It was a long travel, but I made it, people.
I'd like to give an unqualified and total endorsement to Swiss Air, which wasn't merely comfortable, but was actually decorous and tasteful, too. I had an empty row of seats, so I slept for a few hours, and also scared the shit out of myself by watching The Manchurian Candidate, and followed it up with Dodgeball to take the edge off the political terror. The election has me feeling a bit vulnerable, people. If Chimpy wins, I'm telling everyone I'm from Canada.
The Swiss countryside, as seen from the airplane, was all neat fields, interspersed with tidy little towns and woods full of birches just going from green to gold and red. The airport in Zurich was was impressively spotless, modern and stylish. I took pictures, but you'll all have to see them later, because I have yet to solve the puzzle of proper internet access.
Prague is beautiful and old. There are narrow, winding cobbled streets, which is my absolute favorite. (Rian, I can so picture you here, with your worn jeans and those brown shoes. I think you should say "damn the torpedoes!" and get straight on the plane!) At this moment, I am in a little expat heaven just off the old town square called Bohemia Bagel, that has a largely English-speaking clientele and will host a Halloween Party for kids on Sunday. My apartment is in Prague 4 - otherwise known as the suburbs - and it's very Soviet Bloc. I like it, because all the people in the neighborhood are grimly eastern European, which, I know sounds more like something NOT to like, but, go figure. The bus from my apartment to the school is quick, and populated by stout elderly women in coats and hats, and lets out in front of a bewilderingly huge supermarket, where determining what exactly resides in the containers of food and household supplies utterly stumped me. I decided to tackle it later.
I've just got a day before my course starts, and I'm told to expect an avalanche of work.
Who is this, again? Does anyone remember who this 'Crazy Jane' person is? Didn't she used to live up by Steve?
Posted by: rcjohnso | 30 říjen 2004 at 06:04 odp.
Oh, I keeeed. Welcome to town, Janeski - I remember the Bohemian Bagel! Your next mission (besides finding yourself a Canadian flag, ya silly liberal breast beater) is to track down a largely expat coffee house / bookshop which I think was called 'the globe'... which is comfy and warm and might hold the key to your internet quandry as well.
Posted by: rcjohnso | 30 říjen 2004 at 06:12 odp.
Happy landings! I haven't been to Prague since it became an expat destination, but too much expatry always gets up my nose. Huzzah for the Soviet Bloc flat in the suburbs (and lotsa work to keep you entertained).
Posted by: meg | 30 říjen 2004 at 08:09 odp.
Jane! You Bitch! I love the former Soviet Bloc, as a word. How brilliant is the word "Bloc". Isn't there a band called Eastern Bloc?
Posted by: Matt Ambrose | 31 říjen 2004 at 01:29 dop.
It would be impossible to overestimate two things. First, Prague is LUDICROUSLY BEAUTIFUL. I am speechless. Second, MY DOGS SURE ARE BARKING.
Is everyone aware the the castle in this town is splendid? Yeah. It really is.
Posted by: Jane Herself | 31 říjen 2004 at 02:28 odp.
CJ, I watched OLN's show announcing the 2005 TdF in your honor this morning. (It was on yesterday, but TiVo is my bitch.) It was a little early -- and last night was a little late, if you know what I mean -- to toast you with a bottle of Pilsner Urquell, and besides I don't normally keep PU in the house.
Posted by: meg | 31 říjen 2004 at 07:27 odp.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, CJ!
(Do they celebrate Halloween in Prague?)
Posted by: Tara H. | 01 listopad 2004 at 12:39 dop.
Sounds like Prague rocks, so jealous. But CJ, you're going to have to learn a few phrases in a foreign language to pass yourself off as Canadian. Repeat after me:
-Socialized medicine works,eh?
-Gun control is good, eh?
-No, we won't go to war with you, eh?
-Don Cherry for Prime Minister, eh!? (hockey reference)
-Gimme a high-test,eh? (beer reference)
Bonus points for throwing extra u's into things like honour and double bonus points for using French inappropriatly. Oui, eh?
Posted by: Coelecanth | 01 listopad 2004 at 10:17 odp.