Paris, Je t'aime!

I just came back from the most amazing weekend in one of most beautiful cities in the world... Paris!

All I can say is...wow.

I can't wait to go back, 4 days is simply not enough..

Pics and a more detailed post to follow. :) Bonne Nuit everyone!

Palm Sunday in Bratislava

Today marks the beginning of Holy Week, when Jesus entered Jerusalem amidst a crowd of people waving palms in welcome... In the Philippines, we would buy palms, decorated with flowers, and ribbons and wave them as the priest walks down the aisle during the entrance procession... here, it's different.

Before the mass started, we all gathered outside where they gave out pussywillows. Here, pussywillows (see pic below) are used because palms are not available. Then, the priest gave his blessing, using holy water and then incense. And then, the choir started singing, playing the guitar and then we all followed the priest into the church.
Unlike in the Philippines, where we normally listen to 'shortened' version of the Passion of Christ during the Gospel, here it is read in its entirety. Jay even read during the mass, which earned us another 'point' with Father because he knows how special the week is for Filipinos. During the homily, he even mentioned it to the rest of the congregation, pointing out to the crowd that we were from the Philippines, and in the Philippines there were special celebrations during this week. I thought he would be telling everyone about the crucifixion and penitence rites that were being done during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, but he didn't elaborate.

Also, our commentator mentioned how we should pray the Divine Mercy novena on Good Friday, I'm pasting a copy of the novena here and I'm also encouraging everyone to pray it on Good Friday. This novena is for all, especially for us sinners.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

Have a blessed Holy Week everyone!

Vienna Sightseeing in under 12 hours

Ok, so I still don't have enough time to sort through the 2,000+ pictures taken during our trip to Vienna, so here are a couple of 'teaser' pics, if you will... hopefully, I'll be able to sort them out this weekend, and publish a more comprehensive post. :)

Innere Stadt/Vienna Center

Upper Belvedere

Pestsäule/(Plague Column) Graben

Haas Haus/Stephansplatz

Stephansdom/St. Stephen's

Peterskirche/St. Peter's Church

Kaisergruft/Imperial Crypts

Hofburg Theater/Imperial Court Theaer

Rathaus - City Hall

Parlament

Hundertwasserhaus/Hundertwasser House Vienna

Whew! That's a lot of places to go to in around 12 hours, so you can imagine how exhausted we all were. Nevertheless, I can't wait to go back in spring! I can just imagine Belvederegarten and the Gardens of Schönbrunn in the spring. :) Until then, I have Paris to look forward to... 10 days and counting!

Erste Dinner

Last Friday, Marta took all 19 of us out to dinner at this restaurant near Slovanet. I forgot the name, but it was German-inspired. :D

For appetizers, we had a cheese plate and some bread.


Then, some steak tartare... If you don't know this dish, let me sum it up for you, its raw meat with lots of garlic. You read that right... raw...meat. :D It wasn't bad though... but I couldn't eat more than half a piece of bread, it just didn't seem right somehow...
By this time, we were really very very hungry... you see after each course was put down, we had to wait around 30 minutes for the next course. After this, bowls of brocolli flowers was served...and then, the main course. There were four of these gigantic platters served filled with ribs, beef, chicken, potatoes, sauerkraut, liver... We were overwhelmed.
And of course...what's a dinner thrown by Marta without Tequila?! We were served with Tequila Gold, with orange wedges and cinnamon. Four shots which seemed like 8 because of the tall shotglasses they used...

And in between shots, we had dessert... some ice cream Romanov, Palacinky (Slovak crepes filed with fruit jam), and some hot love (ice cream, with liqueur and fresh berries).

Yum! Of course, we couldn't stay long, as most of us had a trip to Vienna the next day, which I think was a good thing, I couldn't take another tequila shot. At around 1130, we were all headed back home. Warmed by the tequila, we walked back to our hotel, stomachs full, alcohol levels high and sugar cravings satisfied.

Thanks Marta! I miss your Sinigang, but this was a wonderful treat. :)

My Thoughts on the GMA-Lozada-NBN Circus

Before I post updates on my trip to Wien (Vienna), and the Erste dinner we had last Friday, let me first share something I read on Inquirer.Net today -> Has Lozada been playing us for fools all along?

The title says it all. And the article is concise and to the point.

I do not support Lozada. LaSallian or not, I will not support something I don't believe in. His actions (or acts?) on TV and all this publicity he's relishing in makes me doubt his true intentions.

Neither am I pro-GMA. But I do not want her to be ousted. And really, the name-calling? The midget remarks, the luckiest bitch comments? She's the president for godssake! Show some respect! Corruption will not be solved by switching presidents left and right. Just let her finish her term and elect another candidate that you won't regret later on. And while on that note, why don't we have a more selective process for candidates running for president? Why not have only 2 or 3 QUALIFIED candidates? Not the mass of choices we get every elections which dilute the majority vote and force us to choose the 'lesser' evil, and cast a ballot for the most likely to win.

And all these rallies?!? People power and all that? I don't buy it, not even for a minute.

And even people I used to respect are jumping in on the bandwagon... are they really looking out for the country's best interest? Will replacing GMA be for the greater good? Who will replace her? Noli is next in line, he may be willing but he has yet to prove he's capable of leading the country. And now ERAP is once again joining the fray?

I want to throw up.

I'm really disappointed, irritated and very very close to apathy. Sooner or later, I just wouldn't care.