2007.06.21
Re-Acquaintance
Prague CastleI’ve been Prague now for the better part of a week. I have no idea what’s playing in the theaters, or which bands are playing around town, or where the people I might have known are hanging out. I haven’t really thought about it much. Instead I’ve been walking. My legs are desperately sore every night when I return to my rented apartment. I sack out like I’ve run a marathon. Honestly, I’m probably putting in a good 15 miles a day.
No, I haven’t seen a show. I haven’t done those myriad typical touristic things. I’ve been walking and looking at details in the architecture of the city. I touch the stone as I pass and I reconnect with the flesh and bones of this city. I feel I’m reacquainting myself with an old lover. Our relationship was happy and intense and kind of scary at times.
I’d thought my feelings for this place had diminished over time but seeing her again… I walk and I watch and I feel ashamed I waited 13 years to come back. The dresses she wears in the form of new shops and fresh paint make her at times unrecognizable but the places my eyes don’t remember, my body does. We’re still more the same than different.
I forget how deep a connection I feel with this place but Prague, I realize, is where my heart lies. Every city I live in will be compared to her and can only hope I’ll be returning someday to stay.
Categorized: life photos prague thoughts
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13 Responses to “Re-Acquaintance”
- jon e says (June 21st, 2007 at 16:16:26 )
Yeah I know the feeling. I am yearning to get back to some place of comfort where I was at a point on the cutting edge of my life. But well see I think my new city might be right around the corner lol.
Have a great time see ya soon.
- douglas says (June 22nd, 2007 at 02:41:15 )
Eh what? Are you implying you might be moving away? Or just going on a trip?
- Aida Hadzikadic says (June 22nd, 2007 at 03:37:00 )
You better stop…You’re such a dreamer…almost made me cry…
I was in Prague in 2001 - It felt like TRANS…
What is that ’something’ about that city? Is it magic that touches everyone or just certain kind of people?
I feel like my very soul was born there.- A says (June 23rd, 2007 at 09:35:33 )
Hi. For some reason, I would like to listen this conversation… :)
… To the question “What´s that something about this city?” I would say, that this question is maybe exactly the point: Becauze one can just never answer it. Becauze one can just never really tell, what exactly “it is”.One can talk about Mystery. One can talk about Architecture. One can talk about Old Europe. One can talk about the atmosphere. One can talk about freedom of life. One can talk about people. One can talk about Home. One can talk about whatever else.
But we all feel, that all thees answes are somehow true and, at the same time, that non of theese answers are the sufficiant answer for that question.
And that, I think, is what Prague about.- Aida Hadzikadic says (June 24th, 2007 at 00:55:13 )
Thanks A.
It’s lovely… the way you put it.
I’ve just got inspired to read ‘The Spirit of Prague’ by Ivan Klima again.
I don’t like to stereotype, but I have to say, I have some kind of special admiration for Czech people, their spirit, their ‘Kafkarna’ and ‘Svejkovna’, their humor…
Cheers!- izumi says (June 25th, 2007 at 17:43:36 )
place more photos! this is beautiful!
- richmond says (June 28th, 2007 at 20:40:11 )
its been to long old frend. time has parst and we are older. i wont to so badly go back.
one day ha
- A says (July 1st, 2007 at 07:41:00 )
Hey, Richmond!!!!!???
How small the world have become…So long I did not hear from You…
…only now, whan Douglas was in Prague we went throuhg all the things from the thing, that we call past… in fact, I was trying to find your adress after that, but, You know, I am still not too much skilled in the net-world, so I did not succeed…
… write me your email adress, mine is andreahozakova%seznam.czA.
- A says (July 1st, 2007 at 07:45:30 )
… and, Aida?
Do You still follow this page.. ? I still do not know too well, how it works…
… but I would like to hear, what do You see incommon between “kavkarna” and “svejkarna” - it is so different thigs, that it is funny to see it in one sentence like that… I wonder, how do You, so distant from it, feel theese things.
Greetings!Andrea
- Aida Hadzikadic says (July 2nd, 2007 at 05:20:39 )
Hi Andrea,
I didn’t think these two phrases have anything in common.
I was refering to Ivan Klima’s writing from ‘The Spirit of Prague’
“…people of Prague have used the word Kafkarna to describe absurdities of their lives, and have called their own abillity to make light of such absurdities, to confront violence with humour and utterly passive resistance, Svejkovina.”
I cannot easely describe how I feel it; perhaps it’s just a feeling or illusion of closeness fed by reading Kafka as a high school girl,(’The Good Soldier Svejk’ was also compulsory reading)being slavic,watching Czech movies living in Prague for a short while,and who knows…- Martin Eckert says (September 8th, 2007 at 12:55:11 )
Ahoj Aida Hadzikadic!
By accident I found your name on the page! Is it you?
Kralja Tomislava 11 (still got your old passport…)?
If you see this message, please write me to: e_krt@yahoo.de
I live now in Hamburg …
Like to get in contact with you! How are you? Still in Australia?
Yours, Martin- Aida says (September 8th, 2007 at 18:33:04 )
Ooo Dear!!! I don’t know what to say…You see Doug what happens when YOU go to Prague. It’s so cool to reconnect with old friends, especially the ones I met in Prague!
- douglas says (September 8th, 2007 at 19:23:57 )
Yeah, I did think that was kind of a funny thing that Martin would contact you here, but sometimes that’s how it works out! I’m always happy to facilitate reunions. :)
