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So we finished with Bratislava in our last post and today we shall have a quick peek at Berlin before our final stop in the Czech Republic where I spent three days in the capital and one in glourious Cesky Krumlov.

First, Berlin.

Well I can't actually say much about Berlin because I got there late on my first night, around 1am was when I arrived at the hostel. Why, because Mr President Bush delayed my flight from Vienna to Berlin by coming to Vienna the same day. Thanks a lot. I did meet up with funny friend Tri cause we stayed at the same hostel and it was a beautiful reunion. The next day I walked around East Berlin, trying to retrace my steps from my 2004 visit. Got lost a little but managed to find the cool shoemaker. Met up with Tri and his gang for dinner and ate a massive schnitzel then kaiserschmarren for dessert. Thanks Caroline for your tip - I didn't have it in Cafe Central in Vienna but I made sure I had some somewhere! The next day I had to say goodbye (I didn't cry, I was strong) and headed to Prague on the train departing from the brand spanking new and HUGE train station. The amazing thing about it was that it was only a third constructed when I was there in 2004 and now it's a marvel of human ingenuitiy and architectonics. Progress is amazing.

Prague was a place that won the hearts of many I've spoken to. Um excuse me but why? Perhaps after my travels I was suitably tired and unenthused by another city. In my mind it resembled a smaller, less grand version of Budapest. I looked around, but was more impressed with the soccer games shown on screens in the public squares. I stayed two nights and hung out with an Italian guy from the hostel. It pains me to know his team beat us in our last game. Let's not speak of this again. The third day I carried my big heavy bag to the bus station to catch the 8am bus to Cesky Krumlov only to be told it was full. What? I had to then lug the bag to a nearby hostel and stay in Prague one more night. The hostel was a really low rent one. It shared the same entrance with and was situated above a "club". I won't say it was a strip club because it didn't have pics of naked women on its windows nor glaring neon sign out front to advertise it as such. But there was a vibe about it. In order to get to the rooms in the hostel there is a locked gate in the middle of the stairs. Just a little too S&M for me. Then once you get into the 20 bed dorm (creaky metal contraptions - again the S&M connotations!) you are greeted by a beautiful giant size poster of a topless woman giving you the finger. No shit! With her pouty lips she is advertising an alcoholic beverage, the type only hardcore bikies would drink cause for anyone else it'll just taste like sweetened petrol. It's the little things that endear you to a place and if I fancied a dirty (not metaphorically) weekend in Prague I know where to go.

Escaping Prague was one of the best things I did because Cesky Krumlov was gorgeous. The bus ride was also made more interesting with my seating partner, a Czech post grad studying political science who loves Asian culture. No kids, he was a real geek. Anyway the bus ride was made bearable (just).

Cesky Krumlov was the perfect antidote to my last night in Prague. The hostel Krumlov House is a comfortable residence where you take your shoes off at the front door and leave your cares outside. The kitchen and lounge were spacious with comfy sofas, books, chess sets, piano, guitar and open windows for you to rest your weary soul. I knew I wanted to spend more than one night there. If only the bus wasn't full that day! Cesky is a small town almost surrounded by a small pristine river. Had one of the greatest meals ever at an ancient Bohemian restaurant there. The plate of food was massive. It was a feast for a Bohemian king. I couldn't finish it and couldn't even eat dinner that night. Fantastic! That night everyone gathered in the living room and just chatted like old friends. It was sad to leave the next day but in a way I was looking forward to seeing my friends in London.

Photos for all the above cannot be uploaded here so will do so in seperate post.