Pigs do Fly- Out in Prague
So I'm back in Amsterdam. The bus ride from Prague was long, but not horrible. I read and slept. I did get a little creeped out by the girl sitting next to me. She looked exactly like a Czech version of Megan Leslie (this will mean nothing to most of you) and she just sat there staring straight ahead the whole time she sat next to me. She didn't read, listen to tunes, or even speak. When I turned out the reading, switching to tunes so she could sleep, she just sat there staring straight ahead. Really creepy. Eventually she grabbed a free seat and I could stretch out.
My last night in Prague was an eventful one. I wrote earlier in the day that I wasn't going to go out. Well I did. Prague was cheap and it was Prague for god sake. What’s even weirder is that I wanted to go. I wanted go to a crowded bar where the music was too load. I even, gasp, wanted to go to a club. Do I hear horses? Pigs do fly. Granted alcohol was involved, but still.
The crew went to some bar called Acropolis. I was busy, the beer was cheap, and some guy was dancing really hard. You know the saying, "Dance like nobodies watching"? Well this guy took it to heart. He was really terrible, but he was having fun. I wouldn't have even noticed, but he was the only one dancing. The only guy. Nary a female was grooving, but this guy was boogieing down. If you can call it that. It was spastic, jerky. It looked like a cross between Elaine from Seinfeld and Falshdance, but faster and not as good. He did get people dancing though, so I respect him for that.
After we got tried of the bar it was decided we would go to the five-story club down by river (near where Mr. Young shot his baby). Getting everyone together was like herding cats except the cats where especially deaf cats because some shitty DJ deafened them.
We took cabs down to the place despite my calls of, "Its not that far. Why bother with a cab?" I HATE taking cabs. They are always expensive and I always feel like I'm being cheated out of my money. Prague is a walking city. Its very small and no problem to walk anywhere. We took cabs though and I felt like I was being cheated. Am I really that cheap where I don't like chipping in 50CZK (less that 2euro, a couple pennies over $2) or is it just psychotic? I think I hated it because I found it an unnecessary expense.
So we arrive at the club. I thought it was Mecca, but I think it was something different. Either way it had five stories and was one of the biggest (if not the biggest. The largest is in Prague, but I'm not convinced ours the one) in Central Europe.
I found out there was a cover charge (about $5) and almost left, but was convinced to get some more cash. It’s amazing how easily I can influenced by women, even ones I have no interest in sleeping with. (That last sentence sounds odd, doesn't it or am I worrying about nothing) She used logic like, "Its your last night it Prague.” "You know you want to stay.", "Its not really that expensive." and the best, "PEER PRESSURE!" (She actually said it. I'll have to remember it to use on others.) Those arguments could be used in front of the Supreme Court.
I was a paradox to myself at the time. Looking back on it, I'm not sure if I wanted to go or not. I keep coming up with excuses to leave, but keep staying.
So I got the dough from the cash machine and began to walk back towards the club when I realized I had my pocketknife in my pocket. I had beer using the bottle opener and I forgot to put it back in my bag before we left. After a bit of hem hawing I put it my shoe. I got to the club with 5 girls in tow (always good to do, puts you in favor with the bouncers and since I already watched them mace a guy I felt that being on their good side was important). Louis the Scotsman and the German guy were with us also, but with drinks in hand they looked like a separate gang.
Bouncers did a half hearted metal detector sweep so I also snuck a knife into a Prague nightclub. Oh how could this story end? Jail? The hospital? The curb stomping of a hobo? No nothing remotely exciting.
We hung out in the club, had a beer, and I enjoyed watching all the guys stand around looking at each other. Prague is a dude heavy city. Lots of guys go to the Czech capital because of dreams of all the wild parties and sex with beautiful Czech women. Let me tell you a little something about Prague. All those beautiful women are either living in New York as models or dancers in the strip clubs and by dancers I mean strippers who turn tricks in the back. I'm not kidding. Prague is wonderful, but the women are overrated. I saw lots of puck rock chicks and Goth and way, way too many dreadlocks.
Note: Europe has more dreadlocks than Bonnaroo. No joke and lots of other stupid hair cuts to boot.
