When I decided to write this blog, I told myself that I wouldn't update it every day because honestly, who wants to hear my thoughts that much. But a few things of import happened today that need to be discussed. Let's proceed.
1. I ended up standing next to a couple of gypsy kids on the subway today. They giggled and pointed at me a lot and it was very disconcerting. I kept a tight grip on my wallet, but from the stories I've heard about these crafty Romas, it wouldn't surprise me if they managed to get a couple bills out of it. Apparently they've used knockout gas before on people? Interesting.
2. I bought fresh baked bread at the grocery store today and it rocked my socks.
3. Jan Urban, one of the professors here, is by far the biggest badass I have ever met. He gave a talk today on being a dissident over the course of the 20th century in Prague and it made me really fucking excited for his course. Here's what happened during the Q and A session at the end.
Student: What were the dangers facing dissidents in Europe.
Jan: (walks up to the kid so he's face to face) Have you ever been handcuffed?
Student: No...
Jan: (dramatic pause) I figured. I have.
Student: OK...
Jan: Picture total humiliation. I would rather die than be handcuffed again. I would go berserk.
Then he went on to talk about how it's always the family of the dissident that pays the price, and how if you want to be good at this game, you have to be a fighter, and to be a fighter you must abandon all you know and love, you must not exist. It was like something out of a movie. SO COOL.
4. STREET JUSTICE: On the way home today we stopped at this little asian store for some fruits and veggies. While some of us were outside waiting, a shifty-looking guy walked up to the side of the door, reached up, yanked off the security camera, put it in his pocket, and walked away. A minute later, this little asian woman storms out and asks which way he went. She yells to some guy inside, and he runs out with a big-ass metal pipe. They took off running after this guy, caught up with him a block away, and proceeded to beat the shit out of him until he dropped the camera. The woman even took off her heels and was smacking him with those. OUCH. They absolutely wrecked this guy. When they got back to the store, we cheered for them. It was glorious.
Monday 31 August 2009
Sunday 30 August 2009
The First Day, or “This Language is F*cking Bonkers.”
I have been in Prague for a little over 36 hours and I already understand why everybody loves this place so much. Especially my dear friend Holley, to whom I’m dedicating this blog. Hopefully it will help you remember all the amazing times in this city!
But first, the trip here. JFK is a giant bag of shit, let’s just get that out there. I mean, the drive there was awful. The weather was awful. No free wireless was awful. And waiting for my flight in a terminal where the only thing to eat is Panda Express? Awful.
The actual flights were great. Any flight where you are served spinach and cheese tortellini, red wine, and foccacia bread for dinner is amazing. AND AND AND the plane had those individual movie screens on the seat backs. Most of you are so well traveled that you’re like whatever, I expect that shit. But me? I’m impressed. I watched Aladdin, then slept, then played tetris, then slept.
Alexis and I had a 5 hour layover in Geneva (it was supposed to be 4 hours, but even though we left late, our pilot managed to get us there an hour early. I suspect a time-space continuum), so instead of sitting around the airport, we put on our adventuring hats and took a train into the city. Let me tell you it is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. Even though I haven’t seen many. Whatever, I can still judge. But seriously, it is amazing. We walked down to the lake, which is enormous and crystal clear, ate breakfast at an outdoor café, met some fellow NYU in Prague students by chance, and just explored! We even figured out how to take the train back to the airport. We’re so good.
The only noteworthy thing about the flight from Geneva to Prague is that my in-flight meal was a soft pretzel and a Heineken. Whaaaaaaat.
Prague. Oh Prague. It is so pretty. The buildings are so old and beautiful, it makes me want to die. Like why can’t things look like this in New York? Why does Third North look like a prison? I’m in Machova, aka the best dorm. The rooms are a decent size, it has a patio in the courtyard with grills, and it has a kickass view from the balcony on the top floor. Oh the view. Now I had a great view from my room in Water Street last year, but honestly, it doesn’t even compare. This is a panoramic view of all of Southern Prague, with little hills and red roofs and trees as far as the eye can see. I want to move up there, but I think Honza the building manager would have a fit.
Quick notes about Prague:
• The people are just as unfriendly as all the guidebooks tell you. We’ve already run afoul of several Czech people. At the NYU pizza dinner last night, one of the girls at my table asked for vegetarian pizza when we were served chicken and corn pizza. The waitress said “HA!” and walked away. Awkward. When my friend Sam bought groceries today, she couldn’t fit everything in the allotted 2 plastic bags (bullshit), so the cashier started yelling at her in Czech, which is a terrifying language to be yelled at in. When Alexis tried to go sign up for the NYU-sponsored gym membership, the woman behind the counter began shouting “NO! NO!” at us and waving her arms frantically. After much back and forth, we discovered that we couldn’t sign up until tomorrow, Alexis asked if they had a business card so we could call and check. The woman replied, “What, you want me to make you a business card?” I think it’s hilarious.
• The beer is amazing, the best I’ve ever had. And it’s so goddamn cheap! I’ve consumed 4 liters of beer so far, and I think I’ve spent like nine bucks. Wow.
• Jetlag is a bitch and a half. If you’ve never been across a lot of time zones and people tell you “Oh, it’s not that bad” or “Just sleep on the plane and you’ll be fine,” slap them silly. I did everything you’re supposed to do and still I’ve felt like the walking dead since I got here. My stomach is still like “WHY ARE YOU EATING IT’S 2 IN THE MORNING” when I get up and have breakfast.
• There is a castle, a legit castle, in Prague and I intend to explore every inch of it.
