I Hate, Hate and Triple Hate...

.....shopping that is. I belief outside of those green vegetable things that are round and smell like a frogs behind (what are those darn things called?) ...ah yes, Brussel Sprouts, I pretty much do not hate anything .. other than shopping. Even the worst moron in the world I do not hate ... but I hate shopping.

The USA has malls, in some shape or form, everywhere. Hating it as I do, in the USA I was lucky to be able to place my hatred on hold and shop online when I needed anything, ranging from computer equipment all the way to groceries.

Globe trotting and a bohemian life does not always lend itself to sliding with an airplane into a culture that is 'shopper-hater' friendly. The discrimination starts immediately upon arrival. You are assaulted with darling 'mom and pop' stores as you take a cab back into history, and when you do finally need to brave the world to obtain sustenance, you cannot turn on your PC and just click to get your bread, oh nope, you have to walk out the front door, walk a few feet, turn the corner and stand there evaluating the big sign inviting you to be discriminated against some more. Your life, your survival depends on this discrimination.

I have been here in Prague about 2 months I belief. I have braved my local grocery store, a huge modern glass mall some distance from my apartment, the 'mom and pops' along my exploration of this great city and yesterday, as I do many days, I elected to go out for dinner. I had no clue on what I wanted, what direction I wanted to walk in, or even if I wanted to walk. I sauntered out my front door, down the stairs, opened the front door of the building, stepping into the cool breeze of the evening around 7 pm, appropriately dressed for once. I sniffed the air, took some deep breaths, smiled, turned right, walked about 20 steps to the main intersection and looked to my right. "HA!" I thought, "not today", as I snubbed the grocery store sign calling to me.

A Tram happened to catch my attention out of the corner of my eyeball, and on a lark, I elected to take it south, knowing somewhere along the way there must be some food establishment that would catch my interest. I hopped on, sat down, moving with its rhythm, the quiet humdrum of people's conversations mixing with the sounds of the slow moving Tram; shrouding the small neighborhoods as they moved passed my nose pressed to the window. Nothing caught my attention.

One main stop, about 4 stops later, was called Palac Flora. The lit architecture cast a somewhat surreal light on its surrounding and while it did not look like a mall, it appeared it was some sort of gathering place. It had an IMAX theater sign, and of all things, a sign that said: "Sbarro". I recognized that brand. Who would have thought that an American Italian chain would be here, in Prague? Why was I surprised? I should not have been; they have McDonalds and Starbucks. Having seen nothing of food worthiness along my delightful Tram ride, I hopped off the Tram, crossed the street and entered this structure.

Well, one of the greatest things in Prague, and I am sure in the general Czech Republic, is the country's ability to take modernism as well as capitalism and incorporate it into existing older or historical structures. This was not different. It was a mall. I froze in my tracks, with I am sure, a pursed lips look on my face. But I was hungry. I braced myself, took a deep breath and walked in. I scanned my surroundings, made note of the fact there were more than 2 floors, with the top floor appearing to be the food court. The escalators appeared to be at the other end of this entrance I was pulled in, and knowing I needed to find sustenance, well, I had to walk through this whole shopping cave. I am brave, I am good, I hate shopping but I can see, arrive and conquer. On I walked towards the escalators.

Well peoples, it was a lost cause. As I moved along, I saw the most delicious desserts displayed in cafes, I passed a Mozart Chocolataire, a pet store, a locally sewn bed linen store, a decorative store with local wares, many major clothing brand stores, a beauty salon, and the list goes on and on. In many ways it was just like an American Mall, but rather than being long, and spread out, it was high; a total of 5 floors. I winded up exploring every floor, with eventually eating at the food court in a restaurant called "Detaillo". The pizza was great, the Pepsi less carbonated and more full flavored, perfection in other words, and I sat there looking out over the rail onto the shopping and all the people laughing, having fun, and obviously enjoying their little mall nestled in a historical building that gives no clue as to what treasures may lay inside.

It is getting cold outside here in Prague. The side walk cafes have removed their temporary wood decks and the doors are closed against the winds and cold, instead of being propped open. While I shall miss the outdoor cafes until the spring, last night I found a historical place to sit, avail myself of all the unique food or beverages in the handful of cafes and dessert bars as I watch people pass by, enjoying the warm social atmosphere of a neighborhood mall. Me, Prague, and a mall ...who would have thunk it? Not me.

Angelika Courtois