November 5, 2007 | Filed under: It's Called "Having a Life." You Should Try It.

So that’s that. Tomorrow all that’s on the agenda is getting myself to the airport and back to U.S. territory. Though, I was almost on U.S. territory today, as I walked past the embassy on my way to buy wine. The security guys out front didn’t look too welcoming, so I didn’t invite myself in for a look-see. Maybe next time.

Lots of pictures and maybe some stories, too, just as soon as I recover from The Day that Lasts Approximately Ninety-Seven Hours, All of Them on an Airplane.

November 2, 2007 | Filed under: I'm a Dork, It's Called "Having a Life." You Should Try It.

Before shoving all of your clothes in the washing machine, as the hostel front desk girl waits for you to do so so she can do all the settings on the machine, find out from her what the status of a dryer is, as opposed to, say, an outdoor clothesline. Otherwise, you may regret tossing in all of your dirty clothes, including the jeans you intended to wear tomorrow. And the only pajamas you packed.

November 1, 2007 | Filed under: It's Called "Having a Life." You Should Try It.

Remember all those things that were fun about living in a dorm in college? Sharing the bathroom with thirty other girls, roommates who snored (or worse), the constant activity late at night, followed by long, dark mornings that made you feel guilty for being awake at 7 AM? No, just me?

At any rate, I’m really enjoying my hostel experience. I have to admit, I was a bit worried about sharing a small space (a small space that looks like a freaking IKEA showroom) with five strangers, especially after my monastic existence in Prague for the last week.

But fear not! Here’s a few reasons why I love my hostel:

Location, location, location.

I kid you not, this fine establishment is two doors down from the hostel. Lost? Just ask someone where the cabaret is.

Free fashion advice. And photography.

This probably was the best thing about dorm life — there was always someone (or multiple someones) around to get excited about where you were going, what you should wear, whether you should leave your hair down or pull it back, etc. This is what I threw together for the opera — shirt and pants I brought with me, pashmina purchsed in Prague, necklace (pictured below) from Melnik. And somehow it all works.

There are always people to party with.

Even if you weren’t planning on going out. And are already in bed, in your pajamas, ready to go to sleep. But when the best excuse you can come up with for staying in is that you’re old and lame, nobody buys it, so up you get to get dressed and reapply the makeup you just washed off and head to the Bermuda Triangle.

Finally, bestest thing ever — I forgot to pack the charger for my camera. Because I am an idiot. Not only did I not pack the charger, I didn’t charge the camera battery before I left. (I’d like to think that if I’d charged the battery, I would have thought to pack the damn charger.) I’ve been waiting for the day the little blinky low battery light made its appearance, and that day was Wednesday. Luckily, one of my roommates needed to charge her camera battery and it’s the charger same as mine! Saved by Simela from Cyprus!