Helen in Prague

i'm sorry!

2011-05-23T22:28:00.003-04:00

Dear blog friends! I'm sorry I completely neglected to finish up the Best of Prague series. I got sucked into junior year of college, then senior year, and then graduation -- and now being a real working adult. Ahh!

A few of my friends have referenced this blog for tips, and I definitely hope that it helped you in some way. If you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to email me (helenofzuo@gmail.com). I'm happy to blab on and on about my stay in Prague, and am excited for your future trips to the beautiful city!

In the meantime, feel free to catch me at my lifestyle blog, Helen Hearts.

xoxo,

Helen

Best of Prague, Part 2: Food & Drink!

2010-01-03T21:30:00.026-05:00

With the Czech Republic's currency still on the krona (or crown), it is so cheap and sweet to eat out in Prague! 17 crowns to 1 US dollar was a great exchange rate for this poor student. Eating in Prague was such a huge pleasure and indulgence because, yes, beer is cheaper than water and also comfort food (pork stew, dumplings, hearty soups) happen to be everyday food.

FOOD you need to eat!

Goulash & Bread/Potato Dumplings. This is a traditional Czech dish, and is very savory, heavy, and delicious!
Smažený sýr or fried cheese. Don't forget the tartar sauce! I loved munching on a fried cheese sandwich from a street vendor after a night out ... tastes so good!
Fruit dumplings. This is a dessert you'll either love or hate.
Czech pancakes. Which are basically American crepes. Actually, maybe even better than American crepes!

Some very, very special DRINKS:

Pilsner Urquel -- the Czechs' favorite beer, brewed in Plzen, Czech Republic
Staropramen -- my favorite Czech beer, so light and tasty
A Radler -- a mix of beer and lemonade/sprite. I always order this. Always.
Becherovka -- A cinnamon-tasting liquor only manufactured in the Czech Republic, barely exported in the US. This one you'll either love or hate as well.

Knockout Restaurants/Cafes I'd recommend:

For Brunch/Lunch:

Cafe Zanzibar -- This was my favorite brunch place, with affordable prices and huge, delicious portions. I went here almost every week! I loved their avocado & chicken salad, grilled feta cheese & toast, and all of their egg combinations
Radoste -- Club/bar at night, amazing vegetarian brunch cafe on weekends. You must try their waffles and wraps
Bohemia Bagel -- the Westerner's hangout with Western-style food; comforting if you're in Prague for long and want a taste of home. Dig into their American cheesecakes, homemade soups, and yummy burgers
Au Groumand -- Cute cafe with lots of decadent desserts and gelato

Cafe Cafe -- Known more for its incredible Meatpacking District vibe (think fashion and glamour), skip the entree here but get lots of desserts, like chocolate cake. Mmm.
Country Life -- This one's for you vegans out there! Both a restaurant and a store, this place is the ultimate vegan buffet in Prague

For Dinner:

Las Adelitas -- Best Mexican food in Prague, hands down. Best service too (which is hard to find in Prague, unfortunately). Order anything, you can't go wrong. I recommend their mojitos and passion fruit margaritas too. They were so unbelievably tasty.
Prague Lokal -- Only 2 months old, this restaurant offers the best traditional Czech food you could ever find. (And I've eaten a lot to compare!) One of my Czech professors told me about it (and he lives in Prague), and he even said it was the best Czech food he'd ever tasted!
Pivovarsky Dum -- A tourist favorite. This place is named after beer ("pivo") because it has an incredibly large flavored beer selection (my favorite was banana) and some of its courses are even made with beer as an ingredient! Neato.

Me at Las Adelitas for Mexican Monday (my long-time tradition)!

There are plenty other restaurants in Old Town Square to choose from, but these ones happened to stick to me -- I had such great memories wining and dining in each! Please let me know if you have any specific questions about anything. Feel free to email or voice your question in a comment below!

Keep a look out! More "BEST of Prague" yet to come...

Part 3: Day trips (for those on extended stay)!
Part 4: Night life (Bars, Clubs, you name it.)
Part 5: Czech specialties + souvenirs

black and white cookie

2010-01-02T02:12:00.003-05:00

Opposites attract in Budapest. Oh, the fun times we had. I miss Budapest.

Best of Prague, Part 1: Attractions

2009-12-30T16:55:00.045-05:00

As promised, here's the first part of my little guide to my little city. I hope it gets your hearts racing to Prague if you've never visited and helps recall sweet memories if you have. (It's been less than two weeks, and I miss it already!)

Top Ten Favorite Local Attractions:

Old Town Square

From wherever you're staying, take the metro to Staroměstská, which means "Old Town" in Czech. Congrats, you've reached the heart of Prague! Go ahead and explore the square. Pick up a hot dog and hot wine (in winter), and take pictures of the Astronomical Clock, Minute House (where Franz Kafka once lived), Jan Hus monument, and Tyn Church. Wander through a portal off the square and get a little lost. Visit the fruit markets and souvenir shops. All roads lead back to Old Town, so fear not, my friends! Check out this 360 degree view of Old Town and get pumped.

Prague Castle

You can't visit Prague and not see this gorgeous landmark! In good weather, hike up the hill (and enjoy the many interesting shops along the way) or take the tram to Pražský hrad. If you visit the Castle during the day, you can enter the St. Vitus Cathedral (and for free too)! It was modeled after the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and is absolutely breathtaking inside. While you're up at the Castle, make sure you visit the the Wallenstein Gardens only a few steps away. This royal garden hosts live peacocks in the summer and boasts beautiful fountains, an aviary, and an impressive limestone wall. (See my photos of the Wallenstein Gardens and St. Vitus Cathedral!)

Old Jewish Cemetery

Close to Old Town Square, you can easily walk to this massive cemetery that contains 12 levels of graves, where 100,000+ Prague Jews have rested for centuries. It's an incredible sight and piece of history, even if you're not Jewish!

Vysehrad Castle

This one's for all the history buffs. Bohemia's earliest royals lived in Vysehrad in the 14th century, and while the Castle is not the most impressive of castles, the nearby Vysehrad cemetery (where all the most famous Czechs are laid to rest) is definitely a top 10 sight to see. (Scroll down for my pictures.)

The Dancing Building

Take the metro to Karlovo Namesti, and you will easily find this new building, completed in 1996. The Dancing Building is so fascinating, because it is probably the most modern piece of architecture in Prague! Czech civilians actually dislike it, because it's so out of place; still, I think it's a cool thing to see, and in a beautiful part of Prague's New Town. (Check out my Dancing Building pictures.) After you've taken your fill of photos, look for the Vltava River to your right and walk over to a bridge to admire the view. If it's a nice day, make a 180 and walk away from the building, following the river on your left and taking in all the pretty buildings on your right. Keep walking along the river. You'll love it, I promise. And you'll most likely run into the...

