Prague: Day Trip to Český Krumlov

Chasing Fairy Tales and Castle Bears: A Day in Český Krumlov

If you want to step directly into a living storybook, Český Krumlov is your place. This tiny, UNESCO-listed town wraps around a bending river like something out of a fantasy novel, and a single day here is enough to completely steal your heart.

Český Krumlov

Here is what made my perfect day trip:

* The Moat Guardians: 

Crossing into the castle complex, I looked down into the deep moat and caught sight of a real, live bear roaming the grounds—a centuries-old tradition that makes the fortress feel truly alive.

Bear - Moat Guardian

* Renaissance Wonder: 

Standing in the castle courtyard, I was completely mesmerized by the ornate sgraffito facade, where geometric patterns and historic figures are etched right into the plasterwork.

* The Colossal Cloak Bridge:

Looking up from the banks of the Vltava River, the bridge completely dominates the skyline. It rises out of the rocky gorge as a dramatic, three-tiered arcade of massive stone arches stacked on top of each other. Standing below it makes you feel incredibly small; the open walkway spans a drop of over 130 feet deep. Even more amazing are the towering covered corridors built directly above it, creating a continuous royal passageway that winds through the air for nearly half a mile so nobility could cross between the palace halls, the theater, and the gardens out of the elements.

Cloak Bridge

* Wandering the Core: 

The rest of the day was spent happily getting lost in the charming, labyrinthine cobblestone streets, where every corner reveals another stunning view of the rushing Vltava River below.

Český Krumlov isn't just a destination—it’s a time-travel experience packed into a single, unforgettable afternoon.

View of Český Krumlov and Vltava River

Prague, Czech Republic

Our adventure takes us across the pond to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic! We are in the historic region of Bohemia, on the Vltava River.

On our first day out, we went to the Prague Castle complex, specifically to Lobkowicz Palace, to attend a Midday Classical Concert. The venue was charming and the musicians were wonderful. Later that evening we took a food tour. We tried lots of local food and beer!😋

We returned to the Prague Castle complex a few days later for a guided tour. 

High Noon: The Changing of the Guard

Palace Guards under statues of the Fighting Giants

To witness the ultimate military precision, we went to the Matthias Gate in the first courtyard. The daily noon ceremony is a sharp, theatrical display complete with a live brass band.

The March to the Palace: 

The real highlight was watching the incoming guard march in perfect, unblinking synchronization toward the palace. Dressed in sharp, retro uniforms, they stride forward with chrome-plated rifles held high.

Flawless Choreography:

They cut through the crowds with rigid, rhythmic boots on cobblestone, marching right under the fierce statues of the Fighting Giants flanking the gates.

The Handover:

Once inside, the marching units met for a sharp 15-minute sequence featuring a flag exchange, synchronized rifle drills, and fanfares blasting from the castle windows.💂 

Guard Trivia: 

The guards' sharp uniforms weren't created by a military outfit—they were designed by Theodor Pištěk, the Oscar-winning costume designer behind the famous 1984 film Amadeus!

St. George's Basilica: The Ancient Time Machine

St. George's Basilica

Inside St. George's Basilica we instantly left the bustling castle crowds behind for a world of quiet, medieval majesty. While the outside catches one's eye with its bright, cherry-red Baroque front, the interior is a complete surprise: a raw, powerful space that is Romanesque, austere, and monumental.

Interior of St. George's Basilica 

Pure Architecture: The minimalist interior features thick limestone walls, heavy stone pillars, and simple arches that look almost exactly as they did a thousand years ago.

The Ultimate Contrast: It offers a great photo opportunity to capture the stark difference between the plain, medieval stone inside and the ornate, colorful design outside.

St. Vitus Cathedral: The Gothic Masterpiece

St. Vitus Cathedral

You can’t miss it—literally. As the crown jewel of the castle complex, St. Vitus Cathedral is a jaw-dropping monument that took nearly 600 years to fully build. It is loud, dramatic, and absolutely spectacular.

