This morning I woke up to an eerie repetitive whistling noise that I couldn't quite place my finger on. I kept thinking it must be the windows rattling or some janked up car, but the sound got louder and louder until I realized - it's the strike.
Yes, today marks the official full-out public transportation strike here in Prague. No metro.... very limited trams... and yelling/whistles everywhere.
I guess we really do live in the center of Prague because the march came right up in front our building near the tram stop and across the street to Karlovo Nameste metro. Megaphones, police cars, flags and whistles you could hear from miles away - almost like wimpering ghosts crying off in the distance.
As I watched the faces of the people marching, holding flags, and blowing whistles, I couldn't help but get choked up. I had no idea what they were saying in Czech, but I could feel the passion behind their words and see the determination and for some - desperation in their eyes. I thought of my grandfather as I saw all the old men marching (Czech has proposed the new retirement age for them is 70)... I saw their families firmly supporting them and marching with them. And it made me think: Is there anything I feel so strongly about that I'd march and potentially lose my job, get arrested or maybe even get killed?
Yes, today marks the official full-out public transportation strike here in Prague. No metro.... very limited trams... and yelling/whistles everywhere.
I guess we really do live in the center of Prague because the march came right up in front our building near the tram stop and across the street to Karlovo Nameste metro. Megaphones, police cars, flags and whistles you could hear from miles away - almost like wimpering ghosts crying off in the distance.
As I watched the faces of the people marching, holding flags, and blowing whistles, I couldn't help but get choked up. I had no idea what they were saying in Czech, but I could feel the passion behind their words and see the determination and for some - desperation in their eyes. I thought of my grandfather as I saw all the old men marching (Czech has proposed the new retirement age for them is 70)... I saw their families firmly supporting them and marching with them. And it made me think: Is there anything I feel so strongly about that I'd march and potentially lose my job, get arrested or maybe even get killed?
I know there is, but it's definitely moving to see sites like this. It reminds you of what you're living for and what you care about, and ultimately - where your heart is.....
<3
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| one of the few tram drivers actually operating at this time |
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| the view from our window (before it reached our building) |
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