Oh my goodness, I wish this internet cafe would let me upload pictures because Prauge gave us some good ones!
Dear Praha,
I know you are newly democratic and beautiful, but must you be so difficult?
I will return to you because your ridiculousness made me laugh, and your story made me cry.
Please tell Policewoman Yeatna ahoy for me!
Sincerely,
Blair
So Prauge was a great weekend trip--the 7 CEA students and Radka our leader set off at noon on a rainy Friday for a 5 hour train ride--well, 6 of us, Bethany forgot her passport and had to wait for the next train.
Josh and I were in a car that we shared with various other numbers of people. For a while I got to lay across three seats because there was no one on my side, but when I wasn't sleeping I was staring at the BEAUTIFUL German countryside, complete with cottages, castles on hills and senic rivers.
The moment we stepped off the train we all realized how little we all knew Czech, and by little I mean nothing, and realized how western Berlin was. The first night we went to a bbq (yes bbq-sausage and chicken) and it the heavens unleashed their fury...leaving as drowned rats, we intended to go out with the students we had just met, but after running 5 blocks in the rain in a foreign country where we didn't have any money or map, we decided to go back to the apt and have some girl time. We spent most of it at a KFC laughing about arm cannons and mashed potato flakes :)
Saturday was nicer--AND COLD! I'd sweat everyday in Berlin in shorts and finally we could wear jeans!! We spent the morning getting a personal tour ala Radka (she lives in Prauge and knows eveything) through the CASTLE DISTRICT--which every city should have. Prauge was beautiful (even in the rain). The buildings are all connected so it's a continuous line of springtime painted facades and sunset colored roofs along the winding river. After the castle district and some lunch (I got perch) we found our way to souveniers, coffee and hiking. There is a mini eiffel tower at the top of the hill in Prauge that you can climb up to the top of for a spectacular view, and it was worth the climb. Prauge is so hilly and green, but also dense and dirty like you expect in Europe. From the top we could practically see Berlin!
At the base of the tower there was in fact a marbles tournament taking place, so naturally we were facinated and watched a 7 year old beat a 35 year old man. Yes, I made a spectacle of myself cheering for him, but that's beside the point.
On the way back to our apt, we got into a bit of a jam---you see in Praha, there is an underground rail called the train and an overground rail called the tram. We had been buying the cheapest tickets all day which only last 30min at a time, and the only place to buy them is at the train. We needed to take the tram. Mind you, our group of 7 has been without Radka since lunch, and we can't even remember how to say thank you in Czech. So we turn to each other and decide that we'll just have to ride the tram without a valid ticket since we're taking the tram to the train and it's probably not that big of a deal. It's a big deal.
So we're riding along, halfway to our stop and a lady dressed in civlian clothing comes up beside me and shows me a badge. A man begins to do the same thing at the front. "Tickets," they say in a monotone voice and immediately I search my pockets and hand her every ticket we have bought this weekend. Everyone in our group is on their feet, everyone is talking, no one has tickets. They ask for our passports (which THANKFULLY we all happened to have on us instead of safely in the apartment) "Americans," the woman says to the man. (and I know what some of you are thinking--why would you ever give your passport to a stranger? are you an absolute idiot? Don't you know it always helps to defy the police as long as possible whether you believe them or not? Especially in a foreign country where you have to pay extra for toilet paper in the bathrooms) Yes, obstinance is always helpful... Anyway, Kevin, Kari and I handed them our passports while some of our group jumped off the train unscratched. The woman turned to me and said, "700 Crowns." I almost freaked out, but then I realized that's about $35. Of course
Kevin and I didn't have that much cash on us so we rode with our kind escorts to an atm--in the train station we were headed to--but the ATM was closed. After some awkward moments of both parties staring at each other and me hoping they would let us off with a stern warning, Kevin offered them his Euros and they said they would accept that.
We all apologized to each other and Kevin and I rejoined the group, defeated but nearly in tears with laughter. Thankfully no one was upset by the ordeal and we went on with a funny memory...
That night we got pizza in the Old Town square and went out dancing until the wee hours. The rain held off until we left the next day and after seeing the Museum of Communism (which was really touching because Radka was 8 when the swtich happend and remembers key things about the communist lifestyle), we boarded the train and laughed and walked and read our way home.
Being back in Berlin was a wonderful thing--especially the sweet, familiar language--and made me really realize how much of the city I have yet to explore. I thought 3 more weeks would seem like an eternity, but I'm glad I have just enough left.
Today, Bethany (Joy, she reminds me a lot of you), Kevin and I got some various wursts and lounged in the Tiergarten (the HUGE park) all afternoon. The weather is staring to cool down and it was an absolutely beautiful day. Here's to many more!
I love you still!!! Hugs and kisses!