Charles Bridge

This bridge connects Old Town to New Town, and it is extremely busy, filled with tourists and street vendors. Right now the Karlov Must (Czech for Charles Bridge... duh!) is undergoing some (not so pretty) construction, but you can definitely still walk across. I'd recommend early in the morning or late at night, so you don't get pushed around by the crowds!

The Lennon Wall

For Beatles fans, this is a must. Regardless, this homage to John Lennon is a sight for the eyes. Oh, and while you're there, just a few steps away is a teeny Love Lock bridge. You'll love it if you're a sentimental romantic like me. Never heard of one before? You have now.

Zizkov TV Tower

Okay, fine, I didn't actually go up to the top. (Why does every city have one of these things anyway? Berlin, Paris, New York... it's like a global "mine's bigger than yours" mentality.) But the David Cerny "crawling baby" statues on the tower are pretty rad. Creepy, yes. But cool. I liked them.

Wenceslas Square

The Times Square of Prague? Something like that. If you want to get your shopping on, walk down this lively boulevard from the Mustek metro station all the way to the end, where the National Museum stands. Gawk at the gorgeous buildings that are now owned by the likes of McDonald's or Zara. Then get a fried cheese sandwich at a food stand. Just tell 'em, "Smažený sýr, prosim!" ("Fried cheese, please!") And don't forget the tartar sauce. Continue walking toward the...

Museums

Okay, new Prague wanderers. Prepare yourself for the city of art and architecture. If you're already in Wenceslas Square, go ahead to the National Museum at the end of the boulevard. (Or take the metro to Muzeum if you're short on time.) Climb up the steps and take in the full, glorious view of Wenceslas Square. Do a victory dance, Rocky-style. Then... visit some more galleries! Other great museums include the Cubist museum (free on Wednesdays!), the Franz Kafka museum, and cool galleries like the Salvador Dali exhibition and the Alphonse Mucha exhibition.

Keep a look out! More "BEST of Prague" yet to come...

Part 2: Food, Drink and Restaurant recommendations
Part 3: Day trips (for those on extended stay)!
Part 4: Night life (Bars, Clubs, you name it.)
Part 5: Czech specialties + souvenirs

back home + postcards

2009-12-19T13:46:00.008-05:00

After lots of sleep and Chinese food and reading some of the Glamour and Lucky magazines I'd missed at home... I'm finally unpacking. Which means distributing the presents to my family! (So happy to find them in good shape.) My little sister already hung up all the postcards I'd collected for her from each city. She's so much like me in that way :)

... Okay, back to unpacking! Phew!

home tomorrow

2009-12-17T16:51:00.005-05:00

I'm really in shock. How is it possible that I'll be back home tomorrow? That I have a flight to catch in 10 hours????? Tonight, I emailed my last final paper, had my last dinner at Zanzibar with friends, drank my last Czech beer, said goodbye to my friends from other schools...

I remember when living here felt so hard and even this charming little city couldn't rid me of my homesickness. And yes, I'm excited to see my family, my own comfy bed, the rest of my wardrobe... but I just can't imagine how my life would have turned out without Prague, without being in the city where I've learned to love new people, new cultural experiences, and even the many indescribable little ways that I've changed.

In a few days, I'm going to make an extensive list of my favorite Prague memories, in addition to my recommendations on Prague to-do's. I think once it sinks in that I'm actually back in the States (i.e. maybe in two weeks!), I'll be able to calmly write about this experience like a mature adult, rather than the emotional-and-procrastinating-on-packing girl that I am at the moment.

2 more days... and snow!

2009-12-16T08:23:00.007-05:00

View from outside my window

It's been so, so cold for the past week. Literally 20 degrees (Fahrenheit!). And I'm inside eating mushroom soup with the heat cranked all the way up. So toasty :)

But I'm stuck with papers and lots of work, ugh. I need to get everything done by 6:30pm because Isabel, Anna, and I are going to the ballet! Swan Lake, here we come! It's actually nice that we have snow to enjoy (from inside) right now... it's like a wintry preview of the performance. Snowflakes are like little ballerinas themselves, gliding through the air and landing oh-so gracefully. Don't ya think?

----
Update! Here's my post on Swan Lake + pretty pictures!

3 more days

2009-12-14T19:33:00.008-05:00

The sun sets so early now in Prague. Pitch dark by 4pm...

I have two papers and one final to go. But I have a Swan Lake performance (I love ballet!) to watch and a good-bye party to enjoy before I leave. I can't believe that by Friday, I'll be back home in the 'burbs of Philadelphia, eating Chinese food and resting in my own bed. It might even feel like these three months never existed, all the emotional and physical challenges and growths. The best thing about home is that nothing ever changes, but I certainly have, I think. Just a little bit.

6 more days

2009-12-12T13:05:00.015-05:00

Six more days in Prague (and my emotions are all over the place). So I thought it fitting to jot down six random events in my life from the past week:

Went to McDonald's (for first time in Prague!) and got a gigantic burger with jalapeno peppers. It was divine.
Yesterday, I celebrated my first Hanukkah and helped make latkes! My hands smelled like potatoes the rest of the night. I had so much food, I wanted to undo a pant button. (But I was wearing long underwear, so no buttons to unbutton!)
Visited my special Mexican place for the 52131th time! Mexican Mondays have become Mexican+Mojitos+Margaritas+Adorable Waiters Monday-Wednesdays-and-sometimes-Sundays.
Went to an NYU Photo Expo and admired the artistic works of my dear friends. Found out my friend Will had modeled in some photos completely naked, but for a tube sock. I almost died cracking up.
Went out dancing with the girls. LOVE clubs in Europe, because it's not considered snobby if you don't want to dance with any greasy men (who unfortunately love to sneak up on you from behind) and jam out solo.
Friends and I bought tickets to Swan Lake for this Wednesday, and I am SO. EXCITED. (!!!)

Okay, I better continue with writing my papers/studying for finals. Isabel just walked in on me crying from this especially touching blog post. It's just the PMS, I swearrrr!

gifts for dad

2009-12-11T12:33:00.011-05:00

It's usually really hard for me to find gifts for my Dad. I think all guys get really sick of receiving clothes and watches and whatnot after awhile. (Whereas for girls, it's the complete opposite!) So I'm being creative this year and giving him an assortment of fun things, including a literal "taste of Prague." I bought him a bottle of Pilsner Urquel and Staropramen, the two best beers in the Czech Republic, and Beckerovka, the most delicious Czech liquor. Of course, I had to get one of those manly beer goblets too.

Do you think he'll like them?

9 more days!

