Red Corner: Czech Beer

by Neil Woodburn on

There is almost nothing in life Czechs love more than their beer. Sure, they’ve got great tennis and hockey players and some fine authors, but when it comes right down to it, the Czechs are far more passionate about the beer their country brews, than anything else that comes out of the Czech Republic. In fact, one of the first things Czechs will tell you about their country is that pilsner-style beer was first developed there.

Choosing a beer while visiting the Czech Republic is like choosing a wine in France-so many choices, so little time. Thankfully The Prague Post has printed a handy cheat sheet detailing local types of beers (pilsners, porters, dark lagers, etc) and recommendations for each of these categories. So, if you’re a fan of porters, for example, The Prague Post recommends you try Pardubické next time you visit the Czech Republic.

Read the list wisely and you won’t end up doing what friends of mine did on their first visit to Prague when they accidentally picked up a case of beer with the phrase bez alkohol printed on the label. It took them four or five beers each before realizing their error: bez means without.

Red Corner: Another Space Tourist, Another $20 Million

by Neil Woodburn on

On the heels of last week’s post about space travel becoming more affordable by the year 2019, comes the news that the world’s fifth “space tourist” will soon be vacationing in outer space. Microsoft engineer Charles Simonyi, who developed the Microsoft Word program I’m typing this post with right now, is using some of the money I paid for this privilege to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams. Considering the trip is costing him $20 million, I sort of feel he doesn’t owe me too much gratitude for contributing to his vacation funds. A postcard might be nice, though.

Something interesting to point out here: Simonyi is a Hungarian born American who booked his flight through an American company doing business with the Russian Space Agency. He will fly out of Kazakhstan, on a Russian rocket and will be staying at the International Space Station constructed by a consortium of countries. Such a thing would have been impossible 20 years ago. We sure have come a long way since the Cold War

Red Corner: Lenin Museum Reborn

by Neil Woodburn on

Shortly after the fall of communism, countless specialty museums from Warsaw to Vladivostok gutted their collections and closed up shop. The controversial subject of these doomed museums was none other than Vladimir Lenin himself.

Lenin museums were like churches. During communism they were sacred halls of veneration that honored Lenin as though he were a religious icon. Every item he came in contact with was preserved and exhibited like a holy relic. Visitors could gaze upon his writing desk, cloak, hats, pens, books, cars, paintings, busts, gifts he received, and innumerable other objects. When I visited Moscow’s Central Lenin Museum in 1991, the sheer number of mundane artifacts carefully exhibited and spread across 34 rooms was simply overwhelming. The museum was officially closed down in 1993 and its collection of 100,000 items mothballed.

For those of you disappointed to have missed this audacious display of personality cult, you now have a second chance. Moscow’s Historical Museum has hauled a small part of the collection out of storage and is now exhibiting it as, “Symbols of the Soviet Epoch.” The exhibition, which will run until May 22nd, is conveniently located in a massive red-colored building adjacent to Red Square. You can’t miss it.

Red Corner: Guide to Russian Bribery

by Neil Woodburn on

It is an unfortunate reality of traveling that occasionally you must reach deep into your pocket, pull out a wad of rupees, crowns, or rubles and buy your way out of a bad situation.

In Russia, the art of bribery is practically an institution. Last year an estimated $319 billion was spent on bribery, baksheesh, greasing palms, or otherwise getting things done the way you want them done.

Planning a trip to Russia in the future but uncertain of the going bribe rates? The folks over at The Exile have put together a handy article detailing going rates and what to expect. Although many topics covered are more pertinent to local residents ($5000 to avoid military duty) and businessmen ($30,000 to unfreeze your assets), there are a few that might come in handy for us travelers-such as how much to bribe Aeroflot for your extra baggage, and what to pay the police if they catching you urinating in Red Square.

I guess I’ve been fortunate to never pay a bribe in Russia, but then again, I’ve never tried to pee in Red Square either.

Red Corner: Walking to Russia

by Neil Woodburn on

Despite the theory that the first Americans walked to the continent across the frozen Bering Strait, nearly no one else has managed to do so since. Yesterday, however, it was reported that an ex-British paratrooper had just completed the opposite, traveling from Alaska to Russia entirely on foot. If this is true, he is one of only four people to have accomplished this in modern times.

The feat, however, is just one small piece of Karl Bushby’s grand adventure in which he is attempting to walk around the world. Currently, he is seven years and 16,000 miles into this 36,000 mile journey. Bushby started at the tip of South America and hopes to make it home to England within the next five years, all on foot. Check out his great website which tracks his progress and regularly posts updates and photos.

Gadling will also keep you informed as Bushby continues his trek through his next biggest challenge, Kamchatka and Siberia.