The Last Judgment Mosaic: 

Above the historic Golden Gate entrance we admired  the massive, 14th-century Venetian mosaic depicting the end of the world.

The Last Judgment Mosaic

Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral

Organ and Stained-glass window 

The Mucha Window:

We were dazzled by the brilliant, technicolor stained-glass window designed by iconic Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha.

The Mucha Window

Golden Lane: Prague’s Storybook Alley

Tucked along the northern wall of the castle perimeter is Golden Lane (Zlatá Ulička). 

This miniature street feels like stepping straight onto a movie set, lined with tiny, brightly colored 16th-century houses built directly into the castle arches.

Kafka’s Secret Hideout: 

No. 22

The bright blue house at No. 22 is where legendary author Franz Kafka lived and wrote for a few years to find quiet inspiration away from the city noise.

The Hidden Film Stash (House No. 12): 

No. 12

This house belonged to amateur historian Josef Kazda. During WWII, Kazda heroically hid thousands of pieces of banned Czechoslovakian film history in canisters right under the noses of Nazi occupiers. Inside the house we could see the vintage film reels and posters left behind.

View of Prague from Castle

The Grand Finale: Panoramic City Views

After navigating the historic interiors, our ultimate reward wss to take in Prague's iconic skyline from the castle overlooks. The sea of terracotta-tiled roofs, winding cobblestone lanes, and distant river bridges look incredibly dramatic from up here.

The Hidden Palace Viewpoint:

For the ultimate overlook, we wandered toward the eastern end of the complex to the privately owned Lobkowicz Palace. We passed through the main courtyard and headed out onto the open-air balcony of the Lobkowicz Palace Café. 

We enjoyed a tasty lunch and a slice of homemade cake as we processed the incredible history we just walked through while soaking in the best view in town.

Lobkowicz Palace Café Terrace view

I ❤️ New York!

I want to share one more hidden gem in New York City! 

The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of The City of New York was founded in 1785 by the skilled craftsmen of the City. 

The history of this 240-year-old organization is fascinating. In 1820 The General Society opened one of the New York City's first free schools and it continues to provide tuition-free instruction in the areas of Electrical Technology, HVAC Systems, Plumbing & Heating Systems and Construction Project Management.

Founded in 1820, The General Society Library is the second- oldest library in New York City.

The Larry Weingarten Antique Water Heater Collection is housed in the General Society building. Industry veteran and plumbing historian Larry Weingarten donated his lifetime collection of antique and vintage water heaters to the Society.

Rare & vintage water-heating units

This collection serves as an educational resource for plumbing and HVAC students, as well as a historical archive for trade professionals.

The Society is also home to the John M. Mossman Lock Museum. The Museum represents one of the most complete collections of bank and vault locks in the world. There are more than 370 locks, keys and tools dating from 4000 BC to the modern 20th-century!

European Renaissance iron door or chest lock

Antique keys

Antique keys

Circular Time Clock

Wow! So much in one building! And that's not all!

The Horological Society of New York, founded in 1866, is America's First Watchmaking Guild.

In an effort to advance the art and science of horology, the Horological Society provides a library of resources and educational programs for amateurs. 

Also housed in the General Society building, their library is open to the general public. The librarians there are AWESOME!

When we visited, we saw the engaging exhibit: Early American Pocket Watches.

This is the oldest pocket watch in the collection:

JOHN WRIGHT NEW YORK CITY, CA. 1715

One of the librarians brought out a special treat for us to see. This is a rare singing bird box automaton shaped like a turtle, a highly complex mechanical timepiece and musical box!

Turtle Automaton

It was necessary to contact the General Society to schedule a visit.

We're in Prague, Czech Republic now. My next post will feature our Czech adventures!

New York City!

We're on a new adventure and it begins in the the Big Apple! During this short visit, we sought out some hidden gems. One of our new friends, Marilyn, recommended the Tenement Museum. 

