Cleaned up in Krumlov

Tuesday May 22.  Late on the previous day we traveled from Austria to the Czeck Republic.  On the particular route we drove, as we passed over the border and though the now abandoned exit and entry stations, it seemed as though you were stepping back in time.  Not back to the middle of the last millenium, but maybe back to the early industrial age.  You could readily see the effects of the differing freedoms between the two countries.  This difference is not extreme, but it is definately noticeable.  Patti was in Berlin not long after the wall fell and she describes that as when you looked East like looking at a black and white photograph.

We toured the castle which was founded by ancestral Czecks and remained with them for a few generations before the Habsburgs and a variety of other occupants moved in including the Nazis.  The castle and the town were spared German artillery as the Germans saw themselves as owning the castle in perpetuity.  We were guided through several Gothic and Renaissnace era rooms and learned a bit of the lore including that of a princess about whom the Vampire Diaries were written.  While she was not a vampire she did some bizarre things like drinking the milk of wolves to increase her fertility.  Which apparently worked as she gave birth at 40, unusually old for that era.  We also saw a gold covered horse drawn carriage that was a pretty spectacular sight and apparently used just once.

We learned about the various coats of arms, both for individuals and for families.  I was not aware the individuals could have their own coat of arms.  I had not paid that much attention to it, now I need to get after designing my own.  Just think how many t-shirts, hats and emblazoned golf balls I could sell to myself.

Did I mention that this was the nicest place we have stayed in the entire trip so far?  Patti threw off her best location shackles and we stayed a 10 minute walk from the heart of the old city.  Most of this change was due to some reviews Patti read about this being a very family friendly pension.  Having been built about 4 years ago it was the newest accomodations we have stayed in by a couple centuries.  They were top notch.  So top notch that, to Pattis horror, the staff came in and tidied up a bit and made the beds while we were out and about.  Our room was a war zone.  When you are living out of backpacks it all comes out and scatters everywhere.  To top it off we had done a bunch of laundry in the sink and things were hung up everywhere.  All kinds of things.  Things you wear under clothes and things that look pretty funny hanging from every extrusion in the room.

The kids wanted to have a soft drink with lunch today, so we (ok, mostly me) allowed them to buy the pop with their own money and also told them they had to pay for their own bathrooms.  The going rate in town was anywhere from 5Kc to 7Kc (about $.25 to $.35).  Paying to pee tempered the demand momentarily until they threw caution to the wind and decided to go for it.  You can see mom in the background only slightly amused.

The Czeck Republic is part of the EU but is not yet on the Euro.  You can really see the Euro tax that the locals apply.  This bathroom is about $.35 if you pay in Kc but about $.65 if you pay in €.  Everything was marked up this way.  We noticed this in Croatia as well.  Some places, particularly in Croatia had signs with the € having a line drawn through it.

Does this make me look fat?  Those are dangerous words for any mortal man to answer.  For years we had toured with travel wallets that hung around the neck and inside the shirt, but that changed this time.  Hours before our flight, as Patti loaded up and tried on her wallet the dreaded question came out.  Fortunately she arrived at her own answer and that led us on a quick trip to REI on the way to the airport to evaluate some options.  We had never tried the money belts that fit under your pant waistband.  Patti Had one years ago, if you recall it was stolen, but that one was outside the pant.  They are working great.  That was a great last minute, literally, purchase.  

All the pics are up in Cesky Krumlov in a links section up to the right on this page.