The past few weeks have been a bit of a blur, but I'm going to try to post a bit about them, if nothing else to help chronicle my time in Prague.
Right after my last post, I left Prague for Munich to see Greg do his thesis presentation. I arrived in Munich Monday night, (dec. 3rd), and promptly got lost. Greg was still at the lab putting final touches on his presentation when my bus got in and first I got confused trying to buy an S-Bahn (metro) ticket to get to his place. After studying the machine for about 10 minutes, a very nice man came over and helped me. I was pointed in the right direction and made it to the stop near Greg's apartment without much trouble. When I came out of the metro though.... totally lost. It was freezing cold (literally) and icy out and my vision at night is particularly bad so I was having a hard time reading street signs and also had all my bags. Needless to say I got really lost and Greg had to come find me at a bus stop somewhere. Fail.
We got back to Greg's and ate dinner and went to sleep b/c he had to be back at the lab early. THe next morning he was up and away and I took my time napping and then picking up bagels for us and heading to the lab to see his presentation. I think it went really well and I was excited to see a bit more of what he does (researching a new way to make thin film solar cells) and where he works. I was really proud of him and although he's really self critical, I think overall he was also happy with how it went. We were at the lab until midafternoon and Greg was really tired, so that night we got take-out from an asian themed place with good stir-fry and hung out and watched movies.
The next day Greg took off work and we slept in all morning and then Greg went shopping so we could have ingredients to cook his flat mates dinner than night. Then we ate brunch/lunch and bundled up to see the Christmas Markets. The ones here are much bigger than the ones in Prague, but also much more expensive. I didn't buy anything, but we wandered through 2 different ones and I insisted on looking at every booth. Greg also bought us some "flame bread" (that's the english translation) which is thin bread baked over a fire with various toppings. We got ours with potatoes and cheese and it was SO GOOD. I love me some potatoes. And bread. And cheese. mmmm. We also got spiced cider/punch (for me) and mulled wine (for Greg). We returned to the flat after the markets to make dinner for Greg's roomies. He'd been working so hard on his presentation that he hadnt been around the flat much and he wanted to do something nice. We made carrot-ginger soup, a big salad, and homemade bread. It all turned out really well if I do say so myself and everyone ate 2 helpings.
The next day Greg had to work. I slept in again and then went to the store and bought a bunch on ingredients to make chili. I knew Greg still had to finish the written version of his thesis to turn in and that it'd be back to frozen dinners and take out so I made a big pot of chili and another loaf of bread to last him for a few meals. Then I packed and headed to the bus station. I got into Prague late that night (Thursday) and headed to bed since I had to work the next day. It was bitterly cold when I arrived back (though to be fair, it'd been pretty cold in Munich, too) so I wasn't too excited about work.
The next day was frigid. The high was only 25 F. The next day was just as cold and I was supposed to go out for SantaCon (a big pub crawl done in lots of cities around the world where everyone dresses us in Santa themed clothing) but it was just to frigid for me to think about spending time outside caroling and walking from bar to bar. Tamela agreed so we called her boyfriend, Al, and all decided to eat at Da Clara... my favorite restaurant in Prague and less than a block from my apartment. It was amazing (as always) and the duck ragu I had was just unreal... though still not quite as phenomenal as the tuna steak that Greg and I ate there. After dinner we headed to a cocktail bar also about a block from the apartment and I had a "foamy bellini" which is simply prosecco topped with peach foam.... so good. We got dessert after that and called it a night.
That Sunday was again FREEZING and I only left my apartment to go grocery shopping. It was snowing hard, and sticking, so the walk down the hill t the store was treacherous, but admittedly beautiful.
The next day we took the kids sledding at school which was fun, but SO cold. I went sledding with them and got SOAKED but I'll admit, it's pretty fun. The next day, Tuesday, is the day I have to be at school early, so I headed out around 6:15AM to the bus. I caught the first bus, then the second, and got to Opatov to catch the third and final bus which stops at the school. I was there around 6:50 and a bus comes at 7:00, though it's often a few minutes late. That Tuesday, when it was 17 degrees and FREEZING out... it just never came. I waited for 35 minutes in the snow and cold until the next bus came. Needless to say, I was a shivering mess all day.
The rest of the week flew by and before I knew it, it was Friday, time for the staff Christmas party and a meeting with my landlord. My landlord, who was in town from Austria, is SO NICE. He bought me a lamp and a duvet cover and has gone out of his way to make sure Tamela and I like the apartment (which I do!). I got the form I needed from him to change my address registration for my Visa and then he and his son (5 and adorable) left. By that time, it was getting close to time to leave for the staff Christmas party (which was on a boat that was pushing off at a set time) and I hadnt changed or showered and I had a really bad headache and a friend arriving into Prague around 10PM that night. I decided to skip the party so I didnt have to rush around and end up feeling worse.
I met up with Roashan, a friend from Penn, around 10ish and we headed back to my place to drop his stuff off and let him change. He was in Switzerland for work earlier that day and decided to hop over to Prague to see me for the weekend before flying back to the states. We dropped his stuff off and then headed to a club called Nebe. I got us lost (surprise, surprise) but in my (slight) defense, there are 3 different Nebe locations and I was simply going to the wrong one. Anyway, by the time we got to the club, all my friends were WAY ahead of us drinking wise and the coat check was full. I kind of wanted to stay but I knew I'd end up trying to take care of friends and not able to dance b/c i'd be carrying by coat. Tamela and Al were heading out so we left with them and grabbed a drink at a bar and then just called it a night. We decided to cab it home because it was SO cold, and the guy didnt know or couldn't understand me when I gave him my address. I told him "Slovinska" which is the bus stop right next to my apartment... turns out it's also a road not anywhere close to my apartment. Communicating that wasn't easy and it turned into a very expensive cab ride. Remind me to just type my address into my phone and show it to the drive next time. :(
The next day we'd planned to get up and get brunch, see sites, etc, but Roashan slept until after 2, so that didn't happen. When he did get up and we finally headed out, we just ate an early dinner and then checked out the Christmas market in Old Town Square, which is really, really gorgeous. After that, we headed bad and relaxed a bit before going to the cocktail bar down the street. The Slovakian bartender took a liking to us and kept offering us a taste of this and that on the house, and made my drink a double on the house. I only paid for two drinks but I left feeling like I'd had about 5... too many. All I wanted to do was go home and go to bed, but Roashan really wanted to check out a club so we went to a gay club where my former roommate was having his birthday party.... it was oddly sparsely populated and I was tired and cold and grumpy. I'm afraid I was a bit of a downer and just sat in the corner and tried to stay away from all the smoke while Roashan had a drink and made a few rounds. I feel pretty bad that I didn't show Roashan a better time in Prague b/c the club scene is really amazing, but it was definitely a miss.
