Just before we start. The links in this blog are all for pictures, as I've still not got a camera, so they're just lifted off the web as before. So just click and they'll pop up unless you're on a clockwork computer, in which case you'll click and then wait three days.

Evenin' all. My time in Brno has come to an end just as soon as it started really. Got to keep moving though. When I first got here I thought it was proper dive. It was chucking it down with rain, the station's a bombsite and the hostel is massive, characterless and largely empty. With the rain pouring down I just looked around the city for a bit and went to bed.

Day two proved a lot better. I had to revise my idea of Brno being a hole. It's actually a top place. Far less touristy than Prague and a lot cheaper to boot. I walked up to the castle in the morning. Lovely place, apart from the fact it used to be prison circa the 18th century. People got chained up in there for life. This dude looks like he's been there far too long. Honestly though, it was eerie as, with no natural light and long low cells, packed to the brim with unfortunates. Then the Nazis grabbed it and used it in the war and there's some remnants of their occupation.

Outside was much more cheery. From the tower you could see a 360 degree view of the Brno. Couldn't help noticing the power station slap bang in the centre, hmmmm! Just as I was starting back down the bloody bell rang and I nearly nose dived down the spiral staircase but kept my cool (sort of).

To appreciate the interior you don't have to be an architect. To appreciate the museum you have to speak Czech. Still they were showing a loop of the first bit of Gladiator (Romans kicking the Teutons arses) so that was entertaining.

Today was an early start (half 5) to get to some caves out of town. An Oz couple were getting an early train too and they'd been the day before and told me what see and which train to get. The caves were class. Firstly a walk through all the Stalactites and mites, opening out into the Macocha Abyss . More mites and tites, then a boat ride down the subterranean river. For the geologists amongst us these caves are part of the Moravian Karst. I'd tell you more but of course the guided tour was in Czech. The Abyss was even more spectacular from above after the hike up to it through dense green forest, with trees filtering the sunlight into shafts.

On the wayback I got try out my new Czech phrase.... Je to vlak do Brno... (is this train going to Brno) it was and now I'm back. Bumped into a lad (kev) that I met in Prague, just before I left, on my way to write this. Turns out he's in the same hostel as me (told you it was big!) so we're off out for a few beers tonight.

Other than that, Phil - I think I'm going to have to go to Venice to get a cheaper flight home. It's not far from Croatia so I might see you there for a beer or two!