Our Byt

We went to IKEA today to get a few more things for the apartment. (More on the IKEA trip later....) We now have a very serviceable apartment for the next three months. Although I do miss living out in Worker's Paradise, our apartment here is much nicer and closer to Old Town. We're a good 10 minute walk from the main train station, but we haven't heard any trains so either the Czech Republic has converted to electric trains like the rest of Europe (which would surprise me) or we're far enough away that the regular city noise drowns out the trains.

When we entered our building I was immediately reminded of Italy - and then realized that was because the hallway smells of damp plaster. But it is a nice wide entryway with some cool stairs going to the upper reaches. But we've never been up the stairs because we're on the ground floor. Go past the mailboxes, turn left, go past the elevator, and you're at our apartment.

When you enter our byt there is a large and mostly useless foyer (not useless when we're using the space to dry laundry inside!). Immediately to your right is the water closet. After you use the loo you have to cross the foyer and go into the kitchen. To your left is the shower/sink room. The cabinet/counter top space is tiny but functional. We have a large 'fridge by European standards, for which we are very grateful. Keep going through the kitchen and you'll get to the "master" bedroom (master because it has the double bed.) From the kitchen you can also go to the living room, and from the living room you get to the girls' room. They don't get a door - just curtains. The other end of the living room has the door to the terrace. When we roll out of bed at 10 each morning we try to get outside as soon as possible so our bodies can learn that there is daylight at that hour!

The byt has nice 12 ft. ceilings and the windows and doors are in 8 ft frames, so it feels big and airy. The thick plaster walls will be appreciated when it gets hot this summer, but right now we have to wear our sweatshirts inside and then strip down to go out into the beautiful 70 degree weather.