Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Prague
I just arrived yesterday in the Czech Republic, probably the most "eastern" country I am giong to visit. My eurail pass didn't even cover the trip from the border to Prague, so I had to shell out the bucks to buy a ticket. But boy, was it worth it; I love Prague! I got in last night and found a hostel right in the center of town, and just started exploring. Even walking in this city is exciting with its medieval streets and buildings and crazy shops and people in the streets.
Last night after my dinner of a brat and fries (very Czech...) I met a couple guys from my dorm and we went out to have a night on the town. Andrew from Australia and Stephan from - of all places - Iceland and myself went to probably a dozen different bars and clubs drinking and enjoying ourselves until the sun came up this morning (even if I wasn't as perky!) It's great here for another reason: everything is so inexpensive! We had round after round of beers because half-liters only cost about a dollar! Everything from food to tram rides are just so cheap compared to Switzerland and Austria where I'm coming from. This is also my third currency in a week, and I don't even know the proper way to pronounce it! Who pays in Czeck korunys anyway? Actually, Andrew (the Aussie) works in foreign exchange, so it was nice to have him around to calculate how much everything cost in US dollars, Australian dollars, and even Icelandic korunys.
I might stay another day here to take in the sights (and make up for the time I spent sleeping this morning...) then it's off to Berlin where I am going to try to meet up with a pro skater from Austria I met on the train. He opened up a Thrasher magazine - probably the biggest skate mag - and pointed out the guys he is going to be filming a video with! I told him I'd love to get some pictures, so he invited me to tag along when I get into town. I love traveling alone, I'm so free to do any of these things I feel like!
Speaking of, I parted ways with Sarah a couple days ago in Austria, and with Thanh shortly thereafter. Both are supposed to be in Prague tonight, so I'll see if I can't meet up with them again.
Anyway, if I knew how to say goodbye in Czech, I would, but the language is truly foreign to me!