Pa Pa Praha

So here I am, back on the Bospherous after having the chance to say goodbye to Prague properly. I say properly because last time I left I was so stressed with running around, Christmas, and moving countries - that my goodbyes passed in an exhausting blur. By the time I had had enough sleep to wake up and realise what had happened, I’d already been living in Istanbul for 3 months.

So my oldest and dearest friend Will, the chap who was responsible for me being there in the first place, is leaving for Kiev.
I really should have gone next weekend to catch up with my friends from America who are arriving on the 1st, but I figured that even they can probably locate Istanbul on a world map (with a little help) and can come and visit one day.
Besides it was only appropriate that I should go this weekend. After all, both Will and his girlfriend at the time, Claire, did rescue me from a life of certain misery, working in factories as a receptionist on industrial estates in Bedfordshire. Were it not for them I might well be on my second marriage and fourth kid by a different father. Even worse I’d probably be claiming social security, smoking cheap fags and have no money for nice shoes. But my life took a different turn. And you can rest assured that I am not without family. I treat my shoes exactly like I would my children – I rarely clean them and I lock them in a cupboard at night. At least I can’t be put on the front page of the Daily Mail for cruelty to shoes.

I also got to see my friend Mike, who is currently waging an war against cancer that would make Genghis Kahn proud. And, much as his blog proves, http://virtualvistinghours.blogspot.com , he is an inspiration. A little more tired than usual, but still makes anyone else who has ever had an illness - ever - look like a total wuss. And he is still hairy. I respect that in a man.


Prague was more beautiful than I remembered, but it’s amazing what a spell of hot weather can do. It was dank dark January the last time I left. The women also wear less clothes than I remembered. Much less clothes. At the famous Zizkov beer garden there were more bum cheeks and boobs that you could shake a stick at. But I guess it gives you somewhere to stick your beer if you need to use both hands for fending off the Czech dogs.

I miss the easiness; the chilled out way of life; the sense that ‘anything goes’; the stunning views from no matter where you are; the old friends; the greeness; the river; the relaxed attitude of the Czechs; the clean air; the best public transport system in the world; the village atmosphere of the place; the beer gardens; the architecture and a sense of knowing exactly where you are physically; the ability of Czechs to enjoy the outdoors and their general sportiness. I am also aware that I am probably not using semi colons appropriately, but you can't have everything.

However, I do not miss being constantly tired, the damn difficult language, and the dog poo. All except one I could have sorted out myself with a little effort.

Wendy was, as always, a joy to be with. We never got time to see all the exhibitions we wanted to. But it was very comforting to see her smiley face.


In fact there were quite a few people I wanted to spend more one on one time with but never got a chance. So if you are reading this, I apologise. I much prefer one on ones to massive group events. But time was not on my side. I can’t justify spending loads of time in Prague when there is the mass of beautiful country that is Turkey, Syria, Kabul, and everywhere else that is so convienient to here. It was also sad that so many people I would have loved to have seen have moved on. But better for them I guess in the long run. It’s such a transient city.

Had a bit of a nightmare morning on the way home. Meetings that were supposed to happen didn’t. Took me nearly 25 minutes to finally confirm a taxi. The driver took me on the most traffic clogged route. Got to the airport to find they’d moved my flight to an earlier slot and there were ten, yes TEN, international flights checking in through the same four desks. But was pleased to note that the Czech man sitting next to me on the plane was very cute indeed. Spoke to him, nearly gave him my card, but got too shy at the last minute. Damn.

But all in all, a great weekend. I did nearly cry in the taxi to the airport. It’s the end of a very important and formative period of my life. I first lived in Prague when I was 19 for two years and again when I was 26 for 5 years. Particularly it’s hard with Will, Anna and Liza leaving. It really is like cutting the umbilical cord.

But onwards and upwards. We’ve all grown up a lot. We’ve all lost and gained a lot (in pounds and in pence). But there is nothing quite as tragic as people who stay stuck in a rut and can’t move on. So as lovely as it was to wallow in nostalgia for a few days, I’m very thankful my life has taken this turn. And I’m looking forward to the next episode. I'd write a book about the last fifteen years - but nobody would believe it.