The next morning we got up and I took Roashan to the bus stop to go to the airport and waited until he was on it. Then I headed by the thrift store (I had a 100czk gift card) and picked up a few books and a gift for the white elephant gift exchange Tamela and I were hosting that night. It was a small get together but a fun time- Carrie, Lauren, Will, me, Tamela and Al all sat around and drank champagne and ate chinese food (odd combo, I know) and exchanged gifts and just laughed A LOT. It was a blast.
Monday at school went by quickly, but that evening, Tamela and I had an "encounter" with our downstairs neighbor, who we'd never met. She came up to complain about all the noise we've been making, a "wild" party last month (Thanksgiving), stomping "like hippopotamuses", slamming doors, etc. Tamela and I were (and are) a bit confused because we certainly feel like we walk normally, we never purposed slam doors (though occasionally the laundry room door slams, we never do laundry after 10PM as per apartment rules and it's not a regular occurrence). Anyway, she basically said we are really disruptive and threatened to call our landlord, to which I told her he'd been over about 3 nights before and by all means, she should call him. I told her nicely, and also told her we would make an effort to be more careful, but that was mostly to placate her since she kept saying how she wished we would "keep her and her poor family in mind as we stomp around making so much noise for such young ladies." The whole thing was a little absurd. We live in an old building and the floor supports aren't great, we hear the people above us as well... it's just the way it is when you live in an apartment building... especially a really old one. We also nicely but firmly told her we will be hosting more dinner parties but will be careful to stick to quiet hour rules. When she left, I called our landlord who said we'd handled it fine and while we should be nice, we should always feel comfortable living in the space we are paying for (within reason) and that from meeting us both it seems like we do.
Tuesday was a long, long day at work (got there at 7:15AM and left at 5:30PM and of those 10 hours and 15 minutes, 8 of them were contact hours with kids... brutal). After work though, was a blast. I ran home and dropped off my stuff and then headed to a restaurant we'd never tried with Katy, Tamela, Gill, and Lauren. The food was really wonderful (good find, Katy!) and we were all very pleased. After that, Gill split off and the rest of us went to go see a movie that was part of a film festival called Beasts of the Southern Wild. You can watch a trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF7i2n5NXLo It's a beautiful film, sad and thought provoking and wonderfully done. I really enjoyed it.
Wednesday was another long day at work. When I left, I wanted nothing more than to go home and get some laundry done so I'd be ready to pack Thursday and leave Prague on Friday (we don't have a drier so clothes need at least 24 hours to dry before packing or wearing). I also wanted a shower and a big glass of water and to make dinner. When I walked up to our apartment, a guy walked out that I didnt recognize. I assumed Tamela knew him but still asked if I could help him. He said in somewhat broken english that he was "helping with the water." I walked inside to discover that Tamela had been home with a stomach bug all day and that our apartment had no water. Worst. Combination. Ever. The man was a neighbor who called a plumber for us and also checked with others in the building to discover they also hadnt had water earlier in the day but that theirs had all come back on within an hour or two. He called a plumber for us, who showed up about 2 minutes after the water came back on... I had a hard time communicating that the water was back on b/c he didnt speak english and the only relevant czech words I know are "good" and "water". I just kept saying "water good. water good." The man left a bit irritated- probably b/c he came out after hours and then didnt even get paid :(
Thursday was our class party. I did NOT expect so many nice gifts from kids/parents, but Nikola and I both got jewelry, ornaments, a plant, nice soaps, cookies, a gorgeous ceramic christmas tree, and more. The party was really stressful, but mostly fun. The fire alarm went off in the middle of it though... we had 11 two year olds all with parents who were just trying to pick them up and take them but we also needed to get a count of everyone. It was chaos. Still, I think the kids mostly had fun. They ate way too much sugar and were little hellions for the rest of the day though.
Yesterday (Friday) I finally finished my last day before Christmas and headed to Munich. I woke up this morning with an upset stomach.... bug or stress or something I ate. It's not been too terrible but I've been in bed sleeping pretty much all day and trying to feel better before I get on an 11 hour flight tomorrow. I THINK Greg is coming back to the states as well so with any luck we'll both get on the flight and maybe even get seats together.
I've been a bit homesick and Prague has lost a bit of it's luster with me being sick constantly, the cold, and the corruption and "Czech tricks" as a lot of the expats call them. That's not to say lots of Czechs arent amazing and wonderful, but overall.... I'm seeing that under the Western front the city tries to show... it's still a very Eastern European city.
Can't wait until HOME!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Thanksgiving and Christmas Markets
It always seems to me that life gets busy and I get TERRIBLE about updating my blog- but this weekend I've had time to catch up so you can settle in for a nice, long post.
The Monday after moving I had a check-up with the ENT doctor. I was still sick-ish, but starting to feel very slightly better- so he cleared me and sent me on my way. Of course, the next morning, I woke up fever-ish and sick again. It was the same sort of thing, but more flu like and less cold like.... body aches and really, really weak, upset tummy, congested, headache, sore throat.... really the whole nine-yards. On Wednesday, I pretty much completely lost my voice to the point that I could only whisper. On Thursday (Thanksgiving), we had a class presentation for parents where all the parents come in to watch a presentation of what we've learned so far. I teach 2-3 year olds... so we really just sang songs and hoped that the kids wouldn't be too intimidated by having an audience to actually sing. They did great, but I still didn't have much of a voice and my fever spiked up.... at one point I had to leave to go sit outside because I started feeling really dizzy. I was really proud of my kids, but it wasn't the easiest morning to get through with having to be professional and really upbeat while talking to parents when I felt awful.
After the parents all left, it was lunch time. One boy never wants to eat but I can generally coax him into at least eating most of his meal. That day, he was putting up a HUGE fight. I never force him but I was persistant and he finally ate about 5 bites..... which he promptly threw up onto the table. Needless to say, it wasn't really such a great day and when I got home and talked to Mom and Dad and heard all my family in the background, it's the first time I've been truly homesick while here. I've missed home, and been a touch homesick here and there, or missed something specific (like when it's freezing outside, I washed both pairs of jeans and they are still damp.... I miss a dryer as I blowdry them to try to help make them not so cold).... but Thanksgiving is the first time I just wanted to go home. I wanted my Mom and Dad and my bed and my dog and my house.
After I hung up with Mom and Dad, I was talking to Greg and telling him how sick I was and complaining that I couldn't even get comfortable enough to sleep and I didn't have anything to read, and a few minutes later I got an email saying that someone had bought me a book I've been wanting to read and it had been automatically delivered to my Kindle. Sometimes the point to which he understands me and knows how to cheer me up is a little unbelievable, but it made me feel like someone was really watching out for me and wanted to make sure I was okay even though I was sick and homesick.
