Jun 12, 2018 - Valec to Telc - and a day off!

Is it different driving here in the Czech Republic than at home? Possibly - let me count the ways!I’m looking for road signs that say things like Misliborice, Jaromerice, Moravske Budejovice, etc (because I always have to double check that the GPS has got me going where I need to go – I can’t blindly accept the spoken instructions, much as I’d like to. Then there are the roadworks that I come upon suddenly with no warning and the huge trucks hurtling along these narrow two-lane roads that cause me to wince when they are so close. And then,...

Jun 11, 2018 - Brno to Valec - The GPS and I

I am getting seriously behind in writing my blog - I may have to skip a bunch of stuff that I wouldn't ordinarily want to but if I don't I won't be able to remember anything! The 86 Km trip from Brno to Valec was relatively painless (for me!) but was a hard day for the riders - so much so that I had 5 (FIVE!) passengers in the van from around mid-day onwards. That's five type-A personalities as back seat drivers - no pressure, mind - and that included Bruce who is genetically incapable of resisting telling me which gear to use and when to...

Jun 10, 2018 - Mikulov to Brno - Second day on the road

Today I discovered a very important piece of information that might go far in providing me with more equilibrium while travelling these strange roads in The Beast. I discovered that the route the GPS chooses to take is NOT the route that is on the maps all the riders are using (and that I had so naively thought I could simply follow), so the exercise in frustration has been me wondering why I was nowhere near where I thought I should be in comparison to the maps I have on my own cell phone. For example, this morning as we left Mikulov (with...

Jun 9, 2018 - Vienna to Mikulov - first day of riding

As it happens we are not in Lednice tonight as shown on the map - we are in the nearby picturesque town of Mikulov, but Lednice is the closest map reference point I was able to get. We were up and outside the hotel bright and early to get all our stuff loaded in the van (“The Beast”). I can tell you now it’s a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be! I can't just pull over at the side of the road when I have a "snap attack" because I need a fair amount of space for The Beast, not to mention an exit path that doesn't require a 24-point...

Jan 12, 2018 - Prague

Tallinn airport was fantastic. Not very large and very few people to compete with going through security and boarding procedures. At security check we even received a smile and a 'have a nice flight' wish from a very helpful attendant. How good was that ? Likewise, our SAS flight on a City Jet was excellent. The best of any leg to that point. The transit stop was in Stockholm not Copenhagen as noted in the prior Journal and that almost became a problem. Holding onto Gilli to prevent her from heading off in search of her favourite group took...

Dec 4, 2017 - A trip through Three Countries

We were up really early this morning and down for breakfast before the restaurant opened. Christine was afraid we would miss the bus that was leaving to take us to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. This is an old mediaeval town with an old castle and narrow streets and old buildings decorated with sgarffitto and frescos. It was a dull day threatening to snow, and in fact it did snow off and on all day. The ship had docked at Brandstatt to land those who were going on our tour and another one to Salzburg. We had been told to take our...

Jun 19, 2017 - Radler on the roof

Today we still had an early start so we could avoid the queues. So after breakfast it was up the street and on to the bus. A 20 min drive including a long tunnel and we were up near Prague Castle. Our guide ( a jolly Czech gentleman) then lead us on a 10 minute walk to the castle. Even though we were early, there were plenty of other tourists with the same idea. Some arrived in what J would call “Stretch hot rods”. The guide had warned us to be careful crossing roads as some drivers might have been feasting on unusual mushrooms. Sure enough...

Jun 18, 2017 - No crop circles

On the road today! Up at 5:50! Who said this would be a relaxed bus tour?? Bags outside the room by 7, then breakfast, and the bus pulled out at 8! A quiet drive out across the Danube and through the suburbs of Vienna. Then through flat to rolling farmland. Many crops - corn, potatoes, wheat, and numerous others we couldn't name. A pit stop at Maccas at about 10, then we continued on to our lunch stop at Czeski Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Instead of being a quiet Sunday, it was the busiest the tour director had ever seen. There was a...

Jun 12, 2017 - Prague Day 3

The architecture of Prague is just stunning. The entire city is a UNESCO world heritage site. It was untouched in WWII and then under communism it was allowed to deteriorate, however since 1989 it has been almost fully restored. The Wenceslas Square is almost totally original 1900-1920s buildings. Fantastic Art Deco Earlier in the morning I explored the old Jewish area more thoroughly and visited the original synagogue that was built in the 1200s! Just amazing. One of the oldest buildings I have been in still used for its original purpose....

Jun 11, 2017 - Prague Day 2

Beautiful day in a beautiful city. Prague certainly lives up to its recommendation. I have seen historic square areas in many different cities, but the entire city of Prague is an historic area. Architecture from 1400s on. Everything from gothic, baroque to art nouveau. Just gorgeous everywhere. The main tourist places were crowed by afternoon but not uncomfortably so like Venice and Florence Began the day with delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel. Then we left on tour at 8:15 so we could arrive before the crowds. We took the bus to the...

Jun 10, 2017 - Prague First day

Made it to Prague successfully The long flight is never comfortable and I swear those seats have less room every time I fly. Flew direct from Tampa to Zurich There was a slight snafu in Zurich when the flight was delayed and we had to take a bus out on the tarmac and walk up the stairs The Avalon rep met me at the airport and a van took me to the Interconenintal Hotel that is really centrally located I had a little time to walk around a few blocks and get something to eat for dinner before our orientation meeting. We are in what was the...

May 16, 2017 - Cesky Krumlov

Another great morning the sun is shining and it has the making of a great day, we get a few pictures from the window of our room of the castle and the river below a nice view, we are on the 4th floor of the hotel, down to lobby for a nice breakfast buffet then it is off exploring the the castle, we walk around the castle grounds while waiting for our tour to start, can only get into the castle on a guided tour, and no pictures on the tour, great walk through the main rooms of the castle it is like the the roality are still living there,...