prague autumn magic – Adventurings

i am totally down with visitors, man. i think if i was in a bigger or more well-known city, i would probably have more friends passing through, so i am pretty much ecstatic when someone comes to visit. enter, long-lost college buddy, monica, who happens to be a fellow seattle to europe expat living in luxembourg!

we had so much fun taking her to all of the tasty nom-nom places, wandering old town at night just waiting for that fifteen second “morality play” at the beautiful astronomical clock. climbing major hills for some of the best views over the city. buying halloween costume implements at the costume shop. drinking our first svařák with sugar and orange bits of the year on castle hill. cherry beers, bohemian lagers, coffees, and teas. it made me remember just how walkable prague really is, at least in the city center. going from smichov to mala strana to josefov to staremesto, to novemesto really ain’t no thang!

the weather was gorgeous with just a nip of fall in the air, but you wouldn’t know it as the trees and foliage below was just beginning to show its first hint of color.

after we said our goodbyes, alex and i grabbed ramen at our faaaaav ramen place in the city (which i have written extensively about, because it’s baller and deserves way more business) nothing like hand-cut ramen noodles, delicious pork, and a succulent soft boiled egg in some serious gingery broth. i should also note that the music that they play (at a fairly loud decibel) is better than i have heard at many clubs, especially in this country. (where are the clubs with the good music in czechland, you guys?)

after wandering back from vaclavske namesti on foot to josefov (we were feeling too broke for metro tickets… and i’d take ramen over a metro ticket any day) that dark, big feeling of the novemesto (new town) buildings were making me feel small and lonely, as they have a tendency to do sometimes at night. but as we opened up on the back side of na porici and came upon namesti republiky, lively warm music filled the air and i spied the lights and the small crowd gathered at some kind of italian wine festival in front of the palladium. how cool is that?

people were seated in summery lawn-chairs facing an adorably small stage that said “MUSIC” over it, featuring a salsa band from latin america that addressed us in english and whose smiles were contagious. by the end of their set, a large crowd was dancing in the front; feeling those contented feelings that only good wine and great music can summon up. scarves and knits were flying, and there was barely a hint of chill in the air.

this is exactly the kind of magic prague moment i love.

i awoke bright and early the next morning to the most beautiful autumn day. it made me just so grateful to be alive. to be in the czech republic. to live somewhere as beautiful as this and see this kind of thing on the regular.

and, of course… the PSL moment we all have been waiting for. actually, i’ve been waiting a year for this and it tasted just as good as it always has.

(never apologizin’ for that starbucks love)