This was my father’s first trip to Europe. We did a boat/bus tour with a few days before embarkation to rent a car and see the Alps near Halstatt, Austria.
On this day we rode into the Czech Republic and toured a beautiful town that had been left untouched since the end of world war II. Â In the middle of the photo log you can see images of what the buildings originally looked like under Soviet Occupation. Â Tourism brought the town back to life with beautiful restorations to the Fortress and the town environs.
Group tours seem to have the same pattern of arriving at a location and waiting 30 minutes through a long history lesson before entering the town and exploring. I was determined not to be delayed by a lecture, especially when I was told there would not be time to see the fortress. I decided to create some time.
The tour director started talking in the square and I asked my father if he minded if I broke off and explored the fortress and town. I would meet him after the planned luncheon in the restaurant. He quickly agreed and I ducked out and went straight to the fortress. Â From the tower I studied the layout of the town. Then I visited the museum and explored the sections of the town that looked the most interesting. Â I took the photos , grabbing food to go from various vendors including something unidentifiable containing chocolate of course.
Boat and bus trip to Czech Republic
Original condition of the town before restoration was started after the collapse of Soviet rule.