Day 3 & 4- Castles and Camps

Sorry, about not blogging yesterday. I was tired after my trip to Karlštejn Castle. Karlštejn Castle is located about 40 km from Prague up in the forest. Built in the mid 14th century by King Charles IV, this is nothing but impressive. King Charles IV built it to protect the crown jewels instead of being used to protect a city or area. The castle has three parts; the Imperial Palace, the Deanery, and the Marian Tower. The Imperial Palace is where the knights resided and possibly the queen. The Deanery had King Charles' bedroom, the audience hall, and the hall of royal ancestors. Unfortunately, I couldn't go into the Marian Tower which housed the royal treasury as well as The Chapel of the Holy Cross. Only 16 people can go in at a time and there's all these rules about going in to see it. It sounded awesome though. So instead I just got awesome photos of the view. OH random but brilliant fact; a wooden bridge was built from the Deanery to the Marian Tower so if attackers tried to capture the jewels the bridge could be burned, and no one would have access to it. Also, the castle was never completely conquered. The Swedes came the closest by capturing 2/3 of the castle before retreating.

 

 

Today, Kaja took me to Terezín. Terezín started off as a fortress in the 18th century built as a prison for offenders during the national liberation struggle, before becoming a concentration camp during World War II. The guide explained it more like a transit camp, where people would stay temporarily before being moved onto a different camp. There were no gas chambers here but still, thousands of people died here by disease or execution. The town was hastily built and used by the German Nazis to film propaganda videos. All those museums in America cannot come close to capturing the emotions that go through you when you're actually at a camp. And the irony of it all was that the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the sky was blue. Yet, only 75ish years ago, people were being work to their deaths in the exact same weather. 

Day 2- 500 Pictures in 5 Hours

Super cool book tower

Today I got to do all the touristy things in Prague. Kaja took me to Old Prague where she had to make a stop at the public library. Their public library is so cool that I had to take a picture inside :). They also have a national library, but you can't check out books. Oh well that's still pretty cool.

Orloj

She then took me to Old Town Square where I indulged in a trdelnik (see instagram photo). She also took me to Orloj, the clock tower. There's an interesting story behind the tower. Back in the 1400s a clockmaker made this clock for the city of Prague. It's an astronomical clock and on the hour the doors open up and you can see different saints. At the end, the rooster crows. It's quite amazing. Anyway, many different European cities wanted the clockmaker to make clocks for them and the mayor of Prague said absolutely not. This is going to be in Prague only, so he blinded the clockmaker. The clockmaker was so upset that he stuck his hands in the mechanics of the clock and died soon after. The clock didn't work for 200 years. Morbid, yes, but fascinating none the less. There is NOTHING in America that was built in 1200, so that fact alone is amazing.

The end of the Charles Bridge that takes you into Lesser Prague

After walking around Jewish Prague, Kaja took me to meet up with Lucy who spoke Italian and Czech fluently with a little bit of English. So I got to practice my Italian (thank goodness my comprehension in foreign languages is better than my speaking abilities.) Lucy took me across the Charles Bridge into Lesser Town. She also took me to a park where there are PEACOCKS!!! How awesome is that??? They just roam--similar to the OC Park--and are just hanging in windows or trees. She also took me to the bridge with locks, which you can apparently get arrested for now.


I saw St. Nicholas Cathedral briefly and then hiked up 100 steps to Prague Castle. After hiking these steps you get the most spectacular view. You can see the US Embassy sitting all by it's lonesome at the top of a hill (in typical American style) with the Germans fairly close by. The one thing I love about these vistas is the face that everything is green or a brick color. Or blue. I've only seen skies this blue after a rain in SoCal. We continued on to St. Victus Cathedral and it is seriously one of the most beautiful cathedrals I've ever seen, not that I've seen many. The stained glass is so detailed it's amazing that it was built in 1060. I feel like the people of that time put more thought and energy into the details of it all. Like seriously, each statue is devoted to a saint or an important person and everything tells a story.We saw the changing of the guards, which I think they do every hour. Lucy also explained to me about the flag on top of the president's house. Similar to the United States, if the flag is up, the president is at home, if not he is away.

St. Victus Cathedral- Simply stunning

Some interesting things I've  noticed while here has been lack of children and doors. Like there are plenty of kids here but they're families of three maybbeee four. I have yet to see more than three kids together that aren't part of a school group. It's a cultural thing here though, it's just something that's super unique to me. Now about the doors. Yes I'm being literal, I guess I could be figurative as well. But there are doors e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. Almost all of them old and original. These doors are beautiful, just like the ones in our lives. They are locked or unlocked at specific times for specific reasons. Despite the wear or the amount of detail on the door, each door is unique and beautiful, leading to the next part of the adventure.

Day 1- 19 Hours of Travel

Nineteen hours of travel later I'm in Prague, Czech Republic!! I woke up at 5a (PST) and took out of LAX by 9a. Flew to Miami (I got to see the Everglades for the first time!!!) and from Miami to Madrid. Now first off, to all those people on the transatlantic flight, if you didn't get up to stretch in those eight hours, I don't know how you do it. I got served breakfast twice within 18 hours and my body was very confused as to what  I should be enjoying. In Madrid I had an hour and a half to catch my LAST and final leg of my travel day. Now for you to truly feel my pain, google Madrid-Barajas airport layout and follow me. I had to take a five minute train ride from terminal 4S to 4. I had to get to gate K90. So after my little train ride I had to go through security...again. This is where my passport was stamped and thank GOD I understand Spanish because no one was helping me out in English. All the signs are in Spanish and NEVER have I had to say, "Tu hablas engles?" Yeah, no one in Spain does. I'm FINALLY at gate K52. Where on this planet is K90?! So one guy knew a little English and directed me towards the COMPLETE opposite end of the terminal. It was so far down the terminal there weren't even signs for it yet. I make it to K90 with 20 minutes to spare hop on Iberia Flight 3148 and land in Prague at 1:15pm (their time).