2009-12-09T19:50:00.011-05:00

I cannot believe I'm leaving for the States in nine days! It's just been such a whirlwind! I'm excited to come home for Christmas, but leaving Prague is a lot like leaving the adorable abandoned puppy you took home with you, even though it chews up all of your shoes and poops all over the floor. (Okay, bad analogy, but you get my point.)

I'll admit I've experienced lots of ups and an equal amount of downs here -- it's always tough to live in a new city, especially on a different continent. (Really, Central Europe and the US are so incredibly different.) I think I've finally truly realized how I've taken a lot of things in my life in the States for granted, like smiles from strangers (Czechs are very reserved) and an American sense of social justice. I guess it's true that traveling makes you appreciate your home that much more.

But the more I explore Prague, the more beautiful it looks to me. I'm still in love with its architecture, delicious pastries, and incredible history. I even got used to wearing high heels on the cobblestone! (Remember my booties?) I know that when I leave, I'll take a life's worth of memories with me... and I can't wait to share with you all soon. :)

Italian vacation!

2009-12-09T19:28:00.003-05:00

I completely forgot to link over my post on my week in Italy on my inspiration blog, Helen Hearts! Well, here you go, my friends. Click away! And check out my Italy photos on flickr, if you like.

french skirt!

2009-12-03T13:07:00.004-05:00

Oh, this vintage red satin skirt with flapper-esque fringe? I picked it up in Paris for 1 euro! Excited that I finally wore it out this weekend. :)

Fall Break Cont'd: London

2009-11-28T10:23:00.006-05:00

My last day of Fall Break, I visited my best friend Anuja. It was like going back home. I was exhausted and just wanted to nap and talk and drink cappuccinos. No more backpacking and touring around for me. It was Halloween, but we had Indian food for lunch and were sooo full (Indian food always does that to me!), we opted out of going to her boyfriend's Halloween party (isn't she the best friend ever?) and stayed inside and caught up on each other's lives. That's what a real vacation's about. Don't you think? Being completely relaxed.

View from Anuja's apartment in King's Cross

This architecture is very British to me!

Fall Break Cont'd: PARIS

2009-11-24T13:42:00.010-05:00

Oh my goodness, don't even get me started about how much Paris absolutely dazzled me. It reminded me of when I first visited New York. Something just clicked. The energies of these cities are so similar and familiar, I felt right at home. While I love Prague, it isn't really a true metropolitan-- you know what I mean? Perhaps not, but you'll see when you visit. :) I guess I'm really a big city gal after all...

My two days in Paris were an absolute whirlwind. My friend Kate dragged me off to all the touristy places that I would usually never go to. (Good thing, because I could sit in a cafe for hours on end!) We walked across the bridges over the Seine River to visit the Louvre, the Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, took a stroll down the Champs-Élysées, and ohh and ahhed at the Eiffel Tower light show at night.

And of course, I had to go off to some "me" things. We walked around the Pompidou, the most incredibly architecturally modern art museum (too bad we didn't have time to go inside), ate raspberry macaroons at La Duree, the most famous dessert shop in Paris, and then, Kate and I parted ways so I could do some serious vintage shopping.

My friend Beverly, who is au pairing in Paris currently, wrote up the most incredibly helpful guide -- she knew exactly what I wanted! Yummy brunch places and SHOPPING! I scouted out the whole section of Marais, which is known for its gay and Jewish community... and vintage markets! All I had to do is follow some stylish girls and, lo-and-behold, I found a whole line of vintage/thrift stores for my viewing (and purchasing) pleasure.

My favorite shop is Free 'P' Star, which literally had girls packed to the walls because of its 1-euro scarves, fabulous vintage purses, and billions of dresses and jackets thrown around all over the place. It was truly like a grandmother's attic and treasure chest. Thank goodness I love "the hunt" in thrift shopping, because boy was it claustrophobic in there! A downside though is the total lack of dressing rooms. I mean, there is barely enough room to pull something on! I bought a skirt that is a bit too small and a cardigan that is too big in the shoulders, but c'est la vie, I still love them! And I absolutely adore my three scarves -- I had to really discipline myself not to purchase more. (My scarf collection is outrageous already.)

As always see my flickr here for more Paris pictures. Wish I could've stayed longer than 2 days! :(

PS: Free 'P' Star's business cards are so risque. Ooh la la!

a Mediterranean view

2009-11-23T19:25:00.006-05:00

Just a clip from Marseille, after laying by the rocks, before drinking cheap 2-euro wine (that tasted kind of disgusting!). We had a goofy day. (Check out Kate's pose at the end, ha!)

Fall Break Cont'd: Southern France! Marseille, Antibe, and Nice

2009-11-19T13:30:00.013-05:00

After Barcelona, my two friends and I took the bus to Southern France, just because we thought it'd be fun to take the unbeaten path for once. I mean, who goes to Marseille? Well, when we got there, we realized... apparently nobody. We were the only tourists in what felt like the entire city! Isabel and Kate were a little wary, but I absolutely loved that we could just walk around and be spontaneous with where we were going! So we wandered the entire day, admiring the ports and architecture...

Unfortunately, our hostel was just awful and dirty. No hot water, not even real toilets! (Just bowls, you know, very old-school.) So we trekked off to Antibes the next morning, where Isabel had studied for few weeks in high school. We were only there for a few hours, unfortunately. But I remember the teeny streets, yummy food, and cool handmade souvenirs. I bought a colorful straw tote from a local weaver and ate tons of bruschetta.

Later in our second day in France, we arrived in Nice and stayed for the night at Villa St-Exupery, which looked like a precious little villa on the outside, but inside, it was an absolute party house. There were young American tourists everywhere, drinking beer and hanging out in the common space. I totally understood why the hostel was named "Europe's Best Hostel" -- it had all sorts of day trip offerings (Monaco, St. Tropez) and fun activities (water skiing, bungee jumping). I wish I could've stayed longer in Nice! It was just such a relaxing atmosphere and beautiful city... so warm even in October! I dipped in the Mediterranean and didn't feel too cold, instead, it was totally refreshing. I can definitely understand why people vacation in Southern France. I'd love to own a villa here one day! :)

thoughts on traveling

2009-11-16T17:40:00.003-05:00

Hello, my dears! I'm writing from Venice now, on the last night of my week-long trip to Italy. It's funny how fast time flies when you're on the road, touring one city after the next without break. My friend from Prague Kate and I visited Milan, Florence, and Rome before Venice, and I'm so happy I was able to spend some time in each one. They're all so unique and lovely!

