Czech it out....Tramps, Pints of Wine and Serendipitous Meetings....

Now on the train to Prague, and via Dresden and South Bohemia, and have managed to find an almost empty carriage, so crack open the uber-classy wine and put some music on. Happy daze. But before I can get too comfortable, I am joined in my pokey wee carriage by what I can only describe as a total halfwit. Despite the fact that I am looking out the window at the countryside (which is beautiful, by the way) and have headphones in, he is persistent in talking to me. Eventually I repent and switch my music off. Initially he seems "normal" enough (whatever that is!), but gradually things descend in to the realm of bizarre, as he tells me that everyone thinks he is a fool, and that it is his birthday but there will be no celebrations because he doesn't deserve any happiness....Starting to imagine my mum receiving individual body parts in the post now.

Manage to pacify him with some wine (decanted in to a plastic bottle!) and o return the favour he provides me with a Czech-Esperanto dictionary. Which will prove infinitely useful, I'm sure....particularly as I can speak neither.

Arrive fairly late and take the subway to my hostel (after copying the address down wrong I eventually find it!). Knackered after the journey I head straight to bed, ready for a day of exploring.

Manage to get up early (too early!) and head out to see Prague. It's really beautiful and well- preserved, and easy enough to see all the sites on foot. I sit by the river for a while, taking in the beauty of it all, and it really is quite breathtaking, with the castle on the hill. Perhaps only marginally spoiled by the reeking tramp asleep next to me. ..

Decide to do the free walking tour, and end up chatting to a few different groups of people; Amy and Steph (travelling together), Ben and Graeme (med students from England), and Mahmoud, Phil, Hank, and Tom, US engineering students. Once the tour is over we all head to get a carry out and sit in the park are next to the river.....50 cents for a litre of Staropramen? It would be rude not to! We all decide to head out together later on, so will meet at the Astronomical clock at 9. Meanwhile, I head back to the hostel for a power nap and some food (the most hideous salted cheese creation from Tesco Expressz) before heading to the clock.

We all decide to go on a pub crawl; for the equivalent of 10 euros we get 2 hours "all you can drink" and then entry to 3 nightclubs. Admittedly this is not usually my cup of tea, but when in Prague....

Since all the alcohol is "free", I start of with a few pints of wine (classy lady), and am pretty drunk pretty quick. Excellent. Me, Ben and Graeme find a seat in the corner and smoke some really delicious vanilla hookah before we hit the Czech nightlife....

And boy is the nightlife hilarious! I think 1994 has finally hit Prague.....certainly judging by the music and the fashion, anyway. And I love it! It's tacky, it's kitsch and it's full of cringeworthy people. A perfect night out. Bizarrely and by total chance, I bump in to Alex, the mad Brazilian that I met in Kreuzberg in Berlin. In a tiny back street in Prague. At 3 am. And while I am totally taken aback by how completely serendipitous this is, he doesn't seem too bothered!

Clubbing over, me and a few of the American boys make a late night/early morning walk to the Charles Bridge. It's amazing to see the city at night, looking so magical and peaceful. Back near the busiest part of town though, there are drug-dealers everywhere, offering us everything and anything. Usually I'd stop for a chat and a perusal of their good and services, but I'm really not sure I can trust a dealer with a business card....

Eventually make it back to the hostel, and as standard, fall asleep fully clothed, with a pounding wine/sambuca head. Pretty sure tomorrow is going to be an epic struggle...