DOORKNOBS AND WINDOWS

We now have been in Prague for about a week. All important things have been accomplished. We have Prague phone numbers - and are able to be online with our phones now. We've downloaded Google Translate, which is a life saver. When we're in the grocery store, we can turn on that app and our phone camera will "read" the words on the Czech labels and translate for us.


Our temporary apartment is very typical. It has a kitchen, living/dining room and one large bedroom. As usual over here, there is a bathroom with sink and shower and a separate W.C. (water closet) which contains the toilet.


Also, very typically there is no carpet at all in our apartment. It has tile flooring in the kitchen and bathroom areas and wood laminate in the remainder of the rooms.


One thing that is totally unusual for Americans in Prague (and all of Europe) is the windows. They open two directions. The handle is turned down if the window is locked shut (right window in picture). If you want lots of fresh air, you turn the handle horizontal (left window in picture) and open the window inward from top to bottom. If you want just a bit of air, you turn the handle all the way up (center window in picture) and the bottom of the window is shut with the top tilting inward. I hope you can see the difference in the photo I took.


The real trick in this equation is that there are no screens on the windows- most of the time. We do have one screened window in each room. I was speaking with a person who has lived here a couple months now. She said that one day a bumble bee flew in her unscreened window. I'm not looking forward to that experience!


I discovered one thing that would thrill a couple of my young grandchildren. The light switches are much lower over here - hip level. Just the right height for 2 year olds to turn the switches on and off all day. I'm still getting used to this height when I'm walking through the house in the dark. My hand automatically searches the wall higher up. Oh, well, we'll get used to it.


The doorknobs are higher up than we're used to also. I guess it will just take a bit of time to become accustomed to different things in this new country.





Comments

  1. Be careful with Google Translate. It translated a French sentence as SIMON RICHOME IS COMMITTED FOR THREE YEARS TO 100 BOOKS PER YEAR." Simon was my 10th gr-grandfather. What?? He was committed (to prison?) for (stealing?) 100 books per year? (Oh good. A book lover.) A French friend gave me the correct translation: Simon Richome is hired for three years at 100 pounds per year. Whew!

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    1. Yes, we are aware of the dangers. My husband was reading the contents of a can. One of the ingredients was BEASTS. Needless to say we didn't buy that can. I can't remember what the can was, but it was funny.

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