Jelly Doesn't Change Lives

So I have finally settled into my bella apartment in Prague. With its amazingly high ceilings, gorgeous molding, and ironic ikea furniture, I already feel at home. Of course I had to rearrange the furniture once I arrived, but when don't I do that (Hil knows). The homey part is helped by the fact that this all looks familiar:

I don't know if you can tell, but its basically san francisco but bigger. The buildings are all multicolored and side by side, but old and really fucking cool. Right on the next street! Just a plain street, with beautiful, old, multi-colored buildings. Really beautiful close up. Like this one, on the corner of my street:

Just the little things...obviously the old town square, charles bridge, the castle- all that famous stuff is absolutely amazing as well. But I just like how much detail goes into the residential areas. And speaking of residential...dogs have equal status with people here. Prague Dogs are by far the coolest and luckiest dogs in the world. Does your dog get to roam around off a leash wherever he likes? The malls, a bar, a restaurant- who cares! Dogs are always welcome. He can beg for food at that guys table, or wait politely outside of the market while you run in and grab a six pack. He also dresses in the latest fashions. Stretchy pants and a down jacket? Only if they are matching please! A nice knit sweater from Grandma, of course! These human dogs fascinate me every day... 

Unfortunately, without any friends here (or dan) yet, I have found myself rather lonely. Not the sad weepy karaokeing "All By Myself" kind of lonely, but the other kind. You know, when you are at the market and you see salad dressing, what you've been searching tirelessly for, for only $1.50! "My gosh, that is amazing" you say to the salsa. And then, what's this? A scarf for only $5 that will finally cover my face and keep me warm?? "Don't you just love Prague??" you say to the hats. And then on my way home I found myself having an interesting (silent) conversation... I feel like a whole new woman! This has changed my life! I have salad dressing, salt, a new scarf, an umbrella and jelly all for only $15. My face is not cold and my food will have flavor, finally. But c'mon, lets get serious. Jelly doesn't change lives. An umbrella, hell yes. A new scarf will always cheer me up. But jelly...I mean it's ok. I'd probably rather have cream cheese, if I had the slightest idea how to say cream cheese in Czech...

Oh crap, am I really having this conversation with myself right now? I am. I need friends. Dan needs to get here. It needs to get warmer, and I need to stop watching back to back episodes of Breaking Bad. Until then, I will have to suffice with short walks (its too cold to stay out for more than an hour) around the city to dog/building watch. I will survive. 

But seriously, lets see some weather in the 40's here please. 

Ahoy Praha!

That means hello Prague, in czech. Thats all I can say so far. Good start I think! So I finally arrived in Prague today, after a surprisingly comfortable and cheap bus ride from Vienna. I made the mistake not being able to resist a nap, and hence this post comes to you at 5am. Oh wait, its already 6! breakfast in an hour!!
So I am finally on the underground (whatever they call it here) and not sure how I feel yet. I'm in Prague! But I haven't seen anything yet! Then suddenly, my eyes land on the stunningly attractive poster:

and suddenly, instead of being just another American in Prague, I am the girl cracking up in the subway by myself. Laughing at everything. Obviously the poster is a gem, but isn't my life as well? Here I am in a city where I know no one, do not speak the language, and do not have a job. In a city that I didn't even know anything about until a month ago. HILARIOUS right?? Well I thought so, convincing most people around me that I was one of those crazy rejected Americans who had been set free in Europe. On arrival, I realized that one of the main reasons I am here is out of pure stubbornness. I decided I was going to do this, and so despite the fact that all my ducks were certainly not in a row, I came. I have trouble changing my plans, or not doing something I say I will. It's a problem. Ok wait, John Mayer "Home Life" just came on...isn't life ironic?

So what if I have 2 weeks to find a job. Or have a new language to learn, or have a bunch of new friends to make...I have a really good feeling about this. So Prague I say to you: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Bring it on (well, bring it on after the jet lag passes)