• Maree Crawford
Current
  • Maree Crawford

Central Europe, Denmark, Mongolia

An open-ended adventure by Maree Read more
  • Currently in
    🇨🇿 Rožmberk nad Vltavou, Czech Republic
  • First day with the cycling tour.

    July 12 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Today we get fitted to our bikes and go on an 18 km orientation ride around Prague. I opted for an ebike, half the group of 15 are probably on ebikes.

    Then we have free time. Ursi and I find a lovely salad for lunch. Then we have a trdelník, or chimney cake. I have wanted one every day but they are a huge donut chimney filled with various things, topped with icecream. I finally had a strawberry and Nutella one, and it was very yummy.

    This dessert is a trdelník (chimney cake), a traditional sweet pastry originally from Prague, Czech Republic.The dough is rolled around a stick, grilled rotisserie-style, and typically coated in cinnamon sugar. It is frequently served filled with soft-serve ice cream, Nutella, or other toppings.
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  • A history lesson

    July 11 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Prague is one of Europe's oldest and most beautiful capitals, with a history stretching back more than 1,100 years. It developed around the 9th century when the first castle was built on a hill overlooking the Vltava River. By the Middle Ages, Prague had become the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia and one of Europe's leading centres of trade, learning, and culture.
    Bohemia was one of the historic lands of the Czech people, alongside Moravia and part of Silesia. During the 14th century, under Charles IV, Prague flourished. He founded Charles University in 1348—the first university in Central Europe—and commissioned many of the city's most famous landmarks, including the iconic Charles Bridge.
    Over the centuries, Bohemia became part of the Habsburg monarchy and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After the empire collapsed following World War I, the Czech lands united with Slovakia in 1918 to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia.
    During World War II, Nazi Germany occupied the country. After the war, Czechoslovakia came under communist rule until the peaceful Velvet Revolution of 1989 restored democracy.
    On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully separated into two independent countries in what became known as the "Velvet Divorce." The western Czech lands became the Czech Republic, with Prague as its capital, while the eastern region became Slovakia, with Bratislava as its capital. The split was amicable and remains one of the world's best examples of a peaceful separation of nations.
    Today, Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and is celebrated for its remarkably preserved medieval architecture, rich cultural heritage, and centuries-long role as the historic heart of Bohemia.

    My impression - it is very pretty with obviously very differing styles of architecture evident. Beautiful streets with very tall colourful and decorated exteriors. People are pretty friendly considering they're Slavs who are known for being a bit reserved and stand-offish.

    The capital is very clean and safe. Other tourists have mentioned that also. You don't see many beggars or homeless, the odd ones you do are very meek, you barely notice them. There is a very obvious policie presence so maybe they move them on to somewhere else.
    Addit; after my move to a hotel close to the Train station, I see some dirty peeps wondering around and sleeping on benches in the park. Still not many though.

    They have trams, buses, and that funny European thing of a trolley bus- a bus that runs like a tram. Both old and new versions.
    And of course trains and cars. You don't see the trains in town but I think they are underground. The train station has 3 sublevels.

    It is known as the city of 100 spires - churches everywhere. With that thing, of lots of shiny gold decorations on statues and spire tops. And many bridges, the river flows through the middle of the city.
    Cannibas is ok, freely sold in dedicated shops, smell it being smoked.
    Most places you have to spend a penny to go to the public loo, or if you're lucky can pay by card these days.

    Interesting fun fact- I was wondering about the connection between Bohemia ( old Czech) and being a "Bohemian" as I don't see any Boho types here- they're very European chic.
    So....Wiki says...
    "Literary and artistic bohemians were associated in the French imagination with the roving Roma people, often referred to as "gypsies". Romani were called bohémiens in French because they were believed to have come to France from Bohemia.". ....there you go!!
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  • Change of hotel

    July 11 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Today I move to a new hotel, Miss Sophie's Downtown, opposite the grand train station. Today I meet up with the Intrepid cycling group.
    I have a room-mate, Ursi from Switzerland.

    I go for another explore around the Old Town which is closer than before.

    I have a lovely lunch, then see people crowding around the famous Astronomical clock. Crowds gather hourly to watch the procession of the Twelve Apostles from the clock tower. There's a massive crowd.

    It's a Saturday and everyone is out enjoying the sun. They are even tossing a bride!!- hen's party I guess.

    Prague is a city of many types of museums. From the usual to the bizarre - street metal, chocolate, sex machines, torture.

    Tonight we have a meet and greet and welcome dinner.
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  • Becherovka is born

    July 10 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Becherovka of Karlovy Vary is currently the bestselling liqueur in the segment of bitter herbal liqueurs, and thus it is no surprise that it is often called the 13th spring of Karlovy Vary. Approximately 8 million litres of Becherovka are annually made and exported to almost 40 countries throughout the world. Comprising more than 20 types of herbs and spices made according to a secret recipe.

