Ahoj from Prague
YOuuuhoouu .. so here I am almost home and yes, what a looser writing a blog entry
from this beautiful city! ... Well, I kinda have time for another few minutes, so I thought to put down all these feelings and emotions that I have before they become part of a grey memory.
I LOVE PRAGUE! .. I've always loved this city, but every time I come back I seem to notice new restaurants, buildings and just get new vibes about being here.
On the other hand, there are things that have not changed since the Communist era, things that remind of my childhood and bring back memories of living in Czechoslovakia! SOme people are able to recognize a country by its smell, I have an ability to detect a former Communist country by the quality of its TOILET PAPER! The Teepee here is like a piece of the freshly printed New York Times or the sand paper used to clean school desks surfaces from random quotes such as "I love you Mary: or "Ms. SMith is a B-i-t-c-h" ... My butt is slowly getting accustomed to it, but still ... Prague has now Nike stores, and massage parlors and casinos, and big cars, and expensive jewellry stores and drugs and rock and roll, so what happened with TP???? Why is this market so behind? Are Czechs just not that sensitive about their behind? There is a market growth opportunity for someone out there with money! Invest in TP!
WHile most people are really pleasant and nice I am terrified of the old ladies at small kiosks and deli's ... As a tourist, I go to the ATM, take out some money (no choice in what denomination you get it) and try to buy a travel ticket. After standing on line (which I don't mind) I make my way to the grumpy old lady who looks at my hand squeezing my 2000 Czeh Crowns bill and tells me virtually to get lost "And where should I get all that change from? YOu should have exact change if you want to buy stuff at this storeIhateTouristsTheyareallthesameGoTothe
ATMtakeout moneyandexpectmeToHavetheRightchange.... blblablablablabla" ...
I feel so guilty! I am part of this ladie's misery and making her life just harder than what it already is on her 8000 Crowns a month wage ... I am just about to apologize with my head down, embarrased .... when the American in me awakens and I tell her that "I am a consumer" and she should be glad I shop here and it'snotmyproblemthat
shedoesnothavechangeandyoubettergivemethosedarnticket
sandsomechange! Now we're both pissed, but I win ... (hehe) she tossed the tickets on the counter, hands me my change that I carefully re-count and wish her a wonderful day, just as good as she's been having so far!
The situation repeats ... again and again .. this time I am buying water, more tickets and a paper ...
Traveling in a crammed tram/subway is an experience ... I've already mentioned "knowing a country by its smell" ... the smell .. .ooooouuuu aaaaaa ... I was almost going to understand not having change, and having to wipe my butt with rough paper, but was not prepared for the smell .. yuck! There are deodorants abound in all drug stores, so why have many not discovered them yet???
Anyway ... I have to run ... will check back later ... I love Prague! xoxox
from this beautiful city! ... Well, I kinda have time for another few minutes, so I thought to put down all these feelings and emotions that I have before they become part of a grey memory.
I LOVE PRAGUE! .. I've always loved this city, but every time I come back I seem to notice new restaurants, buildings and just get new vibes about being here.
On the other hand, there are things that have not changed since the Communist era, things that remind of my childhood and bring back memories of living in Czechoslovakia! SOme people are able to recognize a country by its smell, I have an ability to detect a former Communist country by the quality of its TOILET PAPER! The Teepee here is like a piece of the freshly printed New York Times or the sand paper used to clean school desks surfaces from random quotes such as "I love you Mary: or "Ms. SMith is a B-i-t-c-h" ... My butt is slowly getting accustomed to it, but still ... Prague has now Nike stores, and massage parlors and casinos, and big cars, and expensive jewellry stores and drugs and rock and roll, so what happened with TP???? Why is this market so behind? Are Czechs just not that sensitive about their behind? There is a market growth opportunity for someone out there with money! Invest in TP!
WHile most people are really pleasant and nice I am terrified of the old ladies at small kiosks and deli's ... As a tourist, I go to the ATM, take out some money (no choice in what denomination you get it) and try to buy a travel ticket. After standing on line (which I don't mind) I make my way to the grumpy old lady who looks at my hand squeezing my 2000 Czeh Crowns bill and tells me virtually to get lost "And where should I get all that change from? YOu should have exact change if you want to buy stuff at this storeIhateTouristsTheyareallthesameGoTothe
ATMtakeout moneyandexpectmeToHavetheRightchange.... blblablablablabla" ...
I feel so guilty! I am part of this ladie's misery and making her life just harder than what it already is on her 8000 Crowns a month wage ... I am just about to apologize with my head down, embarrased .... when the American in me awakens and I tell her that "I am a consumer" and she should be glad I shop here and it'snotmyproblemthat
shedoesnothavechangeandyoubettergivemethosedarnticket
sandsomechange! Now we're both pissed, but I win ... (hehe) she tossed the tickets on the counter, hands me my change that I carefully re-count and wish her a wonderful day, just as good as she's been having so far!
The situation repeats ... again and again .. this time I am buying water, more tickets and a paper ...
Traveling in a crammed tram/subway is an experience ... I've already mentioned "knowing a country by its smell" ... the smell .. .ooooouuuu aaaaaa ... I was almost going to understand not having change, and having to wipe my butt with rough paper, but was not prepared for the smell .. yuck! There are deodorants abound in all drug stores, so why have many not discovered them yet???
Anyway ... I have to run ... will check back later ... I love Prague! xoxox
posted by Elvi @ 5:17 AM
6 Comments:
At June 23, 2006,
Anonymous said…
baby, have you forgotten all those public places here in US, with the ultra-thin TP, which you cannot get off the roll because it rips right under your fingers...?
Say "hallo" to Prague... miss you already!
Have fun, Martina
At June 25, 2006,
Elvi said…
You are right Martina .. I hate that too .. I guess I am over sensitive about my butt .. hihi ...
I will be back on Tuesday, will call you,
LV
At June 25, 2006,
Anonymous said…
lol.. I have to admit that I need royal treatment for my heini. None of those sandpaper toilet paper you so often find while travelling. The best solution is to walk into a five star hotel with supreme confidence and go right into the toilet and use it like you own it. Works well in most countries.
At June 25, 2006,
Anonymous said…
Hey Elvi
I hope you are having a good time! I can't wait to get together! Let me know which weekend is best for you!
--Erin
At August 30, 2007,
Anonymous said…
I recently visited the City of Prague, also known as “the golden city of spires” on Vltava River. I found Prague very attractive, and the thousand-year history was visible particularly in the architecture. The touristy Old Town, the Prague Castle, the Little Quarter and the Jewish Town made a deep impression on me with beautiful medieval, gothic- and baroque-style churches and renaissance residential buildings, museums, cafes and theaters. One could wander through the meandering streets of Prague for days in a row and continuously discover hidden alleyways and unique views.
At August 05, 2009,
lodging in prague said…
I found your blog really interesting so I take a look and can't help myself to read it and enjoyed reading it...Good posting..
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