Sunday 28^th August 2016

Another early start this morning (6:00am) as we were being picked up this morning at 8:30am by “Bobs Special Tours” for our Salzburg Sound of Music  & Hallstatt Tour.

Weather today is going to be a very hot 30° but it felt much hotter.

We were in a Ford Transit van mini bus that carried 8 passengers & driver.

We visited the Sound of Music venues in Salzburg:- The Palace of Leopoldskron, used as the Von Trapp home & where the children fell in the lake; Hellbrunn Palace to see the Gazebo where Leisal & Raul sang you are 16 going on 17.

Back in the bus for the 1-hour trip to Hallstatt, the lakes district of Salzburg.  The scenery is stunning with lakes surrounded by high mountains and castles along the shoreline. Had lunch in Hallstatt at a café on the edge of the lake, then a short stroll around before getting back on the bus for the trip to Mondsee to see the Cathedral where Maria and Captain Von Trapp were married in the movie.

Arrived back in Salzburg about 5:00pm and walked through the Mirabelle Gardens before going back to our hotel for s cup and rest prior to going to the Alter Fuchs (The Fox) pub where we had an excellent meal of various pork dished and finished with berry & egg soufflé.

The Palace of Leopoldskron

The Gazebo

The lake at Hallstatt

Mondsee Cathedral

Saturday 27^th August 2016

Up at 6:00am this morning as we leaving Prague today and have to be at the railway station in time to board the 9:12 am train to Salzburg.

The first part of the journey, Prague to Munich was in the 1^st class section, which very comfortable with plenty of space and a table to rest books, iPads etc. on. We even had lunch served to us by a waiter on real crockery with proper cutlery, also had a beer with lunch. Excellent service and the food was very good. We arrived at Munich around 3:00pm and changed platforms ready to catch the 4:18pm train to Salzburg.

Arrived in Salzburg at 6:00pm and got a taxi to the Hotel Wolf Dietrich where we are staying for the next 3 nights.

After checking in we walked around the local streets and had a lovely meal of hamburgers with fries  (cooked flat & crisp) accompanied by a beer for Mick & I and a glass of wine for Lynne & Heather. Heather and Lynne also had a “Mozart Cup” ice cream in a huge “horn of plenty” glass dish.

Continued our walking tour after dinner going over the bridge to the old town them back to our hotel.

Lunch on the train

View from the back on the train

Friday 26^th August 2016

Woke this morning to another day of clear blue sky. Temperature expected to be 28° with no cloud or breeze.

As it was going to be very hot we decided to catch a taxi over to Prague Castle. We had to queue for about 20 minutes to go through security before we could get into the Castle precinct. The Guards asked is I if I had any weapons, guns or knives. Asked Lynne to same, but also if she had any dynamite.

We didn’t bother with getting tickets into the castle, just walked round the lovely grounds. Saw the changing of the Guard, the outside of St Vitas Cathedral, which is quite magnificent, and walked round various other parts of the central castle precinct.

Stopped for a quick lunch then went to see the Royal Gardens. On the way there were some birds of prey on display, Eagles, Falcons & Owls. I held a female eagle, which weighed 5kg and has a 2m-wing span. They are amazing birds, which can reach speeds of up to 350kph and can spot their prey from 1klm away.  

Exited the Castle through the main entrance and out onto a large square which had excellent views over the city. From there we went down a long and rather steep set of stairs back into the old town to find the John Lennon wall, which was created in the 60’s as a protest by the young people as they were not allowed under the communist regime to listen to pop music. The government would whitewash the wall each day and the youth would graffiti it each night with messages about John Lennon. It became even more decorated with John Lennon comments after his death.

Walked back across the Charles Bridge and through the Old Town Square, where we sat for a while to rest our legs and have a beer, which was very refreshing. Lynne even had a taste of mine and found it good. 

On the way back to the hotel Lynne and Heather had Tradelink, (a donut cooked round a mandrel over a gas burner and filled with ice cream, cream and chocolate topping.

Headed back to the Hotel for a cuppa and freshen up before heading out to dinner at the La Republica Beer Bar, Music, & Dance  Restaurant directly across the road from the hotel. A great place with fantastic food. I had a 250 g veal schnitzel and Lynne had grilled salmon. The dark beer was very good so Mick and I had two just to make sure. Lynne and Heather had a glass of Rose. There was also a 4-piece band playing ragtime style music, which made for a great atmosphere. Also saw a lady on the table next to us who had the biggest hair we have ever seen. Took a photo. The waiter was also having a laugh about it and said he thinks it is Arnold Schwarzenegers’ mother.

Another great day in Prague, which saw us walk 11klms. Now back to the hotel to pack ready for our trip to Salzburg by train via Munich.

Guard at entrance to Prague Castle

St Vitas Cathedral

Royal Gardens Prague Castle

View of Prague from the Castle

Holding an Eagle

Thursday 25^th August 2016

Up early for breakfast as we needed to be at Republic Square by 9:00am to board the bus for our trip to Cesky Krumlov.

Weather was a hot 28° with clear blue sky. After a 3-hour bus trip through the very picturesque country side (drove past a uranium mine and abandoned work camp from the Communist era which has been left as a memorial), we arrived at the lovely quaint town at 12:00pm. Cesky Krumlov is an old medieval walled town, which is a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage listed. The town winds its way up the side of a hill. There is a river at the bottom where people were canoeing. Our guide, a very knowledgeable and spritely Gent of about 70+ (we think) showed us the main point of interest in the town including the church. Time for more food so we had lunch and free time to explore by ourselves before meeting our local guide for a I hour tour of the castle.

Back on the bus for the trip back to Prague, which took about 2½ hours. We arrived back in Prague about 7:30pm and yes, we went straight to dinner at the same restaurant as last night. This time we both had Chicken Breast with Lemon sauce, I had French fries but Lynne went with the healthier pan-fried veggie option. All up only walked a mere 6klms today.

Cesky Krumlov Castle

Church at Cesky Krumlov

View over Cesky Krumlov

View of Cesky Krumlov from the Castle

Wednesday 24^th August 2016

Very hot 27° today. After a great breakfast we decided to do our own walking tour of the old town. From our hotel we walked past the Municipal House, originally the Palace, and now a restaurant and concert hall. Walked through the Powder Gate (one of the original city gates) next to the Municipal House and on down to the Old Town Square and the clock tower, which houses the Astronomical Clock. Climbed the tower, (well we actually went up in the lift). The views over Prague are simply stunning. More walking and we reached the Charles Bridge. Very crowded and by now getting very hot with no cloud cover. Stopped for a quick lunch at a little restaurant then walked back to our hotel for a rest and to escape the heat of the afternoon. Refreshed after a cuppa, we ventured out about 4:00pm to see inside the Church of Our Lady of Týn.

Dinner was next on the agenda and we found a lovely little restaurant that had excellent food. Pork & mushroom gnocchi for me and chicken gnocchi for Lynne and we shared a Greek salad and a bottle of wine. Cost 1080 korunas ($60.00).

A little more exercise to assist with digesting dinner so we walked to the Jewish quarter past the Synagogue and Old Jewish Cemetery, on to Manes Bridge then back through the Old Town Square  via Charles Bridge for some evening photos before arriving back at the hotel about 9:30pm. All up we walked about 9klms for the day.

Municipal House

Powder Gate

Clock Tower

Astronomical Clock

At top of Tower

Charles Bridge

Our Lady of Tyn Church at night