But I'm really blessed to have had a nice week-long rest after my 10-day Fall Break because traveling can be so mind-numbing! I mean that in mostly a good way. There's so much to see and learn, so many different maps to read, transportation systems to understand, special places to visit, people to observe. I just love how educational my travels have been. And I'm glad I was ambitious in planning everything earlier in September, because if I had known how crazy the actual traveling part could be (especially traveling while being cost-conscious), would I have attempted to tear through 10 cities in 3.5 weeks? Probably not. But honestly, what other time in my life could be more perfect for backpacking and exploring than in college? I have no serious responsibilities or obligations, I'm healthy and young and eager -- it's just the perfect opportunity.

I have so much I want to share with you on what I've learned (about myself, balance, compromise, friendship, being a team player, etc), but I just realized I've been so bad about telling you all about the rest of my Fall Break in Southern France, Paris, and London! So I'll have some quick recaps of those up really soon, I promise. And some more random thoughts of this whole experience. And then, of course, you can expect to see tons more on Italy! I had such a fantastic time, I know I'll be back molto pronto. It's a little sad that this is the last of my travels in Europe before I come back home to the States on Dec. 18. Let's catch up when I'm back in Prague on Wednesday? xoxo, H.

Brunch at Zanzibar

2009-11-10T08:34:00.008-05:00

Five friends are visiting me in Prague this month, which means lots of eating out! I usually cook for myself because groceries are so inexpensive, but sometimes it's nice to just...indulge. My friend and I devoured our brunch yesterday at Zanzibar, my favorite restaurant in all of Prague. Look at how much we got just between the two of us! Brunch is my favorite meal, what's yours?

Fall Break Recap: Barcelona, Last DAY!

2009-11-07T10:27:00.023-05:00

Now, we actually weren't planning on staying an extra day... we should've been in Southern France already! But Isabel, Kate, and I still felt like there was so much adventuring and exploring to do in Barcelona. We hadn't really walked through our own little neighborhood in the Gothic Quarter, nor had we been to Park Guel, the only Gaudi work we hadn't seen. So we resolved to do just that!

Our last day, we took our time taking in the Roman ruins, checking out the souvenir shops, flea markets, and the general surroundings. The Gothic Quarter is everything that I could have hoped it would be. Clothes hanging out to dry from every window, plants (and palm trees!) everywhere, tons of little shops...

We ran into a tiny little Arabic pastry shop, and obviously couldn't resist trying! I got a walnut-y dessert and another treat with figs inside. Yum!

We also looked through plenty of flea markets. There were so many vintage treasures that I wanted to take home: old typewriters, elegant telephones, jewelry, photo frames, tea sets...

That evening, we hiked up to Park Guel, which is not so much a park as it is a beautiful series of rugged hills. We must've climbed about three of them -- the views were incredible. When we reached the tallest rock on the tallest hill, we were serenaded by a funky band, which I loved (and have a video of now!). Everybody looked so happy to be right where they were. Even when it started drizzling, we sat on the rock, looked down at the view, and listened.

View of Park Guel from one of the hills

We were on this rock, enjoying the music :)

Most enthusiastic entertainers ever!

The Gaudi Museum in Park Guel

It was getting late, and we had a bus to catch for France at midnight, so we went out to dinner for our last taste of tapas and sangria, shopped for a thank-you gift for Cande, and bid farewell to Barcelona. I was really sad to leave. Barcelona is so different from Prague -- it's much more energetic and upbeat (while Prague is historic and quiet). I loved practicing my (very rusty) Spanish and experiencing this city. Hopefully, I'll be back?

Last Barcelona tapas dinner

PS: You can find all of my pics from Barcelona HERE. Enjoy!

Fall Break Recap: Barcelona Day 3

2009-11-07T09:35:00.025-05:00

The next morning, we realized we were pretty behind on seeing some of the landmarks, so we planned a very ambitious day. We spent the morning in the Picasso Museum, which holds most of Picasso's earliest works. I really, really loved this museum, it was so cool to see a person's artistic transformation. Next, we checked out a bunch of Barcelona's most famous architecture, from the Arc de Triumph to the many creations by Antoni Gaudi (who seems to be synonymous to Barcelona pride): La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo.

Arc de Triumph

La Sagrada Familia

Casa Mila

Casa Batllo

We met up with some girls from our NYU in Prague program for dinner at Cervesaria Catalunya, Amy's favorite restaurant and definitely mine too in Barcelona. It was INCREDIBLE! We just kept ordering tapas left and right and consumed three pitchers of sangria con cava. Absolute deliciousness! The people around us were so amused, one guy even compared us to a pack of pups descending upon a bone! We ended up sooo full and tipsy after 20+ tapas and many drinks, it was the best night. Kaitlin was definitely right, eating tapas with a large group is so much fun! And we paid only about 10 euro per person! (Crazy, right?)

My exuberant friends at Cerversaria Catalunya

So happy after dinner!

Somehow, we wounded up back at Chupitos because the other girls hadn't been there yet. It wasn't as crowded as the last night because it was only around midnight, thank goodness! This time, we tried the "Harry Potter," a flaming shot. (There were lots of other options that were more scandalous, like the Monica Lewinsky where you lick whipped cream off of something very naughty.) Doesn't the picture look insane?! We were also really amused by bar's black light -- our eyeballs and teeth were glowing in the dark, and it was creepy to look at each other :)

From classy tapas to flaming shots!

Black light fun

After Chupitos, we bought some cheap white wine from a drug store and started heading over to our next bar destination, Bikini. The kindest elderly couple with a huge van asked us if we needed a ride (since we looked so lost), and in the state that we were in, we said yes! I know this could have been a terrible decision, but it ended up being one of my favorite stories to tell about Barcelona. All 7 of us piled up in their van (Kate was on my lap!) and gushed about how much we loved Barcelona ... and ten minutes later, we were in front of the bar. How incredibly sweet some strangers can be, right? We were very lucky to have met good people, because we were definitely not in the smartest state of mind. But as we were about to enter Bikini, Isabel and I were a little lame and gave in to our extreme exhaustion, so we metro'd it back and went to sleep. I blame my super low tolerance for alcohol, and the 10 hours of walking. Yeesh.

Fall Break Recap: Barcelona Day 2!

2009-11-07T08:54:00.016-05:00

If the weather on our first day in Barcelona was dreadful, on our second day, it was heavenly. Warm and breezy. With Kaitlin in Lisbon, Isabel moved into Cande's with us, so now there would be three of us on a full-sized futon! Around noon, the three of us hashed out the day's plans on Cande's table. We would try to check out all of Amy's recommended restaurants and special sites, starting with tapas lunch at Txapela. This time, we were a little wiser, and ordered a couple tapas per person to try. They were delicious, but since the tapas were literally bite-sized, I still wasn't full!

We decided to walk down La Rambla, Barcelona's most famous street. It was so lively and filled with entertainers, promoters, and street vendors... but we had to be careful too, because it's also one of the most common places to be pick-pocketed, and trust me, I never want that to happen again! We found St. Josep's Boqueria, a huge market that had every kind of food imaginable. I was in heaven! I bought a plate of exotic fruit, which sated my appetite completely.