    Becherovka was created by an experienced businessman, Josef Vitus Becher (1769-1840). In 1794, the spice merchant rented a small distillery in the city and started experimenting with liqueurs. In 1805, he received a recipe for a new liqueur from Christian Frobrig, an English physician. Josef Becher spent two years testing the recipe before he began selling the English Bitter liqueur, which was designated to treat stomach issues. The Becher family started exporting Becherovka in the first half of the 19th century – they opened a shop in Štětín in 1834, then in Vienna, and Munich a year later, before they began selling their product in Paris in 1838. Becherovka finally conquered the United States in 1934 – after the prohibition ended, and four years later also England. Johann (Jan) Nepomuk Becher, the son of Josef Becher, is considered the true founder of the liqueur empire. He developed Becherovka for almost 40 years and in 1867, he moved the growing Becherovka production to a new factory in Steinberk. His signature as the confirmation of traditional quality and taste can still be found on every bottle of Becherovka today.
    Source: https://www.visitczechia.com/en-us/campaigns/tr…
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  • Karlovy Vary day trip

    July 10 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Another guided tour today. Only 13 people this time. There were Spaniards mostly, 2 Italians, 1 Israeli, 1 from Cyprus and me.
    Minibus ride today, 2 hours west of Prague.
    The countryside crops were wheat, sunflower, barley, canola, potato and hops.
     "Czech hops are the superior hops for beer. Better than Belgium hops!", said our guide Jan (man). Our driver was also Jan!!

    Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) is a spa town in the west Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Its numerous thermal springs have made it a popular resort since the 19th century. The riverside spa district is home to several colonnades with columned walkways. The modern Hot Spring Colonnade houses the Pramen Vřídlo geyser, which spouts up to 12 meters high.
    It is very, very pretty.
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  • Traditional dinner and dance

    July 9 in Czech Republic ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Another "Get your Guide" activity today was a traditional dinner and dance.
    A bit disappointing. The food was average and music a bit uninspiring but the drinks flowed!
    The dancing was good. The honey wine was nice. There was a big bunch of Moroccan ladies who had a great night! A few birthdays, so it was fun to watch everyone else.

    I was sat with an Israeli couple who have been living in the US for 19 years, and a couple from Tennessee, recently of Colorado.
    By the end of the night I acquired a new "best friend". The Tennessee lady, Alissa, wants to follow my adventures!!

    .
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  • St Barbara's Cathedral

    July 9 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    St. Barbara’s Church is a massive, spectacular Gothic cathedral funded entirely by mining wealth and dedicated to the patron saint of miners.
    Status Symbol: Miners started building it in 1388 to show independence from Prague and local monasteries.
    Master Builders: Designed by famous architects Peter Parler (Charles Bridge) and Benedikt Rejt (Prague Castle).
    Unique Look: Features an iconic exterior roof with three tent-like peaks and dramatic flying buttresses.
    Inside Artwork: Rare medieval frescoes show actual miners working the minting wheels and ore shafts.
    UNESCO Protection: Construction stopped when the silver ran out, leaving it a preserved Gothic time capsule.
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  • The Bone Church

    July 9 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    This church is amazing. Spectacularly bizarre but fascinating. It has 2 stories, the bottom story is where the bones are, the top story is the church bit.

    The Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) is a Gothic chapel containing the skeleton fragments of 40,000 to 70,000 people artistically arranged as interior decor.
    Holy Ground: A 13th-century monk scattered soil from Jerusalem over the cemetery, creating a highly coveted burial site.
    Mass Graves: The Black Death and Hussite Wars overwhelmed the cemetery, forcing the exhumation of thousands of skeletons into a chapel crypt.
    Artistic Creation: In 1870, the Schwarzenberg family hired woodcarver František Rint to organize the piles. He bleached the bones and built the structures.
    Famous Features: The chapel features a giant chandelier containing every bone in the human body, a bone-sculpted noble coat of arms, and skull garlands.
    Visitor Rule: Photography is banned inside to maintain respect for the deceased.
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  • Train, bus trip to Kutna Hora

    July 9 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    33 people met our guide Pavel at the Prague railway station and took 2 trains and a bus to Kutna Hora, east of Prague. There were Danes, a Lithuanian, US, Hong Kong, poms, Aussies ( me and a couple from Bargo, NSW), Canadian, Swedish.

    We called into the Bone Church and T
    Then visited a beautiful complicated cathedral, St Barbara's. I'll do separate pages on these.

    It was a busy day, no time for free time on your own but a good day using public transport like a local.

    Kutná Hora’s silver mines fueled the medieval Czech economy, producing one-third of Europe’s silver.
    1260s Boom: The discovery of surface ore sparked a massive German silver rush, building Bohemia's second-largest city.
    Royal Mint: King Wenceslas II centralized all coin production at the Italian Court around 1300 to strike the trusted Prague groschen.
    Deepest Shafts: Medieval miners worked in brutal, pitch-black conditions, digging the Osel shaft down an unprecedented 600+ meters.
    Floods & Closure: The Hussite Wars and catastrophic tunnel flooding in 1541 paralyzed production, leading to the mint’s final closure in 1726.
    UNESCO Heritage: This immense mining wealth directly funded the town’s stunning Gothic architecture, including St. Barbara’s Church.
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  • Trip start
    July 6, 2026