haonowshaokao

So this is it. The end of the European era. The signs haven’t been particularly good this week – my computer is totalled, I have no money left and I owe some to the parents now too. All the same, the hectic schedule of the last week has left me in a very good mood. And the ‘something to look forward to’ element of course.
Last night was the (sort of) leaving party. Took everyone to Banditos – was supposed to be Taj mahal but that turned out to be the most expensive Indian restaurant I’ve ever seen. Banditos, though, was absolutely unbelievable. Best food I’ve had in months. Hamish made a rare appearance too, completing the only gathering of “everyone” since I got here.
After the food we went to the Eye, nearly got run over on the way by some twat who sped up as we crossed the road and missed us by inches. Dennily and Liv had a very interesting conversation about the different textures human meat would have depending upon the age of the person involved, then Jan’s friends from Brussels turned up. I had an hour or so drinking with two Czechs, one Russian and a Greek guy. Keeping up with the level of alcohol consumption was a little difficult. I was wrecked by 3 and had to go to bed. All for the best.
Next time I write in this I’ll either be in China or in transit somewhere. Still not panicking.

Monday was “last night” for Amanda and Miriam. With people coming and going so often around here the social schedule seems to consist of a string of leaving parties. They’d suggested going to have a meal, and I’d said we could go to Braziliero as I wanted to check out their legendary selection of meat and arrived ten minutes late to find Dennily and Liv complaining that it was closed, though it turned out they’d been to the wrong restaurant. When Amanda, Miriam, Vicky and Marcus turned up we went downstairs, found there was only room in the non-smoking area and stood around debating whether we should go or not. I made an effort to underline that I wasn’t in charge, then a consensus emerged that we should just go back to Zizkov to eat at Kure V Hodinach
The meal was good but unbelievably small. Turned out the waitress had accidentally ordered us half-portions for some reason. The only good move of the night was the one up the hill to the Clown and Bard, where we had some drinks and I had some cool presents from the girls. Nobody was up for a big night, it being Monday and the Blind Eye still being closed, so by 2 it was just me and Miriam left. We went to Akropolis, came back again, tried to call Michelle and wrote on arms. Eventually we found Michelle at her up with a load of people at her house, up with a load of people who’d just had tattoos. I had to go to sleep so I said goodbye and left them there to get the day tram home.
Then I was woken up the next afternoon by a text message saying they’d missed their flight.

On Friday Jan took me along to a warehouse rave. There were three of us going at first, then eleven by the time we got out of the bar. After a night tram, a trip to the all-night petrol station and a good few sets of directions we found the place past a cluster of fire engines, down a stairwell and along a disused railway track. The rave was in the very dark warehouse basement, half filled with shady people with hoods over their heads. The sides were dotted with beer, herbal high, mushroom and “cake” stalls. The music was old school jungle and techno and was so distorted it often sounded like one single note with the potential to shake the building to dust. The only toilets were two unlit portaloos outside. It was fucking cool. I had a good dance and moreorless everyone else had some of that mystery brown powder they’re still calling “MDMA”. It was good for a couple of hours until Amanda started freaking out and we had to take her to the Clown and Bard and stop her running in front of things she thought were taxis. Stayed there for a while with her and Miriam, and also Derek, who was unable to stop talking like Hunter S Thompson.
The next day I found Ken and Virginia, who were visiting on a trip from Scumhampton. They were having a good one despite having come at the coldest time of the year with toothache. Had a meal in Radost FX then took them down to the Blind Eye, where we had beers and shots and socialised. Was a reasonable night, though everyone who’d been at the rave seemed only half there.
Sunday tried to watch Arizona Dream in the hostel while about 50 backpackers sang and screamed all around. Think I heard about four words in total.