But I digress. I was actually enjoying myself. I talked with people and hung out. I kept thinking how I could be doing this at the hostel, but I was having fun. I could say I snuck a knife into the largest club in Central Europe. No dancing though, I wasn't drunk enough.
After a while I got kind of tired of the scene and was tired too. I'm not a clubber, simple as that. I'll do it and have fun, but only for so long. I was also looking for a way out coming rejection of one of the girls. The girl who could be a lawyer was an English girl named Allie (To add to this she had black hair and black top. Her friend Ellie had blond hair, white top. Allie and Ellie, are you trying to get mixed? Must be the reason for the color coordination.) was getting that glazy look. That "Oh that looks really nice" look. She was drunk too, which didn't help. So I have a drunken girl looking at me like a starving man gazing at a ham sandwich. She was a nice girl. Fun interesting to talk too, but I didn't want her. The only woman I want is 3000 miles away, but I wasn't sure how to get that across without hurting her. Besides she knew I had a girlfriend, but that’s not going to stop her. I've hit on women I knew perfectly well had a boyfriend, so why wouldn't she hit on me. I've also been preaching the two points of, "Women can have sex any time they want." and "Its nearly impossible for a man turn down sex offered point black." I couldn't let myself become case in point so I started looking for a way out of dodge.
My way out came quickly. Ellie needed to spilt. She was damn tired and hadn't even wanted to come out and quickly found herself riding drag and roping strays for the group (think back to the cat herding joke. Got it? Excellent.). Allie wouldn't let her take a cab alone, but didn't want to leave herself so I was asked to escort Ellie back. I hesitated at the idea of paying for a cab, but Ellie said she'd pay. I agreed and offered to throw her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carry her back rather than pay for a cab (realistically I could never have made it, shingle bundles are only 80lbs and those killed me. Ellie is a small woman, but still over 80lbs), but she said she wanted a cab and would pay.
The rest is simple. We went back, talked with an English girl who could have been Nira's sister and hit the hay. Ellie did tell me she thought Allie was gunning for me too, so I felt my early exit was justified.
Two of the guys we went out with from the hostel were just out of the Corp. They met at mechanics school and did their whole time together, even a tour in Iraq. The guy I talked to was in Basic Training when 9/11 went down. They were told they were going to war and the training got tougher, but they didn't know what happened until they finished basic. Crazy.
They were traveling with two girls. One was with his girlfriend and the other (the one I talked to) was the future brother in law of the other girl who joined them in Madrid. She was very pleased to be traveling with two ex-Marines.
Here is something we touched on about the Corp. When you have basic in San Diego, it may suck, but at least the weather is nice. At Parris Island you have hot humid weather and bugs the size of house cats, but in Diego it nice all the time. Lesson: If you want to join the Corp, establish your address west on the Mississippi River so you can do basic in San Diego.
I got in Amsterdam at 7:20 and came right to the Flying Pig Hostel. I've heard allot about this place, and it is quite nice. I had to wander around until 8:30 (where I had a 7-euro breakfast and wanted to cry to that, but it was the only thing open. Waffle with chocolate and sugar and drink) when they start selling beds. I'm not sure why I didn't get online and look and book a place earlier, but I think I wanted to stay here. I'm paying 31 euros for the night in a 6 bed room, expensive as hell, but I was here, I wanted to stay here, and it’s only for one night. I think the price is about average for Amsterdam so I'm not too upset and this place definitely seems worth it.
Two great quotes, exchanges really, both ending, oddly enough, with someone saying, "Fuck you."
Quote 1- The Roxy, Prague
Long Beach Michael- "Not that many girls here."
Me- "It doesn't matter to be, I'm not hunting."
LB Michael- "Hunting? Oh, fuuuuuuck you."
Quote 2- The mean streets of Amsterdam
Hobo- (Real friendly) "Hey man, that cash machine doesn't work. Go to the one on the corner."
Me- "Oh, thank you."
Hobo- (Following me) "Can I ask you one question?"
Me- "I'm not giving you any money. Sorry."
(Pause)
Hobo- (quietly to himself) "Sorry? Fuck you."
Goddamn Hobos. Most people work for money, maybe they should try it.
