Blogs from Plzen, Plzen Region, Czech Republic, Europe

Still full from last night’s gargantuan meal, we start the day with a light breakfast of coffee and a pastry. This proves surprisingly difficult to find. The cafes on the main square all seem to sell either coffee with massive cream cakes, or beer, neither of which feels quite right at 9.30 in the morning. MittelEuropa does not seem to do croissants or pain chocolat. The Great Synagogue is the third largest in the world. It was built in the 1890s and can hold 2800 worshippers, but fell into disrepair during the war and has only recently been renovated. It is currently housing a display of photographs taken in the USA during the Depression. Many were striking pictures, despite the contemporary comment by the great photographer Anselm Adams that these were not photographs but merely images ... read more

"Pilsner please", and that request of course usually means Pilsner Urquell or Gambrinus in the city that is home to the enormous and world famous brewery, Pilsner Urquell. The pride of the city of Plzen, this Brewery began its operation in 1842. Beer making, however, started here sometime in the 11th century by monks! They were great boozers, the monks. We picked up a lot of general beer brewing history in the Brewery Museum located in the old town and specifics about Pilsner brewing on our tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery.Our hotel connects to the Brewery by an overpass which crosses a busy highway. The overpass virtually takes pedestrians right up to the historic double arched gates of the Brewery - very handy for guests. Our room is on the 5th floor and has a ... read more

Junior team Canada ball hockey training camp came to an end with wins for both teams in exhibition games. That afternoon we did the brewery tour of Pilsner Urquell Brewery and had dinner at Na Splice brewery restaurant. The tour was informative, but easily could have been half the length that it was (about 90 minutes). We seemed to spend quite a bit of time looking at the new packing plant (they are quite proud of the $40 million investment) even though it wasn't even going! The cellar deep underground was wonderful and cool (like bring a sweater, 5*C) with 9km of underground roads. The team dinner at Na Splice on the brewery grounds was a bit of a disappointment....lots and lots of gravy on everything, but I'm told this is traditional. I'd recommend the tour, ... read more

Czech Republic – the land of big beers, beautiful women, and words with too many consonants. A lot like Wales in that respect, except there it was big women and beautiful beers. In particular, Plzen. Or Pilsen. Whichever you prefer and can pronounce. The campsite at Pilsen was by a lake, and it had all the best that Eastern Bloc style had to offer – nuclear-atack-solid amenities blocks complete with parcel shelf toilets and communal showers (although not prison style – there was at least dividers between the showers. It's just not the Australian way to get nekkid in front of others, prudes that we are, not when sober anyway). The site backed on to a nice bit of forest, and I utilised this part for the dunny, as per usual. You couldn't walk in too ... read more

OK, so I arrived in Pilsen on the train. The hostel was really close to the train station (just 10 minutes walk away). However, the hostel happened to be a dump as well as the city itself. The hostel seemed to be situated in a construction yard/council estate. It was so disorganised, the owner seemed to have no knoweledge of the fact that I'd emailed him about changing the dates and he'd responded saying OK. Whatever. I checked into the hostel eventually. I then went to the brewery museum. Which was relatively interesting. The underground historical cellars were also relatively interesting, The only other interesting thing in the city as far as I could see was the third largest synagogue in the world and the town hall. I went to bed at 10 o'clock having nothing ... read more