clowning around

7/3/2006, 11.40
Praha, Czech Republic to Dresden, Germany

What to say about the two nights spent in Praha (Prague), Czech Republic? I had a good time in Praha for the most part. We arrived midday on Saturday the 1st & walked from the train station to the Elf Hostel - our intended home for the next two nights - only to find them booked solid. Being the nice front desk lady that she was, she phoned another hostel near the city centre & placed reservations for us. However, as seems to be the theme for this trip, we got sidetracked promptly after emerging onto the street, & ultimately ended up at a closer one: The Clown & Bard Hostel. Appropriate I thought!

Simply put, the Clown & Bard rocked! Nice people, free 15 minutes of internet per day, 10 minutes from the central train station, kickass rooms with lofts (where I slept!), free breakfast until one p.m., & a very smooth bar in the basement where they projected the World Cup games onto the wall. Plus, it's called the fucking Clown & Bard. For Chris & I there are no better titles! I was upset the first night we hung out in the bar because, while they did indeed serve beer, both taps poured Budweiser. There's some serious disillusionment for you. I was beyond startled when I drank it though...it was really good! It was at that point that Chris taught me the history of our country's beloved piss-beer. Apparently Budweiser originated in the Czech Republic as a very good beer, & it's still brewed there just as it was when it was created. Then, because it was so popular, they just sold the name to the American company that we all know & hate, & viola! Two totally different beers in two totally different countries! Neat huh?

Unfortunately, that is the best story I came away from Praha with. It's a nice city, very beautiful (as they all seem to be), but really nothing extraordinary - or even all that noteworthy - happened during our brief time there. We walked around the city sightseeing for most of the one full day we were there, stayed up late drinking & chatting that night in the bar, & then took the first train we could catch to Dresden, Germany this morning. And that's that. Captivating, huh? I will say though that I really got a better sense of just how difficult it is to walk on cobblestones for an extended period of time while there. Those little bastards really fuck with your legs...