'Defend your happiness, organise your rage'

Morning reading today:

'Defend your happiness, organise your rage'

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/31/podemos-revolution-radical-academics-changed-european-politics?CMP=share_btn_tw

The rise of Podemos in Spain shows the potential of the left if it can get people energised about change. In Spain and Greece people sick of corrupt politicians get angry and try to do something about it, in Britain too many have already given up on change, not helped by the Lib Dems failing to get a vote on Proportional Representation when they had the chance. AV was a poor second best, but with around 20% of this year's vote likely to be represented by 1% of MPs, it surely can't go on.

Science spending should be 1% of GDP, say Greens

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32086204

While the other parties argue about committing 2% of GDP to defence, the Greens go a much more worthwhile route. The recent fuss over the Meningitis B vaccine deal shows the problem with leaving research to the private sector. Science is expensive. If you don't fund it, pharma companies are going to charge for it, if you want a good deal, do it yourself. We spend less than the EU average on Research and Design, despite party leaders frequently saying how important science and technology is they won't commit to funding it.
Quite how this would fit in with the Greens Party's aim to end all animal experiments remains to be seen. If reliable alternatives to animals are available, they are already used. Scientists would love to be able stop using animals, it would be easier, quicker and cheaper, but the technology is still simply not there yet.

A second Green MP?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/election-2015-opportunity-knocks-or-call-my-bluff-green-candidate-darren-hall-thinks-he-can-win-in-bristol-west-10141438.html

Despite the massive surge in support for the Green Party, it's going to be tough for them to get any extra MPs, thanks to First Past The Post. The most likely place seems to be in Bristol, The Independent takes a look. He's even more straight talking than Cameron: “People here are so pissed off they are willing to think about something new, they think the system is completely fucked up, and [want] leadership that’s actually going to take us in a different direction.” Good luck Darren Hall.

Birmingham Green Party

https://fabrily.com/bgp-rotunda-view

Quick plug for the local party's latest fundraising effort, a green Birmingham t shirt, no anti-immigration slogans here.

Election Playlist song 2:

So it begins....

Today is the first 'official' day of election campaigning, after weeks and weeks of 'definitely not campaigning, nope, not at all'. Instead of posting countless articles to Facebook during election season, i'll try to round everything up in my seldom used blog. (I'm off work sick, I need something to keep me entertained!)

First things first, If you aren't registered, you can't vote. So register. Go. Right now. It's quick and easy - https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote You have until April 20th.

The system changed last year, so you might think that you already are, but actually aren't. Even if you think you won't vote, give yourself the option.

Think it's pointless voting? Last time over 15m people didn't vote. If those people vote this time, it could change everything.

In the end, Skunk Anansie say it best...



Full election playlist to come...

In Bruges

I love Bruges. Here's some reasons why:

De Verbeelding, Oude Burg 26
My local and first port of call when in town. First stumbled into this mother and son run restaurant/pub after a long journey to Bruges with a friend. We were desperate for just one beer, but stayed for hours. Good beer, better company and great food (a warning about eating out in Belgium - portions are very generous!). I recommend everything! Say hi to Tom and Lieve for me.

De Halve Maan Brewery, Walplein 26
The Half Moon brewery is the only active brewery left in city. Luckily it's damn good. It used to just brew Straffe Hendrick (Strong Henry), but when this got too popular the recipe was bought by a bigger brewery. This brought about the introduction of a new beer - Bruges Zot (the Fool of Bruges). Bruges Zot comes in blonde and brown versions, the blonde being one of my favourite beers of all time. The new brewers of Straffe Hendrick then went out of business, leading to the recipe returning home. De Halve Maan now brews the 2 Zots and Straffe Hendrick Tripel and Quadruple. The brewery tour includes a great view of the city from the rooftop and of course a glass of the brew of your choice to enjoy in their spacious beer garden.

Take one down, pass it around, make a xmas tree of the empties.

Begijntje 'T, Wijngaardstraat 16
The best place for marzipan in town. Buy a slice of rum raisin marzipan and your life will never be the same again.

