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Prague

Une Voiture / aka “save gas, pedal your ass”

Scenes from Firenze, Italy

We are about to attempt a grand experiment. We are selling one of our cars, “my” car, and becoming a one-car family. It’s absurd to think of this as a big deal or as an experiment and yet, here we are. Living in the suburbs of America, of Seattle, it is sort of an experiment—especially given that you’d probably have a hard time finding any other homes in our suburb with just one car. (Clarification: A two adult home with one car.) You’d have an easier time finding homes with more than two cars, of which there are several on just our street alone. Having two or more cars is the American way, after all.

I’ve always had my own car. Having grown up in rural Pennsylvania, cars were necessary. There were no public buses making the rounds through our roads lined with cornfields. Even if you wanted to take a bus or train to “the city” (such as New York or Philadelphia), you needed to drive to one of two places where Bieber Bus Lines picked people up. I suppose you could have ridden a bike, but those roads weren’t meant for biking.

(By the way, the state of Pennsylvania is infamous for it’s horrific road maintenance. Back in the eighties and nineties, it was rated as having the worst roads in the nation because, apparently, state officials were pocketing the money that should have gone towards road maintenance. Growing up, I busted more tires than I can count on pot holes. Everyone did. And last I checked, PA roads are still a mess.)

In my early twenties, I moved from rural Pennsylvania to Philly for a tech job, which also allowed me to buy a new car. When I moved to Prague from Philadelphia, I sold my beloved five-speed, hunter green VW Golf. That was my first “new car,” and it was a point of pride that I had a good job and could make payments on a brand new car, even if a Dutch friend told me that the Golf is “a secretary’s car.” 

Street Car, Pioneer Square

When I came back from Prague, I used an old car of my parents’ until I moved to Los Angeles, where I then used my husband’s old BMW. (He had moved to England for a couple of years and didn’t want to give the car up, so he put it in storage during that time.) Upon returning to the States, he bought a new car and gave me the old Beemer until it broke down on me in the middle of LA and left me stranded, several months pregnant. Then we got a “family friendly” Nissan Versa until my OCD broke the clutch (true story—I’ll tell it later and yes, I never drive anything but stick shift). From LA we moved to Seattle, and I declared that I wanted a larger vehicle, because of our giant, hairy German Shepherd; I had fantasies of road trips in the mountains – which we did actually do a few times, including a road trip to Montana. But in the past few years, we’ve been relying on public transport more and more. I took the bus to UW for three years and, since Husband started a job across the bridge in Seattle proper, he’s been biking to work. He’s become quite the hard-core biker these last few years, even tackling the infamous “STP” (Seattle to Portland) which, though it sounds like my version of hell, he loved it. So sometime last year I said to him, “When I’m finished at UW, what about trying to go down to one car?” With our lifestyle, it seems ridiculous to have two vehicles. Since living abroad, I’ve hated the idea of cars; They’re an incredible drain on finances, for starters. Though the hottest days of Summer and rainy Winters weren’t always the most pleasant on trams and underground on the metro, I still very much miss my commutes throughout Prague. Tram and Metro time was prime reading and music time. Logistically speaking, there will be some shuffling around and planning required. It’s all well and good to think about this in the Spring and Summer, during good biking weather. However, Winters have been getting uglier and uglier around Seattle. We don’t oftenget snow and icy roads, but the rain has been pretty brutal the last two years.  This means that there may be some mornings where Husband will need rides to and from the bus stop, which could be a hassle. I tend to look at it as an opportunity – in all the reading I’ve done about one car families, almost all of them mention “closeness” as a major factor. Meaning that all of the communicating around schedules, the time spent shuffling to and from bus stops, and all those minutes before and after work have actually increased those families’ feelings of closeness and bonding. For me, now that I’m done school and work from home, I also see that as a chance to make sure that I get my ass moving in the morning! I LOVE walking. Living in the ‘burbs has made it far too easy to lean on a car, to lean on convenience, to not spend time walking from one place to another, and, let’s face it… I used to go out in all sorts of weather, but now if I see the slightest bit of drizzle, I put off anything I need to do and stay inside. As they say in Finland, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. (Or maybe it’s Norway. Or both. Probably Sweden, as well!) Having a car again, while living in the ‘burbs has made me soft. When I spent the month in Berlin for a study abroad program last Summer, every morning I woke up looking forward to the walking. There was so much walking… and I realized just how soft I’d gotten as I bared the ninety-degree heatwave on the stuffy, cramped U-Bahn and S-Bahn. During that study abroad program, most of the other kids in the program always hopped the metro, because it was faster and easier. (I can say “kids,” by the way, because I was the oldest one there—quite literally old enough to be their mother! And I had an amazing time.) But I, and another of my peers, always chose to walk the couple miles to where we needed to be, instead of riding the Bahns. Not because I wanted to avoid the heat and cramped quarters on the Bahns, but because I loved walking the city. I loved that it was utility and not novelty. I’m sure I logged a minimum of fifteen of more cumulative miles most days.  I’m a tried a true flâneuse, and there is no greater way to learn and become part of a city than by fuß. Lastly, towards the end of our stay we got caught in a flash flood while visiting Sachenhausen concentration camp in Oranienburg. This was, by far, one of the most memorable stories I have to tell of my time in Berlin. It certainly deserves its own post. The irony of our complaints about the rain and getting caught in a flash flood during a visit to a concentration camp was not lost on any of us. It was a good lesson and a wake-up call, and I do not mind walking in the rain one bit anymore. (Though I do love to reference “that time we got caught in a flash flood in Berlin”… )

