The Brooklyn of Prague

As I took the green metro to the red metro to a tram just to have to walk a few more blocks to get to my new home from the hotel Rob and I stayed at my first two nights in Prague, there was this feeling of familiarity that I just couldn't put my finger on. We'd spent the day before exploring the Prague Castle (word of advice, don't get an audio guide) and wandering around the cute streets of Nové Město and Staré Město where the ground was covered in big cobblestones and beautiful buildings hid around every bend. Holešovice (pronounced "hole-eh-show-veet-say), on the other hand, was a different place entirely. Still lovely in its own way, but not like the rest of Prague, and located a trek across the river from both Prague's main sites and the NYU Center. Then while walking to the tram one night I overheard something that I felt perfectly exemplified the situation. Holešovice is the Brooklyn of Prague. It has those same qualities that set Brooklyn apart from Manhattan: located across the river (in this case the Vltava), its a walk to get to any restaurant or store, the buildings aren't quite as pretty, and in general things are a lot quieter. I also find that its common to go out to Brooklyn for a club or party, and here everyone heads out to Mecca, mere steps from our door, on Wednesday nights for one of the best clubs in Prague. So that's my new home and I have to admit, I love it. While I am a girl who thrives on convenience, Holešovice and more specifically the Osadni apartments, are perfect for me. Here are some pictures so you can get a feel of the place:

Our room (cool windows are a perk of the top floor).

My side of the room.

The loft. Climbing up there was a scary, but rewarding adventure.

Our kitchen (and yes, its for just 5 people).

Bathroom for the 4 of us. Including bathtub, separate shower, bidet, toilet, and two sinks!

Study lounge which is also on the top floor along with a TV room, laundry room, 

and music rooms across the hall.

The view from one of the two large enclosed balconies.

The entrance to Osadni 35, aka home.

Mecca, so inconspicuous by day...

So that's where I'll be living until May!

Next up: In and around the NYU Center and my weekend trip to Český Krumlov, the jewel of Central Europe.

Paris, je t'aime

What can I say about Paris? It's a beautiful city with delicious bread. And steak. I had the best steak, and you know how much I love steak. Wednesday morning we took the Thalys from Amsterdam, which was a really good deal at €25 each, and I got to see some windmills along the way. After arriving we were pretty lame and our original plans to go to Sacré Cœur fell through after we both fell asleep for more than a few hours. Below are some photo highlights of the sites we did get to see...

We explored the Louvre...

Ate bread and cheese beneath the Eiffel Tower...

Saw some classic artwork...

And some more modern art in the Museé d'Orsay,

Sipped in a cute café,

Fell in love with Shakespeare & Co.,

Marveled at Notre Dame,

and trekked to the Arc de Triomphe.

It all concluded with an 8am flight to PRAGUE. 
Coming Soon: Details of my first week in the Czech Republic. 

For those of you who would like to write to me...

Nikki Liberatore

NYU Center

Malé náměstí 2

110 00, Prague 1

Czech Republic

Hearing from you would make my day, and send me your address if you'd like a postcard from Prague!

Nikki and Rob Hit Amsterdam: January '10

So I had an absolutely amazing time in Amsterdam, such a cool city. From the canals to the coffeeshops to the language that sounds suspiciously like the Sims, it was all fascinating. We spent two nights exploring as much as possible.

Our first night, after traveling for 15 hours, we decided to partake in some when in Amsterdam activities that ended in a late night trek about a mile each way to buy a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Needless to say, we had a good time. The second day was filled with slightly more...wholesome events. Here are some photo highlights to summarize:

We explored the Anne Frank Huis,

Took a ride on the canal, there were icebergs, houseboats, and PIRATES,

Went to a store filled with quite a variety of condoms,

Wandered through the flower market,

Acted like a tourist,

And tried something new!

The next morning it was off to Paris. Stay tuned for the highlights later this week!

Thoroughly Exhausted

Sorry for the long wait, I had limited computer access while traveling. I'm in Day 1 of Prague orientation and they've had us running around all day.

My week long travels were great, I'll post some entries about that this week sometime with specifics. I have some thoughts about Prague to share with you:
1. Beautiful, but they should really invest in some rock salt. I've already fallen on my butt once. Apparently this is the most it has snowed here in 17 years!
2. My dorm/room are really nice. My bedroom is huge, but the building itself is not located very conveniently to the NYU Center in Old Town Square.
3. Beer is cheaper than soda here. In one store I found a bottle of beer for 8 crowns, that's about 40cents! I tried banana beer the other night, terrible decision on my part.
4. The honor system for public transportation is strange.
5. Food might be an issue for a picky eater such as myself, all I really want is a hamburger...

Check back tomorrow for Amsterdam highlights!

Here it is.

Today is the day. The beginning of what promises to be the most exciting four months of my life. I hope. I leave for the airport is about an hour and half. Miraculously I finished packing, although sadly I had to resort to a second much smaller duffel bag to check with my massive one because my crammed bag was approaching the 70lb mark. There were a few minor casualties, my wonderful Laila Rowe umbrella was too big for my suitcase no matter how hard I tried to make it work, but overall I have more than I'll actually need for the semester.

This experience feels like a huge milestone in my life and all I can do is hope it's as amazing as I'm told it will be. NYU is only a half hour car ride for me so living across the ocean will be a major adjustment.

This morning two of my friends who are also going abroad reported delays at Heathrow in London. I'm only hoping I'll have no trouble getting out of Newark on time because our layover is too short for comfort. I'll report back when I'm on my way! First stop Amsterdam, then on to Paris, and finally...PRAGUE.

Just a few more days..

I'm sitting here in the mess formerly known as my room with mixed feelings. I pack my new pink heels and I'm excited for the shenanigans to come. Then I pack a dress and am filled with dread and a longing to just stay in New York.

NYU in Prague officially starts a week from tomorrow, but I'll be heading out in 3 1/2 days to do some pre-semester traveling with a friend. Amsterdam, Paris, Prague. Roughly a day and a half per city. I've planned it all, from museums to meals to how long I should sleep each night (yes, I'm a compulsive planner). And yet this 6 day trip is causing more anxiety than the subsequent 4 months in a country where English is not their first language.

But back to packing. I am close to reaching the goal that looms ominously ahead. 4 months worth of stuff, 1 suitcase. Those of you who have seen me travel before may be in awe right now. I'm that girl who goes to Boston for 2 nights and brings 5 pairs of shoes. But I have come to realize it is all about priorities, and shoes are my number one. 2 pairs of flats, my killer plum pumps, black heels, low blue heels, moccasins, Blowfish booties, the warm boots that I don't particularly like but my mother is forcing me to bring, cognac Steve Madden boots, and flip flops which hardly count. Sneakers are still up for debate. 11 pairs of shoes fit neatly into the bottom compartment of my large rolling duffel along with a shoe box filled with pictures and little necessities to ward off homesickness. Last week I had also packed most of my clothes, but then I realized I would need some things to wear before I leave and so I unpacked as needed.

From Pre-Prague

Well time to get back to fitting my life into a suitcase. Wish me luck!