Marionettes de Prague

Still a few more Prague photos left to display. One of the things Prague is most known for are its marionettes. We actually went to see a puppet show while there, a production of Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni." At one point I reflected on the international flavor of the event: I (an American) watching an opera composed by an Austrian (Mozart) in Italian (its original language) with a French woman (my wife) in the captial of Czechoslovakia (Prague). Throw in all the Japanese tourists in attendance and you could even make the case that three continents were involved. Probably a very touristy thing to do, but also a lot of fun. Also shown are the many shops selling marionettes at the market. I brought back a sweet three-headed dragon for my nephew Henry as well as a jester and an old lady puppet for our neices.

French for the Day: The Walt Disney character of "Scrooge McDuck" is named "Picsou" in French. It comes from the verb "piquer" (to steal or to nab) and "sou" (the name of a small coin--like a penny--which is no longer in use today). The French Picsou also has three nephews...but instead of being called "Hewey, Duey, and Louie", they are called "Riri, Fifi, and Loulou."