a brief farewell to our friend the Christmas Carp

The holidays are over in Czech Republic... but unlike the worn-out Christmas trees that now line the streets of Prague the Carp booths have vanished like a phantasm. Where once I slowly approached with girlish hesitation the crowded pisciform prisoners and the virile young carp executioners the corner holds nothing for me but pedestrians waiting for a light. Where once was a miasma of perspiration and fish innards is merely the crisp and apathetic January air.

It's true we never took home a carp of our own and the blanketing snow has covered any dreams we held of possessing the most distinguished one (with a little wry smile and an extra flip-flop in its tail). Alas, the old year just like the new year will hold a clean and vacant bath tub and for any absence of hygiene we will only have ourselves to blame.