When we reached the end of La Rambla, we found ourselves in Port Vell, a beautiful port with tons of boats and seafood restaurants. It was so relaxing just to sit by the dock and later the beach to take in the sun and scenery.

But my favorite part of Port Vell was the incredible restaurant we found -- it was truly a gem! I wish I had jotted down the name for you all. We feasted on a 3 course meal (in huge portions too) for only 12 euro! I had a huge plate of mussels for my first course, steak and fries for my second, chocolate mousse for dessert, and sangria. Best. meal. of. my. life! I'm not even sure how to categorize this meal -- we had already had lunch, but it was too early for dinner, which in Spain usually starts around 10pm. But when you find such a great place like this, no matter what time it is, you go!

Look at our mussels!

That night, we went to dinner again, because we met up with Isabel's friend Ali, who's studying abroad in Barcelona. Her friends were super nice, and gave us a bunch of suggestions on places to go out that night. All of the places matched Amy's recommendations, so we were doubly prepared. We headed out to Chupitos at around 1am, and had delicious "Finding Nemo" shots, where you have to fish out an M&M in whipped cream with your tongue while your hands are tied behind your back. (There are all sorts of other crazy shots which I'll tell you about later in my next post.) But it was sooo incredibly crowded in Chupitos, we were getting shoved left and right by the crowd. So we downed our shots and called it a night. They were yummy... tasted like dessert!

Fall Break Recap: Barcelona Day 1

2009-11-07T07:34:00.026-05:00

Hello dear readers! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to finally share with you my fall break experiences. I was so exhausted after those 10 days of traveling, I needed to rest my mind a bit before reliving all the adventures! Since we traveled mostly at night, I was pretty sleep-deprived throughout the trip, but I'm all caught up and ready to chat. :)

So first up on our fall break agenda was Barcelona! My three friends Kaitlin, Kate, and Isabel, and I arrived in Barcelona at 6am! (Our flight left at 4am, so it was a really crazy night at the airport.) Sleepy and hungry, we took the metro to Isabel and Kaitlin's hostel, dropped our bags off, and ran into the closest bakery for coffee and sweets. And this is where I learned that if you order a Cafe Solo, you'll end up with only a shot of espresso. Well, at least I got a caffeine jolt!

Cande's apartment

While Kaitlin and Isabel napped, Kate and I headed off to our host, Cande's apartment. We found her through Couchsurfing, an amazing worldwide network of travelers who kindly open their homes to fellow travelers. Cande's apartment was pretty neat because she owned the entire floor, so each door lead to a different part of her home. So we had complete privacy in her kitchen/dining room on a comfy futon, with our own bathroom and even our own set of keys to come in and out as we please! We napped for a few hours as it started to rain, took showers, and then met up with Kaitlin and Isabel at a tapas restaurant nearby in the Gothic Quarter (where we lived!).

Paella and the a view of rainy Barcelona

This was the first time I had ever eaten tapas, and I have to admit, I was incredibly ignorant. I wasn't even sure of what tapas were, so when I ordered paella and only got a few bites of it in the pot, I was a bit upset. But Kaitlin explained that people usually order a lot of tapas (since they're so small) and share with a large group -- so now I know how it's done! By the end of lunch, my stomach was filled mostly with sangria. We sat for a bit and waited for the rain to stop -- it was really monsooning! -- but far too impatient, we trekked out to check out some museums.

Actually, thinking back, our first day was pretty difficult. It was raining so much, even under our umbrellas everything waist-down got soaked. The walk uphill was long and windy, but there were a few escalators to relieve us of the many steps up. We wondered if it was safe to ride escalators in the rain... hmm. When we finally made it to the Joan Miro museum, our boots and socks were uncomfortably damp, but we took our time looking at Miro's very abstract art before drying off in the museum cafe.

Left: Kaitlin and Isabel telling the rain to "kiss my butt!"
Right: Yours truly analyzing one of Miro's work

We all desperately needed to change clothes (especially socks!), so we headed back to our respective places and got ready for dinner. Kaitlin was only staying in Barcelona for a day before heading off to Lisbon, so we had our special dinner with her at Mussel, one of the amazing places my friend Amy, who made a whole Barcelona guide for us, recommended. One cup of their sangria con cava (sangria with champagne!) was enough to get us super drunk, it was that strong! Kate and I walked back to Cande's (since the metro closed after midnight on Thursdays) in a daze. Thank goodness she is an expert map navigator, because I am the worst at directions, just the worst.

Kaitlin on the left, and Kate enjoying our sangria con cava!

Kate and I got back to Cande's and talked to her until 2am about travel, boys, all sorts of things that three girls can think of. Finally, we knocked out from exhaustion and didn't even bother setting our alarms for the next morning, which to me, is probably the greatest luxury. We were planning on taking a bus to Southern France in two nights, but since we hadn't bought tickets yet, we could take our time getting to know Barcelona. We could tell it was only the beginning of a beautiful friendship. :)

leaving for fall break...

2009-10-21T11:49:00.005-04:00

Wallenstein Garden

Tonight!!! Unfortunately, our plane departs at 4am tomorrow morning... but the Czech metro closes down at midnight. So, sleepover at the airport?

I'm sure Barcelona, Southern France, Paris, and London are gorgeous, but Prague was especially lovely this week. Be back in ten days, I'll be sure to take tons of photos! xoxo

BUDAPEST!

2009-10-19T19:22:00.016-04:00

Finally, I'm ready and armed with lots and lots of pictures! We literally walked around the whole city, crossing three of the four bridges -- so lots of different views of the city. It was the perfect way to "meet" Budapest. A picture-filled recap of my trip (or click for the whole experience here):

No surprise, Budapest is architecturally striking...

Along the way, I saw some of my favorite yellow buildings!

Budapest is also fully of silly statues!

And little nooks in castles!

But what kind of trip would this be without yummy desserts?

And lots of Eastern European food? (Read: Paprika spice and heavy sauces)

I had such an AMAZING time in Budapest. It's a beautiful city.

budapest! (in video)

2009-10-18T17:29:00.017-04:00

I'm such a terrible studier. I can't work for more than an hour or so before my mind drifts off to things like pictures, shoes, and traveling. And I can't believe I still haven't sifted through and picked out Budapest pictures to post yet! After my midterm tomorrow, they will be up soon!

But I do have for you some of my videos from Budapest! Such a gorgeous, beautiful city. Architecture, landscape, the Danube river -- everything was serene and quietly majestic.