The next day I felt slightly better, but I was starting to get really nervous about the Thanksgiving dinner that Tamela and I were hosting on Saturday. Tamela had said she was sous-chef and this was my thing, and I was starting to realize that not only had I never cooked Thanksgiving dinner, I'd also never cooked for 20 people before. Friday evening, Tamela and I were supposed to go shopping for groceries and do some prep work (roasting garlic, baking pies, prepping stuffing) so when she got home around 6:30, we sat down, reviewed the grocery list, and then I was ready to head out. I didn't feel great and I wasn't super excited about going out in the cold, I was also hoping to get to bed early-ish, so I was getting irritated when Tamela kept puttering around the apartment and I couldn't get her out the door. First she wanted to eat, then her boyfriend called, then she did some dishes. When I finally heard her putting her coat on, I was relieved and came out of my room so we could leave. It was around 8PM at this point so I was really itching to get the shopping done. When I came out, Tamela was taking the trash out and said she wasn't ready to go yet. I suggested we just head out and take the trash out on our way but Tamela said, "I'm weird about trash... and I think i need some air!" and practically ran out of the apartment.
By this point, I was really frustrated so I took a deep breath and went back to my room. When I heard Tamela come back in, I didn't bother getting up to go see if she was ready to go, resigned to going whenever she decided she was ready. I was sitting on my bed being a bit mopey when I heard someone in my doorway- I looked up and Greg was standing there. All I could say is "What are you doing here?!" about 50 times. He had told Tamela he was coming and so she had been stalling so we were at the apartment when he arrived. I had NO IDEA he was planning to show up but he said I'd just been sick and homesick and stressed about Thanksgiving and he just wanted to check on me and take care of me for the weekend. It was a wonderful surprise and I was crazy excited. Tamela sent us off to the store and we stocked up and then returned home to do some cooking... only to realize we didn't have a can opener and therefore couldn't make any of the things we had planned.
We got up the next morning and immediately started on the first of two turkeys. Neither Greg nor I have ever cooked a Thanksgiving meal, so getting the turkey in the oven was a little intimidating but as soon as we got it in, we ran back to the store for a can opener. Then we can back and made the fruit salad and started prepping other things that needed to go in the oven once the first turkey came out (including stuffing, sweet potatoes, pies and the other turkey). The meal took the ENTIRE day to prep and cook- Greg nor I ever left the kitchen. Finally, we left Tamela in charge of setting up the apartment and cleaning a bit and we went to get ready for guests. By the time everyone arrived, I was exhausted and not feeling very good, so I wasn't very social. I stayed in the kitchen and nibbled on turkey and baked pies and helped serve people when they came in for seconds from the living room.
I do not think I could have survived the day (and I KNOW all the food would not have gotten done) without Greg there. He is presenting a year's worth of research in 2 days... so about a week and 2 days before that he made time to come see me just b/c he felt like I could really use it. I can't even begin to communicate what a good feeling it is to know that that support is there.
Greg left Sunday morning to head back to Munich and I've spent the past week trying to get better and exploring various Christmas markets. Thursday after work I headed to the markets for the first time and bought all sorts of gifts for the family. The markets are all decorated and there are lights and trees and the whole place smells of cinnamon and mulled wine. On Friday night I headed back to the markets and then, deciding I still hadn't had enough, I took a long walk on Saturday (yesterday), through my neighborhood and then straight west all the way to some of the markets. I keep stopping at one booth to buy more of the same thing and the lady now knows me.... I should probably stop spending money-- I bet she loves to see me coming.
I've had a quiet day today- laundry, cleaning, some writing, watched a Christmas movie, etc. I'm about to go pack now. I leave for Munich tomorrow to go see Greg's research presentation. There will be more markets there so I will let you all know how they compare :)
The Monday after moving I had a check-up with the ENT doctor. I was still sick-ish, but starting to feel very slightly better- so he cleared me and sent me on my way. Of course, the next morning, I woke up fever-ish and sick again. It was the same sort of thing, but more flu like and less cold like.... body aches and really, really weak, upset tummy, congested, headache, sore throat.... really the whole nine-yards. On Wednesday, I pretty much completely lost my voice to the point that I could only whisper. On Thursday (Thanksgiving), we had a class presentation for parents where all the parents come in to watch a presentation of what we've learned so far. I teach 2-3 year olds... so we really just sang songs and hoped that the kids wouldn't be too intimidated by having an audience to actually sing. They did great, but I still didn't have much of a voice and my fever spiked up.... at one point I had to leave to go sit outside because I started feeling really dizzy. I was really proud of my kids, but it wasn't the easiest morning to get through with having to be professional and really upbeat while talking to parents when I felt awful.
After the parents all left, it was lunch time. One boy never wants to eat but I can generally coax him into at least eating most of his meal. That day, he was putting up a HUGE fight. I never force him but I was persistant and he finally ate about 5 bites..... which he promptly threw up onto the table. Needless to say, it wasn't really such a great day and when I got home and talked to Mom and Dad and heard all my family in the background, it's the first time I've been truly homesick while here. I've missed home, and been a touch homesick here and there, or missed something specific (like when it's freezing outside, I washed both pairs of jeans and they are still damp.... I miss a dryer as I blowdry them to try to help make them not so cold).... but Thanksgiving is the first time I just wanted to go home. I wanted my Mom and Dad and my bed and my dog and my house.
After I hung up with Mom and Dad, I was talking to Greg and telling him how sick I was and complaining that I couldn't even get comfortable enough to sleep and I didn't have anything to read, and a few minutes later I got an email saying that someone had bought me a book I've been wanting to read and it had been automatically delivered to my Kindle. Sometimes the point to which he understands me and knows how to cheer me up is a little unbelievable, but it made me feel like someone was really watching out for me and wanted to make sure I was okay even though I was sick and homesick.
The next day I felt slightly better, but I was starting to get really nervous about the Thanksgiving dinner that Tamela and I were hosting on Saturday. Tamela had said she was sous-chef and this was my thing, and I was starting to realize that not only had I never cooked Thanksgiving dinner, I'd also never cooked for 20 people before. Friday evening, Tamela and I were supposed to go shopping for groceries and do some prep work (roasting garlic, baking pies, prepping stuffing) so when she got home around 6:30, we sat down, reviewed the grocery list, and then I was ready to head out. I didn't feel great and I wasn't super excited about going out in the cold, I was also hoping to get to bed early-ish, so I was getting irritated when Tamela kept puttering around the apartment and I couldn't get her out the door. First she wanted to eat, then her boyfriend called, then she did some dishes. When I finally heard her putting her coat on, I was relieved and came out of my room so we could leave. It was around 8PM at this point so I was really itching to get the shopping done. When I came out, Tamela was taking the trash out and said she wasn't ready to go yet. I suggested we just head out and take the trash out on our way but Tamela said, "I'm weird about trash... and I think i need some air!" and practically ran out of the apartment.
