Gossip in a Courtyard by Chipka
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Description
Marushka, the cleaning lady at the Golden Sickle, always had something to say, and somehow found time to say it. She was always a vibrant (and yes, talkative) member of the staff. Friendly to an extreme, she often cooked for the receptionist members of the staff.
If you worked the night shift (as I did, for a time) there was no way to avoid a breakfast of bread and yogurt and an eclectic array of fruit when Marushka came in for work the next morning. I was the only American member of the Golden Sickle team who dared to drink that beer-flavored tea she always brewed. It was an interesting substance…tea with yeast and some other fungus growing in it. Only in that part of the world would you find a morning beverage that was moldy on purpose! There were a few times when Eric, one of the few Mexicans living in Prague, would hover around the cloth covered pitcher, holding a fly swatter or oven mittens and eyeing the fungal tea inside with dread and suspicion. “It’s bubbling,” he’d said to me as I ambled into the staff kitchen near the end of his shift and the beginning of mine. “And it’s loud,” he continued. “I’m gonna get out of here before it starts moving.”
Eric never drank the stuff, and as a result, Marshka found him to be a bit…well…shifty. I guess a way to get on her good side is to drink her fungal tea.
Tomas, the afternoon/evening receptionist on weekends always had some Star Trek reference to make, or some gem of 1970’s era “Blaxploitation” cinema to show you. He and I would sometimes share a night shift, watching anything with Pam Grier in it. It was also Tomas who introduced me to the concept of the “Faux Queen.” It would seem that faux queens are making their way into the community of drag performers in the USA. Faux queens are women pass themselves off as cross-dressing men. Only Tom would know about them and their often hilarious antics on (and off) stage. I can’t think of Tom without recalling the adamant warning: “Hey! Don’t poop on my wig!” as shouted by one particularly over-the-top faux queen. She’d just finished a hilarious and not-exactly-sober performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with her pet parakeet…and…well, we’ll just leave it at that.
Needless to say, the words: “Don’t poop on my wig,” have become the most common greeting that Tom and I share to this day.
On the day that I took this picture, Prague was particularly warm, and no one wanted to do very much. The hostel was fairly busy, but not exactly full. I’d spent most of the morning sleeping off my night shift, and by the time Tom’s afternoon/evening shift began, I was up and around, lurking with my camera. I managed to nab this shot of him, talking with Marushka, or rather listening to some bit of dramatic gossip. This is who they are, and how I will always remember them. Oh, I’ll see them again, for sure! And when I do, Marushka will pause, share gossip, look intensely engaged in whatever it is she’s talking about. I’ll only understand about one/one-hundredth of it, as she doesn’t speak a word of English, and her Czech often comes out with an impenetrable Ukrainian accent. It doesn’t matter, though…she’ll just keep talking and somehow make herself understood, though she’ll switch to Russian with me, but say everything too quickly for me to understand.
I’ll see Tom again, though it’s likely I’ll have to go to Portugal to do so, and he’ll probably be wearing those yellow flip flops, and willing to show me yet another strange, and hilarious cultural artifact. We’ll probably drink a lot of…something…and share cigarettes and memories of those strange Golden Sickle nights, where Marushka’s tea gurgled and scared Eric enough to make him take up arms in the event the tea tried something violent.
***
As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting.
Comments (23)
beachzz
Wow, Chip, I love this; it's the first time I've ever seen Marushka. I think she and I would be great friends. I'd be wearing MY flip flops of course, Tom would have his and yes, I'd try her tea. I just LOVE this shot, it's so real and human and lively!! I can almost hear her!!
jocko500
bet the tea was good for you too. my my my what busy bodies they are. very good shot of them
Meisiekind
Oh Chip - thank you for sharing this wonderful memory with us! I know a Marushka too... the same tpe of person - always ready with the latest gossip no matter if it true or not... Wonderful image and warm memories! Well done! :)
myrrhluz
This was a pure joy to read. Thank you! I love her expression! You see it the world over. Wonderful reflections on the far side of the courtyard. Is that you in the deep recesses of the reflection? Excellent Shot!
auntietk
A wonderful capture (I LOVE all the reflections!) and a great story! Marushka had always been a shadowy figure to me before, but now I see her in action, and I feel like I know her! I'm happy to see her wearing socks and sandals. She'd be right at home in Seattle!
costapanos
What a great story to accompany this excellent shot!
MrsLubner
A totally expressive shot. Whether your story or one the viewer pulls out of it, it is a really dynamite shot!
helanker
Chip, I could imagine, that the fungus tea was "Kambucka". Some years back I had such a fungus in a big box. It grew in tea and gave me back kind of juicy sour sweet fluit, which should be very healthy. it was amazing. I like this shot very much. It shows an every day situation without dissimulation. I like that. And I see my favorite spiderplant in the forground.
claude19
I just read a very strange history of manufacturing process of tea ... we who France, especially at home, tasted 5 or 6 different kinds of teas, we do not know what style drinks. By the way, you carelessly sutez memories of Prague and the "Golden Sickle" in memory of a friend you probably find in portugal ... then imagine that you are a real globe, there a step, thank you for this picture taken from life ... ... or making "the word" (smiles)
faroutsider
Violent tea.... now there's a story all on it's own. Superb candid shot and marvelous writing, as always.
mbz2662
Great story and a wonderful shot. I really like it. Thanks for sharing :)
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend and an outstanding story.
bimm3d
great story,expressive photo!!
durleybeachbum
So engrossing! We have an enormous and ever shifting population of 'Maruskas' here in this holiday town, and I know the type well. I'm not sure I'd try her tea, but I LOVE your description! The picture is superb, I feel I can hear every word.
gypsyflame
"Don't poop on my wig?" HeH, too funny...I don't think I would have had the courage to drink it either....LOL....
MrsRatbag
Chip, I can only hope that you plan on writing an illustrated book of ruminations about your life. This was an engrossing, but too short, read!
WDCscg
Whew! You certainly have lived a very interesting life! Be well.
bmac62
Your memories and expressions of events and emotions via story telling is always most enjoyable to read. Neat picture of a typical, daily exchange at the Golden Sickle (got the location right?).
MagikUnicorn
FUN READING MY FRIEND... Come see this: CLIC HERE
blondeblurr
My guess would be, that the English wouldn't call this, what is well known, the famous 'high tea' afternoon. I like her expressive little pinky's, pointing outwards, very meaningful... not to speak of the almost fluoro-glowing T-shirts. great detailed story line, Cheers BB
CoreyBlack
This picture is begging for a caption or speech balloons or something...something like "I'm sorry I burned your pants up in the microwave" with the guy saying: "That's okay, I'll buy another pair." Or something. These look like fun people. I can almost hear them now, speaking in their native tongue (Once having worked in a Polish movie theater for 6 years, I think I can approximate what Czech must sound like.) I love the story that goes with this, as with all of the wonderfully picturesque writing you've done about your Czech experiences. As much as I like to think of myself as being adventurous, I have to say that I side with that guy Eric on this particular issue. Wonderful shot. And I still can't believe you drank that stuff every morning! (No, on second thought, actually I can. And as with your bugs, I'm surprised you didn't try to save a sample of it for breeding purposes.)
elfin14doaks
LOL, Eric sounds like a real character as does Marushka and Tom, but I bet they were just so much fun to be around. Tis a great memory, thanks for sharing it. This is a really great and sneaky shot too. Nice Ninja work.
romanceworks
A wonderful shot and memory. CC