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Cesky Krumlov
it's just so damn cute The Czech Republic.
I’ve always wanted to go to the Czech Republic. So many people have recommended the bohemian Prague experience and beer, and the gothic Chesky Krumlov that I just had to go. So I had to make my way from Croatia to somewhere near where I could start my Busabout hop on/hop off thing so I took an Eastern Trekker trip that went through Slovenia (my last blog), Salzburg (sound of music fantasy) and stopped at both Cesky Krumlov and ended in Prague. Too easy.
My Eastern Trekker bus headed to Cesky Krumlov from Salzburg through the beautiful Alpine scenery in no time at all. We unpacked into a cute bed and breakfast on a farm just 2km outside the town and we braved the rain and wandered around the old Castle that dominates and looks over the town. I had a chat to the two grizzly bears that are at the base of the castle and wandered around the old town and window shopped some bohemian crystal in between having hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls to keep from getting too wet (wettest spring/summer in mainland Europe in years apparently - awesome). So, after having seen and
experienced the cobble-stoned streets of the town, a trip to a Czech beer hall was the way to spend the evening in Cesky where I indulged in my new favourite meal of goulash (Bambi just takes so good) together with some local Czech beer.
I awoke feeling very ordinary due to a cold/cough and only able to see out of my right eye (I’m thinking conjunctavitus - ugly - bus travel seems to share the cold/flu) but it was time to head off to the Czech capital Prague and no time to feel sorry for myself. It wasn’t long before I was walking around beautiful Prague and it’s amazing buildings and history and experiencing its local transport system (minor tram mistake by our guide James was interesting - he’s new).
After a short orientation walk, I left our guys and joined one of the 3 hour Free ‘New Europe’ Walking tours around the city hosted by a very theatrical and amusing Welshman, which covered the main Old square, the New town, the Jewish Quarter, the Music/Opera House and ending on the Charles Bridge. It was great to be finally walking over the famous bridge and experiencing its artists,
St Vitus Cathedral
The cathedral inside Prague Castle jewelery makers and pick pocketers, but for some reason I was expecting more from the bridge.
Anyway, the world’s biggest castle awaited me so I disregarded the map and made my own way to the back of the castle to check it out. Wow, this castle and the massive gothic St Vitus Cathedral within its grounds was stunning (although some of the sandstone buildings are in dire need of a high pressure hose!)
After the castle I was impressed that I figured out how to catch the tram back to the hostel and again did my favourite new thing - walking solo wandering around an area at night, where I found a few local shops to buy fruit and snacks, a pharmacy and a hole in the wall Asian place to help my cold with some soup, before back to the hostel pub to try liquefy the cold with more Czech beer (well I had to use of the left over currency) and say my goodbyes to the Eastern Trekker group I’d spent the last week with before leaving the next morning.
So, while I didn’t have the weather on my side for half of it, I
Art
In Prague's Jewish Quarter really enjoyed what time I had in the Czech Republic to wander around and I look forward to going back in the future to explore it more in detail and experience its night time fever (I had my own fever to deal with...).
But its back to travelling on my own again - which I massively prefer (even though it was a nice break from thinking for a little bit, but it’s not me - I would never survive that Contiki crap). So, mainland Europe - here I come.
(apologies this blog is a tad brief - twas a bit sick).
Next stop - AUSTRIA (VIENNA, GRUENAU and SALZBURG).
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