A sad good bye

A final day in London and we all set out to do some sightseeing. Bags packed and not thinking about the inevitable, we headed into the city, which was packed and crowded with people out to enjoy the heatwave.

We marveled at the sights and grabbed some last minute shopping before heading back to the hotel in the early afternoon.

It was sad to see this ending…

We almost lost a member of the group as Danie was almost left behind, a taxicab bringing him in the nick of time to the bus after he fell asleep on the tube. Nobody should say this tour was an easy one…

At Heathrow we headed for some duty free shopping to show folks at home we had thought of them, and then headed to the plane.

A long night’s sleep filtered through the group, as weary heads and bodies found some rest at 30 000feet.

It was over, the end was in sight. The marathon was done and we had survived.

We had travelled Europe’s best breweries, drunk their finest offerings and experienced some magnificent sights.

We had stories of stories, enough to fill several books. They were funny, they were ready to be shared back home. They were simply legendary.

This was an experience of a lifetime. We had known that going heading to Europe. But none of us would have guessed how much our journey would have instilled in us.

We may have headed out of South Africa as beer drinkers ready for a jol. We returned home as a bunch of friends, a Castle-bound family who had found something special in Europe, something we couldn’t explain.

As we said our goodbyes there were a few tears, a few sad thoughts and many hugs.

We knew this would never be the end. We knew we had ventured to find something out there that could match a Castle. We knew that this was the only task that we had failed in.

Our journey would be etched in our hearts, our friendships will live on long after the tour has been forgotten.

And as we left each other to head to our respective homes, we all had a smile knowing we would meet again somewhere in the near future.

And we would share our war stories of Europe over a Castle, with fun and friendship with us all the time.

London calling

London was calling and we were on our way.

A late checkout was greeted with great smiles as stories of Ireland’s hospitality greeted us Saturday morning.

There were other things on our minds now as we moved to the last leg of the trip and headed for Dublin airport.

Talk turned to home, to important things, events that would shape our lives. Of course, here we were talking rugby.

The Bulls loss to the Chiefs the day  before had given our driver Kiwi Mark some bragging rights to chirp us with, but the bigger game was waiting.

Stormers v Sharks, and with a fair bunch of support for both we headed to London.

Timekeeping was a major factor today, especially as we had a kickoff to make. As we made Heathrow, we found no customs waiting – a bonus as our time was limited and headed straight to our hotel.

We were spoilt tonight, the Hilton waited for us in Kensington – not too shabby Nige!

But rugby and beer was more on our menu than appreciating hotel groups and we were quickly off to Shepherds Bush to the Antipodean bar The Walkabout.

The rules were easy. If the Sharks score, the Stormers drink, and visa versa. With the Sharks getting ahead early there were a few grumbles from Stormers, but their revenge would come with two late tries for the Stormers.

The bar was the perfect setting, and before we headed for the big night, we had one last fines meeting. A big one. A rough one, but one to settle all outstanding debts.

The night ambled on and the beer flowed, as laughter once again accompanied us.

As things got blurry, we had the sad realization that this was the last night for us and tomorrow we would be heading home…a very sad thought indeed.

Later though – very later – some of those who ambled into the hotel in the early hours decided the fun wasn’t over. Armed with room keys for some key people – including Smeegle and Ramon – they set about rushing into rooms to startle them awake.

It was a strange sight for those awakened, and loads of laughter to be had afterwards.

Photos | Day 8 | London and a Walkabout

Hello London…say hello to The Castle Tavern Tour, thanks for having us! The Tavern Tour crew got to enjoy some local flavour and rugby at the Walkabout, in London Town! Fines, rugby, The Tavern Tour…could life be any better? We think NOT…

Dublin...day two

Dublin greeted us with glorious weather as we set out on our next adventure, this time to the famous Guiness Brewhouse, as we continued our search to find a beer as good as a Castle.

It was an impressive place, kitted out on six floors and ready to host the avid beer drinker, and so we immersed ourselves in the experience, taking in a dark brew at the top of the building with a birds eye view of Dublin itself.

A quiet lunch and the boys were buzzing again, Dublin was too fascinating a city to be left alone in.  Luckily with the little time we had, there was a plan. An amphibious boat run by the Viking Splash Tours picked us up, and immediately we knew this was our type of tour.

Blessed with Viking hats, and with a guide that was as difficult to understand through a thick Gaelic accent as he was funny, we set off around Dublin, finding out about the sights in a slightly unconventional manner. After all, it isn’t every tour guide who asks you to roar “Aaargghh” at passing coffee shop people, map-reading tourists or big top busses.

Either way, we made the plunge into the water somewhere near where U2 had recorded most of their albums, although the place escapes me right now, only to find the heatwave we had sailed into had its own entertainment.

We were treated to a bit more than expected when one local stripped off and dived into the water starkers.  For those who were struggling with the pace, it woke the boat right up, and we all had a good laugh at the man’s rather insignificant offering to us that afternoon.

Back to Dublin and an hour to walk around, we found a pub or two and chilled out before heading back to the hotel. One has to be in fine form for a night like this, as we headed for dinner in the Temple Bar district.

After a great dinner we ambled down towards the pubs. Beer on tap greeted us like never before. The place was buzzing and we started exploring. A maze of pubs, acoustic musicians and tasty brew found us as much as we found them. There was dancing and singing, drinking and laughter. Fun and friendship had met us once again.

It was a long night for most. A long night that will be remembered for a long time.

