delight. We’ve been lucky enough this year to have had two professional guides in the Czech Republic (one in Prague and another in Brno, the second largest city in the country.) Both guides gave the same advice: Don’t come with lists with convictions you have to see certain things. The way to enjoy Czech Republic cities, they say, is to wander aimlessly and see what comes up. And what comes up is we find Prague is a beautiful old city, one of the few major European cities that was not seriously damaged in World War II and one of the few to show no evidence of the Romans.

“There is no Roman influence or presence here,” says our guide Milos Curik. “They found dense forest between Moravia and Bohemia that was too much trouble to penetrate so they didn’t come this way. The land is actually still one third heavily forested.” What we find here are ancient buildings and a lot of history. Milos, with a personal interest in arts and music, gives his top five places to visit as the Kampa Museum and its examples of Central European art under communism; the Museum of Cubism that has celebrated its presence now for a century; the Jewish museum which is really a group of five magnificent synagogues; the Lobkovicz Palace, a museum of Old Masters; and the little houses along Golden Lane in one of which Kafka wrote some of his books. Milos then sneaks in a number 6: the Cloister of St. Agnes. So when asked, Milos himself has lists.

But despite what we now know, we, too, have come with lists, places we want to see and especially photograph. And we want to start now! We have our cameras. We are ready to produce our private postcards from Prague. But we’re not ready for the surprises.

We knew we’d want to see the Astronomical Clock, Prague’s famous 15th century timepiece and we guessed correctly we’d find some tourists hamming it up below. And we were sure we’d discover more than a few references to, arguably, its favorite writer, Kafka. No surprises.

We knew of Prague’s love of music. After all, this is the country of Anton Dvorak and the city where Mozart composed two operas and conducted the first performance of Don Giovanni in Prague’s Estates Theatre. So it’s no surprise to find street musicians celebrated and plaques on the Charles Bridge given a lifetime of polish from the touch of superstitious hands. Milos also takes pains to show us the original Prague cubit, based on a metal measurement of the length of Charles IV’s forearm. The measurement has been on this door on Neruda Street for a long time: Charles lived from 1316 to 1378!

We expected to see evidence of devout Catholicism in Prague’s churches and museums (and St. Nicholas Church surely showed us that in Prague Castle) but we didn’t quite know what to make of the disconcerting statue of the skull under the robe in the Basilica of St. George at a moment when we didn’t have Milos — and none of the placards were in English. Enough to imagine the effect it would have had on minds of the Middle Ages!

We guessed we’d see couples and we did photograph some recently wedded ones. A moment later we follow a tourist with a red shirt (attracted to the color like moths to flame). He stops by chance beside an oddity – what looks like Don Quixote but we’re not in Spain.

Our visit to the John Lennon Wall is intercepted by Segway tourists. Who would have thought a Dean Kamen New Hampshire invention would work so well on the cobblestones of Prague? Or that John Lennon would be so honored in a distant land? Young people in the communist era saw the popular Beatle as an anti-establishment hero and at random chose a wall right beside the French Embassy for their anti-government graffiti. The authorities kept removing the slogans until the Embassy asked they be left alone, surprisingly because somehow one doesn’t expect French institutions to have a sense of humor. The slogans on the wall are ever-changing but words attributed to Lennon are never erased even those that say “Hey! Who’s been writing on my wall?”

It was no surprise to find soldiers marching in a medieval city — and we were sure there would be museums of armor though we were taken aback to find one in so diminutive a Mother Goose-like village as Golden Lane especially near number 22 where Kafka’s sister lived and where he stayed to write some of his books.

Despite having so many churches Prague is a secular city. Why would it not be; its people had suffered for centuries from religious wars? Organized religion has not been kind to this ancient city. Yet we knew we would notice beautiful wood carvings even though we might not find the story behind them. Fortunately our guide Milos spoke fluent English, fortunate because during a third of a century of communist oppression, the school children learned Russian not English and the museums don’t exhibit much in our language. So we expected church wood carvings but not Charlie Chaplin puppets.

