Sunday, November 19, 2006
Stories Forgotten

So I totally forgot to tell this story. The story of me and the Big Gay Black Man in Prague. First off, let me say it isn't easy being any kind of minority in Prague- at least that I could tell. I'm sure there are people there who might beg to differ, and there are certainly plenty of tourists from Asia and the like. But, Big Gay Black Men? Not so many of those.
I was on my way to the Jewish Graveyard when I ran into BGBM on my way out the hotel door. He greeted me with his trademark smile, and asked if he could accompany me there, since he would be traveling to a museum right next to the graveyard. I willingly accepted his offer, as I was not too keen on traveling by myself anyways, and he's really good company.
BGBM is a fantastic dresser, kind, polite, amazing sense of humor, sexy and handsome- everything you want in a man. Everything, that is, except you know....into women.
Pity for us girls, yep.
So we walk and we talk, we talk about being different in Prague- the implications of that, what that means, how you just sort of have to keep on walking despite the stares and the judgements. I know this all too well. He explained to me that he just sort of lets them have a "nice long look...front and back view."
He's a good sport like that. Me? Not so much. I'm far more self-conscious about the stares I get. The looks. The pity. I have to work on that.
We walk arm in arm, he supports me with one arm and part of a hand down the very steep escalator into the subway tunnel, the one that practically LAUNCHES you off when you get to the bottom or the top. It's incredibly fast. We laugh at my inability to keep my balance. We make utter fools of ourselves. I'm glad to have BGBM there. Otherwise, I'd totally fall on my face.
While we are wating, we notice yet more stares, we talk about how no one offers to help us when we need it. We talk about being lost and unable to find our way back.
In the subway train, we sit down. Despite the fact that it is moderately crowded, one guy openly gives BGBM a look and gets up from his seat. He'd rather stand than sit next to BGBM, apparently. Ooookay then. I roll my eyes and put my arm through his in solidarity. We different types have to stick together. He gives me a sigh and puts his head on mine (he's about 6'5") and tells me he understands. At least he knows where he does NOT want to retire when he's ready.
I nod. We walk the rest of the way in silence, only pausing to traverse the cobblestoned streets extremely carefully in the post-rain wetness.
The reflections are beautiful. We part ways soon after, and with a wave he disappears into the crowd.
And that is when I felt very alone and different.

Thursday, November 02, 2006
Paste

Here's a scan of a photo that magically arrived via interoffice mail today. It was taken at an Italian restaurant in Prague where the English menu said "paste" instead of "pasta". Ah, Czechlish. I love you.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Why am I doing the open-mouth smiley thing? I hate that.
Taken our last night at dinner, my coworkers and I are at the restaurant next to the bridge.

Friday, October 20, 2006
Goodbye Prague!

So I guess that concludes the Prague entries. That night, after the Charles Bridge, I headed back that way anyhow and walked the bridge again at night. It was beautiful and dreamlike. We had a group dinner during which I talked to some people, ate some more traditional Czech food, and tried to have a good time.

I can say i'm glad I went, that I really needed the break from the total heartbreak that this year has brought me, and that it was an experience I'll never, ever forget.


Thank you to Paul, who is a most gracious and wonderful host, and without whom I wouldn't have had a place in London to stay. I am so happy I got to spend a couple of days hanging out with you and Jen and Charlie. Good times.

There may be more photos, or more details that I have completely forgotten (i'll look over the notes I made), and if that is the case, there will be more posts here.

Until later....adios!

Thursday, October 19, 2006
Charles Bridge

I'll have to admit, when people were talking about the Charles Bridge, I didn't think much of it. It's a bridge. OK. But, I was persueded to take a look anyways, so I went via tram to the area of town nearest the bridge. I was just sitting there, staring at the seatback in front of me, when I noticed something.



Yep, that's my name. Don't sit on it. My name is on ALL OF THE SEATBACKS in every tram in Prague. Can you believe it?

