Nov 2007

Hey everyone!

Writing to you from Gdansk, Poland and I'm sure more regulary now that I am a lone wolf.

Ill start from London though. I worked right up until the night before my flight, the whole time with my boss Rob telling me how drunk I had to get on my last night. Knowing that i had to fly and that I would be probably drinking a fair bit with the swan in Prague I was a little worried. So when I was closing on Monday night with no sign of anyone (I was working with the Assistant manager) I was very relieved. Only as i was doing my last job, in walked rob and another bartender with boozing on their minds. Anyway we had a pretty intense hour of shots and pints before wandering off home. good send off i must say!

Then it was time to fly! I made a phone call to a cup day celebration in its final throes and spoke to Linden, Jus and Sam which was awesome before boarding my very rocky flight to Prague. Who should be waiting for me other than my good friend the swamp cheese (Swaney). Awesome!

The first night we wandered the streets and made the worst drink choice ever. I blame him. We bought an ice bucket full of mojito. Terrible. anyway, a good wander later and it was time to retire.

Next morning up bright and early to look for a cheaper hotel then gave in to the ease of just paying the next two nights where we were. We then found out that the brewery we thought was in Prague was actually in a town called Plzen. So we jumped a train 1 hour and 45 mins to the brewery which was awesome! Ate some amazing food consisting of meat...of a pig... i think all of it.... the pig that is.... each! ridiculous. then a pretty cool brewery tour of pilsen urquell which they claim is where the name pilsner comes from and other beers should not be able to be called pils. Anyway, awesome tour and we trooped home. Wandered around a little more and ended up at the casino. where swan doubled his money and i broke even.

Next day, a little less bright we decided to go and look at the Castle. Cool castle and we climbed the 287 (although i counted 295) steps to the top to see the view of Prague. Then we wandered again before chilling out in our room playing cards and watching tv before dinner. Pizza, bars casino, more wins, then more bars. ridiculous!!

So it was time to say goodbye to the swan and to Linden flying to Queensland and out of phone contact. Lonely times but ill pull through. Hung out with a random american before crashing into bed. Early start followed by massive amounts of Train. It was from the train that i saw deer and the biggest snowflakes EVER!! Switching in Berlin to Poznan, Poland...

I needed accom and it gets dark here at 4pm so by the time it was 930pm it was VERY COLD! I walked to the first place which was full. so i went to the second on the list and it was like Queens College but only used as accom during the summer when uni was out. so then i walked all the way into the town square to another place... which was all boarded up and gutted so clearly no longer in use! Although there was still old paint saying hotel. A contrast to the next one which had never been a hotel even though the name and location were right. so i walked all the way out of town to the next most expensive. i had already decided it was my last try and would sleep at the station if i couldnt get in. Ended up getting a suite. Loungeroom bathroom and twin bedroom for 100zl or
$40! I hate Poland flippancy but i sure love Poland prices!

So I trained up to Gdansk after a walk of Poznan in the morning. I got in late so I just found my hostel, had dinner with some different Americans and hit the hay! In the morning i grabbed a tram to the beach. beautiful subzero degree day! and i ripped off my clothes and jumped in the baltic!!! oh yeah! so so so cold. hours later my feet are still numb! totally worth it though! check the photos out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/12650085@N02/ or on facebook.

Afterwards i walked the city then wrote you all a blog. Tomorrow im heading off south and east to some lakes so i doubt if i will be contactable for a while. Not that it matters ill still have my phone and check my email which is all i do now anyway.

Lots of love,
Take Care,
Hutchovski

Hey everyone,

This is going to be a pretty boring entry as I have been up to very little since hitting London. My days consist of one of three things. I either
A) Go to work.
B) Walk around checking out Banksy's and other Street Art
C) Lay in bed way too late and just watch TV all day. (usually hungover)

But i have made the following observations of working in the London Pub Scene.

1. Scottish people are SO damn hard to understand. SO SO SO DAMN HARD!!
2. In England, grown men (even builders) can order Shandys, Tops (which is like a shot of lemonade in the top of your beer), Ciders, Snakebites (half cider, half lager, dash of blackberry cordial) and all sort of premixed girly drinks without their mates or anyone teasing them for being weak.
3. They also often dont finish beers, just buy new ones.
4. Coke is the most popular mixer for Vodka?!?
5. You cant understand a single word a Scot says. I have more luck understanding the French or Germans who come in speaking their native language than the Scottish speaking English.
6. Old English or Irish men have no quarms about dropping the C-bomb at ever possible chance.
7. The English are the laziest race of people EVER! And feel no guilt about sitting down while there are 10 people waiting for beers and only the Aussie (That would be me) serving.
8. Im not even sure Scottish people arent all just taking the piss out of me. They cant really be speaking English. Madness.

But I have good news on the horizon. I only work a split shift on Sunday (all day) then a close on Monday (5pm till close) and i am outta here for the partying to commence with the Swan! Should be rad and I will have a lot more to say when I blog next.

Hope you are all well. And i miss you all heaps!
Check out the awesome street art I have been seeing, especially the Banksy that was done only a few days ago! awesome!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12650085@N02/

Lots of Love
Hutch