best of 2013

In no particular order, some of my favorite photos from the last year from a bunch of places: Germany, Sardinia, Prague, Paris x 2, Stone Harbor, NYC, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Gran Canaria.

three days in prague

        
My friend Kelley came to visit me at the end of March, and I pretty much allowed her to stay in FFM for a hot minute before we took off on a cross-European tour: three days each in Prague, Amsterdam, and Paris. We started off with an overnight train from FFM to Prague.

Where we stayed: Hostel Mango, in a lovely private room for about EUR 22,- per person per night

Where we drank wine every night: Vinograf, which is right next door to Hostel Mango -- in fact, you can enter Hostel Mango through the wine bar without even having to go outdoors (key on a frigid evening!). Highly recommended: red wine and a snack of goat's milk Gouda.

Some places where we ate: U Dvou Sester (right around the corner from Old Town Square, tasty traditional Czech food); Maitrea (surprisingly excellent vegetarian food in Old Town); Bohemia Bagel (the second time we got bagels to go on the way to Prague Castle, and I had A Moment with my bagel on the tram)

Some highlights: wandering around town with my study abroad friend Laura; Easter markets, including the oyster shucking festival (if the participants accidentally drew blood while shucking, they were disqualified); Infant Jesus of Prague and his many costumes; amazing stained glass at St. Vitus; awesome baroque adornment at St. Nicholas Cathedral; the Jewish museum, especially the stained glass at the Spanish Synagogue; checking out every Manufaktura store in town; people-watching on the Charles Bridge

It was too cold to hang out at the beer garden Stephen had recommended, or really even to be outside for very long at all (darn it, extended winter!) but Prague still treated us fantastically.