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Prague by manu_cz
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"I make movies," Buñuel once said, "cause we are not in the best of the possible worlds." So I look for a flat cause I’m not in the best of the possible dorms. But first I need a lamp, because my room is completely dark. Then I need a flat because this dark dorm really sucks. Somebody tells me, "Go to Ikea. Cheap and cool lamps." Somebody else says, "Go to Happy House Rentals. Good agency." So today I have a huge breakfast and say, "Let’s do it."
First I go to the agency. It’s so hidden that it seems unreal. You have to get in a photo store, find a little door in a corner, step into a large hall, ask the secretary, go upstairs top floor, cross a dark narrow hall and knock on the last door. You feel as if the Mafia capo were waiting there to close a deal. Instead, a kind guy opens. He says, "I’m sorry but we can’t arrange rooms, only appartments." He gives me an email address and the name of a cafe where expats put their ads in. Very kind, thanks. "Take tram 9 down here to Ujezd," he finally says. So I go downstairs and hop in the tram.
The place is called Bohemia Bagel and it’s highly recommended. Comfy cafe and nice people. I ask an expresso and look the ad board. Only one advert referred to rooms. But it’s a good one. I’m interested. "Ask for Evan in the bar." I ask and the waiter tells me he’s not here, but he will come back afternoon. I write down the number and say I’ll phone him later.
I go to Zlicin, the end of the yellow subway line where Ikea is supposed to be. I can see the building, so go towards it, but soon I find a fence. No way here and no way there. I ask a woman how I can go from here to Ikea. She says she doesn’t speak English,
"Only Czech and Russian."
"Oh."
"And a little German."
"Gutten tag."
She laughs and makes me signs to follow her. Finally she points me bus to go there, so I hop in and wave goodbye to the nice woman. In Ikea I take the lamp. It was true; the lamp is cheap and cute. Then I phone Evan. He says, "I’m working in Bohemia Bagel. Come here and let’s talk." So I take the subway back, and go to the cafe with my lamp under the arm. "An expresso, please. Are you Evan?" We sit and talk. He’s a nice smart Czech guy. I enjoy a good chat. He looks at my lamp. I say, "You see, my dorm is so dark… I need a flat right now." He tells me he doesn’t know whether the room will be available eventually, because the owner, her sister, maybe want to come back soon. "She’s in Australia with her boyfriend but they had a big quarrel and she wants to leave him and come to Prague." Evan will email me three days later and say, "My sister’s back. I’m sorry." But now I feel confident and satisfied. "Hi Evan, if sometime you need a lamp, go to Ikea. They are awesome!" And I walk away with my lamp under my arm, thinking about kangaroos, koalas and the power of love.
What a long day. I arrive to my dark room, set the lamp, click the button, and Ikea says, "Let there be light."
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