The view only gets better as you get higher

If I had to characterize my explorations of Prague thus far, I would have to say as a general rule that the view only gets better as you get higher. And no, I am not making any references to the use of cannabis.

Saturday afternoon everyone split up; some people found their way to the Vodafone store, others went back to their apartments, and because neither one of those appealed to me, I had my first wandering through Prague. I think it is very appropriate that I live near a street named "Revolution"! I headed up Revolucni (I wish I could tell you that the stores and restaurants on the street live up to its totally cool name, but they really don't) and saw what look to be a park on the other side of the river that looked really cool. Of course I investigated. The climb up the hill from the river is very steep, and as I kept climbing higher, I would have to stop and marvel at the view--Prague is gorgeous! All of the buildings from various architectural styles make for one amazing architectural patchwork that is framed by the Vlata. Letna (the name of the park, which I found out later) is definitely a little off the tourist map, and is where families and friends come to meet and enjoy spending time with each other in the great outdoors. Since I was pretty much the only tourist taking in the views, I had to dodge dogs, couples on rollerblades, and little kids on their bikes. But it was totally worth it! Just when I thought the view could not get any better, I went further along the path and found another breathtaking vista! I made my way through Mala Praha ("Lesser Prague," which I think is my favorite part of Prague) to the Charles Bridge. Like in Krakow, the Charles Bridge had all of the great touristy music that I just can't help but love. Just off the bridge, there was a concert by a Roma family, with the most amazing, high-speed violin part I have ever heard! There was an accordion and a guitar as well, but the violin player really didn't need them and could have kept the crowd going by himself. People were dancing and clapping, and the atmosphere was electric! On the Charles Bridge itself, there were two men trying to play dixieland-style jazz, which took me away for a moment from the Charles Bridge and back to Louisiana. But then I came right back, listening to the toe-tapping rhythm, and taking in more of Prague in the yellow evening twilight. Great times!

After all of that walking, I had to drag myself back to the apartment. When I got in the door, Mahina and Joanna were leaving to go to a potluck dinner over at Stephanie and Kristin's apartment, but I knew that if I went to Steph and Kristin's, they would have to drag me back to Soukenica. So I stayed in, planning to relax for a little while and head then head over to the potluck. In the meantime, Betty came home while I was getting something to drink in the kitchen, so I helped put the groceries away; while I was putting the groceries away, Betty started making a big bowl of pasta and was chopping up garlic and scallions. Did I ever mention that I love pasta? She invited me to share the pasta with her and Mary (did I ever mention I know how to score a great pasta meal?), and for some reason it was amazing! After we were finished eating, Betty took two bowls of pasta she had set aside and told me that they were for the dogs. Motioning for me to watch, she held the two bowls up, said some type of command in Czech, and the dogs sat up on their hind legs with their paws in front of them. Betty stretched out the whole show, and when the proper comedic effect had been reached for the easy-to-please American, she put the bowls down on the ground and told me to watch the second half of the show. "It will take 60 seconds," she said, as the dogs devoured the pasta, which made me laugh uproariously. I obviously don't have dogs. As Betty, Mary, and I sat around the kitchen after dinner, I learned that Betty had trained the dogs to act like squirrels to ask for their food. I think what makes the show even better is that the dogs are nearly identical brothers, and they do this completely in synch! Yes, I know, I am easily amused! It was then that I learned how to say marijuana in Czech, because that is one of the dogs names (just because I can say it doesn't mean I can spell it!). I ended up by staying in that evening, but I am really glad that I did, because I was able to spend sometime with the my host family and learn more about them and become more comfortable living with them.