By this point, I was really frustrated so I took a deep breath and went back to my room. When I heard Tamela come back in, I didn't bother getting up to go see if she was ready to go, resigned to going whenever she decided she was ready. I was sitting on my bed being a bit mopey when I heard someone in my doorway- I looked up and Greg was standing there. All I could say is "What are you doing here?!" about 50 times. He had told Tamela he was coming and so she had been stalling so we were at the apartment when he arrived. I had NO IDEA he was planning to show up but he said I'd just been sick and homesick and stressed about Thanksgiving and he just wanted to check on me and take care of me for the weekend. It was a wonderful surprise and I was crazy excited. Tamela sent us off to the store and we stocked up and then returned home to do some cooking... only to realize we didn't have a can opener and therefore couldn't make any of the things we had planned.
We got up the next morning and immediately started on the first of two turkeys. Neither Greg nor I have ever cooked a Thanksgiving meal, so getting the turkey in the oven was a little intimidating but as soon as we got it in, we ran back to the store for a can opener. Then we can back and made the fruit salad and started prepping other things that needed to go in the oven once the first turkey came out (including stuffing, sweet potatoes, pies and the other turkey). The meal took the ENTIRE day to prep and cook- Greg nor I ever left the kitchen. Finally, we left Tamela in charge of setting up the apartment and cleaning a bit and we went to get ready for guests. By the time everyone arrived, I was exhausted and not feeling very good, so I wasn't very social. I stayed in the kitchen and nibbled on turkey and baked pies and helped serve people when they came in for seconds from the living room.
I do not think I could have survived the day (and I KNOW all the food would not have gotten done) without Greg there. He is presenting a year's worth of research in 2 days... so about a week and 2 days before that he made time to come see me just b/c he felt like I could really use it. I can't even begin to communicate what a good feeling it is to know that that support is there.
Greg left Sunday morning to head back to Munich and I've spent the past week trying to get better and exploring various Christmas markets. Thursday after work I headed to the markets for the first time and bought all sorts of gifts for the family. The markets are all decorated and there are lights and trees and the whole place smells of cinnamon and mulled wine. On Friday night I headed back to the markets and then, deciding I still hadn't had enough, I took a long walk on Saturday (yesterday), through my neighborhood and then straight west all the way to some of the markets. I keep stopping at one booth to buy more of the same thing and the lady now knows me.... I should probably stop spending money-- I bet she loves to see me coming.
I've had a quiet day today- laundry, cleaning, some writing, watched a Christmas movie, etc. I'm about to go pack now. I leave for Munich tomorrow to go see Greg's research presentation. There will be more markets there so I will let you all know how they compare :)
Monday, November 19, 2012
Moving
Hi y'all!
This past weekend I was busy MOVING. I was living right in the center/heart of Prague, just a 3 minute walk from I.P. Pavlova, a main metro station. However, for a multitude of reasons, I needed to move apartments, and around the time I needed to move, one of my friends and co-worker's roommates moved out to live with her boyfriend, so I moved in to the apartment. The place is a bit farther from the touristy part of Prague, but it's only a few minute walk to a bus stop and about a 5 minute walk to a tram stop, so it's still easy to get around. The place I am living now is super-duper nice. The guy who owns it had just renovated it for him wife and their kid when he got transferred to Vienna for work. He was very picky in finding tenants, but rented it for way less than he could get for it. Basically when they re-did the place, they were very thoughtful in adding little touches that make it so nice to live here, for instance: a light switch beside my bed so I don't have to get out of bed to turn out the light, lights all have dimmers, bathroom has it's own temperature control so it can be set warmer than other rooms, TONS of closet space in bedrooms, TONS of cabinet space in kitchen, gas stoves, heated towel racks, double shower heads, etc. Tamela and I even have our own bathrooms!
Anyone wishing to send me mail should no longer use my old address. My new address is:
Sarah Vaughn
Mexicka 3
10100
Praha 10
C/O
Hanna Sands
Moving this weekend wasn't too tiring. My new roommate is dating a guy here in Prague and he has a car. He was nice enough to come pick up all my things and drive them over to the new place so I didn't have to pay for a cab or struggle on public transit. I thanked him profusely, and then started unpacking. As is always the case when moving, I soon realized I was missing this or that so I compiled a list (sheets, a duvet, pillows, a bathmat, a trashcan for the bathroom, bedside lamp, a spatula, an oven mit, hand soap, etc) and headed to Ikea. It took forever, but I left with the things I needed and then swung back by the old apartment to vacuum and drop off keys. Finally, I headed back to the new place to keep unpacking. When I arrived, Tamela was cooking tacos/fajitas and so we opened a bottle of wine and ate dinner. It was delicious!
Yesterday I just continued to clean and unpack and then I braved the grocery store. There is a small Tesco only about a block away, tons of potraviny's, and a HUGE Tesco 2-3 bus stops from here. I went to the big Tesco so stock up on somethings and the trip was a success.
I mad soup last night since it's been so cold here and it turned out really, really well- for anyone else who is a soup fan, I highly recommend it so here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter (I used 1/2 this amount of butter and then added a little bit of olive oil to the pan)
1 1/2 cups chopped onions (I didnt measure in cups but I used 4 small onions b/c that is what I had)
2 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/4 pound peeled, chopped carrots
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
11/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
4 cups chicken broth/vegetable broth
juice from 1/2 a lemon (2-3 table spoons if you're not using fresh)
Preparation:
This past weekend I was busy MOVING. I was living right in the center/heart of Prague, just a 3 minute walk from I.P. Pavlova, a main metro station. However, for a multitude of reasons, I needed to move apartments, and around the time I needed to move, one of my friends and co-worker's roommates moved out to live with her boyfriend, so I moved in to the apartment. The place is a bit farther from the touristy part of Prague, but it's only a few minute walk to a bus stop and about a 5 minute walk to a tram stop, so it's still easy to get around. The place I am living now is super-duper nice. The guy who owns it had just renovated it for him wife and their kid when he got transferred to Vienna for work. He was very picky in finding tenants, but rented it for way less than he could get for it. Basically when they re-did the place, they were very thoughtful in adding little touches that make it so nice to live here, for instance: a light switch beside my bed so I don't have to get out of bed to turn out the light, lights all have dimmers, bathroom has it's own temperature control so it can be set warmer than other rooms, TONS of closet space in bedrooms, TONS of cabinet space in kitchen, gas stoves, heated towel racks, double shower heads, etc. Tamela and I even have our own bathrooms!
