Katyn

The massacre at Katyn is an important cornerstone in the history of this great country.  The massacre of more than 20,000 Polish military officers and intellectuals by the Soviets in 1940 was only officially revealed by the Russians in 1990.

Andrzej Wajda debuted his film "Katya" at last year's Berlinale.

Warsaw

- John Paul II memorial in Victory Square

- "Let your Spirit come down and renovate the look of this land." - John Paul II

- Wilanow Palace from where John Paul II presided at Mass in 1979

- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

- Jewish Ghetto Memorial

The Decalogue

These are images taken from the apartment block where the ten films from 1989's The Decalogue were filmed.  

The majority of the apartments have been updated and refurbished in a contemporary manner signaling an end to the era of repressive Soviet control.

A bit of cinematic history here...

Krzysztof Kieślowski

I was fortunate to be able to visit my artistic father's grave today -- Krzysztof Kieslowski.

Though he was only 54 years old when he died in 1996 he left a great legacy of film for those of us who are aficionados.  He is responsible for the films Three Colors: Blue, Three Colors: White, Three Colors: Red, The Decalogue, The Double Life of Veronique, and many, many others.

This man was my favorite filmmaker and a true artist.  

May he rest in peace...

Prague to Warsaw

We drove from Prague to Warsaw today.  It's only 600+ kilometers but is a 10-hour drive due to the lack of modern roadway infrastructure.  

A beautiful drive though, reminds me very much of the Midwest...

Thunder, lightning, and showers tonight...

More postings to follow tomorrow...

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson died Thursday in Los Angeles.  His fans continue to mourn his death in cities around the world.  Here a large group of fans is gathered in Prague's Old Town Squre on Sunday...

Gehry in Prague

Architect Frank Gehry has a showcase building in Prague.  It's a "dancing" building named "Ginger & Fred." The European traditionalists are skeptical indeed but you can't dismiss the playfulness of this structure...

Czech humor...

A sculpture in Old Town...

Prague

- a bit of writing history in the window of the Rainer Maria Rilke restaurant

- view of Prague Castle from the Charles Bridge

- my beautiful wife in front of the Infant Jesus of Prague

- Franz Kafka statue

- our friend Milan Simackovi (actor, journalist, radio commentator), a Prague native, who served as our tour guide on Sunday.

I was fortunate to visit Czechoslovakia many years ago but this is my first visit to the reformed Czech Republic. What a beautiful city. And what a literary and artistic history to revel in (Franz Kafka, Rainer Maria Rilke, Tom Stoppard, Milan Kundera, Antonin Dvorak, Jan Hammer, and Milos Forman to name a few...).


And who can forget about the tennis players (Ivan Lendl, Martina Navratilova, and Jana Novotna)!