We know a variety of T-shirts and baseball caps awaits tourists in every city. No surprise to find then in Prague but, hey! Jewish baseball caps in the Old Jewish Quarter? Why not – after all there was a 1913 song called “Jake! Jake! The Yiddish Ballplayer,” and Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax were both Hall of Famers.

So which of our postcards surprised us? We didn’t expect to see such amusing stuff in restaurant windows in Neruda Street or that the street itself would be so beautiful, so mesmerizing. Indeed that Prague itself would be both so fascinating and such fun.

The post Postcards From Prague: Contrasts in our Cameras appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Matzo ball soup gets a glow-up with fresh parsley, dill, chives, and fennel fronds along with lemon zest and edible flowers for color and bright spring flavor.

By Leah Koenig

Active Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 6

Seltzer and fresh herbs make these matzo balls light, airy, and springy.

• Edible flowers bring a simple beauty to a classic soup traditionally served at Passover.
• The soup is ready in a couple of hours, but you can get a head start by cooking the matzo balls and making the soup a day in advance.

Passover arrives on the cusp of spring, when the trees are bursting into their annual riot of fragrant buds and flowers. It’s also called chag ha’aviv, which translates from Hebrew to “spring holiday.” With all loving respect to the heavy, brown, slow-cooked dishes of my Ashkenazi Jewish people, after a long winter, my taste buds are crying out for all things green and bright.

What are traditional Passover foods?

For Jews hailing from Eastern Europe like my family does (my mother’s parents were first-generation Russian and Lithuanian), Passover’s classic dishes were shaped by the seasons. The trees outside may have been starting to bloom, but the garden was still bare, and the larder told the story of late winter. With limited produce and other ingredients available, it’s no wonder why dishes like tzimmes (a root vegetable stew), starchy kugels made from potatoes or softened matzo flavored with browned onions, saucy braised pot roasts, and gefilte fish quenelles poached in fish stock and brightened with grated horseradish (another root vegetable), became de rigueur.

In my family, tradition is paramount, especially when it comes to holiday food. Eating familiar dishes offers a chance to connect to our history and heritage in a tangible way. I might be able to get away with skipping the gefilte fish, but if the matzo ball soup is missing? That transgression would hardly go unnoticed. And yet, respecting tradition does not have to mean forfeiting flavor or freshness.

How can I reinvigorate the classic Passover spread?

I plan to welcome spring to the Passover table with a collection of dishes that honor familial roots (both figuratively and literally!), while celebrating the holiday’s verdant potential. I’ll dress up a platter of chicken roasted with leeks and potatoes with a zippy gremolata made from toasted pine nuts, garlic, and parsley. I’ll serve a gorgeous and colorful salad that takes late-winter produce like thinly shaved beet and carrot ribbons and matches them with rounds of juicy clementine.

Guests needn’t fret, the chicken soup will be on the table. But bowls of fragrant, golden broth and comforting matzo balls will be enlivened with a tangle of fresh herbs, lemon zest, and edible flowers. It’s a recipe that still honors the iconic flavors of Passover while giving a glow-up that lets them truly shine.

Note from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Herb Garden kneidlach soup can be prepared and served on the same day — it’s table-ready in about two and a half hours. If you’d like to get a head start, though, you can cook the matzo balls and make the soup a day in advance. After shredding the chicken in Step 4, simply cover the soup, shredded chicken, and cooled matzo balls separately with plastic wrap (or place in airtight containers) and refrigerate until you’re nearly ready to eat, then proceed with the recipe.

