Happy New Year from the Czech Republic. This year we did it in Prague, the city where everything gets twice as expensive every year the calendar clicks over.
Last time I was here I was delighted to discover the cost of living was dirt cheap. "Go to Prague," I told people. "But hurry. It can't last." It didn't. In many parts of the city, especially the ones populated by overweight tourists, the cost of eating and drinking out is comparable to London. London! What is wrong with the world?
It was a good time, a good New Year's Eve, just the same. We ate at a restaurant that someone installed in a 13th century dungeon. The service was average but food was excellent and got better with each successive beer. Outside the city was alive. Stages, bands, huge lavishly-decorated outdoor trees. And happy people overflowing from every courtyard bar and restaurant and public square. King Wenceslas Square was packed with fifty thousand Czechs and a handful of Russians. Most of them had fireworks. It was utter mayhem. We rented a 5th floor apartment for six days, across the river from the historic centre. Fought our way back there before twelve. Panoramic city skyline view from the deck, fireworks horizon to horizon. Big ones from the famous bridge of Charles IV. Never saw anything like it.
After that we got on the razzle. Things went sideways in short order. Stayed up late making fools of ourselves. Consumption increased, good judgement abandoned. I bet my sister's boyfriend fifty quid that the song Unbelievable was by Jesus Jones, not EMF. He was right of course. Later I realized I already knew that because last year I lost money betting someone else it was from the 80s when it's actually from 1991. Now I despise it with a passion I'm confident is strong enough to stop me from making any more stupid bets.
But the important thing is, 2007 has arrived, although the first day of it is something I'd quite like to forget, and we should all be planning big things. Train ride to Munich tomorrow! Six hours. It seems blasphemous to go to Germany and not drink beer, but that's my plan. I'll keep you apprised.
Happy New Year.
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