Another day, another koruna.
Up nastily early at six am to prepare for morning TV, Czech style. Not so different from US style as you get there and wait. And sit. And wait. And someone polishes your face a bit. And you wait.
But here in Prague, you're allowed to smoke while you wait.
Guy and girl hosts--both so very pretty. It all runs smooth, amazingly easy. My darling Kamila is in a kind of isolation booth with headphones doing simultaneous translation and I hear her voice in my ear piece as we do the deal.
Leave there, back to hotel, have a light breakfast with BW who was just up and about. Then onto public radio. Huge complex--more waiting--but after I'm greeted by two women who work there bearing a rose for me. So sweet. Ashtrays everywhere! LOL. So unlike America in this regard. Corridors full of smokers, offices with people smoking, waiting rooms, ditto.
The actual radio booths are very familiar. People are very cheerful and friendly. The first interview is sharp and clear and interesting. Reporter knows her stuff. Oh, elevators. They have no doors. At all. And move very slowly, never stopping. You have to sort of jump on and off when they come up to your floor. Quite an adventure there.
Smoke with greeting ladies between interviews. They speak through Kamila and ask me about shopping--about earrings and orgasms. LOL. BTW, the Czech word for orgasm is nearly the same as English. We laugh a lot.
Second interview is more gossipy and just as easy.
Walk from radio to Italian restaurant for lunch. The pasta was just fine, as was the wine and the local Czech liquor which I can't pronounce, but which my companions were very pleased I sampled and approved.
Very warm here today, and I opt to cab back to the hotel rather than do the 20 minute walk in heels. Very brief break. More Christmas presents bagged. Go across the street to the biggest bookstore in Prague. Really lovely store with lots of light and three floors of books. The owner is gracious and charming and shows me around before we do the little event.
People on line applaud when I arrive. Terribly sweet. I sign some books and lots of autograph books. Say my two Czech words--hello and thank you--countless times. Lots of guys getting cards of autograph books signed. I sign stock and pick out some very cool postcards and cards the owner won't let BW pay for.
Back to hotel. Yet another interview, print, which ran over an hour. I'm starting to flag now as it's after four. But then there's more books to sign, photos to take. We kiss and hug Kamila goodbye, and Marcella and Karel walk us around this part of Prague, showing up shopping places. The crystal is incredible. I spot many places I will hit tomorrow with credit card at the ready. Walk, walk, walk, almost in a trance state now. Am shown the old square and site of many executions in earlier times and the home of the famous astrological clock--a true marvel. The designer was blinded after finishing it so he couldn't duplicate it.
Kinda extreme.
Walk, walk. See gorgeous hand painted glass. Must buy some tomorrow. We shown a nice traditional Czech restaurant near our hotel for dinner, and say bye-bye to Karel and Marcella until tomorrow afternoon.
Collapse in restaurant and order alcoholic beverages. I try a traditional appetizer which turns out to be very, very hard brown bread top with incredibly smelly soft cheese. Cheese that smells like week-old gym socks, but fortunately tastes considerably better. BW gets onion soup. I get a chicken deal that was very nice, and keep drinking. Service is good and friendly. We order eclairs and coffee.
Discover eclairs are more like hollow cookies, without the cream inside. Just an unfilled hollow which due to fatigue and alcoholic beverages makes us laugh like loons.
Limp wearily back to hotel to organize bags, prepare excess for banana box promised by Marcella for shipping stuff we no longer need home on Sunday.
I regret, seriously, being so tired tonight. The city is extraordinary and deserves more attention. Hope to give it some tomorrow morning which is free time. But must, simply must, see more of Prague at night. Tomorrow we go to Black Light theater--a traditional Czech deal everyone has told us is not to be missed. Will let you know.
One more interview. One major tour--three hours, which I hope is not a la Gilligan--of Prague castle.
BW and I have both agreed that we would come back here. Wish the language wasn't so much of a stumbling block for us, but even that isn't enough to spoil the enjoyment.
Nora
