Cessky Krumlov

I'm sitting in a cobbled Lane watching tourist go by today winds down. I'm having a cup of lemon, ginger, cinnamon tea and it tastes really good. It's so peaceful now that the crowd are gone, I don't think there's anybody left in Japan right now they are all here .

Yesterday really flew by. Congratulationshecking out and picking up the car at the Prague train station really went well. The line was very long and I had to wait about an hour but in the end it was worth the wait. I have a very nice car that reminds me of a Kia Soul and the road to get out of town with very Direct.
It took about three hours to get to Cessky Krumlov. The ride through the Czech countryside was quite pretty. They had many farms and dairies and the land is very green but it's a different kind of green from Ireland . However the Rolling Hills look the same .

Finding my hotel was kind of a nightmare. The GPS brought me driving to the Old Town which is really a pedestrian mall. I drove in and I couldn't see a sign that had the name of my hotel on it so, I backed out and found a parking lot. I came into the town and walked around until I found the hotel. It was about 2 miles from where I parked. The people the desk told me there was a parking lot then went with the hotel and for an extra $10 a night I could park in it. I jumped at the chance however I did have to walk back 2 miles to get my car.

The hotel was worth the wait and the bother. I am housed in one of the old historic buildings that line the central Street of the town. It was built around the 1400s and I have a bedroom with the sitting room and a little kitchenette . There's more room than I needed but it is absolutely comfortable and I can see the Castle from one window and look out onto the main street from the other window. It was worth the extra expense and the difficulty finding it .

Once I got settled I ventured out into the streets. I have to say have had it with cobblestones. My bad ankle is really starting to bother me, cobblestones. I have to say the walking is worth the pain and all the inconvenience of getting to the town. It is just so picturesque and beautiful. However it is very very crowded .

The number of Japanese tourists here is beyond my comprehension.
I went to find a place to sit down and have a cup of coffee it was impossible to find a place that wasn't just so crowded. I decided I would have dinner early and I use the recommendations that I got from The Lonely Planet book it was a local place for which I can't remember the name. I went in and I was easily the only tourists in the place. It was full of locals and the owner waiter did not speak English.  Each item on the menu did have an English explanation so it made it easy to order dinner. I went to the roast pork, cabbage, and dumplings. It was really delicious. They had a gravy and the roast pork and it just added to everything else . It was a great meal .

After dinner I continued to walk around and I found the little tea house. Exactly where I'm sitting now. I sat last night for two cups of tea and just watch the hundreds of tourists pass by. While I was there two women were sitting on a nearby bench and one played the violin and the other played the harp. It doesn't get any better than this .

By this time I was ready for some rest and relaxation and I went back and fully enjoyed my hotel room.

I'm back in the same spot as I was last night after dinner. I had intended to go to a very authentic place tonight for dinner but it was too crowded and nobody wants to give a single a table. So I had Italian and it was very good. I'm here watching a young man make Trdelink. It is a cylinder made of dough and covered with cinnamon almonds and coconut and it's baked. They sometimes fill it with ice cream. I tried one in Prague and it really wasn't all that good. When they put ice cream in it they put dairy queen in it. I don't think that's how the original makers of it intended it. But it's fun to watch them make them. Tonight there is a young man playing a guitar. He is playing Stairway to Heaven that old Czech favourite.

My day started this morning with breakfast in my hotel period it was included and the coffee was really good. Then I headed for the castle. It was only a few steps away and it really hadn't gotten very crowded just yet. I really had planned and taking a tour but seeing as it wasn't all that crowded and I could get the senior citizens discount I went for it. That was actually very good. They took us through the rooms that were designed and lived in by the Rosenberg family and the Schwartzenberg family. The arguments with something else and they had quite a history mostly time spent squandering their money.

From here I had to look at church. Once again it was a beautiful Building and the interior was very beautiful period it's beautiful as this year's there's not a lot to see that is notable. It's really just the relaxation of being here and watching life in the village and along the River. By the time I had had lunch my ankle had had it. Time for a rest.

Tonight I walked around the Monastery grounds and went down to the town square and set and just watched all the tourists. As pretty and quiet this town is , a day is really enough .  However, it is not to be missed .

Last Day in Prague

Just when I think I'm done with Prague and that this will be my last trip, I discover once again the charm of this unbelievable City .

I was up and out early this morning as I wanted to make the English Mass at St Thomas Church in Malastranska. It said they would be an English Mass at 9:30. Of course I was late and it took me a few minutes to find it, and thankfully the priest was long-winded . Unfortunately he was long in Czech. No matter ! I could get the gist of everything he was saying . The church itself was a hidden gem period the altar and the paintings for absolutely exquisite. Although the congregation was very sparse they were very friendly and at the kiss of Peace everybody came to shake my hand . I stayed for a while after mass just to take in the beauty of this beautiful church.

The next thing in my plan was to go down to the Charles Bridge and prices from the Castle to the old part of the city. As I walk down the street I noticed this go away that was opened with the sign on it. Of course I had to check it out period it was the building which houses the Czech Senate . it was free to go in so when I went. It was had beautiful gardens and fountains and the building itself was very old and stately . The statuary made me think of Mitch McConnell and our Senate. Check out the pictures below.

