The musings of a man who is coming up to the next stage in life.
This week’s photo was taken in Prague. It is of the view along Charles Bridge.
This was taken from one of the towers at the end of the bridge. I was lucky that the photo was taken around 10am and I avoided the crowds that can plague the cit. The surrounding buildings along with the bridge sum up for me the beauty of Prague.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
This post is a follow up to a previous photo of the week.
The Cutty Sark can be found in Greenwich. It is one of the most popular attractions in London.
Built as a clipper ship it was the fastest ship of its type operating during the late 19th century. Primarily its cargo was tea which was carried between Britain and Australia. For ten years it was the fastest ship operating between these two countries. The Cutty Sark ended up being sold to a Portuguese shipping company. The Cutty Sark also served as a training ship based in Falmouth, Cornwall. It became a tourist attraction when moved to its present location in 1954.
Disaster struck the ship in 2007 when it was badly damaged by a fire. It was fully restored and reopened in 2012. So far there have been over 13 million visitors to the Cutty Sark.
What a visit to Cutty Sark allows you to do is to experience what life would have been like on board the ship. There are various collections to be found on board. These include an archive of publications that have featured the Cutty Sark. There are also collections dedicated to the construction and working life of the Cutty Sark, Figureheads, memorabilia, Navigational Instruments, Paintings and objects used during the working life of the ship. Surprisingly, there is a collection dedicated to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. It was from his poem ‘Tam O’Shanter’ where the Cutty Sark got its name.
Entrance fee is £12.00 and that could be considered as expensive. However, given what you get to see I feel it is value for money. There are concessions available to seniors and students. You do have book to your ticket online and select the time you are going to visit. If you miss your slot you will not be allowed in.
The Cutty Sark is located at King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9HT
Nearest DLR stop is Cutty Sark station.
Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
After Prague I thought that things would not get any better. Therefore I was totally and pleasantly surprised what I found in Bratislava. The city itself displays plenty of history yet it is small enough to be able to be explored by foot.
Initially when I arrived into Bratislava I was left feeling disappointed. It was Sunday afternoon and when I stepped out of the bus station it was though I was transported back to the 1970s and communism. The trolley bus looked rickety and dated. Having said that it did take me to the stop nearest the hostel.
After being advised by the hostel to take the free walking tour it was then I discovered the delights of Bratislava. There is a lot of history in Bratislava but there is also a lot to see that made me smile. The city does not take itself too seriously. Bratislava was a major city of the Austro-Hungarian empire. At one point the Emperors were crowned in St. Martin’s Cathedral. A lot of the old city was demolished during the 1970’s to allow for a flyover. One could only think how much more beautiful the city would look.
There are a lot of colours with Bratislava whether it is the bright blue of the St. Elisabeth’s Church or the greens and yellows. This is something that town planners in the UK should consider. A splash of colour is a great way of brightening a place. I suspect that it would not cost too much either.
It is also a city that does not take itself too seriously. There are indicators of this with some of the statues you find dotted around the city centre.
Being so compact Bratislava offers the cafe culture that I loved. Plenty of bars, cafe’s and coffee shops to enjoy. It allows you to watch the world pass by. It has that kind of vibe.
This is an ideal city for a long weekend. Spend the first day exploring the city centre. The next day I would go and see the spectacular ruins of Devin Castle. Spend the afternoon cycling in the surrounding countryside that hugs the Danube river. It is only a thirty minute bus ride from Bratislava.
My five must see attractions in Bratislava are:-
I would also include a trip to Shtoor Home Made Cafe. A perfect place for good coffee, sandwiches and excellent cake. What more can a man want from life.
To sum up Bratislava I would say that it is one of Europe’s secrets. How long it will stay like this I would not like to say. Whatever happens it will always have a small city feel that I love. I cannot wait to go back.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
This week’s photo is of Edinburgh Castle taken in September 2008.
