Hard Rock Cafe Helsinki!

Finally had a chance to check out the new "local cafe", and go shopping for a new t-shirt and shot glass! U're warmly welcome to Finland, HRC! :)

San Francisco!

So you're a tourist, but only with a day or so to spend exploring San Francisco..

I think I managed to cover all the essentials, though of course there were a few additional things I would've liked to see - Alcatraz, the redwoods area, and the Silicon Valley..

Hard Rock Cafe @ Prague

Last time the cafe wasn't open, but now I had chance to czech it out. It sure is a big venue..

Malta Hard Rock Cafe

This is the official cafe at Bay Street mall in St. Julians area.

Hard Rock Bar @ Valletta

This is the "second" HRC place in Malta.

U Fleku

Being a tourist in Prague is serious business. After Ostrava, yesterday night was like a culture shock.

Loud crowds of drunken Brits or German boys roaming the streets. Different people asking for things, usually for money.

Quiet saturday morning at classic and world famous U Fleku brewery therefore seems calming. I survived last night to tell all about it.

I had a brief visit to the newly opened Hard Rock Cafe rock shop for some souvenirs. Too bad the cafe itself isn't open yet.

Today in Prague they will run the half marathon, so I'd better start moving towards the airport earlier than usual, if I intend to make it home tonight.

Still, Prague was nice but I kind of miss the athmosphere at Olomouc.

Collectibles

Or "souvenirs", if you like..

I have thosands and thousands of travel photos on my hard drive. I'm currently assembling an album to the web of the most essential ones.

Why I have so many pictures, and what they are mostly about, that's another story. Also explaining why I prefer to visit cities that have Hard Rock Cafe's for a t-shirt and a shot glass will make a nice story - but sometimes later.

Tonight, while I looked at the photos, I came to wonder what kind of stuff I have collected from the places I have visited?

I like maps of places very much. If you've never been to a city, the map looks strange. Then when you've just arrived to a new place, the map looks even more confusing. But after a few hours, it starts to make sense. During a few days, paper maps tend to get a bit rugged. And right after the trip you may feel they are useless. But years after, looking at that rugged map brings up memories. Some maps may become priceless, even though they were eventually free. Maps are excellent memorabilia.

As well as maps, I like to collect beer coasters. They are free. And you can use them as postcards too. I doubt if my collection will ever have any financial value, though. :)

I also keep good travel guidebooks I can find, thinking they might come useful if I visit the place again. Well, as the phrase goes, maybe a few more words about that too.. but later..