Wedding bells in the Czech Republic

After a 2 hour flight we arrived in Prague and were greeted by the rest of the Brown family who'd already tried the local brew and decided that the Czech, being the beer capital of the world, was the best place anyone could possibly want to spend a holiday. We were dropped off at hostel elf where the signs in reception promoted the smoking of 'incence' and beer was cheaper than a bottle of mineral water!

Brochures advertising Prague by bike were handed out, but when we discovered that the total gradient that we'd have to climb was 2000 ft, we agreed to see the city on foot - a 6 hour walking tour which included a boat ride on the river, lunch, refreshments and a guide was the best value for our Czech crowns we could find. The tour started in the old town square and moved through the Jewish ghetto and into King Wenceslas square. We are all experts now on the various types of architecture that has shaped the city as it is today, including the gothic, renaissance, baroque etc... It was a wonderful journey through history as we meandered through the alleyways and marvelled at the cobbled streets. We had a stunning boat ride on the Vlatava river under a few of the bridges and down the canals. Lunch could not have come soon enough, but our experienced guide showed us the real Czech 'pub' experience with a couple of brews, delicious dumplings, goulash and roast pork. The final part of the tour ended in the Prague castle from where the views of the city were spectacular. A trip to one of the beer gardens could not be missed, and with a view of the river we all sipped on a pint or two as we watched the sun go down. We each received a complementary ticket for the evening walk and, being Zimbos, we made sure we got our moneys worth.

Well, after a couple of days in Prague, we heard the wedding bells tolling, and made our way to Ostrava (a 3 hour train trip east of Prague). It was a family gathering of extreme proportions, and I am glad to report that these Czechs, after being out done and out drunk by the Zimbo contingent, will finally know where to find Zimbabwe on a map! It was a brilliant 15 hour wedding with traditions such as the bride being kidnapped, the groom having to eat soup with a holey spoon, and pay off a fake bride who suggested that he was the mother of her child. It was such good fun and after 3 / 4 shots of slivovice, we were all speaking the same language.

Tomorrow we are going to catch the train to Vienna to try out their shnitzel.