The military tattoo has just completed its run. You may see some of the grandstand in the photo. Built on a dormant vulcano the castle is the most visited tourist attraction in Scotland with over 1.3 million people paying visitors in 2011. It is a great site and a symbol of the city of Edinburgh and the whole of Scotland.
Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
My final full day of my trip. I was determined to get as much in as I could. Who knows when I will be back in Prague again. So an early start was in order. I decided I would get breakfast on the go rather than eat in the hostel. After breakfast I made my way towards the Charles Bridge hoping that I would be able to escape the crowds.
At 09:30 in the morning I was glad to be able to miss the crowd and I could take in the sights of the bridge at my own pace rather than feeling rushed. Once I crossed the bridge I made my way towards the Lennon Wall. This was one place I wanted to visit after being told about it by other travellers. When I first viewed the wall I was taken aback by the colours. Once I started to make sense of it all. I could see Lennon’s lyrics and I started to feel emotional. Then I came across these two images.
It was then when my emotions overtook me. The tears started to roll down my face. I did not want to go home. The last twelve days have just been so enjoyable. Yet, all good things have to come to an end. In my heart I knew this to be true. I just had to compose myself again.
I just wanted to make my way back up to the castle so I walked instead of catching the tram. I just wanted to take in all the sights and sounds that were around me. Eventually, after a few detours I arrived at Prague Castle. I decided that I would just purchase the Short Visit ticket. Rather see less and savour than rush to see everything. The Short Visit ticket started at St. Vitus cathedral. I am a fan of churches and stained glass windows much to the amusement of my family. In that respect St. Vitus did not disappoint me. There were plenty of photo opportunities which I took advantage of. Both my camera and iPhone were busy. However, there was an over zealous member of staff who kept reminding people not to use the flash on their cameras. Lesson for people not to set the camera to auto.
From St. Vitus I made my way to St. George’s Basilica. This section took about forty minutes to view. At around lunchtime things were starting to get crowded. I needed to escape or at least needed to have something to eat. Luckily I found a cafe that was selling a sandwich at a reasonable price. Feeling refreshed I made my way to the Golden Avenue. This did not disappoint me. So much history there. My favourite section was the museum full of amour.
I made my way to the Old Royal Palace but I found this to be disappointing. So it was time to make my way back down the hill to the centre of Prague.
Once back I made my way to the Museum of Communism. Though not rated too highly by Lonely Planet it was one place I wanted to see. You cannot separate Communism from Prague as much as you may want to try.
There was one place I had yet to visit. This was Wenceslas Square. So much history took place there and I felt I could not miss it even if it was getting late. It did not disappoint me. There was almost a party atmosphere in the square. There were lots of stalls selling souvenirs and food. It almost felt like a Christmas market. Must have been the Friday feeling. It was certainly a party at the statue of King Wenceslas.
With a heavy heart I made my way back to the hostel. Over a beer I was enjoying the company of a Canadian who reminded me that I was lucky to live so close to the mainland. I had to agree with him. I am a lucky man.
Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy, keep smiling.
Steve
The weather today is simply beautiful. What shall I do with myself? I asked the hostel receptionist for suggestions. Without hesitation she suggested Devín Castle. Ever helpful she pointed out which bus I should catch and how much it will cost. Also included in the recommendation was a coffee shop I should check out when I returned to the city centre.
So off I went to the bus stop. The bus journey like most was uneventful but once I arrived I was totally blown away. Devín Castle is a castle ruin, but I feel it is much more than that. It dates back to the 8th century. It was destroyed by Napoleon Bonaparte. There is currently a lot of archeological work that is taking place. The views from the castle ramparts are simply stunning. There were plenty of opportunities to take great photographs, even for me.
As well as the castle there were plenty of paths to walk along. It was a pity that there was nowhere open to hire a bicycle. Today would have been a perfect day for cycling. The nearby village was beautiful and peaceful. To live in a place like this you would have been a winner in life’s lottery. The River Danube looked beautiful and powerful in the countryside.
