The final ballet

Yes, I have officially gone to 5 ballets. A part of me wishes I'd also seen the Czech philharmonic, a musical, or the black light theater, but I did enjoy all of the ballets, so I don't regret going back so many times.

Saturday, 12/11, I saw Goldilocks. In the Czech version, a cook disobeys the king and eats a piece of the snake he's preparing for him - and is then able to understand animals. The king is furious and orders the cook to find the golden haired princess that they both hear the animals talking of. The ballet then follows the cook's journeys to get to the princess, the trials he must pass in order to take her with him back to the king, and how he and the princess later overcome the king and attain the crown. It was definitely an interesting take on the classic version of a hungry girl who eats porridge from 3 bears that I'd always heard growing up. (If you're interested in reading the Czech story, click away)

The cast of Goldilocks taking a bow

Afterward we went to U Fleku a Czech restaurant and microbrewery that is pretty well known. It was my final meal of Czech food consisting of beef goulash, bread dumplings (I don't recommend these), and speck dumplings. The place itself is very reminiscent for me of the Oktoberfest tents. The long tables make up several rows so that you are seated next to different parties of people, there is live music from the accordion player and the waiters carry large trays of food up and down the place much like the Oktoberfest vendors. All of these factors contribute to a very festive and jovial atmosphere.

U Fleku!

I only have 5 days left here.

Libraries, the ballet, and tea

On Wednesday, 12/8, I had another busy day. I met a friend at Old Town before class to grab a quick Indian meal at Beas - a self serve vegetarian place. We wandered through the Christmas market and looked at the marionette dolls (Prague is famous for puppet shows) and then I had class from 12 to 3. After class, I went to the Klementinum, the national library of the Czech Republic. I had been meaning to for awhile, and I'm glad I did even if it was just to see the interesting sculpture in the front lobby. The upright hollow tunnel like figure was made entirely out of books stuck together. The most interesting part was that when you looked inside of it, it looked like it was never ending... because there were mirrors placed at the top and bottom!

 A tunnel of books

After about an hour to regroup back in Machova, I headed back out to Cafe Louvre, a Parisian style café and billiard hall, dating from 1902. I got the large pea cream soup with mint, potato with cream and bacon and the ricotta cake with lemon and whipped cream. Then it was time for the ballet! NYU in Prague was subsidizing tickets to the Nutcracker, which I'd never seen. It was great, but I'll have to see it again in the US someday... the Prague version combined the Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol.

Nutcracker cast taking a bow

My night wasn't yet over. Another RA, had organized another RA event at Siva, an Arabian style tea and coffee room. I'm not too big into tea or coffee, but it was a nice atmosphere and something I hadn't yet done in Prague! As you can see, I'm trying to cross a lot of things off my bucket list while I still have the chance... I only have 8 days left here.

Back in Prague - ballets and sight seeing

Monday, 11/15, was back to school for me. Nicely enough though, my second class was canceled as my English professor was away on a trip. I went to Bakeshop in the morning before Czech. Bakeshop is a gourmet type bakery with French and American items. It's located really close to Old Town Square, and it was nice to have a frosted cupcake after months in the land of trdelnik and medovnik (honey) cake.

After class I did some grocery shopping and had some downtime in Machova... and then it was off to the ballet! I first met Kim at the Grand Cafe Orient, better known as the Cubist Cafe. It's on the first floor of the House of the Black Madonna. The House of the Black Madonna was created by the reowned architect Josef Gočár when he was only 31 years old, and the building symbolizes the unique Czech contribution to the cubist movement in architecture, furniture, pottery and glass. (Grand Cafe Orient)

Neither of us were too hungry as it was only in the 5 pm range, so we both just got dessert. Although apple strudel may not seem to be a particularly Eastern dessert dish, it actually originates from Vienna. Thus, it's a common item to find on the menu in Eastern European countries. I hadn't yet tried it in Prague, so it seemed like an ideal time to try the apple strudel with caramel sauce, whipped cream and vanilla ice cream.

After paying our bill (which often can take quite a long time here - they don't rush you out at all like in American restaurants... in fact they don't seem to want you to leave at all!) we headed to the Statni Opera House where the ballet was taking place. We saw Lady of the Camellias, and I wasn't too familiar with the story before the ballet, but I still enjoyed it.

 

The cast taking a bow

On Tuesday, 11/16, it was another dreary and rainy day... but I also only had 1 class again! My 1:30 class was canceled for some reason so I took advantage of the extra time I now had and did a little sight seeing around Prague. Close to Old Town Square is the Powder Tower. This was built in 1475 during the reign of King Vladislav II at the site of an 11th century gate. The tower is based on the 14th century Old Town Bridge Tower, and has a covered bridge connecting itself to the Municipal House. 

The site of the Municipal House was originally the site of the Royal Court. This palace was built around 1383 when King Wenceslas IV made it his residence. After a later king felt the central location was too dangerous, and opted to live in Prague Castle instead, the building became a seminary. Later it became a military academy, and was finally demolished in 1903. Construction then began on the Municipal House - a large cultural center and concert hall in the Art Noveau style.

