I don't mind a cold beer on a hot day and although I was visiting Prague in December on what was definitely not a hot day, I thought I'd try a Pilsner Urquell at the Original Beer Experience to see what it was all about. Pilsener Urquell, or Plzeňský prazdroj in Czech, is a lager brewed at Asahi Breweries' Pilsner Urquell Brewery in Plzeň (German name: Pilsen), Czech Republic. It was the world's first pale lager and has therefore been much copied, with the name pils, pilsner or pilsener being used for this type of lager all around the world.

When I thought of "Goulash," I thought of Hungarian Goulash (Gulyas), however, we did find it was very popular in Prague also. Made of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika (lots of paprika) and other spices, it's one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country. Its origins can be traced back as far as the 10th century to stews eaten by Hungarian shepherds. Earlier versions of goulash did not include paprika, as it was not introduced to Europe until the 16th century.

No visit to Prague's old town square is complete without including the Astronomical Clock. So much so, that I thought it was deserving of its own "tick". Note to self, it probably isn't, but I was desperate to get to 60 and sex with 5 men, or even 1 for that matter was looking highly unlikely.

Prague at last. Been a long time on the list and it was finally time to visit.  Added bonus, it would be Christmas market time in the famous Old Town Square. Slight hiccup on arrival where our apartment was not located next to the Square and was in fact over the bridge (and up 4 flights of stair that nearly killed us each time we went up).

Sitting over on the Buda side of Budapest (as our tour guide told us, the best thing about Pest is the view across the river), Buda Castle is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian Kings. First completed in 1265, the palace that occupies most of the site today was built between 1749 and 1769 and has been severely damaged and rebuilt several times since. It's been rebuilt so many times; it's basically the IKEA version of a royal palace - probably missing a screw somewhere. In fact, the castle has survived wars, fires, and centuries of drama, but the real test is tourists trying to take selfies while standing on cobblestones.

Another one of those cheekily added ticks once I knew I was heading to Budapest.

Ahh the Danube, the second-longest river in Europe after the Volga in Russia. I've always wanted to do one of those river cruises along the Danube, watching life go by from my balcony while sipping a glass of bubbles and an attentive wait staff stands by ready to top up my glass. 

In Edinburgh, a "close" is a narrow alleyway leading off the main streets of the Old Town - and there are a lot of them. Historically they were named after the residents or tradespeople who lived there back in the 17th Century. I wandered down several of these little alleyways, many of which are said to be haunted. 

I vaguely recall trying Haggis many, many years ago. But that was in Perth (Australia, not Scotland) and I do not recall the obligatory accompaniments being served at the time.  Haggis is the only national dish that sounds like it might also be a small woodland creature with an attitude. Visitors hear the ingredients and turn green, but Scots just shrug like, “Aye, and…?” Meanwhile, every January, haggis gets its moment of glory at Burns Night, where people recite poetry to it. In a traditional Burn's supper it will be piped in by a bagpipe player and an esteemed guest will address the beastie with some words of Robert Burn's. No other food gets serenaded before being eaten. You don’t see anyone addressing a poem to a paella or an ode to an enchilada. Maybe I should start a trend?

Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. The myth, the legend, the mystery, Scotland's most elusive celebrity and on this day I was going to find her.  The legend of Nessie took off in 1933 when a couple reported seeing a large animal in the loch. The most famous image is the 1934 “Surgeon’s Photograph,” the one that shows a long neck rising out of the water. However, this photograph was later revealed to be a hoax - no way - we must believe! Scotland's other famous and much loved "product" is of course whisky and that could be the reason for so many sightings over the years. Ever wondered if it's whisky and whiskey? Both are correct. Whisky reflects the original Scots and Gaelic word ‘Uisge beatha’, meaning Water of Life. Irish immigration to America saw an "e" added, so in American it's ‘whiskey.’

With an arctic wind blowing and the idea of wondering the cold and wet streets of Edinburgh not sounding overly appealing, I decided to take the easy route and book a seat of the Ghost Bus Tour. But first, having skipped lunch, I headed to a nearby pub for dinner. McGonagall's (another nod to Harry Potter) Gin and Whisky Bar. Once seated, I rebelliously chose to have a beer having previously decided that I was not going to become a whisky lover. Food wise, I chose the bangers and mash and these were served in a large Yorkshire pud with lots of gravy. Delicious. 

Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk (yep a Kirk is a church) and it tops many a list as the most haunted cemetery in the world. Now I do love a good cemetery. My name is Julia and I am a Taphophile. What's a Taphophile? A taphophile is "someone who is interested in cemeteries, gravestones, and the art and history that goes along with them. So this of course was one that I had to visit, especially when I heard the story of Bobby.