Tramvaj in Prague

Our son is away visiting Grandmom this month, so Husband and I have been out and about quite a bit in Seattle proper. We’ve had several days of hopping the bus all over town, and we spent a significant amount of time walking from place to place. It was glorious, even on the unusually hot days, of which my hatred is well documented. I’m hoping that going down to one car will keep this effort at the forefront of our minds. Last year, at a symposium about sustainable cities, one speaker had said that convincing adults to recycle diligently, choose eco-friendly options, and use public transportation is hard, and we need to be working on the kids. One person commented on how his son would come home from school preaching about and enforcing their family’s use of water and their recycling habits. This stuck with me. Our son loves to ride the bus, he even has his own ORCA card. I’m working to make it a normal thing, to erase his memories of the convenience of using a car so that he doesn’t say what we’ve often said, “It’ll be quicker to just take the car.” I don’t want “quick and easy,” I want him to learn to take his time, to map cities with his feet and his eyes. He is un petit flâneur in the making.

As for my Husband, I can see how much he enjoys the biking. Unlike me, who has the extraordinary luxury of not being trapped in an office all day, he is trapped in an office. Albeit an office in the city with an amazing view, but an office all the same. The daily bike rides are good for him, and I’m thrilled that he’s preparing to brave the commute by bike during the Winter, as often as he can. I think that he, like me, is wanting to “toughen up” in this complacent suburban life of convenience. 

Biking in Berlin, Tempelhofer Field

All of this may sound completely ridiculous to those who live within “the city” and who don’t have cars or to my European friends… and I acknowledge that it is. But for as many to whom this sounds ridiculous, there are more fellow suburbanites with families and two cars who think that what’s ridiculous is the notion of everyone in the house depending on *gasp* one car… I’m tired of being in the latter group. I miss my days in the former. I remember my days without any car at all, and I realize how living in the ‘burbs has dulled my experience and made me reach for convenience at every turn. Having been on both sides of that fence, I far prefer going without.

** I acknowledge and am aware this is very much a “first world problem.” We’re fortunate that having two cars was an option. We are fortunate that choosing to go down to one car is an option, as well.

v Praze

Husband arrived in Berlin the day after my program ended so that we could spend a week just enjoying Berlin together. Originally, we’d thought to go to Copenhagen for a couple of days – but a couple of my classmates had tried to talk me into a couple days in Prague during our free weekend. I went back and forth on whether to go or not but ultimately decided that one, I didn’t have the energy for a (to me) frantic in and out trip to Prague and two, I didn’t know how I’d feel about returning so I’d rather have gone with Husband.

SO, when Husband arrived, we decided to hop the bus to Prague for a quick two days. (We took the bus there, which was surprisingly simple, but took the train back… honestly, I love trains, they’re always my favorite way to travel.)

 

Ironically, because it was such a short trip and I let Husband choose a (very nice) boutique hotel that he’d seen in the New York Times, the Boho, we wound up spending all the time there in the one general area I would usually have avoided like the plague! That area would be the Old Town area, which I usually wanted nothing to do with because it’s Tourist central. Though as we walked around, it was fine because I realized that, even when I lived in Prague, I still spent a lot of time walking through this area for one reason or another. Josefov is always beautiful, I always had fantasies of living in a flat above Pařížská (Paris Street) around Christmas time. I spent a great deal of time utilizing the wifi (“wee-fee” in Czech!) and drinking Videnske Kava at Restaurace Jáma on v Jame and a couple of theaters that showed international and indie films there. (Lucerna, of course, and another whose name escapes me at the moment.) I remember seeing “Children of Men” here one evening, by myself, at the theatre off of Vaclávské Námêstí. I accidentally dragged Husband on a ten mile walking trek from Boho up to Letná because I was hell bent on going in a particular direction.

