"I Hope I Get Picked Tomorrow!"

I was 20 minutes late meeting André in Prague. (I forgot the frustration and confusion that come along with trying to decode a new city's public transportation system, particularly if you don't speak the language!) Despite my tardiness, André met me with a hug and edelweiß smile! He looked the same, he sounded the same, he acted the same. It was perfect.

Occasionally, if I am lucky, I make a friend where time is arbitrary. We could be apart for 4 days, 7 weeks or 3 years, and within moments, it feels like we were together the day before. For me, that is how it was with André. I didn't feel any awkward lulls in our conversation, the type where someone always says, "SOOoooooo..." as they nod their head and look off in the distance. It was just, André.

We started our weekend off by finding a corner cafe for some brunch. I found myself a bit giddy and socially absurd. I blame the past month on my loss of social skills. I have noticed when I am excited or nervous my eyes water really easily, which is a hindrance for my eyeshadow and I. However, we had a terrific, laugh-filled (watery-eyed) brunch, where my order was incorrect and we were forced to split our sandwichs.

After this, we set off walking through the city. First, towards the Charles Bridge, and across it to the Hradcany or Castle District. We found a nice overlook of the city and I admired all it's terracota-colored roofs and spires that climbed toward the sky. We continued our aimless journey throughout the streets of Prague for many hours. Finally, we decided we must find The Golden Sickle, which was the hostel we had found online.

A few minor navigating problems couldn't thwart us from reaching the Golden Sickle, and 300 koruni later (each), we had ourselves a bed for the evening in their dorm-style rooms. All the bottom-bunks had been claimed. I was a bit disgruntled, but what are you going to do? I chose one, which ended up being above some seemingly kind, 40-something year old man. André was on the top-bunk across from me. I secretly dreamt of constructing a crude telephone system that would consist of two cans and a string, and could be strung across to both of our beds. This way if we had the urge in the middle of the night to have "girl talk" or pass secret codes, we could without disturbing our felow hostelers. Plus, it would be really cool.

The bad thing about our hostel was the layout of the rooms. They had basically made a flat into a hostel. The problem is there was no hallway to speak of, thus having to enter Room A to get to Room B, and go through Room B to get to Room C. We were in Room B, and so at 3:30 people were arriving to our room, and at 6:00 am-something drunk girls were trying to unlock Room C. Perhaps it is needless to say that it wasn't the best night's sleep. I must say that the staff and fellow hostelers were very friendly, though!

Also, every time I stay in a hostel, when the lights are out, and I am lying in bed trying to fall asleep, the same thought enters my mind. "I hope I get picked tomorrow!" I'm not sure if it's the fact that I am sleeping in bunkbeds in a room with 5 strangers, or the atmosphere of a hostels--being foreign, uncomfortable, and make you long for home, or perhaps, I watched "Madeline" or "Annie" too many times as a child. Somehow, when I stare up at the ceiling in a dark hostel room with a metal-frame bunk in my peripheral, I can't help but feel I am in an orphanage. I guess it is a silly and bizarre notion, but I always seem to think it. Minus this one night in Girona, Spain this summer where I was in a room of 12 with only a 50-something French couple. As if 50-year-olds staying in a youth hostel isn't odd enough, they decided to grind up some uncomfortable and sprinkle it over awkwardness by sleeping beside me, together in the same bed and whisper French haikus to one another all night.

Anyhow, back to Prague... after getting our hostel, we checked out some entertainment options for the evening on the free internet and '97 IBMS, they had at the hostel. Then, we ate a nice (over-priced) meal at a Mexican place... nowhere near as good as Camino Real or La Caretta >tear< but the Czexican comida was nice! Then, we set-off for a bar known as Matrix in hopes of listening to live indie-rock bands. This never came to happen because we couldn't find it, and ended up in a very non-posh part of Prague. We took a bus back into the city center, and spent the rest of the evening searching for a pub or bar to hang out in... we never found one of those either. Although, André and I did "nothing" that night, it was okay by me.

The following day we walked some more, and cafe/restaurant hopped until 17:30 and we said our goodbyes and parted. I had some serious difficulties finding the bus back to Ceske Budejovice and nearly had a panic attack trying to figure it out. When I made it to Ceske Budejovice, Joséf called and said his car had broken down on the way to pick me up, and he had arranged for a taxi. So, one 25-dollar taxi ride and I was back in Hluboka.

Basically, it was a great weekend spent with an amazing friend in a fantastic city! I am very appreciative for friends like André, even if he is German ;-) hehehe.