Typical Czech Weekend

Last Saturday we *almost* had the quintessential Czech weekend. I say almost because a hike in the woods wasn’t included, just through a small park.
So this is how it goes – Early Saturday morning, we get up, pack some snacks and head for the train station. Buy tickets and board train, which thankfully is not jam-packed…yet. After traveling a few stations, we approach the next station where the platform is super-crowded. Dang! Thought we had dodged that bullet! People cram onto our train with their backpacks and walking poles, which are all the rage here. Our kids stand up to allow others to take their seats, knowing it could be the whole ride they’ll be standing. Luckily the majority of them got off after only 30 minutes or so.
After another 20 minutes or so, we arrive in the small town of Březnice which used to be important enough that it has quite a large church and a beautiful chateaux. We know the keepers of the castle, so we tromp through the extensive castle park and go inside for our private, behind the scenes, tour of this gem that dates back to the 13th century.
After our tour, it was lunch in a local pub which, of course, included the locally brewed beer.
On to a gallery opening in the newly restored monastery. They were exhibiting a collection of photographs from the day, 70 years ago, when the American army liberated their town from the Nazis.
After the gallery, a walk across town to meet some more old friends and dinner together before heading back to the train station. With home-made kolač from Eva in a re-purposed ice cream container, we hop on the train and get home after dark, tired and satisfied, and feeling very Czech.

Ceiling in the 16th century library – oldest library in Bohemia

Coffee in the castle herb garden

Train ride home with my silly kids