With five (or maybe four?) days to go, I think I've finally had my fill of Prague. I love this city, and I always will, but it's time to go. I miss America, I miss my friends, I miss... everything. The Czech people have never been particularly friendly to me but as the days dwindle down, it becomes almost unbearable.
There is so much that I will miss about Prague, but most of all the magical look it takes on at night. I recommend this city to everyone... no matter where I traveled, it was always nice to come home to Prague. But now it's just time to come home. I have no work to do, not much else to see, and it seems silly to buy groceries. So now I'm just spending money to keep myself fed.
I'm trying to change my flight to Friday instead of Saturday. I will not be depressed if I have to wait until Saturday but I cannot deny this "ants in the pants" feeling. There are so many faces I can't wait to see, hugs I can't wait to dole out. Stories to tell. Laughs to share.
I miss my life. My other life. Yes, the stressful, overwhelming, ridiculously busy, full of responsibilities life. But my productive life nonetheless.
We will meet again, Prague.
All my love,
S
Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Vienna down, and 12 days to go
I was pretty good with updating every Monday, but unfortunately I simply could not keep up. But alas! A new trip to talk about!
So my trip to Vienna was my last European adventure while here in Prague and I have to say, it was excellent. The weather was perfect (if not a bit too hot), the food was delicious, the city gorgeous. Big, open, boulevards and majestic buildings. I was smitten, really. English was spoken EVERYWHERE and for the most part, everyone was quite nice - in fact, a little too nice. While at the Naschmarkt on Saturday, some old man jumped out behind the vegetable stand and demanded a picture with us... and then kissed me on the cheek. Certainly not my idea of friendship.
On Friday we went to Schonbrunn, the summer palace of the Hapsburgs and I had such a good time. Normally I don't like to be kept indoors when the weather is so nice but the audio guide really gave a good glimpse into the lives of the royal family and the palace was SO BEAUTIFUL. And we saw St. Stephan's Church which was beautiful but I'm exhausted from churhces at this point. Then we had some fantastic falafel, saw the crown jewels at the Imperial Treasury (we should have gotten the guide, everything was written in German), and later that night went for a traditional Viennese dinner of weiner schnitzel. The biggest portion of my life. Each of us got an order and each of us got two gigantic cutlets. Mind boggling how someone could eat all of that.
Saturday was much less touristy. We went to Naschmarkt to grab some kebap and I almost cried at the abundance of food there. Food. Was. Everywhere. I spent 8 euros on a variety of pickled vegetables stuffed with cheese and later had the kebap I've been salivating for. Oh! But before Naschmarkt, we grabbed some coffee and a pastry from Demel, a ritzy bakery that allows visitors to look into the kitchen. I was fascinated. And I got to watch a pastry chef make an appel strudel as I ate mine. I had a melange which tasted a whole lot like a cappuccino to me but still - an overall positive experience. For dinner we had authentic Japanese and I had sachertorte from Cafe Sacher, across the street from the Opera House.
We were only in Vienna for two days and with more time, I could have done a LOT more things. But I went there to relax, and relax I surely did. But I cannot wait to be back. Still not a fan of the German language, but I enjoyed the respect I got - something that I find impossible to get here in Prague.
Speaking of Prague, I officially have 12 days before I am back in JFK and it's been a great few months here. I am a paragraph away from finishing one paper, two days away from a presentation, and will eventually start and finish my other paper. But basically... I'm done.
I was walking through Old Town today and I made sure to look extra hard at the buildings around me. Prague has left its mark on me. It has its flaws, sure, but what city doesn't?
Still, I'm excited to go back home. I have so many friends to see, and a lot to get used to. But for a long time, life will be in three categories: before Prague, in Prague, and after.
S
So my trip to Vienna was my last European adventure while here in Prague and I have to say, it was excellent. The weather was perfect (if not a bit too hot), the food was delicious, the city gorgeous. Big, open, boulevards and majestic buildings. I was smitten, really. English was spoken EVERYWHERE and for the most part, everyone was quite nice - in fact, a little too nice. While at the Naschmarkt on Saturday, some old man jumped out behind the vegetable stand and demanded a picture with us... and then kissed me on the cheek. Certainly not my idea of friendship.
On Friday we went to Schonbrunn, the summer palace of the Hapsburgs and I had such a good time. Normally I don't like to be kept indoors when the weather is so nice but the audio guide really gave a good glimpse into the lives of the royal family and the palace was SO BEAUTIFUL. And we saw St. Stephan's Church which was beautiful but I'm exhausted from churhces at this point. Then we had some fantastic falafel, saw the crown jewels at the Imperial Treasury (we should have gotten the guide, everything was written in German), and later that night went for a traditional Viennese dinner of weiner schnitzel. The biggest portion of my life. Each of us got an order and each of us got two gigantic cutlets. Mind boggling how someone could eat all of that.
Saturday was much less touristy. We went to Naschmarkt to grab some kebap and I almost cried at the abundance of food there. Food. Was. Everywhere. I spent 8 euros on a variety of pickled vegetables stuffed with cheese and later had the kebap I've been salivating for. Oh! But before Naschmarkt, we grabbed some coffee and a pastry from Demel, a ritzy bakery that allows visitors to look into the kitchen. I was fascinated. And I got to watch a pastry chef make an appel strudel as I ate mine. I had a melange which tasted a whole lot like a cappuccino to me but still - an overall positive experience. For dinner we had authentic Japanese and I had sachertorte from Cafe Sacher, across the street from the Opera House.
We were only in Vienna for two days and with more time, I could have done a LOT more things. But I went there to relax, and relax I surely did. But I cannot wait to be back. Still not a fan of the German language, but I enjoyed the respect I got - something that I find impossible to get here in Prague.
Speaking of Prague, I officially have 12 days before I am back in JFK and it's been a great few months here. I am a paragraph away from finishing one paper, two days away from a presentation, and will eventually start and finish my other paper. But basically... I'm done.
I was walking through Old Town today and I made sure to look extra hard at the buildings around me. Prague has left its mark on me. It has its flaws, sure, but what city doesn't?
Still, I'm excited to go back home. I have so many friends to see, and a lot to get used to. But for a long time, life will be in three categories: before Prague, in Prague, and after.
S
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