Moeder Babelutte, Rozenhoedkaai 1 and Wollestraat 24
Being Belgium, there are of course plenty of chocolate shops to choose from, but this has become my choice. The truffles are divine.

Brugs Beertje, Kemelstraat 5
Well known among beer lovers for having the largest and best selection of the stuff around. Get there early, it fills up, and start making your way through the beer list that's so big it's more a book than a list. The staff know their beer and help you whittle down the choices to a suitable thirst quencher.

De Hobbit, Kemelstraat 8
After staggering out of Brugs Beertje, you may think that you see the glowing abode of one of Tolkien's little friends. You probably have drunk too much, but the sign really does say The Hobbit. A restaurant filled with everything you need to feel like you are in a Shire tavern. Although the greeting from the staff after stepping inside can be less than warm, once you're seated the service is good and so's the food. The ham on the bone is a highlight.

The Crash, Langestraat 78
If you like rock and/or roll, if you like it loud and you like dive bars, then The Crash is for you. The choice of beer is simple (bottled or draught), the ceiling is covered with crushed beer cans and closing time is when the head of the last drunk has come to rest on whatever will serve as a pillow for the day.

De Garre, De Garre 1
The is only one place in the world that you can get a glass of Garre, at De Garre on Garre street. Enjoy with a selection cubed cheese and meat.

Here's a handy map to help you find your way around:


View Bruges in a larger map

The Good Pub Guide

On my travels i've stopped for a beverage from time to time, here's some of my favourites.

The Dove, London, England

A few minutes away from London Fields, The Dove stocks 100 Belgian beers and also has a few English ales on pump. 100 Belgian beers. In the middle of East London. Does this really need anymore explanation? Try Saison 1900 and Satan Gold.

Jekyll and Hyde, Edinburgh, Scotland

Awesome decor. Toilets can be tricky to find.

Ardview Inn, Port Ellen, Islay, Scotland

Biggest selection of whisky i've ever seen in a pub, friendly staff and locals. Try the Bruichladdich Octomore if you dare.

Het Elfde Gebod, Antwerp, Belgium

Decorated with statues and art collected from churches over the course of 30 years. Saints tower over you as you sip beer that's unlikely to be found anywhere else.

Bauhaus/ The Crash, Bruges, Belgium

Get to know some new friends in the bar of Bauhaus hostel, with giant's melted candle and a clock going backwards, then move over the road to The Crash for rock and/or roll until no one's left standing.

Cafe Olivier, Utrecht, Netherlands

Serving a wide selection of Belgian beer in an old church complete with organ. Good food too.

Excalibur, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Biker bar in the red light district. Good music and suits of armour.

Jazz Rock Cafe, Krakow, Poland

Dark, metal design. Good beer, good music, good atmosphere.

Zly Casy, Prague, Czech Republic

Best selection of Czech beer around, with great snacks.

Prague

Some people think hostels are dirty, crowded, run down shit holes. These people deserve to miss out on having a swimming pool, sauna and bar for under £10 a night. This is what you get at Plus Prague. Just a 5 minute walk away from Nádraží Holešovic metro station, it takes a total of 15 minutes to get to the centre of Prague. However the breakfast isn't free and you can get more, better food by waiting until you get to the metro station and visiting Mr Baker, a wide variety of delicious baked goods, mostly for under £1 each, also home to Andy's Pizza for slices under £1. Any bakery in Eastern Europe is well worth a visit, I recommend one of everything.

In the shopping district there are plenty of sausage stands with big, awesome sausages and mulled wine. Mulled wine is available all over town, the best is at the entrance to the vineyard by Prague Castle. Potrefena Husa has cheap Czech food in massive portions.

I believe walking is the best way to see a city. Prague is a perfect walking city. Stick to the main roads and it's easy to see all the main attractions, wander off through the side streets to find traditional goulash, little local bars and interesting shops. If you want a guided tour, I have always found New Europe tours an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. Although these tours are 'free', the guides are actually charged around 3 euros for each person who starts the tour, so please give them at least 5 euros, in my experience it's more than worth it.

