Thursday, October 25, 2007

Conversation with Ross about Prague and Taos

My friend Ross Burns (editor of the auspicious Five Magazine based out of Taos, New Mexico) wrote back to me, upon hearing news of my imminent departure to Prague and places beyond. Our conversation follows:

On Oct 24, 2007, at 1:33 PM, Ross Burns wrote:

Johnny Boy.

My sister's boyfriend is from Prague and I've got a few tips for you:
  • Amigos Restaurant in the Vino Hirady area. Ask for Johnny and tell him Ivan G'Vera sent you. Don't know the street, but check online or a guide book.
  • U Hrocha (the Hippo) pub on Thunova in Mala Strana.
  • Au Gourmands French bakery in Stare Mesto. Try the brownies.
  • Drink a lot of Becherovka.
  • Go to Slovakia.
  • Bring warm clothes, seriously.
Ross


On Oct 25, 2007, at 11:03 AM, John Common wrote:


Hot damn.

All tips welcome. Send more as you think of them.

I can't wait to experience Eastern European solitude. And other things.

John


On Oct 25, 2007, at 11:06 AM, Ross Burns wrote:

Apparently, and my sister's boyfriend Ivan freely admits it, the Czech men are shallow chauvinists who love women solely based on looks. You may never come home.

Ross


On Oct 25, 2007, at 11:12 AM, John Common wrote:

That's insulting... to my innate sense of right and wrong. How could they do that?

That country needs guidance... I'm hardly the one to provide it, Ross, as you know... but i'll try.


John


On Oct 25, 2007, at 11:17 AM, Ross Burns wrote:

Just don't get recruited to perform covert ops in Eastern Europe by the spooks at the CIA. It's hard to go back after they get their hooks in you. Believe me, I know.

Ross


On Oct 25, 2007, at 11:33 AM, John Common wrote:

You always struck me as a walking sleeper cell, Ross.

It's becoming more and more clear to me why you've cloistered yourself in Taos...

John


On Oct 25, 2007, at 11:39 AM, Ross Burns wrote:

Believe it or not, there's a fairly sizable community of ex-hitmen here. I think it's the beautiful night skies and glorious sunsets that lures them in.

Ross


On October 25, 2007 at 11:54:01 AM MDT, John Common wrote:

I prefer to think of your ilk as "freelance consultants".

"Hitman" is such an ugly term.

John

2 comments:

Jennifer Newell said...

Ross is a cool name.

Anonymous said...

HI John,
I'm too You total stranger. But the thing what You need too know about Praha and Cesky lid are this.
1/ nikdy nevymenuj penize na ulici ci nebo s neznamym lidem. Mouhou Ti dat Bulharske nebo Rumunske penize. Vzdy Cti ze je to Ceska Koruna!!!!!
2/ Dollar je ted 19,- Kcs a to znamena ze uz Americane nejsou tak hot v Ceske Republice specielne v Praze . Po Ceske republice zije pres 30.000 americanu. Uz nejsou tak popularni jak to kdysi bylo.
2/ Cesi si mysli o Americanech ze jsou velice najivni a timpadem velice lehko Te okouzli specielne pod vlivem dobreho ceskeho piva a vina. Davej pozor!!!!
3/Cesi jsou velice pohostini!!!
Praha je prekrasna s mnoha histrorickymi budovami ale je take velice prelidnena mnoha s velice dobrymi umelci ale take kteri jen prezivaji. Zhanej mnoho pratel kteri te daji dohromady s dalsimi znamimi kteri te seznami....je dulezite mit konekce.
4/ Zajed do jinych mest jako Cesky Krumlov, Brno,....tyto mesta nejsou tak velke ale mas vetsi sanci se protlacit.
5/ Nemluv o politice. Nez poznas vice mentalitu Ceskeho naroda...

Mohla bych ti dat jeste mnoho rad ale cas a space jsou male a tak Ti preji mnoho
stesti v Ceske Republice.
This is preview of Chzech language. I'm going tomorow to Czech Republik for 14 days.
And one more note I like your music.
Thank You
Helena Rokos