Ceske Budejovice is a weird place,weird in a nice way.Anywhere that has a coach station on top of a shopping mall is weird in my book…when I got here it was a Sunday and there were lots of people walking about.It’s hard to judge what a place is really like on a Sunday though so I didn’t really take much notice…
When I left the hotel yesterday morning I saw a couple of little gangs of school age kids milling about and my immediate thought was they were wagging off but then I started seeing more & more walking around.Now I get it,youngsters don’t have much money so dossing about doing nothing is sometimes the only option…then I began seeing groups of adults doing the same thing.Luckily the weather was beautiful.A clear sunny day with temps about 25c Infact a perfect summer’s day on September 4th.Today looks like it might be the same…
There was something going on in the beautiful main square.Looked like it was geared towards the kids with dancing to cheesy Euro pop and lots of sporting activities including gymnastics & many ball games.The most popular sport in this part of the world is Ice Hockey but for obvious reasons that was impossible to replicate.Would have been fun if they had though…
All the cafe bars around the square had filled up with what I presumed were the parents of many of the kids and I thought that was probably gonna be how it would be until the evening so went for a stroll to blend in…beautiful city,still loads of locals walking about but eventually the call of a beer was too strong,headed back to the square expecting to struggle to find a seat but all the bars were empty.The event in the square was still going on and was popular but the bars were empty…like I said a weird place.
Had a couple of beers then decided to have one in the hotel I was originally gonna stay in.A 500 year old place in the square but copped a very snobby attitude from three of their staff.I have said many times I don’t mind if people who serve me are having a bad day and aren’t all smiley happy clappy.I understand,been there,done it etc but when three staff shown utter disdain to one punter that’s not on…anyway I lingered as long as I could over my one pint but eventually had to bugger off.Still there were loads of litte posse’s strolling around…
Needed a toilet,no public ones around I could see then saw a sign for a Bikers Bar.It was down a long corridor and down a single flight of steps.There was only the barmaid & her mate in there so I ordered a drink and was also passed an ashtray when I asked where I could smoke.Fine,then a couple of regulars came in,eyed me suspiciously and obviously chatted about who I was.I also saw one of the clumsiest drug deals ever and the barmaid’s mate saw I’d clocked it so even if I didn’t want to I had stay for another Incase they thought I was some sort of minor international drug squad.That’s what years of drinking in Wolverhampton pubs does for you…actually it was the best Budvar I’d tasted in the city,and that’s a high bar!
I know a lot of Mid European biker gangs are on the right politically and the “ Nordic” & “Patriotic Rock” etc stickers dotted about would suggest that was the case along with the ubiquitous Confederate flag of course,and I would think they’d probably regard the Wolves Hell’s Angels as woke lefty libtards but they were ok with me.But then I’m white and look like I might even take an interest in bikes.I didn’t stay for a third to get grilled by anyone though…when I left it was early evening and the streets were empty.Like I said a weird place…
Today I’m gonna pop off to Cesky Krumlov which is only half hour away and I’ve heard is stunning,think it’s more of a tourist place than Budejovice so I expect there will be a lot of people walking around…
Laters…
1 comment:
Been to Cesky Krumlov. Picture perfect place. There is I think a Pilsner Urquel brewery around there.
Post a Comment