Extraliga: HC Slavia Praha FTW

Currently in Czech sector two, Praha district one. I slyly blended into the local population by wasting now time in making a beeline to the local hockey arena to watch an Extraliga playoff game between Prague and Pilzen. A few scarf twirls and some ooooOOOHHHhhing later and I felt right at home. The freezing cold weather does that as well. I recruited an English friend of mine to go to her first professional hockey game, and she had a blast. Martin Straka was both the GM and the most impressive player on the ice. Very quick for a forty year old pro-hockey player. The fans were very well organized, much like a soccer match, the home team die-hard fans sat right behind the home goalie, all dressed up in team colours with scarves, chanting in unison, with a set of people playing drums to lead them. Opposite them at the far end of the rink were the visiting team's fans, with the same approach. It was much more impressive then the rag-tag NHL fans who have no organization to their screaming besides the teleprompter on the big scream dictating when to make noise. Some strange power-play formations by Praha were on display, with two cherry pickers inside the opposing team's zone during the breakout, who would loop onside and then charge in. 

Prague would feel more charming if it weren't so bloody cold, but maybe its in the architecture to feel imposing and tough. I really do like it though, and it has quite a different feel than Brno (besides it's obviously being much larger). The food here continues to be delicious, if a little thin on the greens. I snagged some delicious sauerkraut-type spatzel with pork dish from a market before jumping on the cheap but cheerful Student Agency bus, but not before stopping for an excellent espresso with pastry (served with a shot glass of cold water on the side--a very nice touch).