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Published: October 11th 2006
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Ah ok, I didn't realize how long it'd been since I last posted in here. The last couple weeks have been really good and fun. As you may know, I went to Berlin after Nice. From there I headed into Poland and then down to the Czech Republic and now I'm in Budapest. I actually feel like I am travelling to different countries now because when you cross the borders in these non-Eurozone countries you actually get checked by border control and get stamps in your passport. Yay passport stamps!!! Seriously, I get way too excited about these sorts of things.
I really loved Berlin. It is such a cool city with a crazy history! I went and saw the remnants of the Berlin wall, checkpoint charlie and other commie sort of things and lots of exhibitions about WWII and the Holocaust. It was good interesting stuff. Berlin seems to do a really good job of facing and accepting their not-so-shiny past. Going out on Berlin was totally awesome. I went to a club called Kaffee Burger which had neither coffee nor burgers and another club called Whitewashed something-or-another and was Asian-themed. Now what the hell is that all about?
Berlin is a pretty hip place and I could TOTALLY live there. I think I'd probably need to learn some German first though. Oh! and the museums on Museum Island are FREE on Thursday nights!!
I caught a night bus from Berlin to Krakow, Poland and as soon as we crossed the border the road became bumpy. No joke man, I was instantly aware that I was in Poland by this tactile experience. Krakow was a nice city. I don't think I liked it as much as most people seem to. It has a really pretty square with a big church and horse-drawn carriages and a castle on a hill, but what European city doesn't have these things? I had a pretty good night out that ended with me walking home (alone) in the freezing cold. The next morning I found out that two Canadian guys staying at my hostel were mugged and STABBED on their walk home. Always nice to know... I also made a trip out to Auschwitz. I didn't feel right about being there. I saw Korean tourists taking photos of themselves in front of the gates and I didn't want to be part of that.
Prague Castle
View from the moat People say its important to pay homage but I really just felt like I should not have been there.
I got to meet up with Adam, a Polish friend I met in Ireland, from Katowice (town 80km from Krakow). He took me to his home town and showed me around the area. We went to a jazz club with one of his friends and it really nice to see him again. Poland is pretty much exactly the way you would expect it to be. The weather is cold and dreary, and so are a lot of the people. I liked it.
From Katowice I caught the night train to Prague. I don't think I really can form a good opinion on Prague because it is very, very touristy and its difficult to get around that and into the city. It is really absolutely stunning and I like it in that way. I guess its one of those places where all I can say about it is that it is pretty. I had a lot of fun there but I don't know if that was because it was Prague or just because I was keeping good company. I also
Cesky Krumlov
From the castle hill came to the conclusion that I'm not a huge fan of Central European food. It's all meat and gravy. Yikes.
Cesky Krumlov, my next stop! This little town in Southern Bohemia is all the rage amongst the backpacker crowd. Anyone you speak to about the Czech Republic will tell you to go there! And it was great! I stayed in a really fun hostel and we went horseback riding and bikeriding and frollicked in a meadow. It was beautiful. There's a little tea house that's perfect for getting warm after all the activities. Go there if you get a chance! By the way, apparently
Hostel 2 is being filmed there. Nice.
Now I'm in Budapest. I really should be out at the famous thermal baths instead of blogging but I really felt the need to blog. Tonight I am going to the Operetta! I'm pretty excited about that. And now, on to the baths!!!
PS I am flying to JFK on the 18th of October!!!
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andy
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Hi
You`ve got a great blog but we miss you! I`ll be in California Dec/Jan-ish, let`s party.