Hard Times

The last few weeks have been really awesome, but finding the time to relate these various happenings has been difficult. I just got back from Berlin and basically found my new favorite city. Berlin is so fucking cool and I want to live there. The people are nice and look effortlessly hip, the culture is diverse, the art scene is super active, the shopping is great and the nightlife of course is amazing. I almost didn't make it due to some stomach issues I've been having; I actually went to the hospital the day before leaving for Berlin and was diagnosed with inflamed bowels. The doctor advised me to stay in Prague for the weekend and I basically burst into tears in the examination room. Taking pity, he instead said I could go but to see a doctor immediately if my stomach got worse. Thank god, because staying home alone in Prague would have killed me faster than the inflamed bowels for sure. Also, our apartment somehow lost power in the bathroom and kitchen (probably a blown fuse), so we have no hot water and no light in the kitchen, although our fridge still works oddly enough.

So...the inconsistent internet access has really killed the idea of this blog all together, and I'm close to giving up. Is anyone even reading?

It seems pointless to recap things chronologically, but I can tag a pretty good list of stuff that's been awesome about my stay Prague so far (and other travels):

- Our neighborhood. I love living outside the city center. It's cheaper, less touristy and quiet.

- Going to the Karlovy Vary Film Festival! It was kind of a last minute decision that worked out amazingly well! I saw 4 films and spent time in a sweet-ass part of the Czech Republic. Too bad I missed Robert Deniro.

- Going to my first live show in Europe at Klub 007 Strahov, thanks to my classmate Duncan. Ghengis Tron, you rock my socks. We ran into the band later at a pub called U Sudu and hung out with them for a good chunk of the night.

- Bonaqua sparkling citron water. I'm in love, now and forever more.

- Eating gelato at least once a day. Yummy!

- The Prague Food Festival! Delicious, delicious food eaten by the riverside. It definitely marked the "honeymoon period" of my trip.

- Meeting cool French people and dancing until 6 a.m. at Chateau Rouge, a decidedly touristy kind of bar I ended up at for a classmate's birthday bash. Leaving a bar with the sun already up feels odd for sure, and very disorienting.

- Going to Berlin!! Loved everything about the city except for the fact that the Euro is kicking the dollar's ass. "Death By Pop" at the Bang Bang Club was hands down the best night of dancing I've had in Europe. Also, seeing another show in Europe was pretty awesome. The bands were somewhat mediocre (The Gecko from the UK, and Trashmonkeys from Germany), but the experience was priceless.

- Finally being inside an H&M after hearing all the hoopla about the place. Can't wait to go to the ones that are opening in Seattle!

- Seeing the bone church in Kutna Hora. Well, it's not made of bones, but it's decorated on the inside with bones (bone chandelier in the middle of the church, coat of arms made out of bones on the walls, etc.). Creepy shit.


I really wanted to post more picture on the blog, but there are so many that I'll just have to make like 10 facebook albums. Here are a few from the very beginning of my trip:




First place I stayed at in Prague, and the best pun I've encountered yet in this city :) All other hostels will pale in comparison.






















These apparently exist all the way here in Prague too. I definitely did a double take walking past this.


















The looooooong escalator ride down to the underground metro. Vertigo inducing for sure.















Metro!


















Graffiti on the front door of my apartment building. Apparently the inhabitants are insane and suppliers of both caviar and horror. Excellent.

















Shot of my neighborhood. Very quaint.