We've arrived in Brno and its a very lovely city, much smaller than Prague but still buzzing. I must say its an eccentric place - last night we went to eat at a mad Indonesian place called Restaurant Kanibal, decorated mostly in skulls, mock-Indonesian carvings and masks - superb! Didn't have a clue what anything was on the menu but somehow luckily ended up with a steak in brandy sauce. Ellen was more authentic with a very Czech interpretation of Nasi Goring, complete with peas carrots and parsnip!
This morning we took our washing to the best shop in the world - a laundry - cum bar - cum internet cafe. These people are potty, although it must be said extremely genteel, polite and laid back. Through conversation with several folk I have determined that they have a healthy disregard for politics: the view seems to be that political power is generally A Bad Thing, and so the best tactic is to get on with life regardless of who the people who think they are in charge are, or what they choose to call the place (be them Hasburgs, Prussians, Germans or Soviets. Or indeed the current ones, Americans judging by the shops and cultural direction).
Feel oddly withdrawn today but don't know why seeing as this is such a wonderful place. Ellen reckons its because I've reverted to drinking esspresso like there's no tomorrow but I reckon its also a come-down from Prague in which I became totally immersed.
Brno is intersting also because this is the home of Gregor Mendel, which the biologists amongst you will recognise as a significant contributor to genetics and could even be said to be a posthumous co-founder of neo-Darwinism. Not bad for an Augustinian, and we hope to go to the monastery while we're here.