Český Krumlov

Just back from my short trip to the village of Český Krumlov. This tiny Southern Bohemian village is a UNESCO site, meaning that the foundation keeps the village historically preserved. The center of town is surrounded by a stream where one can see paddle boaters and rafters enjoying themselves.

The castle here is known for being rather large for such a small town, but its beauty and history extends to the 13th century. The stunning castle used to have a moat surrounding it for protection, but now that it has dried up, brown bears live there to protect the it. The theater attached to the castle was impressive for many reasons. It is one of only two Baroque theaters in the world and stands strong among the architecture of the town.

The nightlife in Český Krumlov was surprising. Our hostel had live music all night, and we even went to the "Horror Bar," which has a haunting tomb-like atmosphere. It was nice to be in such a small village where we didn't have to navigate metros and trams, and when Vicky & I accidentally left the key to our room with our friend, we just walked back to the bar to get it. NBD.

The following day we woke up to go on a hike outside of town. I was looking forward to this, excited to be spending so much time outdoors. Our pace was steady and most of the journey upwards was fun. By mile 3 I was feeling the pain, as the incline got steeper and the terrain got rockier. The flat parts were few and far between, and each time I was sure that it would be the end. When we finally got to the top, the view of the Sudetenland was beautiful. The rolling hills and yellow fields of flowers surrounded us: the hike was worth it. There was (of course) a pub at the top, and the "victory fries" helped to prepare for my journey down.

I am so happy that I was able to see Český Krumlov and the surrounding Sudetenland on such a beautiful bright weekend. The Czechs are incredibly proud of this area of their country and I am glad I was able to see it in my last weeks here!