All I Want is a Room Somewhere

Ok, so maybe that title was a bit more appropriate for the waiting period when I was living out suitcase in the hotel without any idea of where I would be living for the next three months or so.

I moved in this afternoon with my family in Praha 5 -- Stodulky
to be more exact. It's near this great park where we took the dog for a walk this afternoon. Man, I miss my dog, although it's great to have something in common that is so central to our lives.

Although I'm not positive, I believe that my housing complex was built during the Communist period -- although it's definitely been renovated on the inside since then.You can tell in Prague how old the buildings are because of the signs that label each building.



How to Read Czech Street Signs

The red plaque on the left identifies the both the neighborhood as well as the district. While it's a little hard to read in this photo, the neighborhood is "Mala Strana" [which is where most of the films in Prague are shot] and the district is Praha 1.

The number on it which tells you in what order the buildings in the area were constructed. So the lower the number, the older the building. This particular building probably dated back to the mid 19th century if not earlier. My apartment building is number 2128 -- the highest I've seen yet.

The blue plaque identifies the number on the street.

The key over the door is also a mark that true Czech historians can understand. Many houses are identifiable by their symbol. Some have religious imagery, while others refer back to more pagan symbols.

I've got my first assignment to turn in, so I will write more about my adventures storming the castle (with pictures!) when I get a chance in the next few days. My computer has a fickle relationship with the wireless networks here in Prague so we shall see.