Budapest's Parliament building

Sitting by the peaceful Danube river

PS: T-minus 3 days until I leave for fall break!!!! (Sooo excited!)

blog updates

2009-10-16T17:59:00.007-04:00

Hi dears,

I'm sorry I've been remiss on updating! It's midterms crunch-time, and uploading photos (unfortunately) takes up a lot of time, especially when there are hundreds of them to look through!

In the meantime, take a look at my inspiration blog (on fashion, writing, and design): http://helenhearts.blogspot.com

See you in a week!
Helen

PS: I promise Budapest pics will be up soon! :)

my petit room

2009-10-08T18:09:00.009-04:00

I have a bunk-bed! Perfect for visiting friends

My closet is all over the place

I'm usually not so sloppy, but lately, everything has been in disarray. It's like the second I fold my clothes and put my stuff in place, they're all in a mess again! (And somehow always find their way to the unused top bunk.) I blame it on the planning, traveling, and studying. If only a day were 48 hours long!

PS: I am off for my weekend in Budapest in FIVE hours! (As in, we leave at 5AM!) Not going to sleep much tonight. :)

bohemia bagel, pt. 2

2009-10-08T12:48:00.005-04:00

Actually, it might be the cheesecake... (with coffee and a book).

I like to eat the crust first with the fruit

bohemia bagel

2009-10-08T09:06:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, when I need a break from (delicious but heavy!) Czech food and my own scrappy creations, I visit Bohemia Bagel for some good old American treats in hearty, large portions. Their menu is absolutely divine -- the chunky, creamy, tomato soup is my favorite.

Berlin!

2009-10-05T15:47:00.000-04:00

I'm still gushing about this weekend in Berlin -- it was so, so much fun! My friend Lisa and I took the city in a whirlwind! We stayed with a lovely couple, Tanja and Dirk, who we found from CouchSurfing, and then set off to do some sightseeing and exploring. We ended up visiting:

The Pergamon museum

The Reichstag and its dome

The Brandenburg gate

The TV tower (Berlin's tallest building)

And the Berlin Wall and East Side Gallery

Oh, and we caught "The Giants" puppet parade!

In between, we relaxed at Cafe Einstein, where we ordered brunch, the cafe's famous apple strudel (so says Time Out Berlin) and hot chocolate. It was the best part of the entire weekend! And just the beginning of two food-crazy days. We devoured currywurst, doner kebaps, and gelato. Oh, this weekend was such a blast!

just another day in prague

2009-10-01T14:30:00.000-04:00

I'm heading to Berlin tomorrow for the weekend, so today, I felt the urge to snap more photos of Prague while heading to class. Kafka once said of Prague: "this Little Mother has claws." Now I know what he means. It's an endearing little city that I've grown to love. :)

pasta!!

2009-10-01T10:07:00.000-04:00

And cooking it Italian style, that is, mixing every possible ingredient together. It was delicious! (But I seriously need to learn how to portion my food. Lots of leftovers!)

happy anniversary jana!

2009-09-30T11:33:00.000-04:00

On August 28, something magical happened. On my flight from the U.S. to Prague, I sat next to a lovely lady named Jana, and we became instant friends. She told me all about how fun and beautiful Prague was, and last weekend, I visited her hometown Karlovy Vary. I tasted the famous hot springs water, got tipsy from Becherovka liquor, and took pictures of beautiful architecture. It was a blast. We still keep in touch through email.

So today's post is dedicated to her. Jana, I'm so glad I met you and am able to bring you bits of the Czech Republic via this blog and its pictures! I hope you're happy and well in Florida. And a Happy 7th Anniversary to you and Alan!

karlovy vary and loket castle

2009-09-27T18:59:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Karlovy Vary, with its hot springs, spas, and celebrity visitors! (Also, Casino Royale was filmed there!)

Recognize this from Casino Royale?

And Loket Castle is gorgeous, like a scene right out of Lord of the Rings!

fall break!

2009-09-24T17:51:00.001-04:00

My girlfriends and I are flipping out (from sheer excitement, of course!): Barcelona, South of France, Paris, and London, here we come! Just a month away!

We're listening to lots of Celine Dion's french songs to prep. :)

carpe diem!

2009-09-23T19:47:00.001-04:00

inside a column of books in the city library!

And today, it hit me: I really love it here. Just last week, I felt a little uncomfortable with living abroad for so long, like I'm on extended vacation in Central Europe while life passes by in New York without so much as a glance in my direction. I was afraid of losing my place. But now I realize you can plant roots in lots of places and feel right at home without losing your past. I still have a lot of New York and Philly in me, and that'll never change!

But I am loving my Prague home: the thrilling balance between independence and new friendships, incredible Czech histories I'm not just learning, but touching and seeing, every weekend booked for an exciting adventure, eating pastries and gelato whenever I want, taking classes on Kafka, art, and architecture...

Thinking back on the past 3 weeks makes me smile and melt with happiness and feel so grateful for my luck! I'm reminded again, carpe diem! Seize the day! Making little or big decisions, trying new things, spontaneously getting lost in new neighborhoods, eating goulash and dumplings until I want to barf, grocery shopping random items -- I'm so grateful for the thousands of opportunities and choices I can make, for how precious and generous life is. Certainly, I've had my share of unfortunate situations, but that only makes me feel even more fearless! So... carpe diem! Seize the day! :)

oh, and two videos from today!

2009-09-22T16:34:00.000-04:00

A 360 view inside St. Vitus Cathedral

A fiddler on the walk down from Prague Castle!

st. vitus cathedral

2009-09-22T15:50:00.001-04:00

One of Prague's major tourist attractions, and my classroom for the day! Yep, another field trip for my Czech Art & Architecture class. Somehow, I managed to follow and listen to my professor, take notes, and take pictures simultaneously!

Black and White:

Color:

More pictures here!

all for some pilsner

2009-09-20T17:40:00.002-04:00

Today, some friends and I woke early and took a bus to Plzeň to visit the Pilsner beer factory. I actually have no great passion for beer, and Pilsner is my least favorite (because it's so strong and bitter!) -- but we're all here to try new things, right? I've never been to a beer factory before, so at least I can check that off my list. :)

A Pilsner motorcycle?

Drinking fresh Pilsner in the cellar

Bottles lining the restaurant where we ate

Super tall Kaitlin and super short (sans heels) me :(

After lunch, we had a tiny siesta on a bench (we were so sleep-deprived); the view up

The Pilsner tour was fantastic and very museum-y. We watched videos, touched the ingredients, walked through the packaging plant, brewing building, and fermentation cellar, and had fresh beer! (I couldn't finish my cup though. It was still early! I know...weak.)

