Mysterious Prague 6 Pooper Scooper

Czechs love dogs - large, small, hairy, bald - it doesn't matter. They love them and I don't mind them, but Czech German Shepherds, Czech Cocker Spaniels and Czech Yorkshire Terriers all poo. Consequently, these little deposits do not always make it to the grass on the side of the trail upon which some folk choose to run. Instead the little doggy dupas (see October 16 post) release their surprises on the path itself.

However, though certain that this happens and a witness to these physiological events, the poo does not stay on the path for long. I don't know how it happens, but there must be some secret and caring park ranger who clears the paths (surely just for me) of all kinds of debris - leaves, branches, poo... I'm eternally grateful to him/her/it, for as the days get darker, I'm not exactly sure what I'm trodding in!

(Bet you thought I was gonna put a photo with poo in it... but didn't find any on the trail, so sorry!)

The World Wide Web and Neighbours in Nebušice

The guy at the fitness centre (well, fitness room) who has one set of workout clothes, must have gone shopping. This last visit instead of his brown jogging pants and matching sleeveless t-shirt, he sported red, white and blue striped MC Hammer pants and a non-descript faded blue shirt.

It made me think - just because his name may be Jiří, doesn't mean he can't speak English, that he doesn't spend his evenings in his flat in Nebušice searching the internet and doesn't mean that he hasn't located my blog and realised that it was him of whom I was slightly disgusted that wears the same clothes to workout each time I see him. Oh dear... Oh well.

Hello, Jiří or Tomáš or František!

Half-past September

Due to serious repair work on the boiler-system yesterday at the seminary, I was without hot water during the peak times when I attempt to do a bit of marathon training. Skipping the shower after my run was not an option preferred by my neighbours, so I took the bus up the road to workout at the fitness centre nearby – more on this gym another day.

Boredom sets in rather quickly while stomping away on a treadmill. In the states there are television sets placed above any exercisers, to help them forget what they are doing to their bodies.

Not so, in this fitness room. The wall that I’m facing is not a wall, but a mirror. Thus making it impossible to forget my silly idea of a half marathon, because staring back at me is a miserable blonde girl sweating away! I blame her for my sore muscles today.

To attempt to keep my mind occupied, I flip noncommittally through various Czech fashion magazines displayed on the table at reception. Half-way through SmeZeny (UsWomen), I was clouded in a sickenly sweet perfume scent to realise the magazine had a sample flap included. I began muttering to myself, until I recalled that I have smelled much worse in gyms in the Czech Republic.

Having fallen in love with the soothing effect of sweating through intervals in the sauna whilst in Estonia, I asked the woman behind the desk at the gym if they would be installing one. Her answer, “Yes, we will have it, maybe, half-past September.” - You try figure that out!