• I hate being American right now. I see tourists from other countries, and with the exception of maybe Britain, we are by far the most annoying nationality to be around. The entire dorm got on the metro this morning to head up to the academic center and I felt so bad for the Czechs on the plane. I tried to smile at people and they just scowled. Come on guys, communism ended 20 years ago. Time to take off your huffy pants.
• As horrible as this sounds, tipping 50 cents on a 15 dollar lunch is great.
• I went grocery shopping today and for some reason I decided to buy all local stuff, so now I have no idea what I’m eating. It all tastes alright, but for all I know some of this stuff made with reconstituted fish parts. My roommate Damon bought milk in a tin; he’s much braver than me.
Side Story: We were all in a little corner grocery store tonight buying ice cream, and as I’m standing by the door, this woman walks in and accidentally knocks a basket of grapes off a shelf. They spill all over the floor, and some of them get squished as she hops around in surprise. WHILE I AM STANDING RIGHT THERE, she proceeds to pick all of them up off of the floor, put them back in the basket, and put the basket back on the shelf. Note to self; don’t buy anything from the front row.
So here I am, sitting in a room in Prague, writing a blog about my European travels. Could I be more original? Doubtful.
But first, the trip here. JFK is a giant bag of shit, let’s just get that out there. I mean, the drive there was awful. The weather was awful. No free wireless was awful. And waiting for my flight in a terminal where the only thing to eat is Panda Express? Awful.
The actual flights were great. Any flight where you are served spinach and cheese tortellini, red wine, and foccacia bread for dinner is amazing. AND AND AND the plane had those individual movie screens on the seat backs. Most of you are so well traveled that you’re like whatever, I expect that shit. But me? I’m impressed. I watched Aladdin, then slept, then played tetris, then slept.
Alexis and I had a 5 hour layover in Geneva (it was supposed to be 4 hours, but even though we left late, our pilot managed to get us there an hour early. I suspect a time-space continuum), so instead of sitting around the airport, we put on our adventuring hats and took a train into the city. Let me tell you it is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. Even though I haven’t seen many. Whatever, I can still judge. But seriously, it is amazing. We walked down to the lake, which is enormous and crystal clear, ate breakfast at an outdoor café, met some fellow NYU in Prague students by chance, and just explored! We even figured out how to take the train back to the airport. We’re so good.
The only noteworthy thing about the flight from Geneva to Prague is that my in-flight meal was a soft pretzel and a Heineken. Whaaaaaaat.
Prague. Oh Prague. It is so pretty. The buildings are so old and beautiful, it makes me want to die. Like why can’t things look like this in New York? Why does Third North look like a prison? I’m in Machova, aka the best dorm. The rooms are a decent size, it has a patio in the courtyard with grills, and it has a kickass view from the balcony on the top floor. Oh the view. Now I had a great view from my room in Water Street last year, but honestly, it doesn’t even compare. This is a panoramic view of all of Southern Prague, with little hills and red roofs and trees as far as the eye can see. I want to move up there, but I think Honza the building manager would have a fit.
Quick notes about Prague:
• The people are just as unfriendly as all the guidebooks tell you. We’ve already run afoul of several Czech people. At the NYU pizza dinner last night, one of the girls at my table asked for vegetarian pizza when we were served chicken and corn pizza. The waitress said “HA!” and walked away. Awkward. When my friend Sam bought groceries today, she couldn’t fit everything in the allotted 2 plastic bags (bullshit), so the cashier started yelling at her in Czech, which is a terrifying language to be yelled at in. When Alexis tried to go sign up for the NYU-sponsored gym membership, the woman behind the counter began shouting “NO! NO!” at us and waving her arms frantically. After much back and forth, we discovered that we couldn’t sign up until tomorrow, Alexis asked if they had a business card so we could call and check. The woman replied, “What, you want me to make you a business card?” I think it’s hilarious.
• The beer is amazing, the best I’ve ever had. And it’s so goddamn cheap! I’ve consumed 4 liters of beer so far, and I think I’ve spent like nine bucks. Wow.
• Jetlag is a bitch and a half. If you’ve never been across a lot of time zones and people tell you “Oh, it’s not that bad” or “Just sleep on the plane and you’ll be fine,” slap them silly. I did everything you’re supposed to do and still I’ve felt like the walking dead since I got here. My stomach is still like “WHY ARE YOU EATING IT’S 2 IN THE MORNING” when I get up and have breakfast.
• There is a castle, a legit castle, in Prague and I intend to explore every inch of it.
• I hate being American right now. I see tourists from other countries, and with the exception of maybe Britain, we are by far the most annoying nationality to be around. The entire dorm got on the metro this morning to head up to the academic center and I felt so bad for the Czechs on the plane. I tried to smile at people and they just scowled. Come on guys, communism ended 20 years ago. Time to take off your huffy pants.
• As horrible as this sounds, tipping 50 cents on a 15 dollar lunch is great.
• I went grocery shopping today and for some reason I decided to buy all local stuff, so now I have no idea what I’m eating. It all tastes alright, but for all I know some of this stuff made with reconstituted fish parts. My roommate Damon bought milk in a tin; he’s much braver than me.
Side Story: We were all in a little corner grocery store tonight buying ice cream, and as I’m standing by the door, this woman walks in and accidentally knocks a basket of grapes off a shelf. They spill all over the floor, and some of them get squished as she hops around in surprise. WHILE I AM STANDING RIGHT THERE, she proceeds to pick all of them up off of the floor, put them back in the basket, and put the basket back on the shelf. Note to self; don’t buy anything from the front row.
So here I am, sitting in a room in Prague, writing a blog about my European travels. Could I be more original? Doubtful.
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