I've been on the computer for a long time. Its nearly 3:30pm now and I'm not sure what I'm going to do today. It’s raining off and on so I'm not to keen on walking around. I'm probably going to be showing people the city in the next couple days. I could walk to the Paridiscio and get Johnny Winter and Nashville Bluegrass Band tickets, but I should wait until I know what’s going on with my program.
I think I'll relax and read most of the day.
I love and miss you all,
Matt
My last night in Prague was an eventful one. I wrote earlier in the day that I wasn't going to go out. Well I did. Prague was cheap and it was Prague for god sake. What’s even weirder is that I wanted to go. I wanted go to a crowded bar where the music was too load. I even, gasp, wanted to go to a club. Do I hear horses? Pigs do fly. Granted alcohol was involved, but still.
The crew went to some bar called Acropolis. I was busy, the beer was cheap, and some guy was dancing really hard. You know the saying, "Dance like nobodies watching"? Well this guy took it to heart. He was really terrible, but he was having fun. I wouldn't have even noticed, but he was the only one dancing. The only guy. Nary a female was grooving, but this guy was boogieing down. If you can call it that. It was spastic, jerky. It looked like a cross between Elaine from Seinfeld and Falshdance, but faster and not as good. He did get people dancing though, so I respect him for that.
After we got tried of the bar it was decided we would go to the five-story club down by river (near where Mr. Young shot his baby). Getting everyone together was like herding cats except the cats where especially deaf cats because some shitty DJ deafened them.
We took cabs down to the place despite my calls of, "Its not that far. Why bother with a cab?" I HATE taking cabs. They are always expensive and I always feel like I'm being cheated out of my money. Prague is a walking city. Its very small and no problem to walk anywhere. We took cabs though and I felt like I was being cheated. Am I really that cheap where I don't like chipping in 50CZK (less that 2euro, a couple pennies over $2) or is it just psychotic? I think I hated it because I found it an unnecessary expense.
So we arrive at the club. I thought it was Mecca, but I think it was something different. Either way it had five stories and was one of the biggest (if not the biggest. The largest is in Prague, but I'm not convinced ours the one) in Central Europe.
I found out there was a cover charge (about $5) and almost left, but was convinced to get some more cash. It’s amazing how easily I can influenced by women, even ones I have no interest in sleeping with. (That last sentence sounds odd, doesn't it or am I worrying about nothing) She used logic like, "Its your last night it Prague.” "You know you want to stay.", "Its not really that expensive." and the best, "PEER PRESSURE!" (She actually said it. I'll have to remember it to use on others.) Those arguments could be used in front of the Supreme Court.
I was a paradox to myself at the time. Looking back on it, I'm not sure if I wanted to go or not. I keep coming up with excuses to leave, but keep staying.
So I got the dough from the cash machine and began to walk back towards the club when I realized I had my pocketknife in my pocket. I had beer using the bottle opener and I forgot to put it back in my bag before we left. After a bit of hem hawing I put it my shoe. I got to the club with 5 girls in tow (always good to do, puts you in favor with the bouncers and since I already watched them mace a guy I felt that being on their good side was important). Louis the Scotsman and the German guy were with us also, but with drinks in hand they looked like a separate gang.
Bouncers did a half hearted metal detector sweep so I also snuck a knife into a Prague nightclub. Oh how could this story end? Jail? The hospital? The curb stomping of a hobo? No nothing remotely exciting.
We hung out in the club, had a beer, and I enjoyed watching all the guys stand around looking at each other. Prague is a dude heavy city. Lots of guys go to the Czech capital because of dreams of all the wild parties and sex with beautiful Czech women. Let me tell you a little something about Prague. All those beautiful women are either living in New York as models or dancers in the strip clubs and by dancers I mean strippers who turn tricks in the back. I'm not kidding. Prague is wonderful, but the women are overrated. I saw lots of puck rock chicks and Goth and way, way too many dreadlocks.
Note: Europe has more dreadlocks than Bonnaroo. No joke and lots of other stupid hair cuts to boot.
But I digress. I was actually enjoying myself. I talked with people and hung out. I kept thinking how I could be doing this at the hostel, but I was having fun. I could say I snuck a knife into the largest club in Central Europe. No dancing though, I wasn't drunk enough.
