Prague, with all it's captivating beauty has called me again. Bright and early on Monday morning I trained from Nina's house in Stanheim to the city of Munich and on to Prague. Train ride spent editing photos. Arrived late arvo, waited around in McD's for Charlotte Nicklin, a good friend from the Baradene school days, who like myself had travelled from a far flung area on a 7 hour train ride. Looking like zombies we walked down the main street to our hostel - Prague Square Hostel, situated literally next to the main square of Prague. After wearily climbing the stairs to our room on floor 3 we sat on the window-sill overlooking our beautiful courtyard, catching up on the last 3 years!!!
After a few hours passed, our roomies arrived: Marlon and Enrico from Venice. Quite possibly the coolest roomies! We all decided to go out that evening, first getting traditional Czech food in a place that could have advertised as being a sauna, then headed into a club. Got some YUM and very cheap Mojito's and hit the d-floor. Fun with our Italian boys - stuck in the sand move my fave. Facials included. Not so fun when they went outside for 10mins and we were swarmed by about 10 other Italian boys who were physically parting Charlotte and I. Luckily Enrico and Marlon came to the rescue and we left. Headed back to our hostel, via the big chair in the main square providing us at least half an hours worth of entertainment.
The next morning our domestic tendencies came to the surface as doing our washing was first on the list of things to do. After all that was done and good coffee complimented good conversation, we joined in on a "free" walking tour of the city. One of the most under-rated churches in Prague that we went into had an arm dangling from the roof! OK! After tour walked up by castle which had been built over 800 years so the architecture was different throughout - tres cool. View from up there was breath-taking. Ended up busking by the main Charles Bridge with some guys from Holland and Italy we met on tour before being politely removed by the police. Oops. Sung some more in the park by the water then headed to the same club as last night. Afterwards ended up playing guitar and singing throughout the streets of Prague, picking up a bit of a crowd as we went. When we finally sat down by our hostel we had a group of about 20 or so sitting down singing their hearts out to Wonderwall and other such classics. People who had apartments around where we were sitting were opening their windows, taking photos and joining in on the renditions. Brilliant.
Went "quietly" back to hostel, tip-toeing up the stairs before Charlotte & Marlon had a fight in the hallway to see who could get the key in the door first. Couldn't stand it was so funny. They boys then proceeded to play their new Xylophones upon entering the room.
Berlin the next day. Managed to catch the right train but failed completely on giving directions to our new friend Marijn from Holland who was to catch it with us. St Christopher's Hostel on Rosa Luxemburg Platz in Berlin was pretty sterile compared to our one in Prague with pretty sterile people too. Met up with Marijn later and walked a couple of hours past the Brandenburg gates, the history museums, and the massive Tiergarden park, to the upmarket suburb of Chalottenburg. Great D&Ms on the way. Met up with Chris Lorenz, a true Berliner who I know through sailing. He took us to 'NU' for some Asian-infused food. Truly delicious. Nice to have a bit of a treat, particularly with such great company.
A walking tour was first on the cards the next morning. Lovely that it coincided with the hottest day recorded for the summer! Tour lasted for about 4-5 hours. Went to the same places as before, but even better hearing about it for the second time. Loved the rich history infused with the graffiti art&emerging culture. Lay in the park by the river with Char and Marijn afterwards. Got yum raspberries at Hackescher Markt and cheap & fun goodies (including make-up) at the supermarket. Revisited the Hackescher area that evening, eating and drinking cocktails at a very "Good Choice" with fun swinging chairs. Unfortch Char and Marijn were not feeling so well so just tried to relax. Said my goodbyes to Charlotte. Such a beautiful girl and too much fun. Marijn was not so well on way back to hostel (i moved to his one because no room at Chris's. 30 bed dorm!) and sick all night sadly. Supposed to come to Copenhagen with me the next morning, but too unwell and spent day bed-ridden. Not nice at all for him. Sad for me too to miss out on an otherwise fun train ride with him. Nevertheless I trouped on. Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmo and lastly Lund were to get a visit from me over the course of the day! The long long day...P.S Marijn has been very unwell for the last couple of years. Check out Marijn's incredible songs he composed during this time here
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