They’re two of Europe’s great cities and for the month that’s in it, let’s look at scary Prague and Paris below our feet.
Because our friends Cassideeeeh Trrrrravel (soz) have flagged up what’s under the flagstones in the Czech and French capitals for frighteningly good prices.
And while most will look up in wonder, and rightfully so, at the Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge and Eiffel Tower and Montmartre in those cities.
For horror fans the fun is going underground.
Only here for the beer and the Fear
Hard to bear: Prague Fear House
In Prague, the city of 1,000 spires the aspiring ghost lives down under the floorboards of Prague Fear House.
This being the country where more people drink beer per head of population than any other in the world your tour naturally revolves around a bar.
We’re told it is lit with dark, gothic interiors shades and gooey candy eyeballs garnishing tiki cocktail mugs.
I must be losing it, 20 minutes into the LGBTQ+ party in San Antonio and I wasn’t propositioned once… I’m persuaded to turn my attentions to Pride in London and Berlin.
Particularly as my travel provider friends in Ireland, Cassidy, have flagged up the European powerhouses for this Pride.
Dressed to kill: In California
Pride is a life-enforcing celebration of gay rights yes, but human spirit.
And that’s only because I’ve not been in any of the other great cities of the world when Pride has been in full flow.
Although I’ve tried to raise a smile (or more) from the rather staid seaside town of North Berwick, east of Edinburgh, where I now live by wearing a feather boa around town.
And now because Cassidy share my love for Pride and have these packages at their fingertips join me and getting your vibe on with Pride in London and Berlin.
Let the gay Thames roll
In the pink: And the green
And because my gay friends love a pun and a double entendre almost as much as I do here’s a slice of London life…
Pride Weekend Package: London
Travel 1st July
2 Night Package
4* Britannia International
Package includes flights and accommodation.
€289pp (based on 2 people sharing)
From Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall Place, witness over 500 groups and 30,000 participants marching in the iconic Pride in London Parade.
Drop into Cassidy Travel today or contact them on 01 9695550.
Ich bin gay Berliner
As John F Kennedy would have said had he been addressing Pride in Berlin.
Pride Weekend Package: Berlin
Travel 21st July 2023
2 Night Package
3* Mercure Hotel Berlin Mitte
Package includes flights and accommodation.
€389pp (based on 2 people sharing)
One of the largest Pride parades in Europe runs from Kurfürstendamm to the Brandenburg Gate,
It all ends with a lively concert which welcomes special guest stars and goes well into the night!
Drop into Cassidy Travel today or contact them on 01 8224000.
It’s an oft-asked question… where’s good for a sunny couple’s holiday and there were no sunnier couple than the all-American pair inviting me down to Mexico for a swinging couple’s holiday?
Innocent abroad as I was I took the polo-shirted middle-aged man and his librarian-type wife at their word.
While all the time my pal Martin from the north of Ireland was shooting me looks.
Before he just about rescued me when we were ready to exchange details and they were about to tell me about their ‘special’ getaway with their club down in Cancun.
Beach Cassidy and the Sundance kids
Your seat, Senor: And palm trees too
No such confusions with our old friends from Ireland Cassidy Travel.
They have just the thing for my itchy-footed companion in life who never tires of telling me that she never gewts away.
And that’s a seven-night all-inclusive stay at the 3* Rui Lupita in Playa del Carmen for travel on June 12 for €1099pps.
Marriachi midfielder: A bit of Mexican fun
We’re told the stunning Caribbean eachside resort is surrounded by tropical gardens and offers
And has a choice of four pools, four restaurants and live shows and entertainment.
Mex my day
El Duck: And El Bandanaman
Now, I’ve flirted with Mayheecho over the years.
From packing bowls with tortilla chips and guacemole during my post-University stint as a busboy in Boston, Massachussets as well as many other jobs.
Mark questioned ‘how could the Walll be a symbol of USSR?’
And, yes. it is important to say that this was the GDR and that the greater political bloc was the Soviet-driven Warsaw Pact.
Berlin fixture: The Brandenburg Gate Photo by Adrien Olichon on Pexels.com
Mark also rightly pointed out that I had focused merely on the exodus to the West through Hungary and that I had missed a lot of history/change before.
And he helpfully pointed me in the direction of http://www.the-berlin-wall.com for video clips and chronology on the key dates and events leading up to the Fall of the Wall.
Like I always say the best way to find out about a city, country, resort is to listen to the people on the ground… and to go there!
If you want to know more about Berlin then put yourself in the hands of Click & Go http://www.clickandgo.com who are offering a City Break from €159pp in January.
Philly state of mind
What a cracker: Liberty Bell in Philly
I’m an impatient old sod.
Which is a bit off when I ask you to be so patient while I go off on all manner of tangents.
Which I did when I went to Washington DC for the American Travel Fair, IPW 2017 http://www.ipw.com,
And I also had a day out to hit Philadelphia.
Knowing I would only have half a dozen hours there I kept looking at my watch as I stood in the queue.
And I regaled the driver with my compelling need to make up time on the road when he eventually got going.
It wasn’t as if the Bell was going anywhere.
But I was as excited as an American Literature and History grad I was as excited as a kid at Christmas.
Rocky and Jocky: In Philly
It was crackin’…
And I also got bristly with the locals.
When I asked that they didn’t take the flag down at the Town Hall until I’d taken a selfie.