I made sure to go to the Valdštejnská zahrada (Wallenstein Garden) because it was one of my favorite spots in Prague – I often went there, alone, to sit and read, write letters, and watch Summer concerts.

We passed by a Michelin Star restaurant and, because that’s “our thing”, immediately decided to make reservations for lunch the next day, but they weren’t open. So we searched “Michelin Star Prague” and wound up at Alcron, instead. We were NOT disappointed. It’s a tiny, wee little place with completely over the top decor and white glove service and it was magnificent. The one thing I had always said about Prague was that you don’t go for the food or the shopping. I mean, I’m not interested in going anywhere to shop, anyway, but I’m still dubious of Prague’s in that respect. The tasting menu at Alcron was outstanding and from what I’ve been reading, the food situation in Prague has changed drastically since I’ve been gone. So has the coffee situation! I did not have time to hit up the third wave cafes that were on my list, though I did manage to check out one (EMA Espresso Bar). I would have loved to go to the Coffee Room and an old favorite, Cafe Savoy – next time, perhaps. I am, as you know, very, very fussy about coffee. But going back to food – I was surprised to discover I had a massive craving for and needed to introducte husband to nakládaný hermelín (“marinated Camembert”, essentially.) I had forgotten about this delicious treat and realized I need to recreate it at home.

Nakládaný hermelín!

Alcron

Lastly, I was completely blown away by how much Czech I remembered. I wasn’t having lengthy conversations with anyone, but the fact that I was able to speak to the hotel staff and communicate with the restaurant servers in a way that not only was I understood, but they responded to me in Czech was … well, it was really satisfying.  (I had to talk myself down off of a “screw German, I’m going to take a year of Czech at UW!” ledge because I was so excited. And I still think Czech is utterly beautiful to hear.) Though I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised since Czech has creeped in A LOT over the past couple years as I’ve been learning Arabic and German.

I would definitely like to go back for a longer stay at some point, there are things I want to experience again and I’ve always felt like Prague & I have unfinished business.

 

scenes from Prague, July 2017

Wishing I were on a #train in #europe right now. #prahatoberlin #memories #summer #bahnhof

A post shared by Nikki (@uneflaneuseamericaine) on Aug 15, 2017 at 8:31am PDT

Winters Past: Prague (Retrospective)

Ah, the Czech carp… blood on the streets every Christmas!

Wintery Things from Christmases Past

I am determined to post every single old picture upon this blog at some point! “LOL”, as the kids say. I was thinking about Christmas traditions and new ways to decorate at home – it reminded me of the Czech tradition of decorating Christmas trees with orange slices and cinnamon sticks. (A great idea, I think.) That led me to looking for the photos I have from holidays spent in the Czech Republic – usually always winding up in Česky Krumlov some time between Christmas and New Year’s. It bums me out that iPhones didn’t exist 10 years ago – unfortunately I no longer have the good, hi-res versions of most of the pics beyond 5 years ago.

places, memories: Prague

Rainy days with a sick kid at home mean cleaning and organizing!

In going through & organizing all my photos, I came across several scanned images, including these scans – business cards from places I visited or frequented while living in Prague. Lehká Hlava (“clear head”) was a lovely vegetarian (actually, if I remember correctly, it was vegan) that I frequented with “the girls” for my knitting circle. We met at each other’s flats and then met up here at Lehká for awhile – they had a little side room that we reserved every week. We eventually moved on (keep reading!) when the staff at Lehká started to seem less than thrilled with our weekly presence and once even gave away our room during our normal, weekly time.(Yes, I started a knitting circle in Prague! After I left, someone else apparently took over and formed a more organized, more “official” sounding version of The Prague Stitch ‘n Bitch but my friends and I were the originals. Those girls absolutely made my time in Prague memorable and wonderful.  I am not vegan now (nor can I claim being vegetarian anymore) but I still crave some of the dishes I remember there. One day, while shopping at the local co-op here in Seattle, I nearly fell over when I saw the boxes of “Revolution Tea” in the tea aisle. The first time I saw or tasted this tea was at Lehká Hlava and I was fascinated with the tea bags. I had never seen them in the States before (perhaps I just wasn’t noticing, I’m still pretty devoted to coffee) and it gave me warm fuzzies to see these boxes at the store.

