Visual mediocrity: Czech this out + Polish bonus hour

After an interesting evening spent in the border town of Szczecin (or as I like to call it, village of misfit toys and broken dreams), we took a sleeper train across Poland to Krakow:



(Cake is so excited to sleep on a train, meanwhile this was nothing new for me as I used to sleep on the train most mornings on my way to school.)

Rynek Glowny & around...










Sculptural tribute to Chopin




















Pretty Prague....



















St. Vitus church, featuring stunning stained glass, including a window by Alfonse Mucha...

Cross the bridge from the old town, climb up the steep hill and get the best view in Prague:



















I have been tempted to buy ridulous things here, like this Autoharp or a skull from a minature deer with antlers... Alas my pack is already too heavy....

Location:most Edvarda Beneše,,Czech Republic

All things French

I have never been to France but my brother lives there. He is marrying a "French" woman, (lets call her B) although her real "Frenchness" has come into question and I do have some concerns.

I've studied art and the great French masters at university so clearly I'm an expert. Many things that I and a great number of other knowledgeable people associate with France, my soon-to-be sister in law claims to have little knowledge nor association with. For instance:

• She claims no one dresses like this:

Ok, I'll let B slide on that one. Considering the look is very dated, the beret is kind of cliche and I imagine the horizontal striped attire does not suit all figures (especially those who like to indulge the baguettes, cheese and wine on a daily basis). However, the facial hair is a reasonable possibility for both genders over 50, especially those Mediterranean types that like to sneak across the border.

• B said "Yoplait" is not French for "yum", it is in fact French for nothing at all. Lies!
  
  
• She also claims this band is not French but BELGIAN:

The Plastic Bertrand Band - Undeniably ridiculous and French-sounding.

• Perhaps most shockingly of all, B has practically no interest and utmost repulsion for France's only known actor, Gérard Depardieu:

The jury is still out on B.

Thanks a lot, volcano.

Seeing as I like to skim the news and only get half the story, I'm still unsure if this damn volcano in Iceland will interrupt my precious travels to their historic Norse land next month.

Being a first world middle class white woman and all, the main thing I care about is the fact that I've already booked my flights and I don't particularly want to endure their toxic ash and bloody whinging about it all. Plus would it be too much to ask if I could manage to get a decent meal of beer battered whale and chips while I'm there? Probably.



Footage of actual volcano in Iceland

Japan

It is approx 1 year today since I returned from my trip to Japan! I will be re-visiting Tokyo on my way to Europe, albeit very briefly.

Japan is a very safe country to visit as an international tourist, crime is virtually non-existent and while not as many people as you'd expect are able to speak English, they will do their best to try and help you out with whatever it is you are trying to find/do/see.

On the flip side, Japanese people really like creepy cartoon-porn called hentai. Well, we can't all be perfect.

Me & some new devotees @ Kyoto Station, waiting for the Shinkasen (bullet train)