While in Prague, I made some notes of things to write about in my blog. Every single one of them is about food. That sums me up quite well. So here follows my blog entry, ‘Variations on a Sausage’.
Who’d have thought that within two hours of landing we would be cooking our own sausages over an open fire? We learnt how to make the traditional knife cuts (a cross in each end, 5 slashes down each side). The boys coped a little better than they had with the German Weisswurst in Erding (let’s just say…it was pretty graphic).
This open-fire, late night atmosphere was our introduction to La Fabrika, the venue for our two shows. It was a perfect space, modern, intimate, stylish and covered in Virginia Creeper (click here for my alternative blog, ‘A Horticultural Paper on the Urban Flora of the Czech Republic’ – (sadly currently unavailable - ED).
It was only a short trip, but we made the most of it and explored as much of Prague as we could. It’s a beautiful city. After our first show, we met Pavel who had been on a Vamos course 18 months ago. He showed us Prague by night (no, not Hooters bar!), and I can recommend it as the best way to see the sights. By day, Prague is busy with tourists, but at night the Charlestown Bridge was romantic and the Castle peaceful. There was even a bar called ‘The Theatre Goes On’ – well, it would have been rude not to patronise it.
Sausage for breakfast! Of course.
The next day we had some free time before the show. We took the tram into the city (some more successfully than others) and watched the Prague Astronomical Clock. Then it was time to fend for ourselves. Up till now we had been fed, very kindly, by the theatre. How much food could we get for 150czk? What even was 150czk?
The money situation baffled us. 30 Czech Koruna equals £1. But a pint of beer also equals 30czk. Yes, a pint for a pound! There was no stopping those boys.
Mental arithmetics has never been my strong point, so I ended up spending a tenner on a panini. Oops. Never satisfied, this was followed by a Trdlenik, a sort of spiced doughnut filled with ice-cream. Yum.
After another show, some more beers and another breakfast sausage, it was time for us to return. Many thanks to Joseph from La Fabrika for shipping us and our stuff to and from the airport. I must also thank the lovely Amalie for looking after us so brilliantly. The Prague Non Verbal Theatre Festival is only in its second year, but it is beautifully and perfectly organised, and was a real pleasure to be part of. Let’s hope we get to return.
And now, I must find my shorts – it’s going to be 33°C in Offenbach next week!
Sarah