Matzo Balls

• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup matzo meal
• 1/4 cup seltzer
• 1/4 cup neutral vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped mixed fresh herbs (such as parsley, dill, chives, and fennel fronds)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for simmering the matzo balls

Soup

• 12 ounces medium carrots, peeled, divided
• 1 (3 1/2-pound) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 1 pound medium-size yellow onions, halved lengthwise
• 1 medium (about 13-ounce) fennel bulb, quartered, 1/4 cup packed fennel fronds reserved
• 2 large celery stalks, trimmed and halved crosswise
• 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs
• 6 medium garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 fresh or dried bay leaves
• 10 cups cold water
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste

Additional ingredients

• 1/2 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 1/2 cup packed fresh dill fronds
• 1/4 cup sliced fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (from 1 large lemon)
• Edible flowers (optional)

Directions

1.     Make the matzo balls: Stir together eggs, matzo meal, seltzer, oil, chopped mixed herbs, and salt in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2.     Meanwhile, bring a Dutch oven filled with generously salted water to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium low to maintain a simmer while you shape the matzo balls.

3.     Using lightly moistened hands, scoop out chilled matzo mixture by heaping tablespoonfuls and roll into balls, carefully adding each ball to simmering water after you shape it. (You will have 18 to 20 balls total.)

4.     Cover Dutch oven; simmer matzo balls until tender and puffed, 45 to 55 minutes. (For denser, less fluffy matzo balls, cook for slightly less time.) To test for doneness, remove 1 matzo ball from water and cut in half. It should be uniformly pale in color throughout. Remove from heat. Remove matzo balls from water and transfer to a plate. Let cool 30 minutes. Proceed with making soup, or refrigerate matzo balls in an airtight container for up to 1 day.

5.     While matzo balls cook, make the soup: Cut 2 carrots in half crosswise and place in a large stockpot. Add chicken, onions, fennel bulb, celery, parsley sprigs, garlic, and bay leaves to stockpot. Cover with 10 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer, partially covered, until chicken is very tender and falling off the bone, about 1 hour and 30 minutes, occasionally skimming any foam that accumulates. Soup should maintain a very gentle simmer; if it starts to bubble too vigorously, nudge the heat down a little.

6.     While the soup cooks, cut remaining carrots into thin (1 1/2- x 1/16- x 1/16-inch) julienned strips. Set aside.

7.     Remove chicken from stock mixture; transfer to a cutting board and let stand until cool to the touch, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place a fine wire-mesh strainer over a large heatproof bowl; pour stock mixture through strainer. Discard solids. Return strained stock to stockpot; stir in salt and pepper. Add julienned carrot strips. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium-low. Simmer, covered, until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.

8.     Remove and discard chicken skin and bones from meat. Shred meat into bite size pieces. Return shredded chicken to stockpot and return to a simmer over medium-low. Simmer until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

9.     Place parsley leaves, dill fronds, chives, lemon zest, and reserved fennel fronds on a cutting board; roughly chop mixture, leaving some larger pieces intact.

10. Place 3 or 4 matzo balls in each of 6 bowls; top evenly with soup. Generously scatter bowls with herb mixture. If desired, decorate with a few edible flowers. Serve immediately.

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Gene Pool

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Easter Sunday with the whole family was so much fun. All of my kids and grand kids were playing at the park — from my oldest kid to the youngest grand kid, they were running around like little children. This was just as I imagined and hoped to see when I reached this age. God is good.

And talk about genetics! I could see different strains of personality traits in each one. Do you also see that in your own family? Among my siblings, there are those who look more like my Dad’s family (slanted eyes, prominent chins, straight hair) and others who look more like my Mom’s family (almond eyes, rounder/softer features, wavy hair). My Dad could move facial muscles, move his ear, and tip his head horizontally from left to right like a Hindu dancer. I can’t jiggle my head like that. I tried but I just can’t. However, I do have a bit of a rubber face just like Jim Carrey … but my daughter can do all of that. I got the tall genes. Only one of my daughters got it. I got my Mom’s musical talents and creativity so does my youngest daughter. I see this love for music in 3 of my grand kids. My son got the analytic vibes of my wife and father. I also see my athleticism and energy in all my boys. Neither my Mom nor Dad, nor any of my other older relatives have dark brown skin … I do. Only my youngest has dark skin.

