Wednesday, November 17 was the 21st anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic. This was when communism fell in the former Czechoslovakia. It happened in Prague and you can read about it here:
http://www.prague-life.com/prague/velvet-revolution.
I am staying with a Czech family here in Prague and they have been so kind to me. I decided that it would be a great idea to cook a Thanksgiving meal for them and let them taste all kinds of foods they have never had before, and also to experience this very American holiday. Because we all had the day off on Nov. 17, it was decided that I would make it on that day. What a lot of work it was! First of all I had to find all the ingredients, including a turkey. Even sweet potatoes are hard to come by here. I did find much of what I needed, however, and I made: turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, corn-on-the-cob, butternut squash soup, buttermilk biscuits, and apple pie with home-made whipped cream. Getting all of that food ready at the same time is really a feat! I was faced with some things I did not expect, like small feathers on the turkey, but in the end it was a success. It was a good feeling to be able to share something with them and to give back a little.
After supper Marie took me to Wenceslas Square and Národní třída where the Velvet Revolution happened. There were people lighting candles at the place where the students were beaten and signs protesting certain things that the current government is doing. It was a truly amazing 10 days in Czech history and definitely something to be thankful about.
