Wednesday, May 21st

Today did not start off well - I slept late and was late to class. But it wasn't a big deal, because we were splitting up to go photograph other locations around Prague. I took the tram with David, Stewart and Linsay to the Jewish Cemetery, where Franz Kafka is buried. The ride was super long and as we started to get out of Old Town (where the Institute is) and into the outskirts of Prague, the town seemed to change. The buildings were much more utilitarian and unkept, and the graffiti was a lot worse. There was more litter along the streets and, of course, the rain got worse. We had to walk a little bit to get to the entrance to the graveyard and then we went inside.

At the entrance to the graveyard

The graveyard was very different from the few that I have been to in America. There was greenery everywhere. The walkways and grassy areas were all clear, but each grave was almost like an individual flower bed that the deceased person's family could maintain (or not). I generally don't like graveyards, and the weather just made it seem super depressing to me.

The graveyard

I started wandering through the graves (shudder) looking at the names and dates of the people who were buried, when I noticed two women tending a grave. I tried to go closer to investigate, and ended up walking and sliding between graves through the mud in my flip flops.

I eventually gave up trying to get a better picture of the women (I really didn't want to disturb them.....I can't imagine how I would feel if I was trying to take care of a family member's grave and some dumb foreign girl was trying to take my picture) and met back up with the group. We went into another section of the cemetery that was basically all...boxes? with people's ashes in it. It was SO CREEPY - spiders in the boxes and some of them had pictures of the people who were in the box and some pictures had been affected by moisture and it was just gross. I didn't take any pictures.

Knight on a Grave

David, Stewart, Linsay and I went back to the Pension (by now it was almost 3) to change shoes and pick up Stewart's laptop. We then went to Winceslas Square, which is about 3 blocks away from the Institute. It was kind of a culture shock to go from the cemetary, which was creepy on its own, and located in the working-class area of Prague, to the Square. The only way I can describe the square is to show you a picture:

David actually took this picture. In the front you can see the statue of St. Winceslas, in the back the main drag

It is crazy. Tourists everywhere, construction work on several buildings, dead (crushed....shudder) pigeons on the street, lights, noises, cars and taxis trying to get through. Linsay and I spied an H+M and ducked inside while Stewart and David stayed outside taking pictures.

I had really high expectations for H+M, especially since I am in desperate need of some kind of jacket and I've heard a lot of good things about them. In reality, all that they had were bathing suits and shorts. Nothing practical at all. It seems like no one got the message that it is actually freezing in Prague right now.

Anyway.
Linsay and I left H+M (empty handed) and met back up with the boys. We all went back to the Institute and got to work on getting everything ready for the critique (crit) that we had on Thursday. About 9 of us (David, Rich, Linsay, Stewart, Susan, Nida, Rich, Ashley, Mark and I) decided to make dinner and split the cost. I offered to cook and made zucchini, mushrooms and tomatoes sauteed with garlic, soy sauce, and fresh ginger over pasta. We all ate until we were stuffed and it only cost 45 crowns each (about $3) for dinner, beers and cookies for dessert.

After dinner I went back to the Pension with everyone and then Stewart, Ashley, David and I went out to take night pictures at Winceslas Square and Old Town Square. I didn't get very many good shots, but it was fun walking around Prague at night and being goofy.

L-R: Ashley, Stewart, Me and David in front of a statue in Old Town Square

We finally got back to the Pension at 2 am, and I passed out.

It was a good day.