Sparta. The summer before I moved to Prague, the film 300 came out, with its catchphrase of “THIS. IS. SPARTA!” You couldn’t help but ruminate over the statement as the mechanical, automated female voice announced the tram’s arrival as the last stop. A huge soccer ball marked the entrance to the football stadium, where Prague’s home team played to the delight of raucous fans. We always talked about catching a match, but we never did. We never really went to any sporting events while there. Our school was a few blocks walk from there.