Anyone wishing to send me mail should no longer use my old address. My new address is:
Sarah Vaughn
Mexicka 3
10100
Praha 10
C/O
Hanna Sands
Moving this weekend wasn't too tiring. My new roommate is dating a guy here in Prague and he has a car. He was nice enough to come pick up all my things and drive them over to the new place so I didn't have to pay for a cab or struggle on public transit. I thanked him profusely, and then started unpacking. As is always the case when moving, I soon realized I was missing this or that so I compiled a list (sheets, a duvet, pillows, a bathmat, a trashcan for the bathroom, bedside lamp, a spatula, an oven mit, hand soap, etc) and headed to Ikea. It took forever, but I left with the things I needed and then swung back by the old apartment to vacuum and drop off keys. Finally, I headed back to the new place to keep unpacking. When I arrived, Tamela was cooking tacos/fajitas and so we opened a bottle of wine and ate dinner. It was delicious!
Yesterday I just continued to clean and unpack and then I braved the grocery store. There is a small Tesco only about a block away, tons of potraviny's, and a HUGE Tesco 2-3 bus stops from here. I went to the big Tesco so stock up on somethings and the trip was a success.
I mad soup last night since it's been so cold here and it turned out really, really well- for anyone else who is a soup fan, I highly recommend it so here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter (I used 1/2 this amount of butter and then added a little bit of olive oil to the pan)
1 1/2 cups chopped onions (I didnt measure in cups but I used 4 small onions b/c that is what I had)
2 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/4 pound peeled, chopped carrots
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
11/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
4 cups chicken broth/vegetable broth
juice from 1/2 a lemon (2-3 table spoons if you're not using fresh)
Preparation:
Melt butter in a heavy, large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until tender (4 min). Add ginger and garlic and saute another 2 minutes. Add chopped carrots, tomatoes and lemon peel and saute 1 minutes. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots are very tender (20-30 min). Cool slightly and then in batched pour soup in blender and puree. Return soup to pot and mix in lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper.
I ate the leftovers for dinner tonight with 1/2 a grilled cheese. Perfect comfort food on a cold night.
This coming weekend I'll also be cooking up a storm. My new roommate and I decided to do a traditional American Thanksgiving for the American (and other) expats that we hang out with in Prague. We're expecting 12-15 people and we're doing all the cooking- though people are donating ingredients this week to help us cover the cost. I'm really excited about it but also pretty nervous because I've never cooked this big of a meal for this many people. New respect for being a real grown up (what is this?)
Anyway, I'm off to be productive and then get some sleep!
I'll update again soon and post pictures of the apartment!
--Sarah
Friday, November 9, 2012
To see a doctor in Prague (socialized healthcare is awesome)
People back in the states can complain all they want about socialized healthcare... but having experienced myself, it's AWESOME.
For the past month or so, I've been sick off and on with some sort of cold/sinus crap. After working alone Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I was exhausted, and I woke up Thursday running a low grade fever and feeling miserable (tightness in my chest, bad cough, stuffy nose, the whole nine-yards). Anyway, I decided this had gone on long enough and I really should go see a doctor.
I set off this morning to see an ENT doctor that my co-teacher recommended. She THOUGHT someone in the office spoke English, but wasn't positive. I took a tram to the building, not having made an appointment or anything, and wandered around, looking very lost, on the third floor of a building that screamed "communist era." Finally, a nurse stopped me and kept asking me in Czech what I needed. I couldn't respond in a way that made any sense (I tried), so I finally wrote down what/who I was looking for and the nurse steered me around a corner and pointed at a door. There were tons of people in the hallway outside the door (and they all shot me funny looks when I tried to open the door... which turned out to be locked). I was very unsure of what to do so I just stood around in the hall until finally, about 10 minutes later, a nurse walked out of the locked door. I was super relieved b/c I'd felt really awkward just standing in the hallway, not having checked in or anything, and even though I was still unsure of what to do, I just followed the mad rush up to the nurse and noticed that everyone was handing over their government insurance card, so I did the same. I also asked (in Czech) if any of the doctors spoke English, and thankfully one did.
About 20 minutes later I was called into the room with the locked door (which I now know is the exam room). The doctor asked for my address and phone number, then asked me to tell him what was going on. All of this took about 5 minutes, and then the doctor asked me to sign a form of consent for him to do a nasal endoscopy. I signed, walked over to an exam chair, sat down, and immediately got nervous when the doctor pulled out a long metal rod. He told me to breathe normally and not to move at all. He guided it up my left nostril and pulled it back out after about 15 seconds. It was a bit uncomfortable, but by no means painful.... then he moved to my right nostril. It was very, very painful. I was whimpering and crying, and I think the dr. actually found this mildly amusing. (I did later discover that at least in the U.S. they do generally give you a numbing nose spray before doing this procedure so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it was really painful). When he pulled the scope out, I was like this: http://i.imgur.com/W840S.gif (and since it STILL feels sore, am still doing that).
After doing the scope, the doctor told me I have severe sinusitis, prescribed me a week of amoxicillian and prescription strength sudafed, asked me for 30czk ($1.50) and then sent me downstairs to the pharmacy in the same building. The pharmacist made up the prescription immediately, with no wait, and the drugs were roughly 250czk or $12.50. I was back home within of an hour and a half of when I left and that included stopping to get lunch.
To summarize: saw a specialist, had an endoscopy, received prescription medicine, for a rough total of $14 out of pocket, all in under an hour and a half. Such a win.
For the past month or so, I've been sick off and on with some sort of cold/sinus crap. After working alone Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I was exhausted, and I woke up Thursday running a low grade fever and feeling miserable (tightness in my chest, bad cough, stuffy nose, the whole nine-yards). Anyway, I decided this had gone on long enough and I really should go see a doctor.
I set off this morning to see an ENT doctor that my co-teacher recommended. She THOUGHT someone in the office spoke English, but wasn't positive. I took a tram to the building, not having made an appointment or anything, and wandered around, looking very lost, on the third floor of a building that screamed "communist era." Finally, a nurse stopped me and kept asking me in Czech what I needed. I couldn't respond in a way that made any sense (I tried), so I finally wrote down what/who I was looking for and the nurse steered me around a corner and pointed at a door. There were tons of people in the hallway outside the door (and they all shot me funny looks when I tried to open the door... which turned out to be locked). I was very unsure of what to do so I just stood around in the hall until finally, about 10 minutes later, a nurse walked out of the locked door. I was super relieved b/c I'd felt really awkward just standing in the hallway, not having checked in or anything, and even though I was still unsure of what to do, I just followed the mad rush up to the nurse and noticed that everyone was handing over their government insurance card, so I did the same. I also asked (in Czech) if any of the doctors spoke English, and thankfully one did.
