Written in class..

"I'm sitting in my Law and Humans Rights class talking about free speech and affirmative action.  The classroom windows are open and I can hear the horse drawn carriages carrying tourists outside, laughing Italian tour groups, and people chatting in the outside restaurants in Male Namesti.  Also, down the hall I can hear the loud NYU students gathering before David Cerny comes to speak in 5 minutes about the controversy over his artwork: Entropa, the art piece representing the EU for this term under Czech presidency.  Although our class is interesting, I'm hungry and can't stop thinking about the sausage, potato pancakes, and sauerkraut, and Tdelnik that is in Old Town square. Spring is here, people are wearing sandals, sunglasses, and T-shirts. Spring fever has set in and I'm divided over where I want to be right now--downstairs with D. Cerny, here, or outside eating a lot of good Czech food and getting a tan."

Easter Festival

The celebration in Prague right before Easter is full of energy, delicious food, and wonderful music and dancing.  I have to resist the good sausage and pastries, but enjoy walking through the booths and listening to the street performers between classes.

Obama in Prague

On Sunday, Obama came to Prague to talk with the President and Prime Minister and give a speech at the Prague Castle.  I was lucky to get a special pass through a friend and stood in the first row in front of the podium. Not only was Obama's speech brilliant, but he walked around the podium with his wife, Michelle, and there Obama walked past me shaking hands inches from me! I got to shake Michelle's hand as well as Mirek Topolanek, the Prime Minister of CZ (who actually just got a vote of no confidence).  I had to wake up at 5am and got to the stage at 6:30am.  Ece (my roommate) and I stood there until 10am waiting for his speech.  During that time we listened to some good folk Czech music.  What an amazing morning!

CoffeeHeaven

Coffeeheaven.  Yes, this is the name of the cafe.  It is a great place right outside the metro stop that I get off at to go to school.  It's small downstairs, but then has tons of seating upstairs.  Plenty of people come and go, but it's a great place to meet with friends or do work between classes.

Right now I am here with my friend Taryn working on a project (obviously I'm working hard because I'm writing this blog entry...) I come here before class to take a velke latte (big latte) with me to class.  It's cheaper than Starbucks, and the only place I know of that does take-away coffee.  I usually sit in other non-chain cafes when I want to enjoy a cup of coffee, pastry, and read. I also learned today that Coffeeheaven has wireless :)

Coffeeheaven is quite a western influence, but it gets a lot of Czech customers too unlike the Starbucks down the street (The only one in Prague).

Barcelona

Yes, I wore a tank top while walking along this seaside walkway.  Taryn and I walked around outside most of the time we were in Barcelona.  We also laid on the beach, catching some rays.  If you are going to go to a city to look at archetecture, Barcelona would be the city.  Gaudi went wild and it's fantastic. I love all the colors, especially his mosaic work in Parc Guell.  Tapas are delicious. Sangria is.. dangerous haha. and Seafood from a coastal town is to die for.

Paris

• I have never seen so many good looking, well dressed people before in one place! Everywhere I looked.  Even children were better dressed than me.  Women in heels were riding bicycles.
• I love croissants. A lot.
• The most beautiful public parks I've ever seen.
• I got some color on my skin for the first time in months.
• I saw paintings in the d'Orsay museum that I've studied in school.  Full circle experiences = surreal.
• I walked up the Eiffel Tower and took the elevator to the top, where Taryn and I were too afraid to go outside because it was so high.
• Having your own hotel room felt like luxury compared to hostels.
• Latin Quarter is full of restaurants and cafes.
• Montmartre is the artistic quarter where Van Gogh and Picasso lived. The winding streets all lead to the spectacular bascilica at the top of the hill.
• I saw the original Moulin Rouge and caught myself singing "Love will lift us up where we belong..."

Prague Castle

I stood next to a Prague castle guard when I was 5.  Here I am again, 15 years later.  My pilgrimage to my heritage has begun.  Watching the changing of the guards is simple, yet exciting. When you stand near them you can see their eyes move, following you, but their bodies stay complete frozen. Creepy. They seemed more doll-like when I was little. Now I make eye contact with them and see a person who has been standing there for an hour and is probably looking at me like another other tourist.  Conclusion: prime people watching job!