Not From These Parts / Tram / 17 June 2019

If we think closely about ourselves, there are colors we tend to flock to in our wardrobe. Mine are white tops, anything denim, and pink. Clothing serves as a form of expression – it shows both how I felt when I put my clothes on and how I will likely continue to feel as the day goes on.

I’ve talked previously about how I take notice to color and as a result have failed to appreciate black and white in the past. Here it is again. A photo of an entire color palette – orange eyeshadow, phone case and top; light blue jeans, nail polish and neighbor; yellow backpack and tram poles; purple hair and jacket.

I often compare my wardrobe to the Czech people around me, instantly feeling out of place. I’m in shorts, the women are in dresses or long skirts. I look American. I wonder how she feels in comparison to the Czech fashion. Powerful. Vulnerable. Unique.

I believe Prague does not have a fashion and street culture like other cities do. I have a friend who just went to Tokyo and reported back on the street wear scene taking place there. Czech fashion is different. Many things I would never wear. Perhaps they are beautifully disconnected from expectations to be fashionable. A life I may envy. Either way she looks good.

A Thousand Words / Národní Gallery / 16 June 2019

Two different women, in a stare down with each other. One carved, the other living. In a moment, they turn and their eyes meet, two different lives. The statue is a symbol of youth, the freedom that comes with it. The woman came to the national gallery with her husband, their hands locked together the entire time.

I wonder what the look in the woman’s eyes means. I’m tempted to call it envy. Envy for the youth, the movement, the body on display. Though I’m sure the statue envies for much more, a life, a love, a home.

To me this photograph represents the look two strangers share. The envy that can become such a part of that eye lock. Because of the need to compare, likely bred into us from society, maybe as women but also as humans in general. We want what the other can’t have.

So in a stand-off, they think about it. I’ve thrown around the phrase “how the other half lives” numerous times recently. Comparing Cesky Krumlov and Prague, talking about meat eaters entering a vegan restaurant. Here it is again. The other half, then the woman moves on to admire the rest of the art. And the statue stays in place, waiting for the next stand-off.

The Nocturnalist / Lucerna Music Bar / 15 June 2019

Friday night in Prague – Lucerna Music Bar holds 80s and 90s video night and people from the city, mainly tourists come to live in the past. The room seemed to have many British men on stag-dos but that’s something I’ve learned to expect from Prague.

He was already center stage when we walked into the club as “Dancing Queen” played. The perfect walk-in song. While I was with a group of nine, he was completely alone. In his own moment. I was both disturbed by his constant energy, wondering what he took to get to that level. But also mesmerized by the pure fun.

I took pictures of his elaborate dances moves and it took him a while to notice. When he finally looked down he made a funny face in response to the camera on him, but the dance moves continued. He saw my camera but I don’t think he thought about it. Too stuck in the 80s and 90s. All that mattered in the moment was “Greased Lightning.” A stage entirely to himself, people were likely scared to approach or respectful of the joy.

As the night went on, his shirt gradually became more unbuttoned. This made me laugh, as I’ve heard many jokes about this happening as men get more drunk. Can confirm it happens with this guy.

Around Here / Cesky Krumlov / 14 June 2019

The simple moments like this in Europe are what keep me coming back. Plastic table and chairs that seem enchanting on the narrow streets, but really they’re just plastic. Flowers on window panes, fresh fruit, unfashionable sandals, table for one.

Cesky Krumlov did not disappoint. It may be tourist ridden, but that made the moments with locals even sweeter. Kids playing in the playground, collecting rocks alongside the river as their moms watched.

One of my favorite local moments was when I watched a group of five students playing soccer in the street along the river. A girl kicked it in the water, made a noise of disappointment, and walked right into the river. With just her head above the water she swam out to it.

Sitting at a pizza restaurant with friends, I turned and found this woman in the corner. As if she was the only woman in Cesky Krumlov, a woman and her fresh fruit, fresh flowers, a catalog. Living life in the town so many people visit and dream of doing.

Noticed / Zvikov Castle / 14 June 2019

“Quels sont vos passe-temps préférés?” What is your favorite pass time? The standard question I’ve been asked in my French classes, my response is almost a reflect. “J’aime nager.” I like to swim. Mainly at Barton Springs, but I have a recent fondness of Deep Eddy Pool. To me swimming is a deeply personal activity. I like to go to these places by myself and truly take the day to lay in the sun. Then jump in and swim. For leisure and for exercise.

Naturally when we arrived at Zvikov Castle, I found the water right away. I sat on a rock and ate a sandwich. It was the very edge of the castle grounds and to my left, a family’s house. They were taking a glorious Czech swim, full sunshine. While it wasn’t a solo activity, I could tell they found great joy. A true family affair, some watching from chairs but six of them in the water. Myself totally spying on them and fully admiring their activities.

Tonight I swam in the Vltava River and it reinforced “j’aime nager.” When I leave the Czech Republic, I will remember the Vltava. And how I swam in Cesky Krumlov and was connected straight back to Prague.

