A disgustingly beautiful city full of contradictions. It draws on the attractions of struggling souls competing for space with weathered shrubs, all stuck in the middle of icy cobblestones. However cold the Czech people appear they can be bubbling over with many stories and laughter after a few beers, yet they are quite rude to people they dislike for no apparent reason.
The Czechs assumed Alicia and Jose Berrios were Roma people because they have darker skin tones than most Europeans. The Latino couple had arrived in Prague with a phone number from the Hospitality Club of a possible house to stay overnight at but, received no help in finding a phone. At least until they introduced themselves to an American student studying in Prague for the semester.
I had expected to simply enjoy a cappuccino before class but Alicia approached me requesting help with calling a Czech number. She had assumed that I was Czech and spoke slowly in hopes that I could understand her accented English. Unfortunately, I do not own a cell phone and began to explain the issue when, I saw a classmate enter the café.
Luckily, she had a cell phone and Alicia became ecstatic upon realizing that we were both Americans and spoke English perfectly fine. The phone number she had went unanswered and the Berrios’ excitement faded with worries of where to spend the night. I proposed that they could stay in our dorm, Kolej Komenskeho, since it was advertised as “the cheapest accommodations” in Prague. This declaration proved true when Alicia only paid for one bed that they could both share.
As I prepared a meal on our hotplate with one working burner, the Berrios explained how, and why, they were in Europe for the next forty-five days. “We realized that our dream would never happen if we continued waiting for the day our finances would stabilize. Even though our family has been worried about the whole idea, we had to do it sooner than later,” Alicia exclaimed.
They continued to tell of how they had sold their embroidery business in Fort Lauderdale, Florida along with nearly all of their material possessions. Now only Alicia’s photography, along with Jose’s paintings, saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet remained at their previous apartment now resided by a relative.
“We sold our two cars and bought an RV van that is awaiting our return in June; than we will begin driving around North and South America for a couple years stopping at campgrounds and festivals to sell our artwork. Alicia makes jewelry that we can sell for gas money and I have begun selling my paintings online,” explained Jose.
I accompanied the Berrios on a walk along the river to Vysehrad so they could attain a better view of the entire city. Alicia soon agreed that photographing strangers is more exciting than capturing the ever present landscape. We caught intimate expressions of people lounging along the riverbank and debated what their story could be. After spending the entire day witnessing a moment of random characters’ lives Jose could not hold back hunger pangs.
“We need to buy beer for the walk back. It is my fuel to carry on!” he proclaimed as we started to walk down from Vysehrad.
Our speed increased along with the pains in our feet as we came closer to Kolej Komenskeho. Alicia would lag until Jose made a joke that nearly started an asthma attack she laughed so hard. He even questioned if walking was cheaper than simply purchasing a tram pass since, after all our shoes were wearing down and we could almost feel the cobblestones underneath. However, after another night of pasta, fruit and beer shared with hilarious conversations we could barely say farewell.
They left with a promise that we would meet again in the states and so I only wished them luck on their trip, rather than saying goodbye. Another student, Sophie Vodvarka, in the kolej (dorm) wandered off with the Berrios on a hiking trail from Prague to Vienna early Saturday morning. They were hoping to reach Vienna in at least three days so that Vodvarka, originally from Nebraska, could return to classes in Prague.
