I got into the Czech republic on the 2nd of October and didn't leave till the 10th. I spend 3 nights in Nova Paka, 2 nights in Hradec Kralove, and 3 nights in Prague. Unfortunately, I woke up on Saturday the 6th I woke up with a cold and it took me a few days to shake. My ears still are not "popping" like they should when I go up and down in Elevation.
Nova Paka
In Nova Paka, I met quite a few distant relatives. My grandmothers cousin and her offspring (most of them) still live in the area. Some of them speak English and some of them only speak Czech. I have met some of them in the US at different times in my life. I saw the house my Grandmother was born in. It was a good time catching up with everyone. I got to see a private collection of old old bikes and cars (all pre 1920) but I was asked not to share the photos on the internet. There were some old Skoda and Praga cars, some Praga, Jawa, excelsior auto cycle, and a crazy Arial "square 4". They were all beautiful.
Distant family
My dad's second cousin. He is part owner in an electronic company in CZ.
This is my Grandmother's cousin. She is cooking potato pancakes for me because "I look hungry"... just like my grandma does.
Traditional Czech meal. Pork. Dumplings. sauerkraut.
A pic of a pic. The little girl is my grandma.
Ms. Czech Republic and my new mascot Myska (little mouse)
Hradec Kralove
The plan was to stay 1 night but I got sick and stayed 2.
Not sure what this is. But I like the look. Would look as a rally car maybe.
The old town square.
More relatives
The building my grandma was born in. Apparently it is around 400 years old.
Crazy sunset.
Pevnost Josefov is an old fort from way back. The village was used for military during WW2. This plaque is dedicated to 3 men who had to flea from the communist state. The bottom guy is my dad's uncle. This is who my grandmother came to the US with.
When I was 6, this guy lived with us for a summer in MN. He was 14 at the time. Now he has a family.
Prague/Praha
I went to Prague Sunday night. I had a free place to stay in a flat. I had a place to park the moto also. It was down a flight of stairs in the basement of the apartment building. The stairs had a ramp but it was so slippery the bike slid the whole ways down on the tire. Luckily we kept her upright and I was walking her not riding her. The next few days I rested and tried to get well. I spent and afternoon walking around Prague. Would have been nice to see more, but I wanted to get over the sickness.
This is Tomáš and part of his family. He let me use a flat he owns for a few days and gave me an auto tour of the city.
Prague at night
St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle.
A Cold-war era Russian computer chip that Tomáš gave me. Way cooler souvenir then the shops sell.
On the steps to Prague castle. He was playing "all along the watch tower"
The view from up top.
St. Vitus Cathedral
Great stained glass. The sun was shining through and making colors go everywhere. pictures don't show how nice it was.
Sucks to be those guys.
SKODA!
I can only stay in a tourist area for an hour or so before I start feeling really bad.
on Charles bridge, there are statues. Apparently you are supposed to touch some of them.
View of the opera house and river from the bridge.
An art show. This is all I saw because it was free.
For all you Simpsons fans.
Prague castle and Charles bridge.
This doesn't quite show how close the trolley comes to cars on the road.
About $55
Kunta Hora and the "bone church" Sedlec Ossuary
I left Prague Wednesday morning and headed to Kunta Hora. The Czech map I had downloaded for my Garmin kept making it crash which was a HUGE PITA. But, I made it to the church. It was interesting and i'm glad I saw it. The info said there were more then 40,000 people buried here. I suggest you see it for yourself if you are ever in Cz.
There were 6 or 7 of these piles of bones. Nothing holding them together but a stack of bones.
The last 2 pictures are of wounds sustained during the Hussite wars 1421-1424. Some of the people kept living and you can see healing of the skulls.
That's enough bones for now.
from the outside.