Adventures in Prague

I wish you all were here with me to see and experience this beautiful city. Getting up and going out to wonder around is like being in a living art history book. The architecture ranges from Gothic to modern and everywhere you look there is another gorgeous building. I am really going to miss these buildings when I get home.

I've been to museums, theatre, the opera, and the symphony with a few more events still on tap for the remainder of my time here. We got to experience the Prague Fringe Festival when we got here - that was an intriguing combination of good, bad, self-indulgent, and WTF pieces.

We watched the first US futbol match versus England on the the big screen in Old Town Square with thousands of others (lots of obnoxious Brits). Even though I don't really follow or understand the game it was exciting to experience World Cup fever with all of those other people from all over the world. I'll never watch a futbol game again without thinking of that.

I took myself to the Estates Theatre where Mozart premiered his opera "Don Giovanni" when he lived in Prague. Milos Forman filmed "Amadeus" in Prague and this theatre was one of the settings he used. The exterior was breathtaking but the interior is even more so. I wish I could have taken photos but the queen of the mean ushers was on my side of the theatre so I didn't dare take my camera out, although other people did. My seat was 4th row, on the floor, third seat from the aisle. I had an amazing view of the stage and watched Moliere's "Don Juan" in Czech. After being here and learning about the history of the Czech Republic I understand why Moliere appeals to the people. Even though I don't know the language I didn't need to for this show. Moliere is Moliere no matter what language, just like Shakespeare. Some theatre in the city is doing "King Lear" because I keep seeing the posters. I would love to see that before I leave here.

I did get to take photos of the interiors of the Rudolfinum and the State Opera House when we went to the Philharmonic concert (Offenbach was the program) and to see "Carmen." The interiors of those buildings are beautiful as well even though my photos probably don't do them justice. I still have to pinch myself that I'm really here and seeing and experiencing all of these wonderful things.

I never thought I would get the opportunity to study abroad, which I always wanted to do, but I am so glad that I decided to come on this trip. If I had missed it I would have been kicking myself for a long time. There won't be a Prague trip next summer - the prof is taking a summer off - so I would have missed out. Now I'm trying to figure out how I can get another trip to Europe next summer - LOL.