It may be the onslaught of emo music playing in the background, the disappointment of being back in basic-Barcelona, or the fact that I'm exhausted from a lot of travel and no sleep, but this incredible trip to Prague has ended with a pit of depressing feelings. I don't want to do schoolwork, but I don't want to sleep. I don't want to be inside, but I shouldn't go outside. I want to run. However it's dark, and it's scary, and the outside world is filled with creeperswaiting to attack an innocent lonely female. So I stay inside. Sure, the gym may be open, although it's doubtful that a 10' x 10' room will give me the sense of freedom I am craving. So I continue to complain.Let's revisit the loveliness of this weekend.
Day one: waking up at 6:30am to get ready and leave for the bus on time (actually, not so lovely). Roommate and I somehow catch the bus exactly on time and consequently have the easiest travel experience of our lives. Swiss airlines is currently my favorite airline OF ALL TIME. They give you so much food, and its free. Also, it tastes good. Complimentary chocolate:
(NO Swiss, thank you.) These flights alone have made me incredibly excited to see Switzerland.
We arrive at Prague airport and make our way to the city center. It's somewhat intimidating at first...the streets are lined with Soviet-esque concrete and barbed wire fences. However, Prague eventually turns on the charm. Cobblestone streets, winding roads, and relatively cheap prices make me smile.
After finding the hostel with some difficulty, and getting into the correct room (damn you, language barrier), roommate and I wander along the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle. We're mostly amazed at how clean the city smells, and how we were not being harassed by...anyone. What a concept.
We eventually met up with the boys for dinner. Beer was cheaper than water, so naturally I chose the more economically beneficial route that night...It was a nice to sit at a restaurant, have a conversation, and eat REALLY good food, for a change. Also, side note, by the way, our measly group of four (three chose to make their own food) was given it's own room downstairs in the restaurant, in a vaulted space by the brewery. Absolutely Amazing.
Next day: a bit busier. Woke up at 8:45 ( much more civilized) and had
a delicious buffet breakfast at the hostel--which for only 8 euro a night, was incredibly nice. Our group had its own room, each our own twin bed, a fully stocked kitchen, with a dishwasher, and a shower that ALWAYS HAD HOT WATER. This place is friggen better than the dorm here in Barca. (C'mon resa, get your act together). After eating, we saw the bridge again, John Lennon Wall, a 7-layer Jewish cemetary...which was actually closed, so we peered through the back gate to get a look, the beer gardens, astronomical clock, a tall tower with babies on it (can't remember the name), and a clock building that I guess is a church? Lots and Lots of walking.
After seeing all that, Patty and I broke off from the group because apparently boys don't like to waste time eating when they have an entire new city to see. Except for Spencer. He had our back. Anyhoo, we found a cafe, ate goulash soup with hot chocolate, and then went back to the hostel for a nap. Favorite pastime, remember? Sleep is my lover. If only it were a man.
After sleeping, roommate, Nick, and I went to see the "Prague Royal Orchestra" play J. Pachelbel's Canon in D, W.A. Mozart's Divertimento D Dur, KV 136, and Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons. There was one prima ballerina of a violinist who was absolutely phenomenal, and made me fall in love with the Four Seasons. New found respect for classical music, on my part.
After that, just food and a little bit of souvenir shopping. If you're lucky and/or are nice to me and/or ask, I may send you a postcard.
That was the end of yesterday. Today wasn't entirely interesting and not very blog-post-worthy, so I'll spare you. Plane rides and studio diagramming aren't very fun to read about by themselves.
And that leaves me where I am right now. A plethora of past stresses, plus new stresses of schoolwork (sort of...it's all relative), and the general want to NOT be in a smelly, woman-harassing city, have put me in the whirlpool of self-pity.
But oh wellz, right? I have many trips out of the city to look forward to. Maybe I'll get into running more, as well. Exercise usually helps me deal with life. Yay for endorphins ;)
Also, I bought SO MUCH CHOCOLATE at the Geneva airport. Yes, contradictory to what I just wrote, plus I may be jumping the gun with the Switzerland souvenirs, but it's so tasty I might just eat myself into oblivion. If you're looking for me, I'm underneath the pile of aluminum wrappers.
<3
PS: look at us having so much FUN!
