Prague Restaurants: Kolkvona, Slavia and American Bar

Czech food is tasty and delicious. This was our final opinion, after tried some restaurants in Prague.

KOLKVONA

Kolkovna restaurant was the least expensive restaurant we went to. A very good choice, not only because of the quality of the food and the nice affordable prices, but especially due to its location, nearby the Spanish Synagogue.

The soup - with homemade noodles - was absolutely delicious.

From Prague-Food and Cafes

And the apple strudel... Yummy, don't you agree? ;-)

From Prague-Food and Cafes

 SLAVIA CAFE

This famous historical cafe, located in front of the romantic Charles Bridge and the National Theater, was founded in 1884.

From Prague-Food and Cafes

I loved its atmosphere:  the large bay windows offering great views of the Vitava River, the Art Déco wall decorations, the old style tailcoats of the staff, the delicious food. I strongly recommend the salad I ordered, with basil, tomato, boiled eggs, almonds and bacon. A refreshing and healthy choice after the several meat dishes of the previous days.

THE AMERICAN BAR

If you intend to go for a concert in the Municipal House, take a look at the The American Bar. There you can taste the famous Czech liqueur Becherovka - a drink flavored with anise seed, cinnamon, and approximately 32 more herbs. Enjoy!

From Prague-Food and Cafes

Do you have a favorite cafe or restaurant in Prague? Any suggestions?

(to be continued)

Prague: Street Food

Let's remember Prague, where we were exactly one year ago, to celebrate our wedding anniversary? This time, I will share with you our gastronomical experiences... ;-)

Street Food in the Old Town Square

A stall of roasted pork meat. I loved it! The food was absolutely delicious!

From Prague 2012

In Prague, we find  many beggars in the streets, most of them, with the head laid on the ground, in a prayer position. During our lunch, at this stall of roasted pork, an old beggar started to look at us and the food we were eating. Since our meal was very well served, I put half aside, along with a slice of bread, to give him. He accepted it, but he went to eat it elsewhere, and not at the table as we suggested.

In this photo, Ceske Trdlo. In Portugal, we would call it "rosca".

From Prague 2012

Just loved it! That flavor of cinnamon and sugar, delicious! And with a glass of gluhwein, oh la la...it's really great. A perfect way to finish a nice street meal, don't you think? ;-)

From Prague 2012

Do you have a favorite street food? Have you ever tried street food in Prague? 

Valentine's Day

Yesterday...:-)

Have a nice weekend! ;-)

From Valentine's Day 2013

From Valentine's Day 2013

CHORUS: 
They call me The Wild Rose 
But my name was Elisa Day 
Why they call me it I do not know 
For my name was Elisa Day 

From the first day I saw her I knew she was the one 
As she stared in my eyes and smiled 
For her lips were the colour of the roses 
They grew down the river, all bloody and wild 

When he knocked on my door and entered the room 
My trembling subsided in his sure embrace 
He would be my first man, and with a careful hand 
He wiped the tears that ran down my face 

CHORUS 

On the second day I brought her a flower 
She was more beautiful than any woman I'd seen 
I said, 'Do you know where the wild roses grow 
So sweet and scarlet and free?' 

On the second day he came with a single rose 
Said: 'Will you give me your loss and your sorrow?' 
I nodded my head, as I layed on the bed 
He said, 'If I show you the roses will you follow?' 

CHORUS 

On the third day he took me to the river 
He showed me the roses and we kissed 
And the last thing I heard was a muttered word 
As he stood smiling above me with a rock in his fist 

On the last day I took her where the wild roses grow 
And she lay on the bank, the wind light as a thief 
As I kissed her goodbye, I said, 'All beauty must die' 
And lent down and planted a rose between her teeth 

Snow and Sun in Tussen de Vaarten

Photos taken with my mobile during our walk today in Tussen de Vaarten, Almere. ;-)

From Neve 2013

From Neve 2013

From Neve 2013

The film of this week, Argo:

Have a nice week!!! :-) :-)

My A-Z of the Netherlands: "V" is for Veterinary Costs

Due to my lack of time, I didn't have the opportunity to go forward with "My A-Z of the Netherlands" last year. As you may remember my last post about it dates from March. 

Therefore, I will try to make up to you this year. This time I will follow a different strategy: not writing according to the alphabet order, but according to the events that happen in my everyday life. 