But I have to admit, the trip was pretty aggravating. We missed our first bus over to Plzeň, had to purchase new (and more expensive!) tickets for the next bus because the bus company was sketchy and inhospitable, and were blatantly ogled at in the 90% male-occupied restaurant at the factory (although the food was delicious!). After our tour, we slept through the entire hour on the bus back and returned to our dorm in a total daze. Traveling can be exhausting sometimes!

gothic & romanesque art and architecture

2009-09-18T20:45:00.000-04:00

My Czech art and architecture class is incredibly interactive, and I love it! Two days ago, we went on our first "field study" to the St. Agnes Convent (now a museum) to learn firsthand the differences between Gothic and Romanesque art/architecture. I'm trying to memorize all the names and characteristics of each part of the building (for example: flying buttresses. Doesn't that sound so funny?!). Some pictures:

The exterior is still beautiful...

St. Wenceslas was buried there!

My shadowy figure in front of all the Gothic arches! (Gothic, because they're pointy. 10 points for me!)

towers and castles, oh my!

2009-09-15T15:49:00.000-04:00

This weekend, we hiked up Petrin Hill and climbed to the top of Observation Tower, which looks like a mini-Eiffel Tower! The view was breathtaking. We also checked out the memorial for victims of communism (some info here), which are sculptures that depict a deteriorating man. And finally, we spent a day touring Karlstejn Castle, only a 45 minute train ride away from Prague.

Petrin tower; Victims of Communism Memorial

view from Petrin Tower

Karlstejn castle!

me and friends on the train

Czech souvenirs are weird. Crazy wigs everywhere!

We couldn't take pictures inside, so here's a 360 view video of the area before we embarked on our castle tour!

when life throws lemons

2009-09-14T17:51:00.001-04:00

Eating Prague's sweet bread (bought by a friend), hours after being robbed

I had possibly the worst morning today. Sickness, 3-hour classes, no money or cards -- and then my only spare debit card was eaten up by an ATM machine. I spent the rest of the afternoon suppressing tears and emailing bank representatives.

But when life throws lemons, what else can you do but make lots of lemonade? If I continue tormenting myself about my terrible luck, I'd drive myself crazy! I can't keep examining these damn lemons, that's for sure. Sometimes, the hardest thing to deal with in every bad situation is my own psyche, replaying scenarios over and over, exaggerating the consequences, dreaming about the "what if I held my bag just a little closer???". Excuse my language, but it's all just a total mind-fuck.

So I can't change the past, but I can stop myself from creating a future full of past regrets. That's no way to live, continuously choosing sour moments over the sweet. I'm thankful to have bounced right back to being the happy person I will always be, because I love my "lemonade": my wonderful, generous, supportive friends (old and new), my family, and the places that I've visited and will visit.

I will never, ever let myself be the guest of honor at my own pity party. Which is why, yesterday, mere hours after being robbed, I ate the largest piece of sweet bread I could get my hands on and continued exploring Prague with all my "lemonade" in tow. It was a great day. Bring on those lemons!

I got robbed!

2009-09-13T13:40:00.001-04:00

I feel like a complete idiot for getting pick pocketed in only one stop on the metro. Some of these pick pockets have the sneakiest tactics! I was stuck between two very smelly, fat men who kept bumping into me, eventually forcing my bag to slide down my arm, farther from my body. (NEVER a smart move!) Literally in less than 2 minutes, the second I get off the metro, I see that my bag is half open and my wallet is missing! Probably the quickest pick pocket experience ever. I am so lame.

Moral of the story: Don't be such a woman. If the smelly fat man leaning on your arm is cutting off circulation, force him off and move elsewhere. Don't be so polite, because he is not-so-politely stealing your cash and credit cards! :(

peace, democracy, and human rights in asia conference

2009-09-12T19:02:00.001-04:00

Package and translator; His Holiness the Dalai Lama

List of delegates

The conference was held in Prague Crossroads, a gorgeous building

Every speaker was interesting, passionate, and inspiring. And the Dalai Lama was surprisingly lively and eloquent. I'm so grateful and honored to have been allowed to attend!

Nightlife Do's and Don'ts

2009-09-11T14:10:00.004-04:00

The past week, I've been hitting up some of the popular clubs in Prague with my friends. I don't do this often in the States, because there's always some slick chump trying to grind up on me from behind, and that gets old fast. But I do love to dance, and the clubs here surprisingly don't disappoint. Before you attempt though, a few guidelines for my ladies:

DO watch where you step. Some idiots slosh beer and even smash their glasses on the ground.
Your guy friends will leave you in search of their own pleasures, so DO stick with at least one other girlfriend. If either one of you happens to have a dance partner, well, I'm sure he'll think two is better than one.
DON'T dance with a guy who has an entourage. They'll inevitably want to join, and you'll find yourself in an awkward testosterone sandwich. Not fun.
DON'T talk to guys who say "You're so beautiful" in broken English. You are so not the first and only. And he's a sleazeball, no excuses.
If a girlfriend tries to leave with a creepy stranger, take her aside and DO ask her firmly, "Are you sure about this? Like, really, really sure?" Raise your eyebrows and gesture wildly for effect.
And DON'T leave anyone behind. Friends before silly drunken hookups.
But DO have fun! Dance!

Also, if you're planning on visiting Prague, here are some places NYU kids frequent:

Karlovy (famous 5-story club next to the Charles Bridge)
Chapeau Rouge (a crowd favorite, though very seedy)
Mecca
Roxy Club
Radoste
Lucerna
Nebe
M1 (tiny place though)
Beer Factory (in St. Wenceslas Square)
Cross Club

dancing building (& being touristy)

2009-09-09T15:33:00.000-04:00

I'm crap at taking videos, but this is where I was today!

...and pictures!

lots of wedding sightings

2009-09-08T20:01:00.000-04:00

Always smack dab in the center of Old Town Square, always the same poofy princess dress. (And this is one of the better ones.) Oh Europe!

the last few days

2009-09-07T18:07:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I went on a boat cruise down the Vltava river...

The night before, I had the privilege of seeing the Czech Philharmonic in the very first row! It was such an incredible experience, I'm such a music nerd and totally shouted "Bravo!" embarrassingly loudly. :D

I also visited Vyšehrad, a part of Prague with a ton of history. We saw the castle and the cemetery where the most famous Czechs rest. Each grave has its own personality. Everything was gorgeous.

And then I went dancing til 4AM in a pair of (now scuffy) heels...

***

But I have been feeling a bit homesick. There's a lot to explore here in Prague, but I miss my lovely friends and family and doing the most banal, comforting things, like sipping tea and having long talks. I'm desperate to just veg out and watch a movie with my best friends (who are all over the world now!) instead of going out all the time. Besides Kaitlin, I don't feel like I can count on anyone just yet. Tonight I curled up with the newest Jhumpa Lahiri book because I needed a mental break... I think I might actually an introvert with extroverted tendencies. Am I completely insane?

salvador dali & co.