I was ready to seize the day. Kaja took me to get this photo:

I love how laid back this place is. I'm currently exhausted which is why this is not a very coherent blog post but tada!! You all got one and all the links are in Czech, so I'm feeling quite proud of myself :) Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!!!

Book Signing

On April 25, 2013, For Underdogs Only had a book signing at Tustin High School's Open House (Light Up the Night). Players from the book, including DeShaun Foster, Winter Welz, Tom Giebe, Edward Tandy, Frank Frappier, Ricky Miller, and Myron Miller were all on hand to sign. Best selling author, Kim Robinson, was personally signing books as well. Kim read an excerpt from the book and debuted the book trailer filmed and edited by teacher, Mr. Zimora and a Tustin High student. All hands were on deck as former students, faculty, and friends were there to support Kim and her first book. It was a great night and here are some pictures documenting the event. Congrats Kim!!

" 'I don't think I'm worthy enough to have book written about me, but you go ahead and write it. You are following your dreams and I like people that march to their own drum.' And my dream since  I was eight-years-old has come true." -Kim Robinson on Myron Miller

 

 



From left to right: M. Miller, F. Frappier, R. Miller, W. Welz, K. Robinson,
T. Giebe, E. Tandy



The line for DeShaun Foster to sign

OC Fair Potentials

To all of those that read my blog-

First of all thank you for being supportive of my art. I love it and definitely have my favorite shoots!!! Now it's time to participate. If you click here you can voice your opinion on my art. Yes, I know it's subjective BUT you can vote for your favorites and hopefully it will be one that I enter into the Orange County Fair!!! Here's how it works:

From TODAY 3/9/13- 3/17/13 you can vote for as many photos as you like. Obviously, only two votes per photo (one comment and one like). After 3/17/13 I will take down the album and put up the top 25 and continue until I get to the top 5-7 photos. Then I enter those photos into the fair. God willing, they all get picked to judge. If any photos (hopefully all) are picked, the fair will notify me and then I mat and frame the photos. The photos then get to the fair prior to opening weekend. They will then be judged and hopefully get a ribbon or something!

But I'm very excited and will also be in a photography competition on August 1 at the fair. So come by and support!! I will keep you all posted!!! Thank you!!

Sincerely,

Kara Russek
Devon Bella Photography

Dapper Day Spring 2013

Opening Day 7.17.1955

The day was July 17, 1955 when approximately 28,000 people flocked to Anaheim, CA to visit Disneyland for the very first time. A place where adults could be kids again and kids' dreams would come true. And every single one of those invitees came dressed in their Sunday best.

Fast forward almost six decades later and you can walk up and down Main Street past tourists, families, and screaming children dressed in... well let's not talk about how much class most visitors of the park have lost. Except for two days out of the year. On those days there's some old school magic in the air and it's called Dapper Day.

Dapper Day is an unofficial event put on by two gentlemen who live in the LA area. They worked endless hours getting the people of Southern California and Florida group discounts and super cute merchandise to commemorate this day. Hundreds of people come dressed up in heels, hats, and bow ties as a throwback to the opening of this infamous park. Sunday was my first time attending--as this is the third Dapper Day--and I LOVED it. I also had some interesting conversations with people throughout the day. Here's a general summary of those conversations:

There needs to be more dancing. Come on Disney get with it!!! If people are getting dressed in their vintage best, swing bands should be at the ready on this special day! Luckily, me and some friends were able to find the bands and had visitors in awe of our dancing abilities. I'm pretty sure we were more popular than the band playing. *On a side note: where are those pictures and videos that random people take?! I would love to see a video of me dancing!* 

 Why are you all dressed up? was the most asked question of the day. Right up there with, "Can we take a picture with you guys? You look fantastic!" It was fun spreading the word of Dapper Day. A day when random strangers come together for a single purpose and wish a "Happy Dapper Day!" to groups that walk past. (Weird that sounds like some of the principles our country was founded on...) But Sunday was a FASHION show. I don't think I thought a single girl's outfit was scandalous, ugly, or slutty, which is a completely different story in the summer. But on Sunday, every single girl looked simply beautiful with her date, friend, or family.

Dapper Families. There is nothing cuter than two parents all dolled up with their toddler boys dressed in vests and newsboy caps. End of story.

It should be Dapper Day everyday. Okay so maybe not everyday since it would ruin the magic. But why aren't people dressed up more often? Who cares what societal norms are? Be dapper and bring back the past! If you enjoy dressing up what's stopping you? People seem to be much more friendly when in conversation with well-dressed people. Plus, it is straight up classy. Classy needs to come back.

After two hours of hair and makeup, five hours in heels, ten hours between the two parks, three attractions, a firework show, many dances, and countless friends and memories; I can confirm that this was simply one of the most epic days ever. Happy Dapper Day everyone!!! Until the fall...

*I took approximately 300 photos and many can be viewed here. Also, it would be GREATLY appreciated if you liked/shared my page. Thanks!

Surprise Proposal!!!

 I had the pleasure of photographing my good friends Jon and Melinda. Jon contacted me two days before said proposal asking if I could take pictures. I, of course, said yes and made it after some flight difficulties. Jon had given me specific directions to the spot he was planning to propose, and let me tell you, trying to be secretive with not a lot of cover is HARD! Melinda saw me but thought I was a bird photographer; a proposal didn't even cross her mind!!! Then Jon got down on one knee (see below) and she said yes!!! Congrats you guys on your engagement!!!