Cesky Krumlov and Hallstatt - Czech Republic

Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO listed town that the CSHS Music Tour passed through on route to Salzburg. We decided to do the same but to dip our feet for a moment or two and stay overnight.  I think our memories of this area will always be around cobbled streets, the waterways and our accommodation…it was PLUSH!

Pano of Boy's Wing complete with gadget time-and The Simpsons in Czech!

The old town consists of a fortified castle (complete with a pair of bears who inhabit the dry moat bed) and a very quaint village. There are pedestrian only areas and streets where traffic runs in a certain direction depending on the time of day. We probably broke some rules as we still don’t understand them. 

The boys threw rocks at the water then decided on a dip, followed closely by the adults after a mandatory beer garden stop. It doesn’t look much close up but the river was a bit like swimming in the Swan, without the rubbish and jellyfish. Very refreshing.

After pounding the pavement with the usual gelato or two, Daniel’s desire to finally spend his Krona was granted by Graeme. Now we just have to find space in his bag for the Crusader Knight. Money burns holes in this kid's pockets. We hoped he would have learned about delayed gratification by now but it's just not to be. We love him dearly but lets hope he manages to scrape a deposit together in the next decade or so so he's not still living at home age 35!

Speaking of age and time, Graeme and the boys are being extremely patient with their photography obsessed tour group member. I am always given the time I need so as not to feel rushed, which I hate. It is a great gift they are giving me as this is my creative outlet whilst traveling, and we all know the old saying "Happy wife, happy life". Although this is the usual site I find on my return, so maybe I'm really the only happy one?

Whilst the boys shopped, I took to another flight of stairs and headed up the tower. The view was fantastic and I could see the family walking below, but alas my voice is so demure they couldn't (or wouldn't!) hear me. It was especially fabulous as it was nearly closing time and I had nobody to pay for the right of access. Brilliant! However, this nearly saw me undone on my retreat as a fortified departure carousel, requiring a ticket, barred me from the outside world. I heard the voice of my father in my head “Do you have money? Make sure you buy a ticket”…this was always regarding train travel (a story for another time, but it seemed to fit). 

Luckily, the podgy gate-keeper, who had previously asked if I intended to descend the tower or stay overnight, turned a blind eye on reaching the base of the tower and used his ID to set me free. I guess he’d had a long day already and climbing those stairs really takes it out of you! 

I decided not to share this tale of law breaking with the kids. Patrick would be very disapproving and Daniel would begin looking for similar opportunities for dishonesty as there seemed to be no negative consequences!

Ask a selfie enthusiast and what do you get? A damn pole!

Beautiful view over the old town from my solo, semi illegal tower expedition

Little bear cubs with their Mama

Dinner (with great strudel) by the water with castle views

Hee hee hee!

Remember the Brownes add...undies or swimmers?

Family fun walking home

Now where oh where is the car?

Hallstatt is a place I have longed to visit ever since beginning research for our overseas adventure. Oh, the joy of Pintrest!  It is a little old village perched right on top of a beautiful lake, literaly dangling it’s toes in the Hallstatt Lake. My photos do not do it justice and I am tempted to upload some that will. Many show it’s beauty, unsurpassed at daybreak without a breath of wind. Yet, as this was not my actual experience, is it a lie if I bend my reality? I know what George Costanza would inform me “A Lie is not a lie, if you believe it!”

Not quite as beautiful as I have in my head - Hallstatt

Apart from tourism (yes there were some Selfie Stickers) the Salt Mine of Hallstatt has been the main source of income for seven thousand years. ‘Christina’ mine, hand dug 7000 years ago, is reached by a very high (and extremely hot!!) funicular trip up the side of a mountain. In contrast, a long, dark, damp mine shaft awaited us to press us 400 meters inside the mountain’s surface where we felt the relief from the toasty summer’s day. The miners slide, polished smooth by gazzillions of bottoms, sped us further down and deep, where we were told of the history of salt, mining and a poor young miner who once fell to his death here only to be discovered hundreds of years later, fully preserved by the salty environment! No doubt the fellow was messing around with his mates and, as we constantly tell our kids, every action has a consequence (unless, as we discovered previously, you are Mum). 

'Sauna' Funicular ride to the top

The crazy Czech who points the way to the mine

The boys and Christina

We are to be salt and light

Weeeeeeeee...down the miners slide

Also preserved and recently discovered is Europe’s (and possibly the world’s) oldest staircase. It dates back to the Bronze age. It has been carefully removed from where it was uncovered, now sitting pride of place in the visitor’s info theater where, after much build up, it is revealed at the very end of the presentation, to much ooh-ing and ahh-ing.  I must admit I was quite taken by it.

Did I mention our attractive suits?

Too much FUN!