You Smoke Joint? Marijuana? Hashish?

Two blogs in one day? Are you not entertained?

The title of this one refers to the constant refrain someone of my nationality, age, gender, and hairiness level is bound to hear when walking around Old Town or Wenceslas Square--esp. at night.

It always a strange encounter because it's always a Roma--Gypsies (an ethnic minority here)--walking toward you, and they kind of mutter, "You smoke joint? Marijuana? Hashish?" Always that exact phrase. And they never stop, never wait for a response. It's more like a greeting than an offer.

It's become sort of a punchline around here, this awkward phrase that is somehow unconnected to reality in any way. I've never seen anyone say yes to them--or no, for that matter because the seller is long gone before you even realize what they just asked you.