One night, one of those knitting friends, Kamila, and I were wandering on the other side of the Vltava and stumbled upon a new noodle bar called, well – “The Noodle Bar”. We peeked inside and were warmly welcomed by the staff and owner. Since we’d begun getting a chilly reception from Lehká, we thought, hey! maybe The Noodle peeps would enjoy our company? We explained our situation (explaining the idea of younger women – i.e. not grandmothers – wanting to knit was hard enough, let alone the concept of a knitting circle!) but they were more than happy to have us meet up there. So for a couple months, we all gathered on the less touristy and more charming (in my opinion) side of the River where we ate noodles and drank more tea and danced and talked and had a blast. The staff was always more than happy to see us and often sat to join us for a chat. It was here that some of us said our goodbyes as we began to slowly filter out of Prague and back to the States. I just checked their old website and it looks like it’s moved, grown, has a completely different staff and their menu has expanded. Perhaps it’s an entirely different place that just took the url.

Au Gourmand was (is?) in the uber touristy part of Prague, in Staré Město (Old Town) and didn’t exactly cater to locals – I dated “a local” for nearly a year and he utterly despised going here with me because it was so expensive (by Czech standards, yes, but by American, not at all!) and just wasn’t they kind of heavy, filling Czech food he felt was appropriate for a meal. Harumph! But I loved it. I am a sucker for all things French and though speaking English was fine, I was thrilled to go in and practice my French here. I adored the pastries and the sipping cappuccinos… for lunch I often ordered the Quiche a l’oignon (or cibulovy quiche, but this was a place where I practiced FRENCH, not Czech!). Sometimes I was alone and then wandered around, earphones deeply embedded, taking them out only if I drifted in to the nearby Toni & Guy Salon to say hello to a particular stylist from New Zealand (oddly, I’ve forgotten his name but he gave me a much needed ego boost at the time!)

And though I don’t have the business card, since I’m “in the area”, solo Sundays ALWAYS meant stopping by Bakeshop Praha for a to-go latte (a hard thing to find, at that time!) and an espresso chocolate cookie. I think this location has long since closed but I believe there are others still open, according to Google. I generally loved my Sunday wanderings – those years were tough, for sure, and I was often afflicted with a deep sadness and loneliness that sunk right into my bones. The “knitting circle” was a great reprieve from all that, but so were my solo Sunday wanderings. Slowly meandering around a “foreign” city, as a late 20-something female from The States with complete ease, partially speaking the language and knowing how to get around was a magical salve for all that ailed me. Having that independence, freedom, and confidence when you’re at your lowest is simply… well, it keeps you grounded.

Café Louvre, also in that area, ruined me for hot chocolate. Oh yes, if you’ve been, you know what I’m talking about. In fact, I still talk about it and I refuse to buy powders or chocolate mixes at home – I make REAL hot chocolate for the Nugget. Louvre is a lovely, and famous, cafe for sure. Friends and I occasionally met there for lunch – I always, always got the hot chocolate. In the main room, you could always see the giant pot of hot chocolate – thick like pudding, waiting and simmering in what looked like a crock pot. It’s French style, really – because why would the French serve junky powdered hot chocolate? Mon Dieu!

The zoo! Man, I loved the Prague Zoo. I’ve had this “thing” since I took a solo trip to Amsterdam about 12 years ago – when I travel, I check out the zoo. (The only one that made me regret this habit was the one in Bangkok. Yeesh. Another day, another post…) I went to the Prague zoo a lot – it wasn’t just the zoo that was lovely to walk around in, but even the walk to get there. You could walk the long way through and past the Chalet (I do have pictures, but the zoo – and all the zoos – demand their own post). It was woodsy and beautiful and if you went in the colder months, you could buy some hot Grog  to sip while walking around. In fact, one of the reasons I enjoy the Woodland Park Zoo here in Seattle so much is because the Northern Trail portion reminds me so much of the Prague Zoo. (If only Woodland Park served grog!)
downtown 016 downtown 005downtown 011

 

