Karlovy Vary (Czech for Carlsbad) is the sister city to Carlsbad, California. Our Hotel Romance was on the side of a hill – lots of those just getting to our hotel. Its a pretty little town. In our travels, we learned that this is a famous spa town. Inside the Mill Colonnade (see below) are several hot springs.

12th century Gothic Castle in Loket (about 22 miles from Karlovy Vary) was a real travel back in time.

On to Pilsen (Plzen) – our favorite breakfast coffee place Le Frenchie), a brewery tour and cold one. On to Stupno where we discovered where my grandparents were married 9-23-05, and my daddy was baptized in October of 1907 – the lot #90 where my grandparents probably lived, then Radnice where my grandmother was born, and then Pisek where my great grandfather was born. We didn’t know all the exact places, but it was wonderful just to be there in those towns.

Museum of Czech Folk Costumes in Ostrov was a special place for Kaitlynn to see, and it was a visual delight. The costumes were beautifully displayed, but being behind glass, it was difficult to get really good photos (at least with my phone).

Cesky Krumlov – No elevator at Hotel Grand, so they moved us to the first floor with a nice view of the town center (an example of a small Central European medieval town whose architectural heritage has remained intact). Monastery Museum of Interactive Exhibits, blacksmith shop and leather tanning worker.

In Kutna Hora was St. Barbara Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Church located beneath the Cemetary Church of All Saints – part of the former Sedlec Abbey. About an hour and a half from Prague.

The Other Thing – Part1 Prague coming up in a day of two.