I made my way back to the city centre feeling hungry. I remembered the recommendation of earlier today, so I made my way to Shtoor coffee shop. As much as I tried to find it I was not getting too much success. Just when I thought about giving up I noticed that I was standing outside the shop. This is what a coffee shop should be about. Good coffee, good food and a good ambiance. My pork and caramelized onion sandwich tasted divine. The berry and chocolate cheesecake went down even better.
When I left Shtoor I found myself caught in a demonstration outside the British Embassy. It was interesting to find yourself caught in something like that. The demonstration was in support of a Slovak woman Ivana Boorova who came to the UK for work. Her two children were taken into care two years ago and nothing appears to have been done about the situation. This seems so unfair. I mentioned that I was British and I would offer my support when I got home. So if you feel that something needs to be done contact the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and let’s see what we can do.
Back at the hostel I was unsure what I was going to do. I did not fancy the pub crawl but wanted to go out for the evening. So I decided to go to the British Rock Pub. It was open mic night. I enjoyed the music even if I did not understand what they were singing about. The pub crawl ended up in here. Somehow, I do not think they expected to be there. A good end to a perfect day.
One of the most unusual sites in Prague is the Lennon Wall. It is home to graffiti inspired and dedicated to John Lennon. As yesterday would have been the former Beatle 72nd birthday it seems appropriate to write about the wall.
During the 1980’s the wall was used to protest against the communist regime. Today it is seen to represent peace and love. The ideals that we should all live by. When I visited the wall last month I found the whole experience to be emotional and I found myself overwhelmed with the tears flowing down my face.
Here are a few of the wall’s images:
As the great man sang “All you need is love.” Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
For a lot of people in the hostel today was their final day in Prague. The plan was to explore the area around Prague Castle. This seemed a good idea at the time. So a couple of us decided to head to the Old Town Square. The weather was good so we checked out what was going on. There were plenty of wedding parties. Of course the brides looked beautiful. There was a dixieland jazz band playing in the background. Plenty of people were soaking in the atmosphere. Some even brought the CD. I am not sure it would sound the same back home.
Eventually, we climbed the Astronomical Clock Tower. Once at the top space was tight due to the amount of people there. However, it did offer excellent views of the Prague skyline.
We decided that we need to head up to the castle. So after crossing Charles Bridge and having something to eat we caught a tram up to the top of the castle hill. We did not plan to go inside but just potter around. We saw the absinthe shop and it was selling ice cream flavoured with the drink. One of us could not resist. I tried some, it tasted foul but then again I do not like the taste of aniseed. So I started to drink beer instead. Drinking in the castle grounds did not seem right with the tourists milling around but I felt relaxed about it.
Slowly we made our way back to the city centre and I eat the sloppiest burger that I had ever tasted. At the hostel it was decided as it was the last night for the majority of us we should go out and celebrate. Always keen to follow I went to my dorm, got showered and changed. We made our way to the nearest club. I am surprised how relaxed clubs are in mainland Europe are about letting people in. I was wearing a shirt, jeans and trainers and the doormen were happy to let me in.
While relaxing with a beer you could see panic behind the bar. The Czech government had during the day banned the sale of alcohol over 20% proof due to recent cases of people dying from drinking contaminated booze. So it was beer all night, no hardship.
The atmosphere turned ugly when a group of locals decided to move around us. I had my arse slapped then another person started dancing in front of one of the girls. Her boyfriend naturally to exception to this and made his feelings known. He was ignored and a fight broke out which was a shame. Still it did not stop our fun and we continued to drink and dance. I am better at drinking than dancing. At the end of the night we said our goodbyes and wished one another safe travels.
Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
This week photo is a monument commemorating those people who were executed by the Communists in Slovakia during their rule from 1948-1989. The monument describes it as during the period of Communist terror.
On the inside there is the names of the executed. They were all shot by firing squad. This is represented by the bullet holes that are all over the monument. It is strangely mesmerizing and make you think about the sacrifice people made for freedom.
Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
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