Hell.CZ! During my first trip to Prague (about a year before I moved there), I went to a piercing shop (which I forget the name of) and got several more ear piercings. (A bunch of hoops high up on the top curve of the ear.) I think I got three new hoops and when the girl was done piercing me, she held up a mirror and said, “It make cool, no?” When I lived there, I kept seeing stickers all over town for “Hell” tattoo and piercing. In one of my usual fits of spontaneity, I called to make an appointment for a piercing that I’d been wanting for ages. (This is a “family blog” so I’ll refrain from stating it outright, but suffice to say it was a pair of piercings. I rarely complain about pain, I’m no stranger to ink and piercings, but damn those hurt like a mo’fo’.) It was an entertaining experience, however.

downtown 007downtown 004downtown 010

choke me in the shallow water, before I get too deep

I was thinking the other day, about fantasies I’d had of going home a changed woman – somehow I’d fly into my home town with an air of Europe woven into me. I’d speak differently, walk differently, think differently. I’d breeze into Philadelphia, to old haunts and dress in a way that made people at my favorite snooty coffeeshop look at me with wonder and just KNOW, “Oh… she’s from Europe.” My hair would be perfectly tousled, I’d hold my double latte just so and while sitting in the corner by the window reading, someone would come over to talk to me and it would come out that I live in Prague…

Somehow I’d just go back world’s different than when I left.

I read Lynn’s post today and it made me think of all this. I, too, am who I am. Not even my opinions have changed, really.

I can speak more of this new language and I might change my haircolor but that’s about it. I think I’m ok with that. Who I was – and am – is what got me here in the first place.

it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood

I thought the other day was perfect. Today was even more so. It was 20 celsius – what’s that in fahrenheit? It felt like 70. So we took a stroll to the park that’s a short, short walk away. I LOVE my neighborhood.

That’s a vineyard. And at the top is the Gazebo where you can sit and drink wine from that very vineyard, or coffee or have a bite to eat.

It’s just that kind of day.

I’m drinkin’ a soy latte, I get a double shot-ay it goes on through my body and you know I’m satisfied I drive my mini cooper and I’m feelin super duper and they tell me I’m a trooper and you know I’m satisfied

Ok, so…

I have passed through a mini hell (during which I managed not to slip into convulsions laying in the streets of Prague screaming, “I hate you I hate you I hate you!!” but only rolled my eyes and re-declared my very complicated love-hate relationship with this place but right now I’m truly truly loving it) and come out the other side in this AMAZING AND WONDERFUL AND ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FLAT.

My Dad wrote to taunt me that they just opened a new Starbucks not even TEN MINUTES from their house. What is this? Everyone but me gets the gingerbread latte this year? As Lynn pointed out, they might hesitate in some places due to the quality of coffee already there… but in Prague, the coffee is good but not so good that you couldn’t desire anything else. There was a huge Dunkin Donuts here once – I wonder if there just isn’t a demand for on the go coffee? I can’t see why not – these people always seem to be in a mad rush. And it’s about the VARIETY, people!! There’s so much more to be had than cappuccino’s and cafe au laits!

Sigh.

Other little oddities – you remember this was indeed a communist country when you go to buy things like toilet paper – it’s all very cheaply priced but scratchy on your bum. So you can pay WAY more for the uber soft Kleenex brand. Same with tissues, etc.

And girls – I warn you, if you come here, stock up on tampons. There’s a more-than-you-need variety of pads here (ick) but about 3 tiny shelves of tampons. Kotex, tampax and ob. No more playtex easy glide plastic applicators for me. Actually… no more applicators, period (no pun intended). File under too much information, but I’m sure some of you can relate – I’m a super plus kinda gal at times. A super plus size wad of cotton without the aid of an easy gliding plastic tube is NOT FUN.

I will do some searching, there’s gotta be a bigger variety somewhere.

Now – let’s talk about this flat I found. (And *I* did find it, thanks to my genius ability to read Czech.) I am SO GLAD that previous flat fell through. Everything for a reason, eh? This flat is EVERYTHING I wanted. It’s in an old building, not reburbished. It’s 80 square meters (that’s huge for around here, especially for the little rent being asked for.) The ceilings are super high, tall, wide double-paned windows (the one in the kitchen is all set for a window box). Wood floors. Bright and airy. Gas heat. A FULL KITCHEN with a stove, oven, fridge, room to move around and a dining table. The bathroom is a tub AND a shower (most places here are only tubs or just a tiny little standing shower). A washing machine. There’s already a tv here with satellite hookup (we’ve been watching Animal Planet dubbed in Czech. Ask me in a week what the Czech words are for “monkey babies”).

The rent is outrageously low for a place like this.

The living room is a good size and there will be a very comfortable futon for guests.

I’m going to run around and take pictures of it today.

