Czech Republic

From Poland we entered the Czech Republic near Jablunkov, then popped across the border into Slovakia, and finally reentered the Czech Republic 40 kilometers later, near Bílá.

The town of Kromeriz (many accents elided) introduced us to the marvels of Czech architecture. Just a few miles away, Elvis rocked sleepy little Kojetin.

Litomysl used to be a royal residence and a major Moravian trading post. It was also the home of Josef Vachal, an artist known for his color woodcuts and paintings, usually inspired by mystical or philosophical themes.

Cycling around the well-groomed and fertile Czech countryside from one little town to the next was a real treat.

Kutna Hora acquired great wealth in the Middle Ages through silver mining and minting. The silver is now gone, but the buildings created with that wealth still exist and make the town beautiful.

Just a mile from Kutna Hora, in Sedlec, stands a macabre little chapel in which everything (other than the walls themselves) is made from the remains of forty thousand people killed in a medieval plague.

Staromestske Namesti, the old town square, is dominated at one end by the imposing Tyn Church. It is one of the hubs of tourist traffic, yet it is large and beautiful enough to still be pleasant. Rosalba and I spent a lot of time sitting on benches here, reading or just looking around.

There are many, many tourists in Prague. Good for the local economy, I guess, but a little bit annoying when all you want to do is relax and take a leisurely look around.

Photo film use inside Prague castle and the adjoining St. Vitus Cathedral is probably on the order of several meters per minute. It would be only fair if Kodak or Fuji sponsored some of the restoration work.

If you are at all interested in art and architecture, Prague is a good place to visit.

Rosalba returned to the U.S. from Prague, and I cycled on alone. The roads of Bohemia make for wonderful rides. Some of the sights were less predictable than others.

Situated between Prague and Austria, Ceske Budejovice was an important trading post in medieval Bohemia. It is also the home of old and famous breweries. Its German name is "Budweis": this is where you can find the original "Budweiser" beer.

Cesky Krumlov is a fairy-tale town and the former residence of some of the wealthiest Bohemian nobility. It's definitely pretty, but I couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling that I'd stumbled into Disneyworld.

Go on to the slide show from the Alps.