Prague Stories

Rainy Sunday Dance Show

Zuby Nehty Live

Sunday is usually my laziest day of the week, but today I had very little time to rest and relax. My roommate Erin and I woke up early in Klatovy to catch a train back to Prague. We went back early in the afternoon to prep for a shoot with Pavla Joussonova from the punk band Zuby Nehty. I have never really been on a train and was excited to see the small towns that keep the countryside beautiful.
Today it was wet and foggy most of the day. I can’t seem to keep my toes warm or clean. The streets around here are so dirty that my feet are black by the time I get home. The photo below (or above) was taken from the train on the way into Prague. It was so dreary and wet that I felt like curling up in a ball and sleeping the rest of the day.
The shoot with a few of the Zuby Nehty band members was exciting. They were practicing some of their old music and the sound clip above is one of their most popular songs. Just for some information, Erin and I are working on a documentary that spotlights two woman who have succeeded in their life goals. Well, the story theme is vague at the moment but this week we’ll be working hard to hone down the ideas our two women presented to us.
After the shoot my friend Jan took me to a modern dance troupe’s performance. There were bongos, drums, percussion instruments, singers and dancers. I didn’t quite fallow the story because I don’t know much Czech or French, but I felt the depth of the energy these people put into their work. The sound clip and the picture are from the show.

Wet and Rainy Prague from the Train

Dreadlock Beauty

Freud’s Birthplace Tour

Lake

Today is the last day of our first weekend excursion. I woke up to an amazing view of Stramberk, a small town settled in the mountains. There were small shops open on this hot and sunny day, however the main attraction for us was the tall lookout tower. It was refreshing to be out of Praha and feel the energy of the small town people. The patrons in the store were friendly and there were many more smiling faces than in Praha.
After eating a breakfast spread fit for a queen, the group headed to Freud’s childhood home. I had no idea that he was Czech. The house has been made into a museum with an audio tour and everything! I had a hard time feeling connected to his past because there was nothing too impressive about him and most of the information was in Czech.
However, the highlight of the trip was the stop at a lake. We stopped at a grocery store beforehand and carried on the theme of feasting. The area around the lake felt like a Czech holiday spot because the other guests were not tourists like us. The water was exactly what our group need after spending two days in a bus. Not to mention the weather has been unexpectedly hot. Overall – the time away from the typical has been invigorating. I feel ready to head back to Praha to find some more stories.

The view of Stramberk from my room.

Looking onward.

Katka explains some history at Old Town Square

The first metro ride in Prague

At first glance, the Czech people seem like they have a strange way of doing things. But the mystery of the street unfolded as our group became oriented with the Stare Mesto area of Prague (or, Old Town Square). The first task us tourists (soon to be students) needed to conquer was finding our way from the dorms, Masarykova Kole, to our school FAMU.
The best way into the center area is to take the Green line subway. After three stops we all get out and scurry to the extra steep and long escalators. We then are thrown out on the street Krizovnie Ka that is just North of the Charles Bridge.
After learning such technical logistics Katka (the program’s residential adviser) moves us on to the more practical tips, like finding the major and cheaper department store TESCO – a place where many of us will get the necessities we forgot. From the main shopping area we head into the heart of Old Town where the astrological clock and a huge church stand opposite of each other.
To end our orientation walk, we travel across the Cechuv Most and end up a lot (too many to count) of stairs to a park that accommodates many skaters, walkers, families and dog owners. At the top of the park we stop at a beer garden that overlooks the city. There we all find a place in the shade and over a 25CSK beer, start getting acquainted with one another.

FAMU on left. State Theater on right.