Prague has its ups and downs ...

I am writing from the train station in Prague, about 45 minutes before I leave to go to Berlin.

I am happy in some ways to leave Prague and in other ways, I should have done so much more to leave with a much higher opinion of this city.

Great: To see a hockey game in a country that, like Canada, really enjoys it with a passion. HC Sparta won the game I saw 6:1 -- that´s how scores look here -- and it sure looked like HC Slavia took the night off. Both teams qualified for the playoffs already but it was the two Prague hockey teams meeting and Sparta took it much more seriously. Slavia fans, to their credit, did cheer to the end and were rewarded for their cheers with a goal with 1:45 left in the game.

Good: The money system here. It is weird to use an ATM and withdraw 1,000 of anything, knowing it is really closer to 30 or 40 dollars. I am keeping some coins from each place I go that is not a Euro since I will need it for most of my trip destinations.

Bad: The hotel I stayed at. Not that the room was not comfortable, it was the most spacious I had and it was only 45 dollars U.S. a night, but it is just that quiet was NOT part of the equation.
It was a massive hotel catering to conventions, a bowling alley, a casino, numerous restaurants and WAY TOO MANY TEENAGERS running around making so much unnecessary noise. I know I sound like I am just too old and don´t get it, but you would have probably called the front desk to complain. I did not. They were here on some kind of trip I think and I just tried to do whatever to make the best of it. Best things about the room, though, was the bed, the shower and the bus that stops right in front and made it very easy to connect to the subway to get me out there. One other thing about the hotel, the concierge was not only very attractive, but also helpful to my request to get the hockey ticket. I rewarded her efforts this morning by presenting her with a puck I got at the game last night. I got to the arena early and took a few photos. I went to one area and nearly tripped over the puck on the ground. No one else was around so I just picked it up. Great souvenir, but I later bought a Sparta hat so I am set there. The puck put a great smile on the face of the concierge when she came in for work this morning. Worth it for me!

Bad: Budweiser is a terrible beer in America, and the name came because it wanted to be associated with good beer. Czech Republic is also home to Budweisen and it means Budweiser. Tried it here and it was OK. But having any association with Budweiser is bad in my book.

Good beer: Aaron, Pilsner Urquell is another local beer. I have had it in the U.S., too, but it was a good choice here.

Attractions: I spent the day at the Prague Castle. Nice churches, fascinating gothic and baroque structures and the views of Prague were great. It snowed a bit, but I was very impressed. Bought a ticket that got me inside a few interesting places including a crypt below the Vitus Cathedral. All in all, very interesting. Since hockey game started at 5:30 p.m. I left the castle about 4 p.m. ... Since I did not see as much of Prague as I might have liked, I bought a few cards and mailed them already so others will see as much as I do.

OK, gotta head for the train. Talk again from Berlin.