About 20 minutes later I was called into the room with the locked door (which I now know is the exam room). The doctor asked for my address and phone number, then asked me to tell him what was going on. All of this took about 5 minutes, and then the doctor asked me to sign a form of consent for him to do a nasal endoscopy. I signed, walked over to an exam chair, sat down, and immediately got nervous when the doctor pulled out a long metal rod. He told me to breathe normally and not to move at all. He guided it up my left nostril and pulled it back out after about 15 seconds. It was a bit uncomfortable, but by no means painful.... then he moved to my right nostril. It was very, very painful. I was whimpering and crying, and I think the dr. actually found this mildly amusing. (I did later discover that at least in the U.S. they do generally give you a numbing nose spray before doing this procedure so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it was really painful). When he pulled the scope out, I was like this: http://i.imgur.com/W840S.gif (and since it STILL feels sore, am still doing that).
After doing the scope, the doctor told me I have severe sinusitis, prescribed me a week of amoxicillian and prescription strength sudafed, asked me for 30czk ($1.50) and then sent me downstairs to the pharmacy in the same building. The pharmacist made up the prescription immediately, with no wait, and the drugs were roughly 250czk or $12.50. I was back home within of an hour and a half of when I left and that included stopping to get lunch.
To summarize: saw a specialist, had an endoscopy, received prescription medicine, for a rough total of $14 out of pocket, all in under an hour and a half. Such a win.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
HFMD
The good news: My co-teacher returns tomorrow!
The bad news: The kid with the "cut" on his tongue.... turns out it's HFMD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand,_foot_and_mouth_disease
The bad news: The kid with the "cut" on his tongue.... turns out it's HFMD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand,_foot_and_mouth_disease
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Sarah's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad (2) Day(s)
When I got a text Sunday evening from my co-teacher saying that she would be out sick AT LEAST Monday through Wednesday, and maybe the whole rest of the week, I knew I was in for a long few days. On Monday, I was dreading work but I left my apartment at 7:16 to catch the 7:22 metro like I do 4 days a week.
My commute normally works like this: I leave my apartment at 7:16, take the 7:22 metro from I.P. Pavlova to Opatov. I arrive at Opatov at 7:37 and grab an apple or orange from the market and then run upstairs to catch the 327 bus that leaves at 7:45 to the school. I walk into school at 8:02 and head to my classroom and kids arrive starting at 8:25.
Anyway, on Monday, I jumped on the metro and away we went.... very, very slowly. The metro was running at a snail's pace and frequently stopping between stations. Finally, about halfway to Opatov, and not at a station, the metro just stopped. An announcement came on, first in Czech, then in English, that the metro was discontinuing service and we would have to wait there for maintenance/repairs. They fixed it pretty quickly, but I still didnt arrive to Opatov until 7:55 which meant I missed the bus to the school. The next bus isn't until 8:10.... which would mean I wouldnt get to school until after drop off starts. If my co-teacher weren't out this wouldnt be such a big deal, but I knew I had to get there. I called my boss and he said to get a cab, so I jumped in a cab and between my broken czech and the driver's broken English, managed to communicate where I wanted to go. Thankfully, the school reimbursed the ride.
When I got to school, I realized that there was no sub in my classroom... just me and 10 two year olds (which, for the record, is illegal under Czech law that requires there never be more than six toddlers under the age of 3 for per 1 teacher). The kids were all pretty good, but it was still a really, really tough morning. They finally got a sub in for me at 9:30ish, and he was helpful, but an unfamiliar adult set off lots of crying and since he didn't know the kids OR the routine.... the help was pretty limited. He also wasn't really any help at all getting the 10 kids to the bathroom, but that may be a school policy as most of the male subs arent really supposed to go into the bathrooms b/c some of the parents are really funny about it. Anyway... the sub had to leave at 12:15 so he wasn't even there 3 hours, but a lot of the kids leave at 12:15 so I only had 4 after lunch. Still, with no sub in the afternoon, I didn't get my lunch break or even a bathroom break all afternoon.
When parents arrived to pick up kids, one little boy told his mom something in Czech that he had been saying to me all afternoon. Turns out, it meant he had a pain in his mouth. When his mom looked, he has a huge gash in his tongue. I have no idea how or when it happened... he didn't cry at all yesterday, but I felt really terrible about it.
The bright spot of yesterday afternoon was going to pick up a box that my parents mailed me. The contents were as follows:
My commute normally works like this: I leave my apartment at 7:16, take the 7:22 metro from I.P. Pavlova to Opatov. I arrive at Opatov at 7:37 and grab an apple or orange from the market and then run upstairs to catch the 327 bus that leaves at 7:45 to the school. I walk into school at 8:02 and head to my classroom and kids arrive starting at 8:25.
Anyway, on Monday, I jumped on the metro and away we went.... very, very slowly. The metro was running at a snail's pace and frequently stopping between stations. Finally, about halfway to Opatov, and not at a station, the metro just stopped. An announcement came on, first in Czech, then in English, that the metro was discontinuing service and we would have to wait there for maintenance/repairs. They fixed it pretty quickly, but I still didnt arrive to Opatov until 7:55 which meant I missed the bus to the school. The next bus isn't until 8:10.... which would mean I wouldnt get to school until after drop off starts. If my co-teacher weren't out this wouldnt be such a big deal, but I knew I had to get there. I called my boss and he said to get a cab, so I jumped in a cab and between my broken czech and the driver's broken English, managed to communicate where I wanted to go. Thankfully, the school reimbursed the ride.
When I got to school, I realized that there was no sub in my classroom... just me and 10 two year olds (which, for the record, is illegal under Czech law that requires there never be more than six toddlers under the age of 3 for per 1 teacher). The kids were all pretty good, but it was still a really, really tough morning. They finally got a sub in for me at 9:30ish, and he was helpful, but an unfamiliar adult set off lots of crying and since he didn't know the kids OR the routine.... the help was pretty limited. He also wasn't really any help at all getting the 10 kids to the bathroom, but that may be a school policy as most of the male subs arent really supposed to go into the bathrooms b/c some of the parents are really funny about it. Anyway... the sub had to leave at 12:15 so he wasn't even there 3 hours, but a lot of the kids leave at 12:15 so I only had 4 after lunch. Still, with no sub in the afternoon, I didn't get my lunch break or even a bathroom break all afternoon.
When parents arrived to pick up kids, one little boy told his mom something in Czech that he had been saying to me all afternoon. Turns out, it meant he had a pain in his mouth. When his mom looked, he has a huge gash in his tongue. I have no idea how or when it happened... he didn't cry at all yesterday, but I felt really terrible about it.
