Double couchsurfing and lots of friends

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So I missed my train to Warsaw, Poland because some stupid German train employee gave me wrong directions to the train station so when I arrived at the station in Berlin and realized that a train to Prague left in three minutes, I hopped on this train and made my way to the Czech Republic.

It was getting late on the train and I became worried because I didn't have the numbers of the people I planned to stay with in Prague from couchsurfing so I called my mom to look them up and eventually got in touch with two different hosts. While at first I had no place to stay, I managed to then promise two different guys that I'd stay at their place. I decided to worry about it after I safely made it to the city. Meanwhile I could hear male voices through the walls speaking english so I made me way over to the next booth and ended up hanging out with the two guys next door. They were both Korean and had graduated from Columbia some years back. We hung out and got off the train together to figure out a way to change money and get to our accomodations. When we made it into the train station there were about 50 other travellers our age all worrying about the fact that all the change booths were closed and how none of the ATMs would take their cards. We were then informed that if we had Euros we could walk to the nearest hostel and change money. Most of the travellers were American and had just flown into town so they had no Euros but of course I had some and therefore managed to lug my stuff to the hostel to change some money. The Columbia boys and I split a cab into the old town where I stayed at the couchsurfer's place who lived closest to where the two boys were going.

The couchsurfer seemed alright, he kept trying to hard to sound cool and make jokes and in the end was sometimes offensive. He didn't really seem like someone I wanted to spend time with so I spent the next two days exploring the city on my own. Prague is EXTREMELY touristy. During the first day I went to some amazing art exhibits like Jan Saudek. I really like his photography. I visited some other galleries as well. I also visited the Jewish area, saw a really incredible old Jewish graveyard and tagged along with a tour for a while in there. I visited some of the synagogues and then went for dessert at the only Israeli restaurant in town. I ended up sitting and chatting with the owner for a while, who is Israeli born and in his early thirties. He was really cool and we got along well. Then I headed back toward the apartment because I had made plans to meet the other couchsurfer and the American girls surfing with him to hang out for the night.

So Michal picked me up at the subway station near his house and introduced me to the girls who were surfing with him. They were all Jews from America who had been studying in Italy. We had fun talking and such and then went into the center to watch Sweden play England. It was insane and after the game the Brits went crazy, burning Swedish jerseys and throwing beers everywhere. Insane! We then met these Australian boys who we walked and talked with for a while who were heading to this club that one of the Jewish girls and I met up with later at this really cool bar that was built like a huge cave with multiple hallways, tunnels, and rooms. Here I tried my first Absinthe. Whew, it was ridiculously strong! Somehow after drinking this I ended up saying goodbye to the last Jewish girl and heading to a strip club with 8 guys! After the Australian boys (who happened to be brothers and/or cousins) walked me home.

The next day I had a haircut and a great lunch where I met some nice New Yorkers and chatted for an hour or so. I then went to explore the castle on the top of the hill. It was beautiful and while climbing the tower I met two British girls who I later met up with at Michal's (the other couchsurfing host who I stayed with that night) and we all went out for beers and watched the game. Then we went out for traditional Czech ribs which I shared with Michal's friends. Then we went back and drank absinthe again only because they insisted on showing us the proper way to drink it. Melting sugar into it and then lighting it on fire. It burned me throat and I think it's the last time I'll try it. One of Michal's friends, Milan, and I got along really well and we've been keeping in touch and he's going to come and visit me in Barga in a few weeks.

The next day I hung around town met some very conservative Canadians who I argued with for a bit and also ran into a tour group on segways (those innovative scooter things with the big wheels that you control by leaning). It turns out that in every main city in Europe you can take a tour of the city on a segway. I wanted to try one but the tour was pretty expensive.

Then I went for my appointment to get hot pink highlights in my hair. They look pretty cool and now I definitely fit in well in Europe. But I've noticed more punk rock and goth people smiling at me, which I find interesting. Then I went to the Communist Museum, which was quite fascinating yet I was so tired that I fell asleep during one of the movies that I was watching there. So I went back to Michal's and relaxed for a bit, then went out to dinner with Milan and went to the train to head to Budapest.

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Comments

[Mommy]

Now I know
I never heard what happened after I gave you the numbers for the couch surferers. I'm glad it worked out. Please post a picture of you with pink highlights!