Travel > Czech Republic, July 2003

If anyone sees me go anywhere near a boat again,
you have my permission to shoot me.
Steve Redgrave

After our last trip I had said something similar about going on holiday with Richard and Andrew. But I was going with them again, this time just a 10-day sojourn in the Czech Republic.

Video highlights

Prague - Prison Hostel

Our hostel in Prague was an ex-prison. Vaclav Havel was an ex-inmate.

Prague - Castle

Naturally I had to go and watch the changing of the guard. A brass band appeared from a first floor window. This seemed dangerous considering the fact Prague is known for defenestrations.

Prague - Views

There were lots of picture-postcard views from various high places.

Prague - Sights

The famous astronomical clock was worth visiting, even if the hourly display was an anti-climax (to save you the bother of going, 12 figurines rotate past an opening, and a skeleton shakes a bit.)

Prague - Out and about

Pedaloing on the Vltava was a welcome relief from the heat of the city. Exciting trivia: most buildings in Prague have two house numbers: the blue one is a standard one giving its position on the street, the red one is the original Hapsburg numbering system, with each house in a district given its own number chronologically. Sadly there wasn't quite time to do a Great Hedgehog Run around all the numbers.

Prague - Food and drink

While Semtex had the most amusing name, beer was the staple drink. In one restuarant my food arrived on a large chopping board for no particular reason.

Prague - TV tower

According to the Rough Guide, "the most hated building in Prague", we all rather liked it.

Cesky Krumlov - Castle and surrounds

On to Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle was the main sight to speak of. Several bears protected the moat. They were usually asleep and might have had problems repelling invaders... Looking closely at most of the decorations, you found it was painted on.

Cesky Krumlov - In the hostel

Cesky Krumlov - Views

Cesky Krumlov - Town

We found a miniature road network (complete with road signs, level crossings) which kept us amused for a worryingly long time.

Cesky Krumlov - Rafting on the Vltava

A minibus took us to Rozmberg, from where it was a seven-hour paddle back downstream to Cesky Krumlov. And we didn't capsize once.

Cesky Krumlov - Tournament

I watched this extremely silly event on my last day in town. We were encouraged to cheer the good guys and boo the bad guys (Actually, Czechs appear not to make a 'boo' sound, more of a 'Oooooouuuuuueeeeeooooooogggghhhh').