A Victory. We saw each other at events & friend gatherings, but I didn’t know M very well. I was so happy when we finally got together for coffee + breakfast at one of our favorite bunch spots in Karlin. She was so easy to talk to, easy to listen to, & our conversation flowed smoothly into the morning. If you’re one of my close friends, you'll know that I’m going through a very rough phase of anxiety {something new to me} in my life right now. So I was very nervous to talk to someone I didn't really know for the first time in a public place; & it was encouraging to me {& was counted as a small kind of victory} to leave breakfast with a new friend in tow, & a meet-up that was pleasantly effortless {& fun!}.
A Dinner Date. Everywhere in Prague is crowded in the summertime. Families from around the world chatter away in their different languages & stag parties come in flocks of shouting & laughter. Beer gardens are full with spectators watching the UEFA with large screens mounted in between shaded trees & benches packed with people drinking cold Czech beer. Sometimes we join them, in the park next to where we live. Other days, like the day we decided on dinner, we head down to the river. I love almost everything about the Vltava: her golden waves, her great open expanse between the dense city, & her children of white swans. We grabbed a spot at one of the open tables near the river & ate an entire salami pizza + summer salad; equal parts greasy + healthy. Then with bellies full, we walked along the Vltava & wandered through the markets until the sun dipped below the city spires.
A Day Trip. The train was hot & stuffy as the six of us rode into the Czech countryside. We jumped off, met up with another friend, & started walking the trek through the green village in search of Cidrerie. Hosting its annual birthday, Cidrerie was peddling out their amazing, sweet cider {which is also tart, depending on which one you order} that paired nicely with the hands-down best burgers that I’ve had in my entire life. {This wasn’t surprising, considering some of the best food I’ve ever tasted has been while I’ve been here in Europe.} It took a little while for our orders to get done, but it was definitely worth the wait as the hot, steaming burgers replaced our small order tickets: asparagus with umami flavor + the most amazing butter sauce. It melted in my mouth in an instantV