This museum tells the real life stories of immigrants who built their lives on the Lower East Side. From the several tour options we selected a tour to visit an apartment depicting the lives of two different families in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Epstein family were Jewish Holocaust survivors from Poland. Our guide provided excellent insight to the history at that time so that we would better understand why and how the Epsteins ended-up in the Lower East Side of NYC.

Here are a few pictures of what their home was like during the 1950s.

During the 1960s the Saez Velez family migrated from Puerto Rico. The kitchen and living room have been furnished as they would have been at that time. The kitchen was the heart of this Puerto Rican home.

The living room couch was covered in plastic and the hand-crocheted doilies were prevalent, just like my own grandmother's home!

Thank you Marilyn for this wonderful suggestion! One visit is not enough. There are several tours offering insight into this diverse neighborhood. 

Another day we visited the Banksy Museum. 

Banksy is perhaps one of the most mysterious artists of our time. We were fortunate to see an original Banksy work when we visited Venice. Although the works in this museum are replicas, they are true representations of the actual street works!

I think the museum describes its space best: "Step into a space where humor cuts deep, rules get flipped, and art says the quiet parts out loud."

Banksy's works provokes and questions authority, consumerism, art, and life. 

"NOLA - Umbrella Girl"
Marigny neighbourhood in the city of New Orleans, 2008

The mural "The Girl with Balloon (There is Always Hope)" was created on a wall in the Southbank area of London in 2002. 

 "GIRL WITH BALLOON", 2003

This very popular and charming work was released in limited print editions in 2003. However, at 2nd glance, has Banksy flipped our view? Has the girl just released the balloon or is she really reaching out to catch it? 

A visit to this hidden gem will make you think a little and see the world in a different way!

A couple of blocks from the Banksy Museum is another hidden (truly) gem. The Mmuseumm is open only on Saturdays and Sundays.

This tiny, 36-square-foot museum is located inside a former freight elevator shaft in a Tribeca alleyway. The current exhibition is "Rubble: Around the World". Similar to a cabinet of curiosities, this rotating collection is certain to spark your inquisitiveness!

A Beary fun roadtrip!

We always wear our seat belts!😉

Our peoples took us on their roadtrip to Virginia along with a friend. We love Ms. Donna because she remembers to give us sweet treats!

While our peoples visited the Old Mill in Little Rock, Arkansas, we went to the Purple Cow Restaurant and got a purple milkshake!

Yummy 😋!

Our Airbnb in Nashville, Tennessee had a hammock chair. This was our favorite spot to chillax after a busy day of sightseeing. 

We toured the Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry used to be performed!

Next we went to Virginia. We love music so we went to the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax to listen to some fiddle and banjo playing. We tried our paws on this guitar, but decided it was too big for us to play. Maybe we should try a ukulele?

Blue Ridge Music Center

Our peoples took us on a scenic drive. This view of Pulaski County from Draper Mountain Overlook is beautiful, don't you think?

Draper Mountain Overlook

Our next stop was Asheville, North Carolina. While our peoples spent a day at the Biltmore, we explored our Airbnb. Our host had several decorative items reflecting her Ukrainian heritage. We love these carved deer heads that were handmade by a friend of hers.

Deer head carvings

Click here for previous post about the Biltmore.

Our last major stop was Florence, Alabama. Our peoples have visited this Muscle Shoals area before. There is a ton of music history here!

To honor the area's musical heritage, four 18-foot tall aluminum sculptures are being installed, one in each of the 4 cities. 

Florence: The Blues Man

Sheffield: Rock 'N Roll Singer

Muscle Shoals: The Bass Player

The 4th sculpture, to be installed in Tusumbia, is still in the planning stage.

We ended our musical journey at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. 

We took a selfie in front of an original, vintage tour bus that belonged to the legendary country music band Alabama!

Selfie in front of Alabama tour bus

Click here for previous post about the The Shoals.

We had one more treat before hitting the road back to Texas! 

Sno-ball at Miami Ice

Looking forward to more adventures this fall!

Penelope, Wendy & Mindy (The bears)