The bright spot of yesterday afternoon was going to pick up a box that my parents mailed me. The contents were as follows:
- Much needed hand/toe warmers
- An issue of Practical Horseman
- A Birthday card from MPC
- 3 boxes of Yogi Throat Comfort Tea
- 3 boxes of ping pong balls for my friend Will
- Tarragon (impossible to find here and up there with my favorite herbs to cook with)
- Post-it notes (I LOVE post-it notes)
- Bubble wrap.... admit it.... y'all love popping it too.
Today (Tuesdays) are my long days at work because it's my day to do "morning club" which is basically for all the kids who get dropped off between 7:30 and 8:25 before their teachers are in their classrooms. I hate Tuesdays for this reason... leave the apartment by 6:30 and at school by 7:20 makes for a long morning with students that aren't mine and that I often don't know. Today, I settled in at 7:30 and kids trickled in. Normally at 8:05 or so, my friend Jena comes in because morning club is held in her classroom and then at 8:25 the other kindergarten teachers come to collect kids from their classroom. Today, by 8:25, Jena still hadn't showed up and all the other teachers were collecting their kids. I couldn't leave Jena's classroom because she had students in there, but I also had parents waiting in my classroom to drop kids off. After a call to school management, I found out that Jena had called in sick and her co-teacher doesn't have to be in until 9AM normally and no one had called him. It took some sorting out, but another kindergarten teacher took her class AND Jena's until 9 and I rushed to my classroom so parents could leave my kids.
I only had 6 kids today, but one of them is super attached to Nikola and was absent yesterday so she started crying immediately. It was a rough morning and I didn't have a sub until 9:15. It was the same guy as yesterday and he was more helpful today, but I don't think he really likes working with the really, really young ones (aka, my class). Also, he had to leave at 11:30 which is right when I serve the kids lunch and things are the most hectic so it really didn't help all that much, though still nice to be able to go to the bathroom or grab a drink. I had 4 kids again after lunch and that went ok. Another really sweet teacher even swung by mid afternoon so I could run and get my lunch out of the fridge.
All kids are supposed to be picked up between 3 and 3:15 and then there is a bus back to the metro station at 3:25. If all the parents are on time and no one stays to chat, it's possible to catch that bus. The next bus is at 3:55, so it really sucks when a parents is 5 minutes late, chats for 5 minutes, then leaves and you have to wait 30 minutes for the next bus when you JUST missed the 3:25. Anyway, 3 of the kids are picked up by 3:10 so I was hopeful.... but then 3:25 rolls around and still no parent. When this happens, there is an after school club we can take kids to... that said, I have a clingy 2 year old who is a LOUD crier and screams when she gets dropped off with anyone unfamiliar (she just recently stopped crying with Nikola and me). Plus, I had a friend working the afternoon club and I just felt too guilty dropping a screaming 2 year old off when there were about 15 other kids in the class to watch. So I waited. The mom showed up at 3:55.... just as I saw the bus pull away... so I had to wait another 30 minutes. Grrrrrrrr.
Anyway, today did have its bright spots.... on the way home I stopped by a cheese shop I've been eyeing and treated myself to a small block of manchego which is one of my favorite cheeses. I'm also really pumped about election results but too exhausted to stay up to watch them (polls start closing at midnight my time... blech).
Here's to hoping tomorrow goes better and that Nikola is back and healthy on Thursday!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Snow, Halloween, and Greg's visit
It's been a busy and fun 2 weeks here in Prague. I actually don't remember what I did week before last (lame, I know) but starting last weekend things are pretty memorable. Last weekend (the weekend before Halloween) I was planning to go with friends to Terezin (German name Theresienstadt) which is a town, fortress, and was a concentration camp during WWII. I woke up Saturday morning to freezing cold temperatures and snow, so while I still want to see Terezin, I didn't want to be out in the cold all day. Instead, I decided to ride several tram lines around the city (trams are all above ground) and just see various areas a prague in the snow. It was really beautiful but also really cold and considering it was only Oct. 27, I wasn't really excited to already have below freezing temperatures and snow.
That night, I headed over to my friend Tamela's apartment (where I'll be moving in 2 weeks!) and a few other people were over eating pizza, quesadillas, and drinking a few beers. It was a low key, really relaxing night with friends and fun and all in all, a great night.
This past week was a LONG week at school. It seems like we had more crying and diaper blowouts than normal, and we also had a girl fall and bit through her lip. Plus, we had an extra long staff meeting on Tuesday and then on Wednesday we had to dress up for Halloween and then do an after school Halloween party that lasted until 7PM. After ELEVEN contact hours with 2-3 year olds... I was exhausted and pretty much running on empty.
On Thursday Greg arrived to visit me. I met him after work and we just came back to the apartment and made dinner and relaxed since I had to work Friday. Friday I woke up and had to head to work. Greg slept in (much needed since he's been putting in crazy long hours at school and work. He spent the day lounging and then looking for some winter clothes/shoes, but all he found was a new hoodie/sweater (though a nice one!) Then he came to pick me up from work and see the school. From there, we headed to pick up a birthday gift for my friend Larry, and then went to Larry's birthday party at our favorite local bar, Kavárna "Na Sumave", which we all refer to as "Honsa's." Greg and I split a semi-dark beer that was on special, and then a really delicious lager and then said early goodbyes and headed to dinner reservations at Las Adelitas, one of the only places in this part of Europe to get good Mexican food.
When we got there, we ordered a pitcher of margaritas and a starter of chips and guac. Then Greg got enchiladas three ways (red salsa, mole, salsa verde) and I got chicken tacos topped very simply with red onion and a bit of cheese. Everything was really good, and while not completely authentic, a really solid meal that I think we were both happy with. Ater that, we'd planned to go explore Old Town, but I was really tired (ok, so maybe I had a bit too many margaritas) and so we headed home.
On Saturday, we got up and Greg went to get us fresh bread from Paul's bakery for breakfast... I like Czech bread but Paul's is a chain that sell french bakery stuff... it's expensive but worth it when you are craving something other than traditional dark, Czech bread (with rye flour and caraway seeds). Anyway, after breakfast we headed to an outlet mall to see if we could find better deals for Greg since he was still in desperate need of winter things. We found him another pullover/hoodie, 2 long sleeve t-shirts, a pair of jeans, and even a computer mouse since his broke. All in all, it was a successful day shopping. From the mall, we headed to my new neighborhood and spent some time wandering around.
We ducked into a little bar to grab a beer and met the owner (a man from Croatia) and a guy who must have been a regular who was in there drinking. He was a dual U.S./Czech citizen who emigrated to the U.S. in 1968 to flee communism and then returned in 1995 to the Czech republic after the fall of the communist regime. He had some interesting things to say about the Czech Republic and basically told me "Don't fall in love with it here... it's still messed up and be careful." ..... Comforting words... especially since as soon as we walked out of the bar I passed a guy holding a shrink wrapped machine gun. Oh, Eastern Europe.