And speaking of new addresses: I’m really a gimp when it comes to sending postcards. I have all intentions to do so… but it’s been so hectic the past month that the little details like going to a post office are forgotten. I’m settled now. I’m going to send postcards and packages. I have most of your addressed, but just in case, if you want, send it to me again! (Melanie – if you read this, I have yours! And I hope to hear about your trip to France soon!!!! Lynn – I never got an address for you! Though I hope to get to Amsterdam again soon… Chavile – I have more than just a postcard for you!) I’ll also happily send my address to anyone who wants it.

I’m so damn happy I’m going to start knitting again. I brought all my needles with me this time, just need to restock up on yarn. And FINALLY my parents can start sending my winter clothes over.

Teaching is not a lucrative business here – most of the people I’ve met that teach say they make enough to get by and live, but not enough to save. That worries me – but I also know that these are people who go out to the pubs most every night.  I’m a homebody and quite driven to save up. I have dreams of a cottage in the country and a cafe of my own. I also plan to take on more hours than most of them do (since I don’t need the free time for pubbing) and I’m considering posting ads to teach things like html. I wanted to escape the web stuff, but I’ll suck it up and continue with it if it will bring in extra money towards my goals.

And tomorrow I shall go see about that haircut, yes?

teacher’s manual

teachers manual

Funniest line in comment history: “3 job interviews in a day is indeed awesome. And also proves you are not still in the US. Haha!”

(How very true!)

So I had work after walking out of my first interview. I’m only teaching for 16 hours so far, but they’ll be dumping up to 30 on me soon enough.

I like the school – they aren’t one of the highest paying, but they have wonderful facilities and support for their teachers including workshops, etc and it seems they have great opportunities for motivated teachers who want this to be their career (as opposed to using it as a way to travel Europe for a bit).

Surprisingly, they threw me into 2 exam classes, which makes me nervous. Exam classes are the classes that people take to learn English specifically to pass English language tests for whatever reason – work, school, etc. It’ll look good on my resume.

I’m bouncing back and forth between being really excited – I’m really a TEACHER now! – and really, really nervous. I start tomorrow with 1 class from 8:00 to 10 am. I haven’t gotten up that early in AAAAAGES.

The flat situation still sucks. Been staying in a hostel/hotel/pension so far. The first night was in a GREAT little room in a hostel, but they had to move me to a room in their hotel (came in last minute with reservations that never went through) and then moved AGAIN to a crappy little room and of course THAT’S the one that’s free for me to stay in all week. Going to see a flat tonight in my “dream neighborhood” in the Malastrana section. The location couldn’t be more perfect and it’s in the price range – though am suspicious because this is THE neighborhood to be in. There’s a million trams and night trams running by, tons of coffeeshops and it’s not uber touristy.

*thumbs held* (as they say in the Czech Republic).

What else…? I have more pics to upload. I’m dead tired and sick of living out of a suitcase. I’m eating WAY too much crap again (there’s this metro stop that has this little pastry shop where they make everything fresh every day, all day and they have the BEST CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS EVER). And oy with the coffee. Videnske Kava – strong coffee topped with whipped cream. But I found a wonderful little asian farmer’s market with perfect fruit and a great price so I stuffed myself full of raspberries last night.

I have so much to say, and so many thoughts yet I just can’t seem to get it all out yet. I’ve had moments of frustration and “oh, to be in the safe comfort of mom & dad’s house again…” but as someone also pointed out – “welcome home, again.” 🙂

So when are you coming to visit?

never say never – or, home is where you are

Happiness is walking to the metro in Prague wearing my fall weather brown lace up boots, my black turtleneck, trenchcoat and feeling a slight chill.

Do you remember my screaming ranting raving about how much I hate Prague and I how I would NEVER EVER EVER go back?

I’m back.

And it feels SO good.

I both feel like I never left and like I’m home again. Prague in the off-tourist-season is magnificent.

I took a taxi bus from the airport to our hostel and we both breathed huge sighs of relief to be back.

Tomorrow I hit the pavement searching hard for a proper flat and finding myself some teaching work.

I feel now, that I can finally start having a life again. A normal life. I’m looking forward to working, to paying rent, to cooking and eating at home and not feeling like I’m constantly on vacation.

I’m looking forward to walking on the Charles Bridge and watching snow fall as I drink hot medovin (honey wine) from plastic cups bought at the Christmas Market.

I feel like I’m finally doing this right.

Who knew? I am so happy to be back in Prague.

word of the day

To say hello in Czech:

Dobry den!

(Doh-bree den)

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