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Prague by manu_cz
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To find a flat in Prague is not easy. To find a huge confortable inexpensive flat is almost impossible. I tried it hard in October and first week of November. I have succeeded, but only after many frustrated attempts. For instance…
I get a meeting with a Polish girl to see her flat. She and a Czech girl are looking for a third mate. "Ripska, 25" she messages me. That evening I go to Jiriho z Podebrad area, and look for the street. It’s not as easy to find as I thought. I take out my map, but it’s so windy today, that the paper flutters like a flag and I can hardly keep it in my hands. I ask people, or rather I block their way and show them my cell phone with the address. Some ignore me, some say "No idea." Finally a shabby youngster points me in the right direction.
The meeting is at 20.00; I’m there half an hour earlier, so I decide to go to a cafe near to kill time. Two girls are looking at the prices on the door. They speak English. Good news, I think. I say some silly remark and they cry out, "Oh you speak English, thanks God." We come in, sit together and drink something. They are students from the States in their year off. "From Minnesota. Never go there. Europe’s so cute." They are cool and pretty. Really pretty. "We’ve been travelling round Europe. Been to France, Italy and Switzerland." They need a cheap hostel for tomorrow night. "Yeah, I have some experience in not finding any place to be." At 20.00 I wave goodbye, wish them good luck and phone my Polish girl. "Go upstairs. 4th floor. The door is open." I knock, say hello, step into and… Damn!! This is the fucking Marx Brothers’ cabin. Dozens of guys from different countries, ages and appearances are hanging around, making questions, touching things, trying to be kind, nice and witty. A girl makes her way between them with a huge list of names, asks my name and puts a cross in it. She shows me the flat. Or rather, she tries to. It’s funny, though. There is a couple; the woman hits the man and says furiously, "Let’s get out of here, imbecile. This is ridiculous!" And the man, "Shhh. Behave yourself, sweetheart." In a while I find myself discussing with a Czech guy about the areas where finding a flat is most complicated. I brandish my map and point here and there. "Yeah, yeah. Namesti Miru. Wow. Mission impossible, fella."
So I don’t get this flat. And I was wondering in the subway on my way back if the American girls were doing it better than me. And I was wondering too, why the hell I haven’t asked the phone number to these sweet Minnesota cowgirls.
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