Architecturally Speaking / Dancing House / 13 June 2019

The Dancing House – a Prague building that sticks out in comparison to the older architecture of the city. Built in 1994, the building offers a new style for the city, meant to mimic two figures dancing together. I love the way it looks next to the older style of the buildings around it. It offers a new approach to compact buildings and twists in a beautiful way.

I went to experience the rooftop. The building is along the river, offering views of the surrounding buildings and the river. At sunset, the scene is serene, mainly drawing couples to its enticing views, but the occasional group of friends.

For this particular couple, the man in the red and black hat first sat alone, lighting a cigarette. I assumed that’s how the night would look for him, but then she showed up. Drawing him in, flirting, as the light from the sculpture on the rooftop cast a shadow on her face, making it look like she was in a cage. Locked in love.

My favorite view was behind her. A street cast in the fogginess of dusk, street lights glowing, cars moving by. A girl looking lovingly at the boy she came to the rooftop for. Love in Prague.

A Thousand Words / U Malého Glena Jazz Club / 11 June 2019

The pianist goes off on a riff, he doesn’t steal the song away but he borrows it for a moment. The whole room watches, amazed at the speed of his fingers, at the melody he is creating. When the moment is over the room claps, he turns and gives a humble nod. The event described occurred in every song the quartet played.

The audience noticed the lead guitarist and singer, he talked between every song and sometimes mumbled oddly to himself. They noticed the drummer when he put down the sticks and drummed with his hands. I don’t think too many people noticed the bassist, tucked in the back corner behind the pianist. He didn’t make much of a scene.

One thing I’ve noticed in my years of large music consumption, is that no one thinks too much about the bass line. I can precisely air drum to my favorites songs, I can sing all the words, hum the guitar solos, but I’m not sure I could recreate a bass line. Though, the bass line is vital to any song’s success. The bass is the glue, it holds the other instruments together as they go on their respective riffs. Over the past couple months I’ve tried to notice the bass more. I saw my favorite band in concert in May and really took this to heart.

The good ones are tucked away, glue is clear and covered by what it’s holding for a reason. But it’s vital. He received only claps after the singer introduced him, he played where it was needed, but his music filled the jazz club and rang into the ears of the people sitting around him, whether they knew it or not.

Location Notations / On the way to CET / 10 June 2019

There are endless corners in Prague to see, I’m sure of it. This particular corner is a part of our walk to class, though I’m not sure how many people notice it. After 12 days here, this was the first time I’ve seen someone use this space. Standing in the most powerful part, all shadows and lines leading directly to her.

Looking closely at her face, she appears distressed as she takes a phone call. Distressed in a calming environment. I watched as she took the phone call, pacing as she spoke. Her words weren’t in English so I don’t what was said, but I hope she found comfort while she stood in the most powerful part of the corner. Where nature finds a place in the city, plants on windows and against walls. Light yellow, rich green, and a vibrant red.

In the future, I’ll keep my eye out for more of these corners. This image serves as a reminder that there are instances like this, where the light hits just right, that I walk by every day. Even with a distressed phone call, she found one of Prague’s well kept secrets.

Weekend Miser / House of Photography / 9 June 2019

In a gallery of all black and white photographs and of museum goers mainly dressed in blacks and grays, the girl in the pink dress found the one wall in the gallery with colored borders. I understand her, as someone who owns much more pink than black. In big cities, I stick out like a sore thumb. One of my goals in life is to remind others of how colorful it can be. In a black and white gallery, I found its most colorful moment.

However, on this trip I have discovered the beauty of a black and white image, after seeing the work of both Dennis and my peers. And then a gallery full of black and white images. Of people finding meaning in black and white, certainly challenging my colorful priorities. The photographs in this exhibit, by Jiří Hanke, date 1973-2018, but the photographer has stuck with black and white as his mode of storytelling.

My eye flocks toward color but, with much thanks to this trip, I understand the beauty in black and white. I hope it can live harmoniously with my love of color. And may she continue to wear her pink boldly and chase the pieces of the exhibit that make her feel the most home.

Small Wonder / Charles Square / 8 June 2019

This weekend was the Prague Music Festival, with over 500 performances, 200 artists and in over 50 locations. A celebration of art taking over the entire city. At Charles Square, there were two stages. One with a band that had a rock style and a fashion market behind it and at the other, an acoustic set, a Czech girl singing songs she wrote in English.

At both stages, people sat in the grass, sun pouring in on them, spending time in the communities they made. Some families, some groups of friends. This particular girl showed up alone, watching the acoustic set. Event security watching her. I felt fond of this moment, partially because I enjoy yellow and blue in composition together. But also, the watchful eye in the shade and the youth standing in the sun.

Prague felt much edgier today. The festival brought out larger crowds than I have seen in Prague yet. Also, the festival brought out a new type of people. Not the people that go to Old Town Square or eat out in restaurants. The hidden Prague, that a security guard may have to tame. I don’t think this girl will stir up much trouble on her own and the look on his face shows that he knows it, too. But he will stare and admire a little while longer.