Did you know that Adam lived to be 930 years old? (There is no record of Eve’s age. I guess even then, you never ask a woman’s age.) In fact, Noah was born when Adam was still alive (at least that’s what some say). Imagine what must have gone through Adam’s mind observing the variety of personality traits running around his yard. Sadly, he bred rotten kids that forced God to wash them away and start from scratch with 8 people on the ark. Pretty wild, huh?

I can see this scenario:

Adam: Look at all our kids, Eve. Hard to believe all these wild kids came from us. When God told us to procreate, we sure did, didn’t we?

Eve: The wild ones come from YOUR line of the family! I heard Nimrod played with fire again … almost burned down the tool shed Seth built. I’m tellin’ ya, you better start disciplining those kids or we’ll have another Cain in the making.

Adam: I tried to teach them, but they wouldn’t listen. Kids ain’t got no respect! The minute they turn 100 years old, they think they know everything! I’ve long given up! Well, at least we’ve got Noah … always building something creative.

Eve: Yeah, but did you hear? He’s building a boat!

Adam: A boat? What’s a boat?

Eve: Something that floats!

Adam: Well, isn’t that amazing? (laughing) A boat that floats! I knew that kid would invent something useful one day.

Eve: “Useful?” … he’s building it in the middle to the desert!

KIDS
We hope and pray the best for our children but with the challenges of life we never know how our kids will turn out. Of course, teach them while they’re still impressionable but realize there’s no guarantee they will always make the right decisions. Adam’s “sin nature” passed on to all of us. I believe there are good and bad genetic strains in all of us.

TWO WOLVES
You’ve heard the old Cherokee story: A father tells his son that we all have 2 wolves growing inside us — a good wolf and a bad wolf who are constantly battling for dominance. Which wolf wins will depend on who we feed the most. Needless to say, we should strive to be the good wolf. Why? The good wolves become dogs. Dogs become man’s best friend. They’ve get a roof on their head and play all day and they get spoiled rotten. The bad wolves? They’re still out there hunting their own food.

Three things I know: When life gives us lemons, we make lemonade. When life gives us a box of chocolates, we never know what we are going to get. But when life gives us chocolate lemons, we will have indigestion!

So be a good wolf and stay away from chocolate lemons!

This is just silly ol’ me. TGIF people!

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Quotes of the Week

“When you keep criticizing your kids, they don’t stop loving you. They stop loving themselves.”
– Unknown.

“There are two gifts we should give our children: one is roots and the other is wings.”
– Unknown.

“Behind every young child who believes in themselves is a parent who believed first.”
– Matthew Jacobson

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” – Erma Bombeck

“Why don’t kids understand their nap is not for them, but for us?” -Alyson Hannigan

“If evolution works, how come mothers only have two hands?” -Milton Berle

“Having one child makes you a parent. Having two kids makes you a referee.” -David Frost

“One day I’ll be thankful that my kid is strong willed but that will not be today, not in this grocery store.” – unknown

“Silence is golden…unless you have kids, then silence is just suspicious.” – unknown

“Like all parents, my husband and I just do the best we can, and hold our breath, and hope we’ve set aside enough money to pay for our kids’ therapy.” – Michelle Pfeiffer

“Based on the amount of laundry, I’m going to assume there are people living here that I’ve never seen.” – unknown

“Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.” — Proverbs 29:17 (ESV)

“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” — Luke 11:11-13

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” — Ephesians 6:4

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” — Exodus 20:12

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Jonathan of S Pasadena, California.

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Jennifer of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this post.

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QUESTION:
What will happen with the war in Iran? Give me short and long term repercussions.

ANSWER:
The 2026 Iran War (also called the US-Israel war on Iran or Operation Epic Fury) began on February 28, 2026, with surprise joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites, nuclear facilities, missile infrastructure, and leadership targets. These strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, triggering Iranian retaliation via hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Israel, US bases, and Gulf allies. Iran also disrupted (effectively closing or heavily restricting) the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for ~20% of global oil and LNG—by attacking shipping, demanding fees for safe passage, and threatening indefinite disruption. As of March 26, 2026 (nearly 4 weeks in), the conflict is ongoing but shows signs of potential wind-down talks, with the US proposing a 15-point plan (including ending Iran’s nuclear program) while Iran issues counter-demands (e.g., reparations, recognition of its Hormuz role). 

