I like taking photographs. Even among friends near home, I've always got my pocket-sized Canon PowerShot camera at the ready, and I'm not afraid to use it, even at the risk of ridicule. For instance, since it costs nothing and helps me remember, I often take photos of menus and food. Many people think this is silly. I know it, but I don't let it stop me. (If you like, this paragraph can end in an implied “Hear me roar.”)

More generally, I have a healthy disregard for rules. Some makes sense, some don't, and I like to think I have good judgment in choosing which ones to follow and when. Most of the time I tend to let myself off unnecessary hooks. Today I made a rare decision to do as I was told.

I was in a museum, you see. The museum's signs clearly stated “no cameras.” And it was the Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments. After glancing around the room, which was filled with cast-iron flesh-rending and bone-crushing devices, I stowed the camera in my pocket. I'm sure you'd have done likewise!

I met a couple Canadians at the museum and traded travel tips. One of them is celebrating a birthday Saturday night, and then they're going to Munich Sunday morning. I may well join them. Then I'll be there when Zuck and Astrid arrive next weekend, and not so far from other places I'll want to visit next.

The technical conference over the weekend was a success and lots of fun. If you're geekily minded, take a look at the slides from my two presentations. I stayed at the Vysehrad Holiday Inn with Johnny for the weekend; when he left to return home, my gigantic backpack and I moved to Lubomir's apartment in Andel, which — despite my feelings at the time — is not the highest point in Prague.

A week's worth of sleep deprivation finally caught up to me when I arrived at my new host's: I slept on and off Monday and then most of Tuesday (to the point where it wasn't worth leaving the apartment that day). Yesterday was slow going, too, but at least I got out a bit and walked around! Spectacular views overlooking the Vltava from the gardens at Vysehrad.

Today I finally awoke at a normal time, performed for the first time my away-from-home strength-training routine, and then fell back asleep. When I headed out in the afternoon per usual (this will change!), I walked north along the west riverbank until I found myself at a small, unpleasant, and memorable museum.

Tomorrow I plan to see Josefov, the old Jewish quarter, and the various bits that compose the Jewish Museum in Prague. From there I'll find my way to the nearby Museum of Communism (located above McDonald's, the Museum of Capitalism). Time permitting, I'll also take a peek at one or more of the Dvorak, Smetana, and Mozart museums.

In addition to museums about composers, the area is rich in delicious and inexpensive beer. There are usually museums (after a fashion) available within a block of wherever you happen to be standing. I may make a trip, or perhaps pilgrimage, to the historic Pilsner Urquell brewery on Saturday.

P.S. Pardon the mess in the Europe photo album. Aside from the total lack of organization, some shots aren't even in chronological order. You can spot them because they're part of a sequence that's supposed to get stitched into a panorama, so the camera gives them unusual filenames, which is what puts them out of order for the time being. Not to worry, I'll stitch 'em up when I get home… and maybe do a little organizing, too.

P.P.S. Would you prefer updates more frequently, less frequently, or equally frequently? I'm happy to write every chance I get if that's what y'all want, but I definitely want to avoid sending too much too often. If you have an opinion, please pass it along.