From the old town, cross the spectacular (and spectacularly crowded!) Charles Bridge with it's 30 statues and countless tourist trap souvenir stands (although there are a couple of jewellery stands worth checking out), and start the climb to Prague Castle. I found the Old Castle steps a much easier ascent. The view from the top is well worth the effort, it's the best view of Prague for free. In the middle of the castle grounds is the stunning St Vitus's Cathedral. You can't buy tickets for just entrance cathedral, but must buy a combination ticket which gives you access to the Basilica and other parts of the castle. Unless you are on a very tight budget, do it! Among the highlights are stained glass windows by Alfons Mucha in the cathedral.

Of course, one of the best things about this part of the world is the quality of beer available for prices so small, it would be an insult not to over-indulge. The best place for this is Zly Casy - 24 beers on tap, constanting changing, features many you won't find anywhere else and also has tasty cheap snacks. For something a bit different try BED - just off the main square, does exactly what it says on the tin. Instead of chairs, there's beds, but no shoes on the furniture, please. Live music is never far away. Depending on the night, Matrix is good for Heavy Metal or Drum and Bass. Cross Club has a mix of music in some of the coolest club rooms you will ever see. Seats from buses, trams and trains, fans made form car window wipers, turning engines hanging from the ceiling and and entrance made from exhausts and vehicular bits and bobs. Warning: Keep your bags in your sight, unfortunately there's not much in the way of security here, which can ruin a great night and interesting club.

Kutna Hora - lots of bones

One must-do day out is Kutna Hora. You can choose to go with an organised tour, or pay a small fraction of the price to get the frequent train and explore the small town yourself. It's a short walk to the Ossuary (bone chapel) which is decorated with the bones of around 70,000 people (and one bird). Skulls are arranged in 4 huge pyramids, while in the centre is a chandelier that utilises every bone in the human body. A walk through town will take you to St Barbara's church. Outside is a great view overlooking the town, inside are huge murals, great architecture and an amazing organ.

European Medley

In Venice i had to provide the ticket office with a timetable, apparently selling tickets and knowing what time train they're for is too much to handle.

In Auschwitz people were posing for photos. I think they may have missed the point...

Due to a government law, Italian internet cafes have to take a photocopy of your passport being giving internet access!

Ran into some Aussies in Venice that i'd met a month or so earlier in Edinburgh on a pub crawl! Didn't realise the first time we walked past eachother as i was distracted by Bo's t-shirt: 'To err is human, to arr is pirate'

Absinthne, agua and lime makes an awesome cocktail.

'One more for the road' is a dangerous saying when forever on the road!

Falafel.

Lots of people have just they're elbow tattooed. Others have all their arm except their elbow tattooed. Do they even out?

I spend far too much money when i go in a bookshop.

Going from Stockholm to Prague we had to change trains in Berlin. We should have had half an hour to make it to the next platform. Neither the lady in our cabin nor the conductor bothered to wake us up. I woke up with 8 minutes til the next train left. As we ran on, the doors closed about half a second behind us!

Lifts can be good places to pass a couple of hours at a train station when it's cold outside.

Hostels

I have now stayed in a stupid amount of hostels. Here's some of the best:

Bauhaus, Bruges
It's in Bruges (it's in Belgium), which automatically makes it awesome. The staff are all cool, and can be found in the bar when not working. The bar is great. A big clock that goes backwards, huge masses of melted candles, a good selection of beer, happy hour 1euro beer, and easy to meet fellow travellers. Once the bar closes move across the street to The Crash, which stays open for as long as you can drink, probably longer.

Af Chapman, Stockholm
It's in Stockholm. It's a boat. 'nuff said.

Goat Hostel, Budapest
Crazy (in the best way) staff. Projector for films. Free popcorn. Laid back. 24hour shop opposite. A few metres from the Danube.

ROOM Hostel, Rotterdam
Every room has a different theme. Most comfortable cushions in the world. Good bar with cheap jugs of beer. Near the water.

Hostel Celica, Ljubljana
Former military prison. Nice rooms. Meditation room. Bar with a different event every night. Live music.