Prague still has the reputation as Eastern Europe's sex capital but the reality is fading. Long gone are the street prostitutes although there are massive clubs near the centre aimed at heterosexual males but the gay scene's boy clubs with strippers are no longer crowded with boys pestering punters to fuel their drug habit. The infamous Pinochio Bar, renamed, I kid you not, Temple Bar and apparently redeveloped after a change in ownership, has had an apparent clean out of the worst of the atmosphere in the club although negotiations over sex are still between the boy and client. On our third night in Prague we braved a visit and were able to quietly drink a beer without any harassment from the boys and we stayed long enough to watch two cute boys strip. The boys then went around with a basket collecting change just like they do at church services! Beers were Ckr 48.00 as opposed to the standard Ckr 31.00 average for a 5dl glass.
We arrived on an early Thursday morning, directly into Prague Airport, somewhat unusual for Ryanair and made our way, at first by bus to Dejvicka end station on the A Line, changing at Mustek to the B Line, one stop to Namesti Republiky and it was just a five minute walk to the new Hilton 'Old Town' hotel on V Celnici where were staying, a big difference than last year when we stayed at the Golden Sickle Hostel in Vodikrova which was nevertheless great value and in a great location. Hilton 'Old Time' is also in a great location just a twenty minute walk from Charles Bridge, Prague's biggest heritage attraction.
The main gay area is on the opposite side of the main railway station, Hlavni nadrazi in the Vinohrady area. On our first day, Thursday, we dashed off to the famous Podoli swimming pool and leisure complex which runs by the river, south to the city centre since the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday was poor. The pool complex was packed of course with plenty of gorgeous Czech Eye Candy and a handful of us tourists. There's also a steam room at the complex which is seriously hot and apart from the youngsters nudity is the norm.
Later we ate dinner at a small restaurant on Seifertova Street where we were served by a very pretty Slovak girl who gave great table service, unfortunately the food and small portions were disappointing though. After dinner we weaved our way through residential streets to Saints Bar at 32 Polska Street but we didn't stay as Kevin found the smoky atmosphere off putting so we headed straight for Valentino Prague's biggest night-club at 40 Vinohradska but got lost and eventually bumped into two old Queens with not a word of English who directed us to Klub Stede bar a local gay bar with a 30 plus clientèle. We headed back to the hotel after drinking a beer.
On Friday we wondered around the city centre visiting a few key attractions. The afternoon was taken up finding out ways and costs of transport to our next stop, Vienna. Eventually we bought the last two bus tickets to Vienna and the tickets were only Ckr 310.00 each (about €11.00) but i shall lave our journey details to the next installment.
On Friday evening we found ouraselves at TerMix dance club which on my last visit to Prague was empty, indeed the door man advised us to try Valentino last time so this was my first real visit as it was Kevin's too. It is situated in a basement on Trebizs Reha (Street) in Vonohrady not far from Valentino and the other gay establishments. TerMix is small in comparison to Valentino but it has great atmosphere and is obviously popular with many of the young very good-looking Czech boys and girls. The dance floor is tiny and is overlooked by a mezzanine floor and the long bar is elegant in its design. A video screened images of Madonna on her birthday. There's even a darkroom behind the men's toilettes.
After spending some time at TerMix we moved on to Valentino's via a detour to Latimere Bar, though we didn't stay. Valentino's was not as hot and noisy as it is on its busiest nights in mid-summer. Valentino consists of three floors, a chill out bar on the ground level with seating along the window and additional seating outside. One floor down, with a small darkroom in the back, was a dance floor and a bar another floor down and there is the biggest floor area in an 'L' shape and another dance floor leads off the corridor at one end. At the other far end opposite a large lounge and general chill-out area are stairs leading to a basement and more dimly lit rather scary playrooms, so we arrived, we saw and we left. We returned to Valentino and TerMix nite clubs the following night, Saturday. Of the two venues TerMix is the better except for its tiny size and there appeared to be a lack of fire exits in both venues.
As for shopping in Prague my advice is stay away from the expensive centre as there are better bargains to be had on the castle side of the river. Kevin wasn't into shopping so he visited the must-see cathedral with its famous hourly chimes and one shouldn't miss the Torture Museum near Charles Bridge which makes North Korea, Myanmar and Zimbabwe's techniques of torture and brutality seem like a picnic. If you need sex tips or titilation try visiting the Sex Museum close to St Nicolas Square.
For lunch we dropped into Cafe-Cafe, a straight friendly very smart eatery, although I overheard a middle aged straight couple exclaim, “Das ist eine Shwule Cafe” (“A homosexual cafe”)...they didn't stay. The menu is small but yummy. I had a Risotto and Kevin a sandwich. Apart from a mix-up over coffees the service was pretty good.
After freshening up back at the hotel including a half hour visit to the swimming pool at the Hilton we set out again at 7.30pm to try out the Babylon gay sauna. Entrance fee was Ckr 300.00 (about €12.00). coming out of the changing rooms, immediately to your right as one passes to the wet area is the cafe. Turn left again and go down some stairs and there is a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, a cruising area is also on the premises. Unfortunately like so many gay saunas the steam room was dark but if it's anonymous sex that you're after then I guess it's ideal.
After our visit we went out once more for a beer in the Vinorady area.
We had to be up and out of the hotel by 10.00 am on our final day, Sunday but thankfully the bus station was just ten minutes walk away by foot. We need not have worried about breakfast as the 'Student Travel' bus company supplied a great free hot drinks service with snacks to purchase which went perfectly with my packed lunch
We flew Ryanair to Prague, oneway as we were returning via Bratislava, for around €45.00. Bus (Student Travel Company) to Vienna cost us Ckr 310.00 approximately €12.00 including free tea, coffee or hot chocolate and free newspapers (if you can read Czech). Journey time four and a half hours to Vienna.
Check back for our review of Vienna