Viva la Velvet Revolution!!!

Hello All! I know you must all be so thrilled right now because this is my second update in a week! Woohoo! But I absolutely had to update you on my very culturally and historically significant day. Today - November 17, 2009 - is the twentieth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the nonviolent end of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. As the last country under the Iron Curtain to break free of their Soviet ties, this is seen as the end of communism in the 20th century! Hurrah! For this important holiday, we all had the day off of classes and we were encouraged to participate in the various activities going on in Prague. It was an exhausting day (that miiiight have included a necessary nap in coffeeheaven) but really interesting and FUN. Old Town square was set up with a band and food stands, while Wenceslas Square was outfitted with some outdoor exhibitions. Thousands of people reenacted the students march (it took almost 3 hrs) from the outskirts of the city to the National Theatre, and then there was a free concert!

This is part of the exhibition set up around the city to celebrate the anniversary. Shown in the pictures are some of the first student protests in Prague. (That took place in the actual square where these placards were set up!)

This is a guy who was speaking to the crowd from the top of a car. He was VERY worked up about something, but as I don't speak Czech, I have no idea what that something is.

This is the plaque dedicated to Jan Palach, a student martyr of the late 1960s that was decorated for the occasion. People also lit candles and put them on the statue of St. Wenceslas, killed in 935. They love their history over here! I can dig it.

Alex in the sea of umbrellas in Old Town Square!

This is me after Alex and I got our totally official Czech ribbons! SO patriotic. :)

The sun did make a brief appearance to light up Tyne Church!

We attended a free concert following the reenactment of the student march. Although we couldn't see any of the march because we were way too short, we did get a great view of the stage for the concert. In the picture above is Vaclav Havel, the first president of the democratic Czechoslovakia. He is QUITE famous over here, and was very involved in the activism that led to the Velvet Revolution in 1989. About 30 seconds after I took this picture, he introduced Joan Baez! She sang a wonderful rendition of "We Shall Overcome," and although I was the only person of my age group to appreciate this (thanks Mom and Dad hehe), we all sang along.

Sooooo to sum up - HAPPY 20th ANNIVERSARY TO THE VELVET REVOLUTION!!! Now you all have a reason to celebrate! Now go drink a Pilsner Urquell.

This is Julia Miller reporting for the Blague!