1. A Night To Remember


    Date: 1/9/2024, Categories: True, Author: Notanyoneyouknow

    "Hey, you, come to the pub crawl tonight!"
    
    I paused my scribbling and looked up. A group of guys, dressed for a night out and holding bottles of wine, were looking directly at me.
    
    "Nah, guys, I've been out every night this last week, I'll pass."
    
    "Then what's one more night then? C'mon, you know you wanna."
    
    Well, couldn't fault that logic could I? Should've closed the room door if I wanted a quiet night.
    
    "I guess you've convinced me. Where's the ticket?"
    
    "Go down to reception, they'll tell you there. We'll be seeing you tonight!"
    
    The gang traipsed off, already half inebriated. I looked at the postcards I'd been writing - maybe I'd have another story for my friends back home after this. Last night's involved absinthe, though not enough to forget the mess I made. I certainly wasn't the first in Prague to have such an incident, though that wasn't much consolation at the time.
    
    I put my stuff away and headed out in jeans and a shirt. I'm sure I could take it easy; I have a train to catch tomorrow. Made my way downstairs to the start of the pub crawl, right by the old Town Square.
    
    Naturally, that group of people who recruited me were nowhere to be found.
    
    Those fuckers.
    
    I sighed and looked around - attendance was good, though I'd have to be a little less of a grump for any fun to be had. The event's organizers were wearing hi-vis jackets, greeting tonight's partygoers and already trying to build up a fun atmosphere. After a few minutes of trying to ...
    ... prepare myself mentally for the night ahead, they called out:
    
    "Alright, everyone, gather round, we're gonna hit up 5 places tonight. You get two drinks at each stop, not including whatever else they throw at you. Just make sure you keep an eye on us guides here and we'll make sure you have a good time alright?"
    
    Light cheers, so at least some spirit in the group. When you travel alone, you learn to turn it on and make the rounds. "Hi, it's me, what's your name, where are you from, oh I love your accent, how're you liking where we're at, what brings you here? And so on."
    
    Sometimes you get a hit, a cool dude or gal who resonates with you. Sometimes you bomb. Sometimes it's just in between and you move on to the next guy.
    
    The pub crawl started and we arrived at the first bar where we were greeted by absinthe shots. Nice.
    
    I passed on those, opting for something at the bar instead. I was beginning to worry that perhaps I may have wasted both my time and my money, but a familiar handsome face chatting to a petite blonde at the bar indicated otherwise. I tapped him on the shoulder.
    
    "Hey Michael, I wasn't expecting to see you here."
    
    The man turned around - Michael was one of my compatriots from last night. He was an American with a fit build and chiseled jawline.
    
    "Hey good to see you! How're you feeling after last night?"
    
    "Could be better; I definitely wasn't expecting to be here this morning."
    
    "Haha, I bet. This here is Ella, Ella, this is K."
    
    "Hiya ...
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