Cesky Krumlov

Originally Jen had planned a visit here to compensate for the fact that I would be dragging the family all the way up from the Cote D'Azur to Baden-Baden to relive my childhood. She saw it as a way to redeem the week and see a part of the Czech Republic that she didn't get to see twenty plus years ago on her trip through Europe.  She really loved Prague but figured it was too deep into the East and had heard that Cesky Krumlov was a cross between Prague and our sleepy favorite Luang Prabang.

Once we left Baden-Baden we noticed that Cesky Krumlov wasn't an easy place to get to from Germany and it became evident that we could get to Prague much quicker on the high speed Autobahns and with me clamping at the bit to see Prague we headed there instead - and was in glad we did!

Having spent a few short days in Prague it was time to head back south towards Italy as we had originally planned to spend May there but here it was the third week in May and we were still headed away from it!  Cesky Krumlov was only a short detour off the more or less straight line between Prague and Venice so we figured we'd stop over there for a few days to recharge our batteries.  We found a lovely little gasthaus and spent the first day wandering around the old village.  It is much like Prague and is built on a fast moving mountain river with high hills surrounding it.  The buildings are in beautiful shape and there were enough shops to keep the girls and Shawn entertained for days.

The second day was to be warmer and sunny so we booked a river rafting trip from about 8kms up river through the town and over a series of man made rapids.  Instead of our usual kayaks we had a large rubber raft so we all were in one boat for a change which was nice.  We've now white watered on four continents!  It was a lot of fun and didn't take any skill at all.  Not quite like the kayaks.

Here are some pictures of our fun time at Cesky Krumlov.

This could be anywhere in Ontario 

The current was strong enough that we didn't have to paddle much. 

Like many towns in Europe, Czesky Krumlov is built around the river. 

The old palace/castle up on the hill.

You can see the Germanic influences.... The Germans/Austrians considered the Czech Republic to be part of the empire... Hence Hitler's pretext (and Chamberlain's acquiescence) to invade it in 1938.  Most of the German speaking Czech's were deported to Germany after the war in retribution for their support during the invasion and occupation.  A bunch have made it back and it's very heavily touristed by Germans now.  

One of the hundreds of shops they just had to see.

The old castle up on the hill in the background.

"Hey Dad!  Can we have lunch here?".  We did, and the beer and food were great.  The Czech's know how to make beer!

For some reason they had bears at the castle!

When they paint a building, they really paint a building!