czech republic

17 july
buildings in the main square of Prague

Luxury, as with everything, is relative. Our hostel is basic: no breakfast, shared loos and showers, and tiny rooms. However, compared to camping, we feel like we are really stepping out. The location is the best thing about this place. It’s called Tyn. For those of you that have been there and those who plan to go, take the street on the left side of the church that has the Hogwarts style top and then turn down the first alley on the left.

the church near our hostel

the astronomical clock in Prague's main square

the memorial to jan hus in the main square

We crossed the river today and walked to, through and around the castle.

charles bridge

Our bus home was mid afternoon again. The ride seemed longer and the bus was not as comfortable or new as the one in which we rode to Prague. It was good to get ‘home’ and to find that our tent and car were both as we had left them. Tim’s got a cold and slight fever. One eye has some discharge as well. He’s in a good mood, but sleeping a lot.

16 july
We left our tent and car behind and took the bus to Prague to spend the night in a hostel. The earliest bus we could get wasn’t until mid afternoon, so we spent some time wandering the village and visiting the internet café.

the castle from one of the streets near the market in Cesky Krumlov


another twisting, narrow street near the market square in Cesky Krumlov

a close up of the castle tower


We got lucky and were able to book a room at the most desirable hostel in the city, according to Lonely Planet. It’s meters from the centre. We planned to take the train but learned from the tourist office in Cesky Krumlov that the bus is faster and more comfortable. It took 3 hours to get there with several stops including one in the town that in German is known as Budweiser. When Anheiser-Busch named their beer Budweiser, it was because the name was synonymous with great tasting beer from this Czech city. Prague brews Staropromen, and Plizen is where lager was first made. The beer there is called Pilsner Urquell. We dropped our stuff off in our room and set out to see some of the city. I came here with Karen in November 2004 and little has changed. It is better in the summer when the outdoor cafes are open. The main square is a smorgasbord of architecture.

15 july
No rain in the night or this morning made taking down camp a little easier. We drove to Cesky Krumlov today, a small town not far from the Czech/Austrian border. Whale, a friend of Paul’s recommended the place and it was even better than his description.


The river is so twisted that it creates a near circle in the centre. In the middle of this is a castle. Across the bridge is the old market square, and radiating out from both are narrow, cobbled streets. The village is in a valley, so the view as we drove in was from above, revealing a sea of red tiled roofs. Disney could not create a better medieval village. Unlike other medieval centers that we’ve seen, this one is not surrounded by a larger city. The ugly block apartments and soviet era growth is down river. Our campsite is described as basic, and that it is. It’s also Eastern European basic. The location is nice, beside the river, and there is a beer hall and restaurant, but there’s no hot water and loos are filthy. The place is wall to wall tents.