Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Of Spice and Jam

I'm currently working like the proverbial thing-working-very-hard-which-I'd-think-of-if-only-my-brain-were-not-completely-cabbaged-but-whatever-it-is-it's-probably-covered-in-sweat-and-has-loads-of-other-things-standing-around-it-shouting-"Work!"-"Work harder!"-"Do more stuff!"-"Now!" So I haven't had much of an opportunity for sight-seeing of late. Unless my late-night tours of Prague metro stations counts. (Rather cool 70s effects with coloured metal, but as it's of Soviet construction I'm still looking for the "productive peasants" murals. Or would that be too much like rubbing salt into an open wound?)

Luckily, last weekend they let me out and I was able to sample the delights of the "Big Knedlik" (trad. Czech potato dumpling) for myself. As is my wont, I spurned the delights of the "In the Footsteps of the Kings" walk and "Big Bohemian Beer Tour" as a way of getting to know the various districts that make up the city centre. Instead, went for the self-patented "Look for every possible bookshop that might stock languages I read armed only with a crappy guidebook map" tour.

Fortunately along the way, I managed to stumble across several other things which are possibly of greater interest to visitors.

1. A nun in a really cool wimple of the type I have never seen before. Nuns are always a bit shocking, and more than a little spooky. Now I need to find a nun-spotter's book that helps you identify the order by the habit. Bit like the cut of a tonsure and robe tells your Franciscans from your Benedictines, y'know.

2. Cobbles. Many many cobbles. Round cobbley ones.

3. Turning a corner and come across some big-ass ancient gatehouse you weren't expecting 'cos you haven't read the guidebook yet. I like surprises.

4. Very good coffee, of the type drunk out of paper-thin porcelain cups with gold trim by fashionably elegant women of a certain age. They're the ones with immaculate coiffures who look unbelievably soignee in leopard print and big gold jewellery. Maybe it's the tailored cashmere?

5. Delis which smell gorgeously of spices and cured meat. They stock tubs of creamy salads and open-face sandwiches piled high with meat, eggs, mayonnaise and cheese like edible works of artery-fuzzing art.

6. Poppyseed stuff to eat! There is no way I'm going to pass a test for opiates after living here. Poppyseed-jam-filled pastries abound like so many abounding things. Delish… especially with no.4. If my dietary practices go according to plan, I intend to return to Blighty in a few months as one giant poppyseed.

Hungry now. Going home for tea.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

So you are having some fun over there! How's the bubblewrap popping coming along?

EvilAuntiePeril said...

Bubblewrap nearly all gone, azteclady. Pressure of work. But at least there are pastries to compensate...

Anonymous said...

Isn't wimple a great word!? Good tip re the drug test by the way. You never can tell when you might need it.. I will certainly ,ake sure I touch nothing poppyseed related before I enter Singapore! Also, did you ever find a bookstore or did you get stuck indefinitely at the bakers with the poppy seed bun and the coffee? ; )

EvilAuntiePeril said...

Hola Mel. I did make my way to a bookstore or three, although admittedly in some cases I was following the smell of the coffee from the instore cafes. ;-)

The Richard said...

Further to this wimple/deli-related, post, it sounds like you'll need to purchase a nun's habit to wear, as with so many evil calorofic foodstuffs, precious little else will actually fit.

EvilAuntiePeril said...

I could go to one of those frightening E.European "reducing" spas at the end of my stay? Otherwise rathereasyjet might not let me on the plane.

In the meantime, Lard! My Kingdom for a Tub of Lard!

Anonymous said...

Hmmm.. Mum and I did one of those in Budapest. It called itself an "aqua rejuvenating spa" and though it wasn't altogether unpleasant, it involved 4 hours in and out of various different pools and saunas with the masseur (who fancied himself as a bit of a lothario I think, "Me scorpio, like you - heh heh..") AND his interpreter as Mum and I speak neither Hungarian nor Russian, and his English was best ignored ;) Never heard of the "reducing" treatment, but would be fascinated to hear all about it! Proceed with care though..

EvilAuntiePeril said...

Only pools and saunas? I was thinking they'd break out the rubber hoses. Were you and your mum rejuvenated? The lothario sounds disturbing...

Anonymous said...

exceptional phrase; grouping of words:
"edible works of artery-fuzzing art"

my!
thank you. someone who writes creatively... so enjoy your blog.

L R