Friday, November 24, 2006

Prague dreams



I hope everyone out there in blogland had a happy thanksgiving!

While visting family in Delaware I find myself telling everyone about our trip. It has me thinking about Prague, which is just the most beautiful city. It's a somber, elegant city that worms it's way into your heart and your psyche. At least it did for me. I find myself thinking about it and longing for it, even though I've only ever been a tourist there, and have never gotten down with it the way the locals do, the way we did in Roma.

Here are some fun pictures from our favorite restaurant, Restaruant Davide, which we went to on our very first night in Prague during our visit in 2005.

Let me set the scene...I had been dating the Mathematician for a month and a half when he invited me to accompany him to Prague, where he would be giving a lecture on cryptography. At first I said no, flatly, I cou;dn't possibly come along. I was still reeling from the break-up of my engagement, and I felt like I barely knew the Mathematician. But the more and more I thought about it the more a trip to Europe seemed like a viable option, an adventure, something brazen and impetuous that I, a not-so-brave, very cautious and careful person, was capable of doing. Deep down I think I knew it was the only way to separate myself from my current life, from Boston and all of the ghosts of relationships past. It would be the only way to co-exist with this new person, who I was quite sure I was falling in love with, against a neutral, exotic backdrop.

Our very first night in the city, jet-lagged and confused, we stumbled upon restaurant Davide, thanks to a listing in Rick Steves' Prague & the Czech Republic 2005. Here we were introduced to Czech cuisine done fine dining style, with all the elegance of formal French ettiquette and service. We ate the most delicious, exquisite cabbage soup I have ever eaten: it was salty and sour unforgettably rich and satisfying. We ate a trio of game, inclduing Wild Boar, rabbit, and the most decadent leg of duck confit I've tasted, before or since. It was lavish, and because the dollar is worth so much more than the Czech crown, it cost little more than a full meal with wine at the upscale bistro where I work.



But by far the most enchanting thing about Davide is the fact that they inexplicably serve all of their ice wine, port, cordials, and cognac in irregularly sized, enormous glasses. We saw on customer sipping a honey colored liquid from a glass that had the normal sized tulip shape of a pinot noir glass, but a stem as long as my forearm. We watched as the waiter liberated another glass from an elaborate Louis XIV style cupboard: it was a snifter that was literally as big as my head.

Returning to Davide was one part of my trip that I was so, so excited about. This time we brought my camera, we were sure to sample drinks from glasses of both sizes, and here are the pictures to prove it.



So here's to Prague...city of inexplicably big glasses, salty meats, and love...

2 comments:

Nikki said...

ARGH! I'm so slack in catching up on blog reading... I am so sorry I missed you when you were here, I would have loved to meet up! So, come back soon! ;) I love the pics... I thought I had gotten over my desire to go blonde and then I saw this... but to be fair, I think you in particular just look really good blonde here, I don't think it would work as well for me. Hmmm... Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving!

Erick said...

Prague represented our introduction to Central Europe and was a totally wonderful experience. We visited the Castle District, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge and the Old Town Square area as well as the Jewish Ghetto and found all exciting and interesting. And of course we went to Kampa and walked across the bridge. Prague escaped the most serious damages of WWII and the medieval centre with cobblestone alleys, hidden squares and churches remains intact and inviting.Cheap hotels in Prague and shopping for selected items was rewarding and we were pleased with the dining experience as well. Gourmet restaurants with wonderful Czech cuisine at great good value. Prague represents a great vacation experience.