My summer shutdown

I'm back in work on Tuesday after just over two and a half weeks off.
I spent the time visiting Prague (see previous blog entries) and also painting the front of my house.
I am proud to say the painting turned out great. I did not skimp,prepared the surface properly, and only used a brush (no rollers.)
The result was a really good finish. I painted the house Terracotta, and have had a lot of compliments from the neighbours. Mine is the first in our road to be painted Terracotta, I am sure it won't be the last.
The painting was also a minor personal triumph for me. I do not have the best head for heights, and to find me up a ladder for an extended time is an achievement in itself!!

You can't beat the system!

To keep the airfare to Prague low, I decided, for the first time ever, to carry on hand luggage only.
I forgot about the rules concerning liquids, and packed them in my hand luggage case.
The security person at Speke Airport spotted it on the scanner as I passed through security. I was asked to open my case, and my shower gel, shaving foam and toothpaste were confiscated from me!
No complaints from me though. I had packed them in all innocence. You cannot be careful enough about aircraft security these days, and at the end of the day, the security staff were only doing their jobs properly.

night pictures of prague.

The report of my trip to Prague would not be complete without these night time pictures:

Visit to Prague

I have just returned from a four day break in Prague. Breaks to cultural cities are my thing.
In the last couple of years I have visited Berlin (twice) Riga, Krakow and now Prague.
The cities have all been special to me in their own way, every one of them I could recommend a visit to, especially Krakow. Everybody should try to take in one visit in their lifetime to Auschwitz and witness mans inhumanity toward fellow man.
That said, Prague just blew me away. The culture and architecture on show was absolutely mind blowing.
I saw most of the city on my four day visit there. Wenceslas Square, where the 1968 Russian invasion took place, the old town with its astronomical clock http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Astronomical_Clock
is a show in itself. I was absolutely amazed at what I witnessed when the clock struck the hour.
I also visited the old town, lesser town, walked over the Charles bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in Europe. I also paid a visit to the Jewish Quarter to witness further the atrocities the Jewish people faced at the hands of the Nazis.
On a lighter note, I always thought German beer (especially Paulaner) was the best in Europe. The Czech Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Budvar (the original-not the American imitation!!!) and Staropramen give German beer a good run for their money.
The food is not a gastronomic delight, it is quite bland.. Think Pork and dumplings!!
Regarding transport, I found my way round their tram and metro extremely easy, unlike the other destinations (Berlin apart) that I have mentioned in this blog.
I stayed one and a half miles out of the centre, the food and drink was half the price of the city centre, and I only paid 92 Euro for four nights in a 3 star hotel. I flew Wizz Air from Liverpool. Their current flight times are great, 12.50pm from Liverpool, returning at 11am from Prague, and I paid less than I would have done for a return trip to the Isle of Man on the seacat!!
I will definitely visit Prague again.