Americans going all out for Halloween and Day of the Dead

On my visit to Arizona this month I was surprised by how elaborate the Halloween and Día de los Muertos decorations were around my neighborhood and out and about.  Here are some highlights:

Not the only decorated vehicle I saw:

At Taco Bell (fast food restaurant)

A Coco-based Day of the Dead display:

This house is always fantastically decorated.  Where do they store the giant skeletons?

Some nice mini Día de los Muertos altars and calaveras (decorated skulls)

 at the local library:

Good job, everybody.  You're more festive than I am.

The Best Time to Visit Prague Castle

I've been to Prague many times (because I live in the Czech Republic), but before this last visit I had only been to the castle once.  Mostly because of the crowds.  Once I thought maybe I'd go and I saw the block-long line and was like, "Nope." Prague Castle isn't terribly medieval-castle-esque.  It's more like a huge compound of stately buildings, a famous cathedral, other churches, administrative offices, modest houses where castle guards used to live, etc.  There are various museums you can visit and tours you can take.  Or you can just wander around the grounds for free.

And I found the absolute best time to visit:  7:30 pm on a rainy Sunday night in September.  I felt like I had the whole place to myself.  It was beautiful.  Some pics:

     

Lighting Valmez

From Lighting Valmez (Světlo Valmez), a cool nighttime festival of lights in Valašské Meziříčí, Czech Republic.  They hold it every year in September, and it's free to visit all the installations.  

Wallachia in summer

 Just a few pics from the end of August and early September:

Western Tatras, Slovakia

From my August trip to the Western Tatras (Západné Tatry) in Slovakia.  Not sure I need words.  

This last one is of my new trail friends, who I was very happy to hang out with after the scary (for me) ascent of the less-scary side of Banikov.  Beautiful, beautiful hike.   

Zlin--Building 34 after the fire

After the terrible fire in July, I had to go to Zlin for business on July 30 and then again on August 24. Very sad, but amazing that nobody was seriously injured.  

Here are some pics from July 30.  The first is the side facing the bus station:

This one is from the back side:

And now, from August 24.  This is from the side facing the bus station, just like the first picture.  They were actively tearing it down as I watched:

And about forty minutes later, after my appointment.  Look at the lower few stories on the left.  They're gone.

A few pics from Nuremburg (Nürnberg)

 From my trip in July:

I sat here in the castle grounds just relaxing and doing a puzzle had three nice conversations with three separate sets of Germans:  

Last time I was here, they were having a Medieval festival here, in the moat of the castle.  Thanks, Nuremberg, for ruining all other medieval festivals for me!