Sometimes it is hard to define Zimbabwe. Is it a country of game parks? Must you call it prehistoric? Or, is Zimbabwe merely a colonial heart of Africa?
My reasons to love Tanzania are many. For one, it was the first real African country that I traveled and it was also here that I first tasted success on my fledgling mountaineering career - Mt Kilimanjaro.
I have a few personal Turkish favourites (I will throw in baklava though I don't fancy sweet) that are strictly "meat based" - Adana kebabs top the list.
No matter what season you visit, the first time you set your eyes on the forbidding castle, you get the feeling that time has stood still.
David Černý and his controversial and quirky sculptures have "brightened" up the city of Prague in the last three decades.
Our Beer spa conversation began something like this - “Let’s get naked and drink beer in a tub.” Yes, that’s the way it usually goes in a beer spa in Prague. I can tell you this on authority, being the one who actually said such a thing to the bunch of girls about to be a part of this ritual in Prague. Because that is exactly why we were here – to get naked, sink into a tub of beer (at least all the ingredients that make beer – minus the fermentation process) and drink endless beer from a personal tap by our elbow. Unless of course, you have come in a swimsuit, naked is the easiest (and fastest) way to start achieving your goal - mine being drinking beer. The reason I say this is pretty obvious. Even before your bottom has hit the beer, your time starts ticking. So, if you are in a race to challenge your partner, friend, or whoever is with you in there, you’ll appreciate my warning.
What is beer spa?
Well, this is a place you go to in Prague (and a few such places all over Czech Republic) to soak yourself in a tub of hot water mixed with hop and yeast and thirty minutes of soaking up later, you lie on a bed of straws and let the body continue to absorb the good stuff. It’s a spa alright – you have your own private room for the time, but there are no scented candles and personal attendants. Beer spa is quite straightforward. You enter, strip and start drinking – after a very brief explanation of why and how the tap works (that is extremely important you know), an occasionally nibble on some beer-bread in between drinking. Yes, there is some music to egg you on, but I admit I didn’t pay much attention to it and focused instead on the immediate problem at hand – do I start with the light or dark Krušovice beer? Krušovice, I’ll have you know, is one the best Czech beer and I was in a race to drink at least 3 glasses of it (having picked up the 1ltr giant glass). You will appreciate my predicament. Beers to your health...or something like that. Cheers!| Beer facts
In Czech Republic, beer is cheaper than water especially at restaurants and bars! The Czech rank number one in the world for beer consumption, drinking on average 144 liters of beer for every child, teenager, adult, pregnant woman and tourist in the country! |
Five reasons to try
- Unlimited beer on tap while you soak up
- The hops help to open and cleanse your pores
- Beer is a great hair conditioner
- Malt is a great way to exfoliate
- Yeast has B vitamins and active enzymes that rejuvenate your skin
Things to know...
- Bring your own swimwear
- Don’t shower for at least five hours after
- You are free to drink as much as you can within the allotted time frame
- This experience will set you back anything between USD150-200 (for two)
The business of beer
With an annual production upwards of 16.7 million barrels annually, beer is big business in Czech Republic. Export brings in the euros, but beer also draws visitors from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, UK, and US into the country eager to drink it at source or bathe in it. This latest tourist craze of beer spas makes sense after all.
Any time of the year, the half dozen or so beer spas in the country is always full, so booking in advance is a good idea. Different beer spas offer different experiences – but beer is the common element. But more than the soaking up of vitamins, it is the experience that drives people to the tubs.
Beer has been brewed in Czech Republic for centuries and the Czechs pride in their national treasure. In fact, many breweries also offer guided tours where you can get closer to your favourite drink.
In one sentence, Boma Dinner and Drum is a dining experience that’ll make you fall in love with Zimbabwean food, people and drums.
Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe is a must visit place for many reasons. But first things first. This UNESCO World Heritage site is amazing.
Anyone who loves trains, old or new, will, at some point in life, make their way to Bulawayo’s Railway Museum. So, I’ll make this personal. Because I love trains, that’s why.