Now I'm onto the Charles Bridge Although it's crowded it's nowhere near as crowded as there has been other days. I am able to walk across the bridge easily and take some pictures where I want to take some. The View from the Bridge on a beautiful day I just phenomenal period you can look up and see the Castle area, there are hundreds of boats on the Vtlava River. the Sun is warm but the year makes it comfortable.

As I walk across the bridge there are several people begging. I find it very odd how they prostrate themselves on the bridge so that they can see the faces of the people walking by. I assume they do it out of embarrassment so they face cannot be seen. Most of them have a dog with them which I find interesting. Possibly the dog evokes sympathy that they may not get without the dog. Few people give to them. You could actually go through a week salary given to each one you see each day.
There was a festive atmosphere on the other side of the bridge. The roads in the old section of the city and narrow and cobblestoned. Every shop is open and all the restaurants that have sidewalk space a full. Its not only tourists the there many locals out on a Sunday afternoon. I'd like to buy marionettes for Callan and Addie but I'm not sure whether they are just too young to have them and I don't want them to get hurt with them .
When thing I've noticed is the Czech people love donuts. They are everywhere and they are eating them all the time. The Czech people smoke incessantly. Its only since June they can't smoke in restaurants and pubs . It is so much nicer without the smoke . Another thing is they are not a warm people period they are very somber but they love their beer .

After a much needed nap comma I said out for dinner and I went to a pizza place that was recommended by Lonely Planet. The pizza rivalled the Brown Jug in Chelsea . It was fantastic. The waitress told me to come back again and I certainly would like to .

When leaving there comma I had intended to go back and pack and get ready to move on tomorrow. But I just couldn't do that . I headed down to the river for one last look at Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge . I waited and waited for the skies to darken so I could take my last few pictures. It is such a magnificent sight . I could look at it every night it is just so beautiful .

I really wish I had a few more days here. I'm really getting into the groove . Its a city in Europe that I think I could probably live in . it's busy but not too busy and there is plenty to do . I know I probably won't ever come back here again but I can always hope that I can and will come back.

On to Cessky Krumlov

Prague

I didn't write yesterday because I really didn't have much to report other than the fact that poured rain . I spent the day doing a little shopping and walking around in the rain period there was really nothing you could do period this is when the apartment comes in handy and I spent a good part of my day here .

When I got up this morning I had intended to go to Prague Castle and spend the day up there. However I have forgotten today was Pride and there was a parade taking place right outside my door .It didn't start until 12:30 so I have done my metro and went over and bought concert tickets for tonight.
I was back in time to see the parade period it made a complete circle around wenceslas Square period I couldn't believe the number of people that were marching. American companies like Microsoft, IBM and Johnnie Walker were all represented as was the American Embassy . There were a few outrageous outfits but for the most part it was pretty tame.  They did not seem to be any protests eye problems with pride parade  period many of the older Czechs just ignored the whole thing . People came from all over Europe to join in the parade and most of the European tourist were quite fine with the whole thing .It was very well organised and the police were really good about everything . One thing I did notice that I really didn't like was that people here can openly drink any time of the day or night and many of the participants in the parade were drinking hard liquor and it was certainly taking its effects before any of the days festivities had gotten underway . By the time this was over I made my way up to the Castle .

I think I had mentioned the crowds in Prague. When I got to the castle I hit never seen anything quite like it. People were waiting in line to get into the shops to buy things. There's a lane that runs down the side of the mountain with a castle is that's all shops and people were waiting in line to get down that lame. Although I went in and saw things I can honestly say it was not enjoyable. What I found is many of these tourists are just rude . One guy at the castle actually push me out of the way because he want to take picture. Prague is also really caught on with the Japanese which should be no surprise .

Tonight I went to see a concert by the Czech Republic chamber Orchestra . It was in Rudolphinium, a building named after crown prince Rudolph son of Franz Josef period it was an absolutely stunning hall and the concert while short was very good. They played some Vivaldi, Mozart, and Ravel. It was a great hall and the seats were very comfortable which was very nice.

After the concert was over it was getting dark and I went to take pictures of Prague Castle after the concert was all over it was getting dark and I went to take pictures of Prague castle and the Charles bridge all lit up at night . The beauty of the castle all lit up did not disappoint, unfortunately pictures like these I can look best on my phone but I broke the lens cover on my phone and as a result it's not taking very good pictures.  But I have to keep reminding myself worst things could happen. I have one more full day in Prague and I really haven't decided what I'm going to do with it. Although it has been extremely crowded it has been a wonderful trip to Prague. If you haven't been you really should think about going. But I wouldn't go in August again.

Next month is the anniversary of Czech independence period they r commemorating the Russian invasion in 1968 in the invasion of the Nazis during World War II period they have beautiful displays around the city of pictures and narrative to tell the story and they had a video that was playing in the town square period it was a wonderful reminder to the people of the contribution people made to make their country independent. As I watch The Parade and I could see the display about independence I thought it was very appropriate to wear together because they fought so that the people today in Prague could have the Pride parade.