Sunday 6 July 2014 Cesky Krumlov - Telc

Very warm 28C

Today we left Chesky Krumlov and headed for another (aren't they all) historic town just east called Telc,

We caught the Student Agency bus again for the 40 minute trip to Chesky Budejovic - home of Budweiser beer - but although thirsty didn't have time to find and sample the local product....

From the home of beer, we transferred to a train and after 2 hours travel, stopped literally in the middle of nowhere (Kotolec U Jihlavy) to wait an hour for the connecting train to Telc.

We could hardly believe it when we stepped off the train at KUJ - there was only the train station, 6 dusty gravel platforms and a waiting room (60's design with formica tables) and that was it. No food, no town in sight, we were wondering if our journey to Telc was to the end of the Czech Republic.

Regardless, our next train arrived 1 hour later and about 30 elderly people appeared out of nowhere. It was modern, large, air-conditioned (still rather rare on Czech Rail) single carriage train. But after a short 35 minutes we get to Telc, I can tell you it was worth the trip.

There are two parts to the town, the old town (11-12th century) and the (marginally newer 15th century) town square and castle where we are staying. Telc is set amongst a series of lakes or ponds which are used for fishing. It is very pretty and the whole area is world-heritage-listed with UNESCO. We are staying right on the square.

Once we deposited our bags at our very modern and brand new apartment, we visited the information centre. We have come to realise that the further we get from Prague the less English speaking people we come across. We took a walk through the Old Town which had 9 statues that the Jesuits placed along the road between 1750 and 1770, I had a look around the Church of the Mother of God founded in the 13th Century and we walked back through the forest to the main town square.

I then visited a gallery where a local artist has painted many of the façades of the buildings around the square. There had been a market going on inside the castle grounds that were just closing as I arrived so I had a look at the castle park, then climbed the Castle Tower. This was very interesting, the steps were tiny and very steep, but by the time I reached the top the view was fabulous! I hope you like the photos this is one of the prettiest towns I have ever stayed in.

We went to dinner in the square and the town was nearly deserted, the restaurant had an extensive menu and although it was in English as well as Czech, I ordered a salad which turned out to be mixed vegetables of peas, carrots, potatoes, beans and was delicious - nothing like the czenglish that was on the menu'd description.

We have noticed in the Czech Republic a lot of young Korean women travelling together in 2's and 3's. It turns out that about 5 years ago a Korean film studio made a series called "Love in Prague" which featured an all Korean cast, young and unrequited love etc and what do you know a booming tourist industry emerged. It seems only the girls travel as we see very few men travelling with them.