After a while I got kind of tired of the scene and was tired too. I'm not a clubber, simple as that. I'll do it and have fun, but only for so long. I was also looking for a way out coming rejection of one of the girls. The girl who could be a lawyer was an English girl named Allie (To add to this she had black hair and black top. Her friend Ellie had blond hair, white top. Allie and Ellie, are you trying to get mixed? Must be the reason for the color coordination.) was getting that glazy look. That "Oh that looks really nice" look. She was drunk too, which didn't help. So I have a drunken girl looking at me like a starving man gazing at a ham sandwich. She was a nice girl. Fun interesting to talk too, but I didn't want her. The only woman I want is 3000 miles away, but I wasn't sure how to get that across without hurting her. Besides she knew I had a girlfriend, but that’s not going to stop her. I've hit on women I knew perfectly well had a boyfriend, so why wouldn't she hit on me. I've also been preaching the two points of, "Women can have sex any time they want." and "Its nearly impossible for a man turn down sex offered point black." I couldn't let myself become case in point so I started looking for a way out of dodge.
My way out came quickly. Ellie needed to spilt. She was damn tired and hadn't even wanted to come out and quickly found herself riding drag and roping strays for the group (think back to the cat herding joke. Got it? Excellent.). Allie wouldn't let her take a cab alone, but didn't want to leave herself so I was asked to escort Ellie back. I hesitated at the idea of paying for a cab, but Ellie said she'd pay. I agreed and offered to throw her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carry her back rather than pay for a cab (realistically I could never have made it, shingle bundles are only 80lbs and those killed me. Ellie is a small woman, but still over 80lbs), but she said she wanted a cab and would pay.
The rest is simple. We went back, talked with an English girl who could have been Nira's sister and hit the hay. Ellie did tell me she thought Allie was gunning for me too, so I felt my early exit was justified.
Two of the guys we went out with from the hostel were just out of the Corp. They met at mechanics school and did their whole time together, even a tour in Iraq. The guy I talked to was in Basic Training when 9/11 went down. They were told they were going to war and the training got tougher, but they didn't know what happened until they finished basic. Crazy.
They were traveling with two girls. One was with his girlfriend and the other (the one I talked to) was the future brother in law of the other girl who joined them in Madrid. She was very pleased to be traveling with two ex-Marines.
Here is something we touched on about the Corp. When you have basic in San Diego, it may suck, but at least the weather is nice. At Parris Island you have hot humid weather and bugs the size of house cats, but in Diego it nice all the time. Lesson: If you want to join the Corp, establish your address west on the Mississippi River so you can do basic in San Diego.
I got in Amsterdam at 7:20 and came right to the Flying Pig Hostel. I've heard allot about this place, and it is quite nice. I had to wander around until 8:30 (where I had a 7-euro breakfast and wanted to cry to that, but it was the only thing open. Waffle with chocolate and sugar and drink) when they start selling beds. I'm not sure why I didn't get online and look and book a place earlier, but I think I wanted to stay here. I'm paying 31 euros for the night in a 6 bed room, expensive as hell, but I was here, I wanted to stay here, and it’s only for one night. I think the price is about average for Amsterdam so I'm not too upset and this place definitely seems worth it.
Two great quotes, exchanges really, both ending, oddly enough, with someone saying, "Fuck you."
Quote 1- The Roxy, Prague
Long Beach Michael- "Not that many girls here."
Me- "It doesn't matter to be, I'm not hunting."
LB Michael- "Hunting? Oh, fuuuuuuck you."
Quote 2- The mean streets of Amsterdam
Hobo- (Real friendly) "Hey man, that cash machine doesn't work. Go to the one on the corner."
Me- "Oh, thank you."
Hobo- (Following me) "Can I ask you one question?"
Me- "I'm not giving you any money. Sorry."
(Pause)
Hobo- (quietly to himself) "Sorry? Fuck you."
Goddamn Hobos. Most people work for money, maybe they should try it.
I've been on the computer for a long time. Its nearly 3:30pm now and I'm not sure what I'm going to do today. It’s raining off and on so I'm not to keen on walking around. I'm probably going to be showing people the city in the next couple days. I could walk to the Paridiscio and get Johnny Winter and Nashville Bluegrass Band tickets, but I should wait until I know what’s going on with my program.
I think I'll relax and read most of the day.
I love and miss you all,
Matt