I have written 3 posts until now : "A" is for Almere, "B" is for Bikes and "C" is for Children. This time, we will give a huge jump: "V" is for Veterinary Costs.

From Almere (III)

(Fofinho in our back yard 3 years ago)

As you may know, my 16 years old cat has been ill with kidney and heart problems. This week, I went with him to the veterinary clinic. We were there for the last time in November and Dr K. was very pleased to see Fofinho again. She has asked me a couple of weeks ago to make a new appointment for Fofinho since she would like to check him up again and see how he has been doing.

Well, we have good news! For the first time, since Fofinho got ill last July, he hasn't lost any weight. In fact, he has more 50 gr and now he weighs 2700 kg. His heart is more relaxed too. Only his blood pressure needs to slow down a bit. Dr K. was very happy to see how Fofinho looked more active and stable. She said to me it would not be necessary to repeat the blood tests for now , but it would be advisable to do it in June.

Now, that Fofinho is better and I'm more relaxed with this situation, I would like to share with you some useful information related to the overall veterinary costs: doctor's appointments, medication, exams, treatments and food. Many of our readers are from Portugal and, as we know, emigration has been increasing in our country. So, if you are Portuguese, you are thinking about emigrating to the Netherlands and you would like to bring your cat with you, I hope this information will give you an idea about the overall veterinary costs.

This is only my experience. I don't know if the costs are more or less the same in other Dutch cities/provinces, but you can compare this information with the costs  that you have in Portugal and decide what is the better option for you - to bring your pet with you or to let him with your relatives (temporarily or not).

Fofinho's Veterinary Costs

(The current VAT for appointments, exams, treatments and pets food is 21%, but until last September was 19%. The medication's VAT is still 6%)

Check-up (last appointment): € 38.50

Evening appointment (July 2012): € 65

Medication

For the blood pressure: Norvasc (€5.25) + suspendeergel 30 ml (€4.60) + syringe (€0.30) = € 10.15

He has been taking 1 ml /day. That means each small bottle (this medication is prepared by the vet) is for 30 days. But now his vet told me to give him 1.25 ml /day.

For the heart: Atenolol  € 10.40 (each 40 days)

For the kidneys: Benakor € 16.90

The fluids for the kidneys: 4 units of Lactetrol 500 ml  (€33.40) + 8 needles (€1.95) + infuussystem (€5.70) = € 41.05

We need to give him 120 ml every time. Lately, Fofinho is receiving fluids once a week, but during the last 5 months, he received fluids 4 times a week, that means 4 bottles/month (each one has 500 ml). Now, one bottle is enough for one month.

The laxative: Laxactrat  €13.40

I give him 3 ml /day, and only if he needs it. In the beginning, I used to give 15 ml/day because he weighed more.

Total cost/month (last January): € 76.10 (because Fofinho is now taking only one bottle of fluids per month)

Exams

Bloeddrukmeting (blood pressure measure): € 27.55 (last January)

Urine kit:  €19.40

Geriatric tests (urine and blood tests, included the thyroxine values): € 83.15

Ultrasound:  € 142.37

Except for the ultrasound, all the other tests were done more than once.

Treatments

Fluids administration by the veterinary: € 13.10
(since September the fluids are being given by us)

Giving an injection: € 7.75
(and then you must add the cost of the product given in the injection)

Microlax: € 7.25

Versifel RC (vaccine given once a year): € 58.80

Fofinho's 3 hours stay in the veterinary clinic: € 41.35


Hygiene 

Vet Aquadent 500 ml: € 19.85

I put 2 ml/day in the water.

Comb: € 5.00

Food

k/d kat can 156gr (1 unit of wet food): € 2.37

I buy 4 units/month. The vet advised me to avoid wet food because of Fofinho's teeth. I give him a tea spoon every afternoon as a snack and that's all.

k/d kat 1,5 kg (dry food): € 19.25

Enough for a month.

Total costs (last January): € 28.73

Costs evaluation:

January's total cost: € 170.80 (doctor's appointment and blood pressure measure included).
Expected cost this month: € 104.83 (without the doctor's appointment and the blood pressure measure).

I hope this information will help you. Nevertheless, check always with your veterinary the possibility of a health insurance for your pet - especially if he/she is young - and the extras associated with (like dental treatment, for example). Thanks, Teresa, for the tip!. ;-)

Have a nice week! :-)