 The Powder Tower

The Municipal House

Study Breaks & Midterms

On Sunday, 10/17, I went to Radost FX for brunch. The NYU in Prague student council was giving a 100 kc subsidy for the first 25 people to arrive. We made sure to get there in plenty of time - which was easy enough since Machova is so close to the place! I got the waffles with fresh fruit, maple syrup and whipped cream. I haven't had a "traditional" American breakfast like waffles or pancakes in ages, so I was set on ordering that. In the past when I've ordered pancakes, I've gotten crepes. So, it shouldn't have been too much of a surprise when my waffles came out and they looked and tasted exactly like frozen toaster waffles. They were fine, but not what I was expecting. By the way, little known fact: Radost FX is the location where Rihanna shot her music video "Please Don't Stop the Music"!

My breakfast of waffles

 This current week is midterms. I have 3 midterms and 1 paper. The rest of the day on Sunday I went to work studying and writing. I did take a little break in the evening though... I went to the Statni Opera House to see the Sleeping Beauty ballet with Kim! The dances, music, set, and costumes were great as always. Imagine our surprise, though, when at no point in the ballet did the princess fall asleep! It turns out that the Czech version of Sleeping Beauty is the US Disney version of Anastasia. Although I could not follow too much since I didn't know the plot of Anastasia, I still really enjoyed the ballet.

 Sleeping Beauty cast taking a bow

As of now, I have turned in one English paper. 3 more midterms to go, and then it is fall break! I have a week off and will be traveling to France and Spain.

Just another day of class in Prague...

Wednesday, 10/6, I had quite a busy school day. That's probably what I love most about living and studying in Prague: there is no such thing as monotony here! That also sometimes means there is no such thing as having a minute to relax around here! But I had quite a fun day of classes and going around Prague...

In the morning I woke up early to do work (as always, I rarely have time to do work after class in the afternoons like normal people! Instead I have to wake up at crazy, ridiculous hours). I then met fellow Machova-ers, John, Ruby, and Henry, for a breakfast at Bohemia Bagel. Bohemia Bagel is right off of Old Town Square, and is a bagel store with bottomless coffee, wi-fi, and separate smoking and non-smoking sections that is uniquely American in a country full of goulash and dumplings. I had not yet been to Bohemia Bagel, even though it's a 2 min walk from classes, and after over a month in Prague, it was nice to have a taste of home.. or should I say a taste of bagels. Anyone from NJ or the NY area will understand what I mean when I say bagels, delis, and sandwiches such as taylor ham, egg, and cheeses are abundant.

Bacon, egg, and cheese on a Parmesan-oregano bagel

Afterward, I had my Czech class at noon. It was boring, as always. And we learned barely anything, as always. We don't take notes and are not given lessons on what we're learning. Instead, we go straight to the workbook to do exercises, which is an odd teaching method, if you ask me...

My English class was good, as always. We're studying literature from the Eastern European countries and today my professor brought us in a Slovakian feast! Between discussing poems on food, we ate some food.

Assortment of meats and cheeses, a squash pickle, & cranberry sauce
Clockwise:
Langoš- yeast bread
Korbačik- braided natural cow's milk cheese
Blaťácké zlato s vlašskými ořechy- southern Bohemian "gold" with Wallachian walnuts
Parenice uzená pikant- spicy, smoked cheese
Bryndza- fresh sheep's cheese
Cabajka- spicy salami
Salami ribbed with cheese
Dalmaitian prosciutto

After class, I had an hour of downtime, and then I met Kim for dinner at Maitrea. I hadn't been back here in a while, so it was nice to go back. I had meatless "chicken" and mushroom balls with udon noodles, tomato sauce, and coriander.

Kim and I then met up with Laura. Where to next? Oh, only the ballet! The ballets and operas are unlike and like going to Broadway plays in New York City. Unlike because here the shows are really a night out. They take place in beautiful buildings, and you have to dress up. This isn't just another building in the theater district / times square. But also, like because they're fantastic shows full of culture. I still will enjoy going to Broadway musicals when I go back home, but trust me, the ballets and operas are really something else. We saw Cinderella, which was very appropriate since we would know the story perfectly! It was fantastic, and I enjoyed it a lot. Needless to say, we are going back next month to see Sleeping Beauty!

 Statni Opera House

Cinderella cast taking a bow! (I wasn't allowed to take pictures at any other time of the performance.)

The day had been busy and fun filled, but the night was yet to begin. Our NYU in Prague student council had arranged a study abroad mixer at Retro Cafe - conveniently located right across from the Namesti Miru metro stop (the metro I take to school everyday from where I live in Machova). We went to that, where they had a DJ and games, and had a good time with people in our program, as well as other programs that had been invited.

So, that was my Wednesday in a nutshell. You know, just another day of class in Prague. Nothing too out of the ordinary, don't you think?