Getting Lost and Finding Your Way

I work up to a bright, sunny Sunday morning...thinking it was 8:00' discovering it was 10:30...but going over 30 hours on 2 hours sleep meant I deserved a little additional shut eye..a quick breakfast from the zeleniny (green grocer) downstairs and then my new friends Lauura, Ash, Carrie and I were on our way to Staroměstské Náměstí  (Old Town Square). We decided to  eschew the tram and walk - no GPS, a map in Czech and only a vague idea of where we were going. It took some turning around but we were finally headed in the right direction.

We wandered along wide sunny boulevards and narrow cobblestone streets. Prague is such a contradiction of styles. Ancient  architecture from the 1400's, beautiful old buildings from the 19th century, Soviet era concrete and sparkling new shopping malls all on the same street.

We passed by Wenceslas Square, the Old Towne Market and then after winding through a tiny side street came out to the splendor of the Old Town Square. Enormous and  surrounded my elegant buildings teeming with Sunday tourists enjoying a rare, sunny November day.  Purveyors of wonderful Czech street food, both savory and sweet, sold their wares while a Dixieland band  contributed a uniquely American sound to the festivities.

As the day grew later and colder, we decided to seek out a warm spot  to fortify ourselves before heading back to Žižkov. 

We located Dobra Cajovna (Good Tea House) thanks to Ash's IPhone - Thank you Steve Jobs, wherever you are - and settled in to enjoy some tea and treats. Dobra Cajovna is the "mother tea house" to a place I visit often in Burlington, Vermont. I was happy to share the experience with my friends and take pleasure in the same calming atmosphere there that I've enjoyed back in the states.

After tea we headed back out and were not quite sure of how to make our way home. An elderly gentleman offered to help, but when he suggested we follow him we got a bit suspicious. Perhaps he was the front man for a vicious group of young thugs eager to prey on four obvious tourists! But our suspicious were unfounded as he set us off in the right direction and happily smiled at our, likely horribly pronounced, "dekuji" (thank you).

Back at our flats, we rested a bit before meeting up with our fellow classmates for a tram ride down town and a group dinner where Brandon, a Language House alumni and current teacher, taught us the proper Czech way to drink a toast...Lift your glass, never cross arms, look into the eyes of your friend, say "Na Zdravi", clink the rim of the glass, the base of the glass, set the glass down, immediately pick it up and drink - with enthusiasm!

Tomorrow starts the first day of classes - Time to get back into student-mode! Wish me good luck!

Na vidĕnou!

Arriving in Prague

An uneventful journey from DC to Heathrow and Heathrow to Prague...As the plane approached Ruzyne, I was surprised to see many green and fallow fields while still seeing the Castle in the distance. The entrance to the Duty Free shopping area was startling! Elegant shops selling Armani, Coach, Swarovski, fine crystal, beautiful jewelry; merchandise rivaling Rodeo Drive, at the airport? ...Had the Velvet Revolution been only 22 years ago? Once out in the lobby area the view was pretty standard classic airport...taxi stands, rental cars and the omnipresent Starbucks and McDonalds. Is there anywhere these "icons" of American culture haven't reached?

The drive from the airport with my fellow classmate, Ian, whose luggage unfortunately was still in London, was rather civilized compared to similar trips from the airports of  New York, Budapest or Entebbe. As we neared the city, graffiti splattered Soviet era concrete block housing - who ever thought that was a good idea - gave way to lovely old buildings and red tiled roofs...Bridges crisscrossed the Vltava River and the spires of the city loomed. It is only 3:30 but the shadows of late afternoon are falling across this lovely city, so I will have to wait until tomorrow to explore by day. Thank goodness I have help carrying my luggage up three flights of  winding narrow stairs, but the view from my balcony is quite lovely!

Tonight, I meet two more of my classmates, Ashley and Carrie, for a stroll around our neighborhood, Žižkov. We stop at what appears to be a Italian restaurant - the menu is in Italian, Czech and English -  but also offers traditional Bohemian meals. Carrie orders a goulash with bacon dumplings, I go for the Svickova, creamed beef with dumplings - do you see a trend here? - and Ashley settles on the spaghetti...all three accompanied by a tall Pilsner Urquell...great food and company made for a great first night in Prague. We said děkuji to our hosts and made our way back to our apartment building, just around the corner from the Church of St. Procopius.

We made plans to visit the old town center tomorrow. I think there will be many interesting days ahead!

Dobrou noc!

Day 2 I am Ready to Go!

All packed and ready to go! It was easier than I thought to separate the needs from the wants! I didn't even need the carry-on! I checked this week's weather in Prague and it seems that it will be mostly sunny...not typical in November...around 7-10 degrees...45-50 for you Fahrenheit folks...but rain and maybe snow coming in for the weekend. I'll be arriving Saturday afternoon local time and hope to meet up with my fellow classmates for an evening  stroll.

But first it's off to Dulles, overnight to Heathrow and then on to Ruzyne. Much more later...provided the promised Internet connection materializes.

Až příště - Until next time

The Great Adventure!

Day One-24 hours Until Takeoff for Prague

How much does one need to pack when going to a foreign country for a month? I must look well groomed, fashionable...warm clothing will serve me well. I must be prepared for urban walks and country hikes. I will need to stay informed, reachable and moderately entertained. I need a map and a phrase book.

Sweaters, slacks, suits, boots, gloves...sensible shoes...an umbrella? Computer, camera, IPod,  Kindle?

I'd really like to throw a journal and a camera in a backpack with a change of clothes and some rain gear, and say that's all I need, but that won't work for this trip!

Two suitcases, a carry on and a computer bag. All my worldly possessions for the next month must fit in these...This is a  good exercise in determining what we really need to make ourselves comfortable and what we can do without! The older I get the less "stuff" I seem to be attached to...perhaps this trip is the first step to tossing the extraneous and keeping the essential - a freeing and cathartic notion! Tomorrow, the packing and the leaving! Stay tuned!