Peas and Pirates

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Well thankfully as we awoke on our final morning in Vienna the clouds cleared and it was all sunshine. So it was a pleasantly short and sunny train ride through the fields into the Czech Republic and our first stop, Brno.

We were staying at a tiny little pension on the Western Side of town, in a renovated part of the Augustine Abbey attached to the Cathedral of the Assumption of our Lady. Our room was an "apartment" so we got ourselves a three-roomed affair: a big bedroom, little living room and a bathroom, where the toilet was in its own room (wahey!). It was plush. And little more than the dorm in Vienna had cost us, sweet.

Our first stop was the Mendel Musuem. Gregor Mendel was the old monk who liked peas and bees, now know as the 'father of genetics'. It was pretty interesting and the garden was full of all the flowers which demonstrate his principles. It wasnt too naff and I know Tash would have loved it. Plus the logo was a big, green pea. Wicked.

We then checked out the Cathedral of Peter and Paul (no blackbirds, just a beautiful stained glass window) and wandered the old town.

Dinner was at the Starobrno Brewery on the other side of the abbey (man these monks were talented!) and aside from the obligatory pint of pivo (or two) we ordered a wheelbarrow of meat for dinner. It was hilarious. And on the better side of tasty.

Day two dawned sunny and warm and after breakfast (real muesli that I had waited a continent for) in our living room we wandered off to explore town some more. We visited the Capuchin Crypt where we actually saw the naturally decomposed bodies of the monks and nobles of Old Brno. You could even see the fingernails and teeth on some. One poor monk was lying there carrying the cross and his rosary, it was a little creepy.

The Spilberk Castle overlooking town was pretty neat. We got in on student tickets (yeah!) and so checked out the old prison, the lookout tower with its great views and the museum. The museum was the most informative Ive ever seen and had a collection of artefacts that would rival any in the world (says I). My brain hurt. But we saw lots of pretty brides getting married there which was kinda cool.

Had a lazy afternoon and then saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2 with half of town. What better way to round off a few days exploring than with some swashbuckling adventure.

Next we are off to Prague to meet up with Kirst & Camilla, and no doubt find some more adventure.

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