Short-term repercussions (next weeks to months)

•  Military & Humanitarian: Continued airstrikes degrade Iran’s missile/air defense capabilities (Israel/US claim hundreds of strikes already). Iranian retaliation hits Israeli civilians and regional targets, causing casualties (dozens to hundreds reported) and civilian damage in Tehran and elsewhere. Refugee flows and internal instability in Iran rise; proxy escalations (Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis, Iraqi militias) intensify, risking wider regional spillover. Civilian deaths already exceed 2,000 across sides.

•  Energy & Economic Shock: Strait of Hormuz disruption spikes oil prices (Brent crude up significantly, trading near or above $100 in volatile sessions; some forecasts hit $120+ if prolonged). This drives global inflation, higher gas/fuel costs (US gasoline potentially $3.50+/gallon), and supply shortages, especially hitting Asia (China, India, Japan, South Korea). Europe faces stagflation risks; shipping attacks and force majeure declarations disrupt trade. Markets see volatility in energy stocks, gold, and defense sectors.

•  Diplomatic: US pushes talks (Trump hints at “winding down” but deploys more Marines); Iran rejects direct negotiations so far but signals conditions. Russia condemns strikes (fears nuclear risks at sites like Bushehr); China stays restrained but advocates diplomacy due to energy dependence. Gulf states are strained but largely align against full Iranian disruption.

•  Other: Cyber threats, terrorism risks from proxies, and public opposition in parts of Europe/Asia to the US-Israel actions.

Most analysts expect the intense phase could last weeks to a couple of months, not years, due to Iran’s degraded conventional capabilities. 

Long-term repercussions (months to years)

•  Iran’s Future: Possible scenarios include a weakened regime surviving (hunkering down with asymmetric tactics), a “Maduro-style” coerced shift toward cooperation while retaining power, or chaotic transition/regime change with power vacuums. A collapsed or fragmented Iran could spawn refugee crises, proxy fragmentation, or ISIS-style exploitation of vacuums. Nuclear ambitions might be set back (or accelerated covertly).

•  Regional Order: Reshaping of Middle East dynamics—stronger Gulf-Israeli alignment against Iran, potential buffer zones in Lebanon/Syria, and reduced Iranian “Axis of Resistance” influence. Escalation risks with Hezbollah or others could linger. A post-war equilibrium might tie regional stability to Hormuz security and shared energy interests.

•  Global Economy & Energy: If resolved quickly, oil prices could drop sharply as flows resume. Prolonged effects risk recession/stagflation in energy-import-dependent economies, higher inflation, and shifts in trade (e.g., more US oil benefits, yuan-denominated deals favoring China). Global supply chains and food security face secondary hits via fertilizer/energy costs.

•  Geopolitics: Demonstrates US military reach but strains resources (potentially diverting from Ukraine/Indo-Pacific). China gains diplomatic space as a “peacemaker” advocate while securing alternative energy routes; Russia provides limited support to prolong US costs without direct intervention. Broader risks include accelerated multi-polarity, weakened UN norms, and heightened great-power competition. Terrorism threats could rise regionally and inspire lone actors globally.

•  Broader: Humanitarian rebuilding needs in Iran; shifts in alliances; and lessons on asymmetric warfare, chokepoints, and the limits of air power against determined regimes.

Uncertainties remain high: A negotiated exit (US demands nuclear disarmament/cooperation; Iran seeks survival and concessions) is plausible given fatigue and economic pain on all sides. Full regime collapse or major expansion (e.g., direct US ground involvement) is less likely but possible if talks fail. Outcomes depend heavily on diplomacy in the coming days/weeks.

We invite you to join the discussion. You can also submit your questions to Mr. Robot. Send them to ra***@**********oy.com.

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