3 countries, 1 post

Yes, I have been a slacker, but it has been hard to get on the old computer!

Berlin definitely grew on me over the four days we were there. Originally worried that it was going to be full of soviet-style monolithic concrete blocks, I was relieved when we came across some lovely spots around the museums. We did a really good tour of Berlin, taking in all the major sites, that was free, which we liked so much that we decided to do the Alternative Berlin tour the following day. Unfortunately it wasn't free, and although it is interesting looking at graffiti (below) and squats, I think that the four hours dedicated to this was just a bit too much for me. Maybe I was a bit grumpy that day after standing for 3 hours (no joke) in a queue to get into the German Parliament - not worth it. Still, it was interesting to see Berlin's a very interesting gritty side. Plus, who can object to a place where the price of beer in the supermarket is 0.89 euro for half a litre?

Well, Prague, where we arrived last Friday, can certainly gain one up on Berlin - beer was under 1 euro in the pubs! It was an interesting first night in Prague. On the advice of our friendly hostelier, we took ourselves to the Czech pivnice around the corner that had a green sign out the front advertising the local beer. On stepping into the pub, which was full of cigarette smoke, all the men inside turned to look at us. It was only when we were sitting down enjoying our beer that we noticed the photos on the walls of men working out. When the Kylie-style dance music came on the jukebox it all clicked into place - we had entered a gay bar.

After enjoying a couple of beers at this pub we went in search of some dinner. We went into a place (full of smoke once again) that we thought looked like a nice small traditional Czeck restaurant, but on opening the menu we realised that we were in the largest food chain in the Czech Republic, with 'over four by ten outlets, and almost the big 50'. Well, it wasn't so bad. The dumplings were appropriately stodgy.

Anyway, there was more to Prague than just beer, even it it doesn't sound much like it so far. It really is a lovely place. We enjoyed looking around the Palace, though the number of tourists there made me short tempered. Possible highlight was looking around the Franz Kafka Museum on Sunday (below is a shot of the amusing fountain out the front). And back on beer again, the other highlight was finding one of only two pubs in Prague that is non-smoking, which meant we were able to enjoy a smoke-free dinner and ale on Sunday night.

Yesterday we arrived in Vienna, and will be hanging out with my Dad, who is here for a conference over the next week. It got off to a great start last night with a trip to the Musikverein for a spot of Beethoven, and today we looked around the old royal palace and went to the Freud Museum. There will be more on Vienna over the coming days.