- Brenden Nel

Photos | Day 7 | Dublin, The Dark Stuff and Vikings

When it comes to celebrating like the Irish, there’s nothing better than a local flavour…of all kinds! The Castle Tavern Tour got to enjoy Dublin’s Temple Bar area -  a mecca to beer, if you will – a spot of “The Black Stuff” and finally got to don some seriously great looking Viking outfits as they took the famous Viking Splash across town! Yes, we’re still jealous…

Photos | Day 6 | The Merry Ploughboy

They say the Irish are one of the most hospitable nations in the world – and we think that the Tavern Tour crew got to experience that, first-hand. The Merry Ploughboy hosted our crew for the evening and we’re happy to report – they all had a fine time, indeed! The LIVE band on the night even gave us all here at home a shout-out…check it out!

Prague to Ireland...in style

Ok so if Prague was legendary, what were we going to do to top that.

Ramon, our experienced tour guide thought it good to give us a bit of a lie in after the final night in the Czech republic. Not that it mattered, as many of the crew crawled in the early hours of the morning with more war stories of note.

Prague had been big. Very Big. It had been the midpoint of the tour and that precise moment when everything gelled together. Fun, friendship and beer. Everything that Castle stands for, came together in one of the best beer drinking cities in the world.

To tell more of the exploits would be to betray the tour mantra. Let’s just say it was everything we hoped for and more in a city, and it certainly left an impression on us.

Onwards to the airport and the flight to Dublin, where we were reminded of the draconian security measures, having to strip off shoes and belts to get through to the duty free – where we quickly realized this duty free makes Joburg look like paradise…

To be honest, the tired bodies didn’t care much, especially as those weary lads had sunk into a mac attack on the public side of the airport.

We boarded Air Linguis, and I never even knew we took off, being rudely awoken in Czech as the flight attendant scolded Vrystaat for having the nerve to pull his shade down at the window as we were on descent.

Three hours had passed in a whisper, but we were all very much awake as we arrived in Dublin, where fun, friendship and song apparently goes well with a beer in these parts.

A quick shower and off to the Merry Ploughboy, a traditional Irish singalong group who kept us entertained with great irish music, some stunning food for the evening and loads and loads of the dark stuff.

It quickly became clear that the other tables were from the USA, France and a scattering of other countries, but when it came down to it, they never had a chance against the Castle Tavern Tour group.

The Ploughboys tried to take the mickey out of us by getting Kim on stage, then complaining she never left them with a thank you kiss, so Angelique volunteered, only to send big Danie and Pieter up to show them a proper “South African kiss”. Not quite what they expected, but it certainly did bring the house down.

More beer afterwards in the downstairs pub and more camaraderie. The tour group was taking strain, but so far nobody had even thought about giving in. After all, tomorrow the Temple Bar area awaits.

- Brenden Nel

Day 5...Prague

Prague in the springtime is stunning, but for weary heads any early morning is a mission.

But despite this, there was still some good banter as we headed across to the town of Pilsen for the visit to Castle’s sister brewery Pilsner Urquell.

Superb sunshine greeted us as we stopped for an early beer before heading on the brewery tour, where the rich history of the Czech export product was retold to us.

Having been at breweries before this was a treat, for this is one of the oldest in Europe and is deeply entwined in the rich history of the Czech beer drinking culture.

The highlight for me was the freshly tapped beer – straight from the keg – at the underground cellars. Never before has a beer tasted so freshly brewed, so cold and perfect.

It was the right thing at the right time in the right place. Almost good enough to load up and take home.

This was a great experience and as we sat down at the brewery for lunch, it dawned on me how lucky we were to experience this.

In the middle of Eastern Europe, few South Africans have had this privilege. Prague had a special place in my heart already.

Our afternoon consisted of a brief walk – we needed the exercise after all – down from the amazing Prague castle to the town square with its beautiful architecture.

Taking in a bit of Czech life was brilliant, and if you ever get the chance, make sure you get yourself to this amazing city.

That evening we found a new dinner venue – unpronounceable in name, but recognizable by being an outdoor beer hall, where we were greeted with a rich dark Czech beer whose name I will never be able to remember.

It was okay, perhaps being overshadowed by an epic Fines meeting. All discipline must be kept on tour, as you know.

But at this place we were fed with a Czech shot that hit you like semtex. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it doubled up as paint remover.

Back down the cobblestones to Double Trouble, where we were consistently reminded in a Czech accent by the DJ “Do not leave…3 minutes Michael Jackson”

Eventually a lookalike appeared, moonwalked and strutted across the dance floor, as entertainment for the night.

Czech may be known for many things but Michael Jackson impersonators it is not.

Luckily our resident dancer Wouter calmed things down with his dance routine, while balancing his pint on his head. Talented fella this one…

He so upstaged Michael that our luckless DJ proclaimed…”There he is, man dance with beer on head…must be Guiness book record…”

Later that night we ended up in the Ice Bar – a pub made entirely of ice, kept at minus seven with drinks in glasses of ice…

It may have been cold, but in the early hours of the morning, Prague had never felt so warm.

Such a pity we have to move on...


- Brenden Nel

Photos | Day 5 | Pilsner, a gracious host

Hitting the hot spots in Prague comes easy to the Tavern Tour crew and now Tavern Tour would be complete without a visit to one of the most well established brands in the world, Pilsner Urquell. Tradition, smiles, heritage and beer...remind you of anyone you know?