From behind the bar of U Zlatého tygra, I've seen many patrons come and go. But among them all, one figure stood out and remained forever etched in my memories – Bohumil Hrabal. A regular fixture at his chosen table, he wasn't just any patron; he was an emblem of Czech literature and an embodiment of Prague's spirit. Ah, Hrabal. The man's tales had a surreal blend of humour, tragedy, and raw humanity. It's no exaggeration to say that he captured the Czech soul with every stroke of his pen. Books like "Closely Watched Trains" and "I Served the King of England" were mirrors held up to our society, reflecting both the light and dark sides of our nature. Many evenings, Hrabal would lean against the bar or sit at his table, animatedly sharing anecdotes or ideas for his next tale. His characters? They were inspired by the likes of us, the real people he encountered. The drunks, the dreamers, the workers – they all found their way into his stories, immortalized in print. A trait I particularly admired in Hrabal was his ability to find beauty in the mundane. His characters were often ordinary people leading ordinary lives, but through his lens, they became extraordinary. His writings were a testament to his belief that every individual, no matter how insignificant they seemed, had a story worth telling. It wasn't just Hrabal's literary genius that made him a beloved figure in this pub. It was his humility, his genuine interest in the tales of those around him, and his infectious laughter. When he spoke, we listened. And when he listened, he was truly present, absorbing every word, every emotion.