Ah Praha..I've been in Prague since Tuesday. The train ride was unusual in that it was the first train I have taken that is divided into seating compartments. I shared mine with an older German woman who didn't speak english but smiled a lot and helped me put my backpack up on the top rack. The other was a younger Czech woman who was very stone-faced and seemed to scowl at me everytime I looked at her. Whatever..guess she woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something. I remember passing through Dresden, which looked from the train like a cool city. Towards the Czech border the police came on and everyone had to present their passports. This doesn't make me nervous but it is slightly nerve-wracking in a way I cannot explain. At least I am getting stamps in my passport:)

The scenery between the Czech border and Prague was stunning. Huge cliffs (you could almost pretend to make out human faces in the craggy crevices) and lakes and hills and trees and interesting houses and barns. I saw a dog chasing a man on a tractor in one field which made me smile.

I got off at the Holesovie station (there are a couple of stations in Prague) and very quickly recognized Ron (who I haven't seen in 15 years) and he was pointing out all the former communist tunnels and other things leftover from Communism. He already tried explaining what trams I would take to get here and there but I told him that I was too tired to retain any of that info.

Their apartment building (which i am staying in, in an available flat downstairs from them) is a butter yellow and very pretty. The flat I have is huge and I really like the owners taste in decor (He spends all year in New Orleans, except he comes to Prague for the summer) and I have a full kitchen, bathroom, huge living room, and a nice bedroom. It is such a bargain...I think I am paying $400 US for the entire month for this nice flat. Eventually I will get to a grocery store and get some food. I have been depending on Ariane's hospitality and eating my meals (for the most part with them) though I did eat in an Italian restaurant the 2nd day I was here and Ariane and Roman and I went to a French Creperie the other night..I had never had "salty" crepes...Mine had ham and cheese inside..very yummy.

I have met so many people already because Ron and Ariane have a lot of musician friends in town, so that is cool.

Hearing and seeing Czech is extremely foreign to me. It is so much closer to Russian than anything else. It is a little intimidating. At least when I was in Holland, Dutch is really reminiscient of German to me, and when I was in Germany I could speak a few words of German, but here..I am trying to learn..but it isn't happening...it is such a strange (but beautiful language!)

I have seen a lot of music since I've been here which is cool. A few days ago I went with Ariane/Roman and their friend Natasha (and her daughter, Sasha) to Old Town Square and it was very crowded and I was in awe at all the beautiful and ancient Gothic architecture! I took some pictures...but I am unable to download on this computer because the computer is a dinosaur, so people may have to wait awhile to see pics of Berlin, Weimar and Prague. I guess I could always go to an Internet cafe.

A FEW DAYS LATER>>>>>

I haven't gone into the old town part of Prague too much yet..though Ariane and her friend, Margo, and I went out to a couple of bars (The Globe is half bar and half bookstore) down there last night (or maybe that was new town)..there is "old town" (which has the medevial architecture) and new town (which is only a few hundred years old)..We just talked and drank and smoke...shared some "cheese nachos" which were good but not at all like american nachos! At the tulip cafe (where we had the cheese nachos) we heard songs such as M. Jackson's "Thriller" and Prince's "Little Red Corvette" and Nirvana's "...teen spirit" which made me laugh as I watched the bartender dancing and getting all excited to the top 40 american music..he was really gettin' down!! The night before Ron and I took quite a long tram ride to a distance neighborhood and saw some bands play.nothing too special. the bands I am looking forward to seeing (that Ron has turned me onto) are Blaq Mummy and Zero King...Twice now I've seen "Johnny Feelings" which are a couple from Canada..Mailee (sp?) and NOah..who are a couple and very cool...She plays accordion and he plays guitar and their songs are funny and sort of folk rock...they always dress up. She dresses up like a slightly wicked Raggedy Ann and he wears a magicians robe and a turban....cool people...Today they (and a bunch of other friends) are going to hang out in this big park not too far from here..they are gong to play instruments and throw frisbees, etc...it is has been nice and sunny here.

I want to go to Krakow, Poland but haven't figured out when I will do it..maybe in a few weeks. Roman's birthday party is this Thursday...Ariane is trying to decide what kind of birthday party to give that will be fun but not stress her out too much. Ariane and I hang out every day....she is very cool. So is Roman..he is funny..I played Star Wars Monopoly with them. I listen to lots of music with Ron....and talk about old times....

I imagine I will attempt to go exploring more on my own this week...I have taken the tram 3 times or so and hopsefully I will not get lost..I will have Ron or Ariane write down exactly what trains to take to and from our neighborhood so I don't get confused.

Though I think I have lost weight from walking around so much, I need to continue to walk around a lot because I need to burn off all the czech beer I have been drinking, which may, PERHAPS, be the best in the world.

More on Prague Later!! Having a great time, as always, though I miss my house, cats, and Larry!!

do the jerk * do the frug