2009-09-05T07:06:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, I'm lucky to find so many photo-worthy shots that I have to organize my photo albums by the DAY. Here are some from yesterday (Friday): another gorgeous building from the walk to the NYU Center from my apartment at Machova St; an Indian restaurant with pretty lanterns; the Salvador Dali exhibit (I'm so happy it's in Prague! I missed it in NYC last year) and some of his incredible work.

it's a small world

2009-09-04T07:20:00.001-04:00

Prague trams > NYC buses!

Some things New York City and Prague have in common:

Amazing tasting tap water (truly!). Who woulda thunk for Prague?
Dogs everywhere: big gangly dogs, small fluffy dogs, leashed or trodding freely alongside their owners.
A fantastic variety of international food. I had yummy Chinese and Italian here, and there are Indian, Thai, Japanese, and other exotic restaurants in every nook and corner.
Lots and lots of tourists. Since I only know very, very basic Czech, this makes me feel a bit better about being a tourist myself! But I've learned lots already in this busy first week! (Counting in Czech to the thousands, navigating the city, grocery shopping, ordering a drink...)

rainy day

2009-09-03T13:39:00.000-04:00

...and the city is gloomy for a minute

a colorful city

2009-09-02T11:58:00.000-04:00

I just cannot get over how stunning Prague is.

More color here!

And for my most up-to-date pictures, see my flickr account.

mail info

2009-09-02T09:41:00.000-04:00

Darlings,

If you want to send me mail (which I love!), here's my address:

Helen Zuo
New York University in Prague
Malé náměstí 2
11000, Prague 1
Czech Republic

In the meantime, I've been stocking up on postcards.
Email me your address if you'd like one!

absinthe

2009-09-01T21:19:00.000-04:00

Cheers!

I'm here!

2009-08-30T17:49:00.000-04:00

I've been in Prague for less than 48 hours, and I have: eaten goulash, dumplings, duck liver, and other native foods, walked around Old Town by day, consumed ridiculously cheap and strong beer (and some rum, since I was feeling bold) at three bars, and learned two very important words (děkuji for thanks and prosím for please). I am exhausted, but here are some pictures!

pretty clouds and a first glimpse of the Czech Republic! (lots of land, few people)

an NYU building (in blue on the left), right above a bar! And some gorgeous architectural details that are prevalent in Prague -- I have yet to see an ugly building...

the beautiful view from my dorm's terrace

we drank lots of beer, which was a challenge for me... and admired beautiful architecture

in the heart of Old Town Square...

a friend checking out an eclectic "Bohemia Bagel"

"Tuzemsky" was the spiced rum I had last night (and it was yum!), and we explored Praha 1 today, the main part of Old Town. I live close by, in the Praha 2 region. On the right, I found a cute tea place! I love tea.

More to come later! Need to crash, it's past midnight and I was out all night last night!

1 more day!

2009-08-26T23:57:00.000-04:00

My sweet friend Mishy gave me a Moleskin Prague to accompany my travels. I'm a notebook nerd, so I love this! On my last day tomorrow, I'm going to try really hard to be strict with myself and re-edit what I've packed. Again. I have one and a half suitcases full of clothes, shoes, and toiletries, and I have a feeling I should try to whittle it down to one suitcase, unless I want to look like Joey on the way back!

some fun facts and activities

2009-08-25T16:54:00.000-04:00

1. Prague is 6 hours ahead of New York time, not bad!

2. There will be approx. 160 people in my program, which includes NYU and non-NYU students.

3. My orientation week (Aug. 31 to Sept. 6) is going to be awesome. I'm taking some intense Czech classes and a billion tours, starting with a "Jewish Prague" tour, which means visiting the famous Jewish Cemetery:

via here

4. Then there's Old Town Square...

via here

5. The Prague Castle...

via here

6. And a Kafka tour, which I hope is not as depressing as The Metamorphosis. This is where he lived from 1916 to 1917:

via here

7. Boat cruising down the Vltava River:

via here

And then, for a special evening event, I get to choose one of the following:

MONDAY: Cirque Trottola, Letni Letna
WEDNESDAY: Rusalka, National Theatre OR Jazz Concert, Jazz Dock
THURSDAY: Ice-hockey match, Tesla Arena
FRIDAY : Carmen, National Theatre OR Turandot, State Opera OR La Putyka, La Fabrika
SATURDAY: Czech Philharmonic, Rudolfinum

I'm thinking either the Cirque or Carmen at the Opera. What's your opinion? I love them all! This is going to be tough.

6 days!

2009-08-22T05:29:00.000-04:00

I'm finding it harder and harder to sleep now that the countdown is less than one week! Lots of anxiousness and (barely) sleeping at 4am now. I've packed and repacked... and then remembered that I still have to wear clothes for the next few days... so unpacked again. Haha! I still have to buy a combination lock for my Northface backpack (doesn't hurt to be cautious!), but I can safely say I'm all done (redone, and undone) with preparations!

I'm bringing two medium sized luggage bags, and what's surprising is... I'm actually a light packer! I could fit all my things in even one suitcase, who would've thought? I guess it's one part ruthless wardrobe editing, one part practicality -- gotta make room for European purchases! -- and one part complete self-restraint. You see, I'm a nut about shoes, but I'm only bringing:

the booties

1 pair of: moccasins, flats, tennis shoes
2 pairs of: boots (flat Fryes and a wedge heel)
2 pairs of: heels (leopard pumps and vintage oxford booties)
(and flip-flops and slippers, but they don't count!)

Now if you think 7 pairs of shoes is a lot for only 3.5 months -- it's not! They're the bare essentials. But you know what? I'm very happy with this solid little number. Excess is just silly... what's the point of bringing those sexy 4-inch espadrilles I can't walk in and will only wear once or twice? (And, everything still fits in one suitcase, that is, if I wear my Fryes on the plane. Hmm.) Okay, I need to get some sleep! Can't wait to fill you in some more soon! And it won't be about shoes, I promise! :)

two weeks

2009-08-15T02:19:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry for this silly little countdown, but I just can't help it! These past few days have passed so slowly, which is unfair because I know my 3.5 months in Europe will fly by, just like this summer. Maybe growing older somehow makes life accelerate? The last I recalled, it was still May, and I just started my internship work! Three random things I'd loved to have slowed down:

1. exploring Philadephia

at the Walnut Theatre (America's oldest theatre, founded in 1809!)

2. enjoying Rita's lemon and mango water ice.

3. riding shotgun in a car post-beach, with the windows down and hair flying

Oh, I can't wait to share more lovely experiences with you! xoxo

19 days until

2009-08-09T19:55:00.002-04:00

...and I'm so ready!