I’m moving to Liberec.
Not right now, but eventually. I was thinking that I’ll simply move about 5 kilometers north every year, and end up a resident of Liberec about the time that I’m ready to retire.
I had a chance to spend a few days this past week there, which, for those of you who have not had the pleasure, is a lovely city of around 100,000 in the northern part of the Czech Republic.
This is not the first time I’ve been there, and every time I go, I am amazed at how much I like the city. For the most part, Czech cities that don’t happen to be named Prague are economically depressed, ugly, and devoid of culture, decent food, and fun (I’m looking at you here Ceske Budejovice).
However, Liberec is different. Here are five reasons why I’m beginning my slow migration there:
Not right now, but eventually. I was thinking that I’ll simply move about 5 kilometers north every year, and end up a resident of Liberec about the time that I’m ready to retire.
I had a chance to spend a few days this past week there, which, for those of you who have not had the pleasure, is a lovely city of around 100,000 in the northern part of the Czech Republic.
This is not the first time I’ve been there, and every time I go, I am amazed at how much I like the city. For the most part, Czech cities that don’t happen to be named Prague are economically depressed, ugly, and devoid of culture, decent food, and fun (I’m looking at you here Ceske Budejovice).
However, Liberec is different. Here are five reasons why I’m beginning my slow migration there:
1. Mountains
I can’t stress how important this is for me. I grew up in the shadow of the all-powerful Mt. Diablo in California, which keeps watch over my hometown, and requires very few human sacrifices.
Liberec is surrounded by mountains, including Jested, which is topped by a hotel/restaurant/TV tower/Hershey’s kiss that is one of the well-known landmarks of the country and a decent stand-in for Mt. Diablo.
Seeing mountains all the time makes me feel comfortable, like having an army of bodyguards. Ex
I can’t stress how important this is for me. I grew up in the shadow of the all-powerful Mt. Diablo in California, which keeps watch over my hometown, and requires very few human sacrifices.
Liberec is surrounded by mountains, including Jested, which is topped by a hotel/restaurant/TV tower/Hershey’s kiss that is one of the well-known landmarks of the country and a decent stand-in for Mt. Diablo.
Seeing mountains all the time makes me feel comfortable, like having an army of bodyguards. Ex
2. Desperados
Desperados is a rather misleadingly-named Czech restaurant located in the heart of Liberec. The service is actually pleasant, the food is inexpensive, and the Dabelska Panenka (Devil’s Pork Loin) is the spiciest and most delicious thing I’ve ever had in Czech cuisine. It gets my top rating, 3.5 stars.
Desperados is a rather misleadingly-named Czech restaurant located in the heart of Liberec. The service is actually pleasant, the food is inexpensive, and the Dabelska Panenka (Devil’s Pork Loin) is the spiciest and most delicious thing I’ve ever had in Czech cuisine. It gets my top rating, 3.5 stars.
3. Centrum Babylon
Imagine an American-style casino resort, except cater it to Germans, and leave out the best part, the casino. You have Centrum Babylon. There are plenty of attractions, including a water park with four (count ‘em, four!) water slides, an IQ park, a restaurant, a wellness center, a hotel, some restaurants, and a lobby.
It’s what would happen if you let German Mormons run Las Vegas.
It’s campy and weird and I love it.
Imagine an American-style casino resort, except cater it to Germans, and leave out the best part, the casino. You have Centrum Babylon. There are plenty of attractions, including a water park with four (count ‘em, four!) water slides, an IQ park, a restaurant, a wellness center, a hotel, some restaurants, and a lobby.
It’s what would happen if you let German Mormons run Las Vegas.
It’s campy and weird and I love it.
4. Trees
OK, sure, Prague has trees. I saw a couple of them in the mall today. But Liberec has a lot of trees. And this time of year the fall leaves make them absolutely stunning. The gorgeous tree-lined avenues dotted with houses and villas make for incredible walks, especially since I don’t have to rake the leaves.
OK, sure, Prague has trees. I saw a couple of them in the mall today. But Liberec has a lot of trees. And this time of year the fall leaves make them absolutely stunning. The gorgeous tree-lined avenues dotted with houses and villas make for incredible walks, especially since I don’t have to rake the leaves.
5. People
Like most cities, Liberec has a population of live human beings.
However, unlike some places, these people actually seemed to enjoy their lives a little bit. They are proud of where they are from, and seem to be content to just live their lives and enjoy themselves, even trying to be a bit friendly from time to time. It was a welcome change from Prague, where it seems that I am constantly making people angry by asking them to do some sort of work.
For some reason, they also have a huge amount of children. In the few days that I was there, I saw more babies, small children, and pregnant women than I have ever seen anywhere else on the planet.
And that might be the best reason of all for moving to Liberec:
People have a lot of sex there.
Like most cities, Liberec has a population of live human beings.
However, unlike some places, these people actually seemed to enjoy their lives a little bit. They are proud of where they are from, and seem to be content to just live their lives and enjoy themselves, even trying to be a bit friendly from time to time. It was a welcome change from Prague, where it seems that I am constantly making people angry by asking them to do some sort of work.
For some reason, they also have a huge amount of children. In the few days that I was there, I saw more babies, small children, and pregnant women than I have ever seen anywhere else on the planet.
And that might be the best reason of all for moving to Liberec:
People have a lot of sex there.