The Czech Republic
 The Czech Republic






14/6: Prague, Czech Republic
Lat N 50° 05,95', Long E 14°20,15
Today: 62.6 °F ( +17 °C)
15 Jun 2005
3923 km

A hard rain fell all night and most of the day. As soon as the rain stopped we tried out the prototype for our tent. The car nearly blew away! We got to cut down the size of the tent and modify it…












16/6: Prague, Czech Republic
Lat N 50° 05,95', Long E 14°20,15
Today: 87.8 °F ( +31 °C)
16 Jun 2005
3923 km

Great weather, 31° C and sunshine! Today we went in to central Prague. Catharina has been longing for visiting Prague, but Bert has been here before on the way back from India by motorcycle. Prague is a beautiful town with the old buildings, the river, the bridges and the small channels . We walked around in town in the sunshine having a beer and something to eat now and then. A super day!

Even though the tourist season hasn’t really started yet the streets are packed with tourists. Today we also saw a cute police car.












17/6: Prague, Czech Republic
Lat N 50° 05,95', Long E 14°20,15
Today: 75.2 °F ( +24 °C)
17 Jun 2005
3923 km

Took another day in Prague to visit the parts we didn’t get to se yesterday. We are quite exhausted by all the walking and our fleets are hurting – even tough we are taking good care of them and changes shoes every day. We had lunch and dinner at our local pub close to where we live. A good sign for a cheep meal is a busy pub with lots of locals and blue collar workers…

In the evening we went in to town again to take some night photos and try the Prague night life. In the tourist area you have to pay at least 4$ for a beer and in the outskirts of the center you pay only 1$. This goes for food and ice cream as well.
















18/6: Prague, Czech Republic
Lat N 50° 05,95', Long E 14°20,15
Today: 75.2 °F ( +24 °C)
18 Jun 2005
3923 km

After a bit of discussion during lunch we decided to make a ”Pilgrimige” to the mecka of pils – Plzen. This was the place where they created the pils in 1500 century. This is something Catharina is espacially grateful for. This is her favorite kind of beer. Plzen is the home town of the brands Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus.

When we got to Plzen we run in to a Skoda Felicia cabriolet sports car show. Old cars - super cool, super nice and we would love to have one!

It also turned out to be a History Weekend in Plzen – a kind of middleage weekend with party, song, music, crafts and different kind of shows. There where a lot of things happening all the time and everywhere in town.
















19/6: Plzen, Czech Republic
Lat N 49° 46,64', Long E 13° 23,46'
Today: 87.8 °F ( +31 °C)
19 Jun 2005
4044 km

When we woke up this morning. They where rigging for the Czech Championship in Triathlon, just 50 meters from our car. When we arrive in town there was a big folklore festival as well as the History Weekend. I must say that there is a lot of things happening in a town with only 180 000 inhabitants.

Today we also visited the Plzensky Prazdroj Museum, the house where Pilsner Urquell was created and browed for 350 years. It felt a bit like walking on ”holy” ground. After that we went strait to the new brewery built in 1850, where we took a guided tour and got to drink beer made the old fashioned way in big kages . This beer is used as a reference for the modern production of beer. It is obvious that they take really good care of their brand. It is noticeable in many ways.

The most sold beer in the Czech Republic is Gambrinu. It has a lesser alcohol – so you can drink more of them… and it is a bit cheaper than Plzensky Prazdroj which is Czeh name of Pilsner Urquell.








20/6: Plzen, Czech Republic
Lat N 49° 46,64', Long E 13° 23,46'
Today: 82.4 °F ( +28 °C)
20 Jun 2005
4044 km

After a couple of days running around trying to se and do as much as possible, its nice to have a slow day sunbathing, swimming, doing laundry and writing the diary.












21/6: Plzen, Czech Republic
Lat N 49° 46,64', Long E 13° 23,46'
Today: 78.8 °F ( +26 °C)
21 Jun 2005
4044 km

Catharina started the day by swimming 1000 meter across the lake. It is nice to move other parts of the body than the legs for a change. After that we visited one of Europes biggest synagogue. Men need to cover their heads so Bert got this funny hat at the entrance.

After lunch we left Plzen for Cesky Krumlov, 200 km south. Cesky Krumlov is the cutest little town you will ever se. Narrow streets and alleys, a big castle, the sweetest small houses - like a town from a fairytale.












22/6: Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
Lat N 48° 48,88', Long E 14° 17,19'
Today: 82.4 °F ( +28 °C)
22 Jun 2005
4240 km

We stayed in Cesky Krumlov all day. In the evening we went to Lake Lipno in the mountains to sun bade, swim and rent a small sailboat for two.

At the campsite we had a nice evening with Alexander and Ilona from Germany. They had been on holyday for four weeks and were on the way home. They had been all the way down to Turkey. Alexander told us he used to be a rally driver for Trabant for several years. Cool!












23/6: Lake Lipno, Czech Republic
Lat N 48° 38,33', Long E 14° 13,40'
Today: 82.4 °F ( +28 °C)
23 Jun 2005
4282 km

Sun bathing, swimming and sailing in a small boat for two. We have now turned pink/red all over and must keep out of the sun for a day or two… A day in the sun in a boat with just a little wind is far better than a day at work.














24/6: Lake Lipno, Czech Republic
Lat N 48° 38,33', Long E 14° 13,40'
Today: 86 °F ( +30 °C)
24 Jun 2005
4282 km

We took a swim before setting of to the next destination - Slovakia. The best way to get there was through Austria and Vienna. Close to Vienna we saw parachutes in the air so we decided to go there to check it out.

In Vienna we found a campsite in the outskirts of town. We parked the car and went out for a pint and something to eat. Found a noicey place called La Mamas nearby and ordered two beers. The bartender said ”The beer is free today – and if you are hungry you can grab something from the grill in the garden”. La Mamas had a garden party to celebrate 25 years in business. We stayed there all evening and had a really good time with Josef och Beate . that we met there. They told us this was a “hot” place and that there where a lot of celebrities, musicians and TV-personalities at the garden party. But we didn’t recognize any of them. People went all the way from town to go to this restaurant. A few beers later at least one of us was in an excellent mood.