Then there was the incident of the ticket inspector. Ticket inspector man was standing next to my seat, only he didn't look like a ticket inspector. They don't wear uniforms in Prague, apparently. So, I was slightly annoyed at the older man who wouldn't stop standing next to me and talking to me like I had a clue what he was saying in Czech. I didn't understand it at all. I thought maybe if I ignored him, he'd go away. He didn't. He stood there and then asked if I speak Spanish or French or Italian. That's when something clicked in my brain (cue clicking sound) and I sheepishly took my ticket out of my pocket with an, "Oh! my ticket!" And showed it to him. I told him I was sorry, and he just thanked me very kindly and moved along. I suppose it could have been worse. Wow, Czech mishap #2. Or was it #22 by that time?

The bridge was of course, beautiful. I did some shopping down the street before the bridge, and then on the bridge as there's no shortage of vendors with photography and artwork and crafts. It was interesting and very crowded. Here's some shots I took:





On the way back I stopped at Joe's Bar and ate a burger, then I wandered around some more and did more shopping. It was a leisurely afternoon by myself.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Karlstejn

We took a trip to Karlstejn early one morning, which was nice. On our way there, we drove through the Czech countryside, beautiful and very foggy. I love the fog, even though the scenery is beautiful without it.
The bus took an hour down a winding road to get to the 13th century castle. When we got there, we realized how big it was, and how huge of a walk that would be. So I did what I do best- I got other modes of transportation to the top.



Meet the transportation. Isn't it cute?

It was really sort of fairytale-like, driving up to the castle in a carriage in the fog. It was also really beautiful and still.



We took a tour of the castle, and were astounded at how huge it all is. Most of it is a Victorian-era refurbishment, but they have restored many of the original attributes. It was interesting in its own right architecturally. I didn't even attempt to walk up the largest of the towers, because...no. Just, no. But I liked staring at it from a distance. I also liked looking down from the turrets at the trees in the hills below, which were just beginning to turn their colors. It was actually very peaceful.

We walked some of the way back down, and I took the carriage back most of the rest of the way, giving my best "princess wave" as I passed my coworkers and friends on the road. I had them let me out at a restaurant, where some nice people treated me to the best pig's knee I have ever had. Yes, pig's knee. It's basically pork roast, which is large enough to feed at least 3 or 4 hungry people. It was delicious, along with the pancakes. Ah, the Czech diet. I loved it, despite the apparent lack of vegetable.

When we got back to the hotel that afternoon, all I did was settle in for a long nap before dinner.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Josefov

Anyone who knows me, knows that I can't go anywhere without visiting a cemetery. The older, the better. The more haunted, the better. So, I took a trip with Big, Gay Black Man (oh that journey is another entry in itself) over to the Jewish Quarter of Prague the next day. It was the most interesting part of Prague I was able to see.

My main reason was of course, the cemetery.
This cemetery is several hundred years old. It's probably double the age of the U.S., and then some. And the bodies...are buried some say 12 deep. I've never seen anything like it. It is said that Kafka liked to hang here. I could see why. It's pretty, in an odd way. There are nooks and crannies, and odd things that you don't find in other cemeteries, like rocks on grave stones, and one stone that had nothing but bits of paper and wrappers folded neatly by various passing people and fitted neatly in the hebrew letters. Odd.

Some photos:










The oldest grave in the cemetery is that of a rabbi, poet and physician named Avigdor Kara, who died in 1439. His original tombstone was recently replaced by a replica. Kara was one of the few survivors of a pogrom at Easter time in 1389 when approximately 3,000 Jews, almost the entire Jewish population in Prague, were killed by the Christians living in the city, after local Catholic priests accused the Jews of desecrating the Host used in the sacrament of Holy Communion.
The cemetery itself was closed in 1787.

Dinner

Can be summed up in a few words.

Drink




Food



Crazy friends




And of course.....


Beer.