* pohoda festival sold out! *

* For the first time in the festival history, tickets for 2011 Pohoda Festival have been sold out. If you got the ticket - good for you, if not - start mourning. So what are my 'must see' for this year?

Portishead, Saturday 23:00-24:00 @ Bazant Stage
* Honestly, if this is the only band appearing on the stage this year I would be okay with that. I am not going to argue with anyone that this is an easy music for listening because it is just not. But get a record from 1997 when the band performed with strings by the New York Philharmonic orchestra at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City and you sure will be amazed


Lamb, Friday 01:00-02:00 @ Runway Stage
* Another tidbit, Lou Rhodes will be visiting Pohoda for the third time but will be Andy Barlow's first time. I am pretty sure their joint performance will be a lot different than Lou playing alone


Pulp, Friday 22:00-23:00 @ Bazant Stage
* A reunion of an old britpop band, they have not played together since 2002. Not exactly sure what to expect but this is a music of my youth so another 'must see'


Public Image Ltd, Saturday 19:00-20:00 @ Bazant Stage
* I personally am not a punk freak but cannot miss an opportunity to see grandfather of punk Johnny Rotten live on stage

Komorný orchester mesta Trenčín a Chorus Alea, Saturday 15:00-16:00 @ Bazant Stage
* It is now a tradition to play classical music on main stage on Saturday noon. Other stages are usually quiet for an hour and 30.000 people enjoy themselves in a sunny afternoon, listening to great masterpieces of classics

The Markovič Orkestar vs. Fanfare Ciocarlia, Thursday 22:25 — 23:55 @ O2 Stage
* Balkan brass battle live on stage = great fun, music & energy

Madness, Friday 00:00-01:00 @ Bazant Stage
* A legendary British 2tone/ska band; although I do not know their albums so well, this is simply kind of a music I like

Beirut, Saturday 22:00-23:00 @ Runaway Stage
* A sew music discovery for me, I have been diligently listening to their alums and am very interested how will it be to see them live on a big stage

Dan Bárta and Illustratosphere, Friday 17:00-18:00 @ Runway Stage
* One could say that Dan Bárta is everywhere, you can expect him to jump out a sardine box one day but I cannot help myself, I really enjoy his music. I'm sorry that Dara Rollins will not be joining him at Pohoda, I saw them on stage together couple of months ago and it was just great

Staff Benda Bilili, Friday 21:00-22:00 @ Runway Stage
* A group of disabled street musicians from Congo-Kinshasa, no need more comments

Junip, Friday 22:00-23:00 @ Slovenska Sporitelna Arena
* A project of Jose Gonzales who is known for his solo appearances with a guitar. I was actually quite disappointed of his last year's appearance at Pohoda but let's give him another change. Junip does not seem to be so sad in comparison to Jose's solo work which might help

Other worth to see stuff (in alphabetical order):
* dEUS, Friday 18:00-19:00 @ Bazant Stage
* DJ Krush, Friday 03:00-04:00 @ Nay Tanecny dom
* Dominique Young Unique, Friday 19:00-20:00 @ O2 Stage
* Hex, Saturday 13:00-14:00 @ Bazant Stage
* Hidden Orchestra, Friday 02:00-03:00 @ Europa
* M.I.A., Saturday 21:00-22:00 @ Bazant Stage
* Moby, Thursday 00:00-01:30 @ Bazant Stage
* Nourish My Fame, Saturday 19:00-20:00 @ Europa
* Peter, Björn and John, Saturday 17:00-18:00 @ Bazant Stage
* Prago Union, Saturday 14:00-15:00 @ O2 Stage
* Pulled Apart By Horses, Friday 17:00-18:00 @ O2 Stage
* We Have Band, Saturday 14:00-15:00 @ Runaway Stage

* what if you lived at ikea? *

* Hilarious photos of some folks staying at IKEA over the weekend, trying to figure out how would it be if they lived there, can be found at :: christiangideonphotography.com ::

* hockey championship 2011 *

* I am heading to a pub to meet friends and watch the Slovakia x Slovenia match this evening. All Slovak fans, do not forget to support your team!
* Slovenskoooo!!!

* dara & dan at retro *

* Retro Music Hall hosted special event yesterday - Dara Rolins and Dan Barta appeared together on one stage again. Dan & his band Illustratosphere had invited Dara to join their 2011 tour after their successful appearance at Zebrik festival to reminisce Sexy Dancers project.

