Ahoj (pronounced "Ahoy!") - Czech Greeting
Once again venturing out on my own overseas... this year, it the enchanting eastern european lands of Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, that will have to put up with my broken attempts at their languages.
Arriving in Prague, I realized quickly that though it was the end of September, the tourist season was not quite over yet and had a tough time finding a place to stay. My first room was not much more than that (with a shared bathroom and washroom that did not even lock!)... this cost me 500 Crowns (equiv. CDN$25). The next day, finding a beautiful old baroque hotel along the main strip, I could not resist it... even if it did cost me 3000 Crowns (CDN$150)... it even had a deep "old style" bathtub (very nice!). I feel like Goldie Locks here because, on the third night, I managed to find another place with only one room left... and this beautiful retro decorated flat fit my needs and budget just perfectly (1100 Crowns or $55).
On my first day in Prague, my most vivid memory was the traditional puppet show that I saw... Don Giovanni, which was an opera composed by Mozart. As Mozart composed this piece specifically for Prague, the town has fully embraced this opportunity of course with Don Giovanni Hotels and Don Giovanni Restaurants, frankly a little too much for me. Anyways, in case you are wondering, it is a story about a man who seems to seduce any woman he sees (four, in fact in the opera); unfortunately for him, his exploits and arrogance fatally catches up to him. This play was very silly and somewhat sexually explicit (as much as marrionettes can get I guess) was very entertaining!
As far as gargoyles go, I have needed to become selective in my picture taking, there are so many!!! (There was even a little one on the arms of the chair in my second hotel!... I guess I paid for this too!).
Searching for some literature culture, I ventured into a bookstore and picked up a few books of famous Czech writers. Having now read a short stories compilation from one of Prague's most famous writers, Franz Kafka, I found him quite a bit odd. It made me think of the book "The Stranger" from the equally odd French Albert Camus. Here's one vey brief story which made me laugh and might provide you with a little insight into his world;
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The Passers-by:
When at night you go walking in the street and a man, already visible from afar - for the street goes up hill and the moon is full - runs toward us, we will not seize him, even if he is weak and shabby, even if someone else is running behind him and yells, we will rather let him run on.
Because it is night and we can't help it that the street under a full moon goes uphill, and furthermore, perhaps these two have arranged this chase for their own amusement, perhaps the two are pursuing a third, perhaps the first is innocent, perhaps the second wants to kill him and we will become accomplices to the murder, perhaps the two are not aware of each other and each of them is only running home to bed at his own risk, perhaps they are sleepwalkers, perhaps the first man is armed.
And, finally, shouldn't we be tired, haven't we drunk a lot of wine? We're glad that we can't even see the second man anymore.
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See what I mean?!
Anyway, I know this has been a long email, but I can't end it off without saying something about the food and drinks here. Let's just say that the street vendors sell Eastern European versions of hot dogs (sausage, slice of rye bread, dab of mustard), forcemeat on a bun (this is what a hot dog weiner would look like if it was a hamburger patty; contents equally questionable), and fried cheese patty on a bun (quite tasty!). For a hearty Czech meal, last night, I went to an old placed which played classical music (they play classical music everywhere around here!), and had Roast Duck, Roast Pork, Ham, Sauerkraut, Bread & Potato Dumpling, and Goulash Soup (hey, I was hungry ok?!... actually, I couldn't even finish it completely)... Still, it was very good! I need to learn to make Potato Dumplings for you all, they were especially unique and delicious. As far as drinks go, I have not yet had Absinthe (but will in the next day or so), but have tasted two strong but tasty alcoholic beverages... Becherouka (a Czech cinnamon liqueur, reminds me somewhat of Goldschlaegger) and Borovicka (a junniper based Slovakian firewater... basically, it tastes like Gin)... don't worry, I'll bring some home to share!
Alright, well I'm off to see some strange buildings in the commercial centre of the town as well as the jewish quarter. Also, I hope to visit a traditional Czech tea house today along these cobble stone roads.
Na zdravi (phonetically "naj-dra-vee"; which means "Cheers" in Czech -- I thank Sasha for teaching me some Croatian, I'm surprised at how similar the two languages are!)