From the bar, Greg and I headed to Tamela's apartment so he can see where I'm moving in 2 weeks. We spent some time checking out the apartment and talking with Tamela before heading next door to an Italian place called Osteria Da Clara that came highly recommended. It was the best meal I have had in a long time and by FAR the best meal I've had in Prague. We were seated immediately and brought TAP WATER (unheard of in Europe.... everyone serves only bottled water and charge you an arm and a leg for it). Next, we ordered a carafe of chardonnay which was really, really good and some classic bruschetta as our starter. To follow, we each had a primi serving of pasta. I got a classic tuscan spaghetti topped with a few tomatoes and tossed with breadcrumbs, olive oil, and some type of seafood. Greg got a pasta dish with italian sausage and pumpkin cream sauce. Next, we split an entree... a seared tuna steak with garlic, parsley, and a bit of fresh red cabbage and citrus fruits with a side a roasted potatoes, sauteed greens, roasted eggplant, and roasted red peppers. To finish the meal off, Greg had an Italian style espresso. All of this was only the equivalent of $44 USD and everything was fresh and fantastic, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was cozy and unpretentious. Definitely my new favorite place in the city.
Anyway, after dinner we decided to wander Prague so we took the tram back to the main part of town, got off and walked through Wenceslas Square and then to Old Town Square, then along the river, and finally got home well after midnight. This morning we just got up, Greg packed, and then we headed to meet the driver he was carpooling with. When I got home, I got a text from my co-teacher saying that she has a bad cold/maybe the flu and won't be at work for at least the next 3 days. My co-teacher is pretty much my hero and keeps the kids under control so I have no idea what I'm going to do with all those kids all by myself... I seriously hope they get a sub to help me but that's questionable b/c so many people are out sick with the same things right now.... still... it'll be a long and miserable week if it's me and 12 2 year olds all by myself.
Hope all is well back home. I miss everyone!
That night, I headed over to my friend Tamela's apartment (where I'll be moving in 2 weeks!) and a few other people were over eating pizza, quesadillas, and drinking a few beers. It was a low key, really relaxing night with friends and fun and all in all, a great night.
This past week was a LONG week at school. It seems like we had more crying and diaper blowouts than normal, and we also had a girl fall and bit through her lip. Plus, we had an extra long staff meeting on Tuesday and then on Wednesday we had to dress up for Halloween and then do an after school Halloween party that lasted until 7PM. After ELEVEN contact hours with 2-3 year olds... I was exhausted and pretty much running on empty.
On Thursday Greg arrived to visit me. I met him after work and we just came back to the apartment and made dinner and relaxed since I had to work Friday. Friday I woke up and had to head to work. Greg slept in (much needed since he's been putting in crazy long hours at school and work. He spent the day lounging and then looking for some winter clothes/shoes, but all he found was a new hoodie/sweater (though a nice one!) Then he came to pick me up from work and see the school. From there, we headed to pick up a birthday gift for my friend Larry, and then went to Larry's birthday party at our favorite local bar, Kavárna "Na Sumave", which we all refer to as "Honsa's." Greg and I split a semi-dark beer that was on special, and then a really delicious lager and then said early goodbyes and headed to dinner reservations at Las Adelitas, one of the only places in this part of Europe to get good Mexican food.
When we got there, we ordered a pitcher of margaritas and a starter of chips and guac. Then Greg got enchiladas three ways (red salsa, mole, salsa verde) and I got chicken tacos topped very simply with red onion and a bit of cheese. Everything was really good, and while not completely authentic, a really solid meal that I think we were both happy with. Ater that, we'd planned to go explore Old Town, but I was really tired (ok, so maybe I had a bit too many margaritas) and so we headed home.
On Saturday, we got up and Greg went to get us fresh bread from Paul's bakery for breakfast... I like Czech bread but Paul's is a chain that sell french bakery stuff... it's expensive but worth it when you are craving something other than traditional dark, Czech bread (with rye flour and caraway seeds). Anyway, after breakfast we headed to an outlet mall to see if we could find better deals for Greg since he was still in desperate need of winter things. We found him another pullover/hoodie, 2 long sleeve t-shirts, a pair of jeans, and even a computer mouse since his broke. All in all, it was a successful day shopping. From the mall, we headed to my new neighborhood and spent some time wandering around.
We ducked into a little bar to grab a beer and met the owner (a man from Croatia) and a guy who must have been a regular who was in there drinking. He was a dual U.S./Czech citizen who emigrated to the U.S. in 1968 to flee communism and then returned in 1995 to the Czech republic after the fall of the communist regime. He had some interesting things to say about the Czech Republic and basically told me "Don't fall in love with it here... it's still messed up and be careful." ..... Comforting words... especially since as soon as we walked out of the bar I passed a guy holding a shrink wrapped machine gun. Oh, Eastern Europe.
From the bar, Greg and I headed to Tamela's apartment so he can see where I'm moving in 2 weeks. We spent some time checking out the apartment and talking with Tamela before heading next door to an Italian place called Osteria Da Clara that came highly recommended. It was the best meal I have had in a long time and by FAR the best meal I've had in Prague. We were seated immediately and brought TAP WATER (unheard of in Europe.... everyone serves only bottled water and charge you an arm and a leg for it). Next, we ordered a carafe of chardonnay which was really, really good and some classic bruschetta as our starter. To follow, we each had a primi serving of pasta. I got a classic tuscan spaghetti topped with a few tomatoes and tossed with breadcrumbs, olive oil, and some type of seafood. Greg got a pasta dish with italian sausage and pumpkin cream sauce. Next, we split an entree... a seared tuna steak with garlic, parsley, and a bit of fresh red cabbage and citrus fruits with a side a roasted potatoes, sauteed greens, roasted eggplant, and roasted red peppers. To finish the meal off, Greg had an Italian style espresso. All of this was only the equivalent of $44 USD and everything was fresh and fantastic, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was cozy and unpretentious. Definitely my new favorite place in the city.
Anyway, after dinner we decided to wander Prague so we took the tram back to the main part of town, got off and walked through Wenceslas Square and then to Old Town Square, then along the river, and finally got home well after midnight. This morning we just got up, Greg packed, and then we headed to meet the driver he was carpooling with. When I got home, I got a text from my co-teacher saying that she has a bad cold/maybe the flu and won't be at work for at least the next 3 days. My co-teacher is pretty much my hero and keeps the kids under control so I have no idea what I'm going to do with all those kids all by myself... I seriously hope they get a sub to help me but that's questionable b/c so many people are out sick with the same things right now.... still... it'll be a long and miserable week if it's me and 12 2 year olds all by myself.
Hope all is well back home. I miss everyone!
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