* Dara Rolins & Dan Barta at Zebrik festival in Plzen (2009)

* rhodesian ridgeback puppies *

* Bambulka's and Ary's sister Ashaggy Re E'ilama delivered her first babies on March 23. Fourteen (!) wonderful puppies (8 boys & 6 girls) represent "a" litter of Resh Zone kennel. Anyone interested in puppies of Rhodesian Ridgeback with great pedigree, please visit :: RESHZONE.CZ ::

* To display more photos of the puppies, click on the picture

* u.s. vacation 2011 - photos *

* We're back home and finally found time to archive photos. I don't want you to become tired by reading lengthy report so here it is: our itinerary day by day with some facts from wikitravel.org and photos. Each picture links to a photo gallery on picasa. Link to gallery with "the best of" photos is :: HERE ::

* day 1: Prague - London - Phoenix - Flagstaff
Landed at about 6pm after a never-ending flight from London. Arrived to Flagstaff at midnight.

* day 2: Flagstaff - Monument Valley
Flagstaff is a small city stretched along historic Route 66 in the northern Arizona. Downtown is about five blocks square.

Monument Valley is perhaps the most famous example of the classic American West landscape, located within the Navajo Nation on the border of Arizona and Utah.


* day 3: Grand Canyon - Hoover Dam - Las Vegas
Grand Canyon is UNESCO World Heritage Site that is located entirely in northern Arizona and is one of the great tourist attractions in the United States. The massive canyon encompasses several distinct areas, most famous of which is Grand Canyon National Park, a United States National Park. The national park is itself divided into two main areas: the remote North Rim and the more accessible South Rim.

Hoover Dam was the world's largest dam when completed in 1935, and instrumental in generating power and providing irrigation via Lake Mead, which was created behind the dam.

Las Vegas is the largest city in the US state of Nevada. Nicknamed Sin City and the Entertainment Capital of the World, it is situated in the midst of the southern Nevada desert landscape. The city has giant mega-casino hotels, decorated with lavish care and attention to detail to create a fantasy-like atmosphere.


* day 4: Death Valley
Death Valley National Park is the lowest point in North America and one of the hottest places in the world.


* day 5: Sequoia
Sequoia National Park is named for its groves of Sequoia trees, the largest trees known


* day 6-7: San Francisco
San Francisco is major city in California, the centerpiece of the Bay Area, well-known for its liberal community, hilly terrain, Victorian architecture, scenic beauty, summer fog, and great ethnic and cultural diversity. These are only a few of the aspects of the city that make San Francisco one of the most visited cities in the world.


* day 8: Pacific Coast Highway / Big Sur
California Highway 1 (aka Pacific Coast Highway) winds through Big Sur flanked by the steep Santa Lucia Mountains to the east and the rocky Pacific Coast to the west. Big Sur begins just south of Carmel and continues south through the small towns of Big Sur, Lucia, and Gorda. It ends in San Simeon where you can see wild elephant seals on the beaches.


* day 9: Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park located at Mojave and Colorado Deserts is conserving two separate desert ecosystems at different altitudes. The name of the park is derived from the distinctive Joshua Tree, a tall-growing variety of the yucca genus that grows prevalently within its boundaries.


* day 10: Red Rocks near Sedona
Sedona is known for its beauty and serene setting amidst the beautiful Red Rocks.


* day 11-16: Phoenix
Phoenix i s not only home of Honeywell but also capital of the state of Arizona as well as the most populous city in the American Southwest and sixth largest city in the United States.

* u.s. vacation 2011 *

* I am wring this post from Ruzyne airport in Prague before going to gate. Our flight to London Heathrow leaves in 45 minutes. Next (and last) stop will be Phoenix Sky Harbor, Arizona. Yeah, I am going to spend two weeks in the country of unlimited possibilities, southwest specifically. :: HERE :: is a link to our preliminary itinerary. Will try to post few words from US and load photos to picasa. Stay tuned!

* 3rd B-day *

* Our beloved dogs Bambulka & Ary are celebrating 3rd birthday today! We wish them all the best and loooong & happy life.
* More pictures on :: PICASA ::

* llama *

* I promised to myself to post something here at least once a month. As we are heading end of January next week and I haven't run to anything interesting recently... get prepared for nothing but fun for now ;]

* Via :: FUNNY FILES ::

* portishead @ pohoda festival *

* Portishead confirmed their appearance at Bažant Pohoda festival 2011! I just realized this after a week off-line so it's like the best X-mas gift ever; no matter a bit late. Folks, I would get the tickets if you don't have them already, it feels like that this event might be sold out.
* What: Bažant Pohoda Festival
* When: July 7 - 9, 2010
* Where: Trenčín, Slovakia
* Web: :: POHODAFESTIVAL.SK ::