A tiny beach with a bar next to the Marian column

The central square of Brno has a new attraction – a small sand beach with several sunbeds and a bar. A beach volleyball court is likely to be constructed in several days.

There is no entrance fee; the beach will be open until the end of September.

Travel industry expert Tomio Okamura told Czech television that the beach has one problem – there is no water, except for showers.

I just walked through the Christmas markets in the centre of Brno and I am happy to anounce that they are focused on traditional Czech gifts and food – and full of happy people sipping their punches. What a change has happened since the last years!

Market at the central square - Náměstí Svobody

There are three markets – at Náměstí Svobody sq., Zelný trh sq. and at Moravské náměstí sq. There is live music every day, a big Christmas tree and a bell that is supposed to help your dreams come true at Náměstí svobody sq.

Market at Zelný trh sq.

I found out that there is an open-air buffet with sausages and wursts at Zelný trh sq. At Moravské náměstí sq., you can enjoy a nice skating-rink.

The markets close on December 24.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

As usualy, first bottles of this year’s wine come to market on St. Martin’s Day – Wednesday, November 11.

Although the tradition of tasting the young wine on this day begun in the 18th century, it had been almost forgotten before Moravian winemakers decided to use it as a smart marketing event in the 2000s.

This year, 211 wines were good enough to receive the exclusive mark “Svatomartinské víno”.

Where to get the wine

If you want to taste St. Martin’s Wine, come to the Náměstí Svobody sq. on Wednesday afternoon. Bottles can be bought in wine shops in the whole country (a list of sure-fire shops to go to at southern Moravia) as well as in many cafés and some supermarkets.

I recommend to combine the young wine with roasted goose, cabbage and dumplings.

New TV ad for construction machinery seller Mátl & Bula is mocking the legendary music video for Benny Benassi’s Satisfaction right in the streets of Brno.

The girls try to destroy one of the statues in streets I wrote about two weeks ago:

It’s so wrong on so many levels: it’s vandalism, it’s an imitation of someone else’s idea, it’s so sexist (oh, have you seen the backstage tape?) — but you know what? It’s also fresh and funny. I sent it to all my (male) friends and blogged about it just now — so actually, it’s a great viral campaign. I am just curious about the possible consequences for Mátl & Bula.