I love the transition that happens when a place becomes home. It took years with Reno, months with Seattle, and a few weeks with Prague. I'm starting to slip into a cozy love affair with the cobblestone streets, the fruit stand outside my apartment, the psycho cats in the courtyard of my building.
Yesterday, we read a short story in class called Cafe Slavia. My roomate Rachel and I have heard a lot about this coffeeshop in every tour book so after class we decided to go. It was ideally situated between the National Theatre and the Vltava river. The tables were cherrywood and the floors onyx. Best of all, I couldn't spot a single tourist.
Our waiter came up to us and he was smiling!! He was happy to see us! Czech servers are traditionally evil and all but throw your food in your face. So, to see a happy (and hot) waiter was a pleasant surprise. He asked us if we wanted anything to drink. I accidentally said "Un Minut." A bizarre combination of Czech and Spanish. I quickly corrected myself, "Jedna minut, prosim." He again smiled and laughed.
I eventually ordered the house drink: Kava Slavia. One part foam, one part latte, and one part absinthe. Mixing alcohol in coffee is really common here and a genious concept. Rachel got a mocha and an awesome ice cream thing. I got a vegetarian sandwich which was amazing! All I could think about was how Rilke and Kafka used to hang out here and think about poetry and literature. This was the place were Vaclav Havel and the Charter 77 dissidents would discuss how to topple communism. This was another ordinary corner or Europe where incredible things took place and the coffee was excellent.
As we left, I turned to Rachel and said "This might be the absinthe talking, but I love that place more than anywhere else in Prague."
The absinthe has worn off (I hope), and Cafe Slavia is still one of the best places I've been in Prague.
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