CESKE BUDEJOVICE – VIENNA 8-29-2010

Sunday 8-29-2010

Bus trip from Cesky Budejovice To Vienna Austria a mere 120 miles (200 Kilometers) which would generally take about 2 hours will take about 4 hours winding through forests on narrow two lane roads.

People are happy on the bus after many attended mass this morning after sleeping on cramped quarters of the Gomel Hotel on bed that like a slab of plywood with a thin pad of a mattress. Some liken it to sleeping in a tent in the countryside with the exception that there was no tent flap.

We ate breakfast with the Germans instead of the café next door where we were supposed to eat. They had good tea / coffee with dark breads spread with creamy butter that add substance to your ribs. A piece of cheese an egg and two and we are set to go. I think I will keep attempting to make that yummy dark bread when I return home.
It is raining out again, so a good time to be cooped up in a bus writing notes or reading a good book. This off again on again rain makes the forest floor lush bright green probably filled with mushrooms.

We pass through villages of red tiled roofs darkly aged from time and baskets of pink and red petunias or geraniums cascading out of window sill planters. Field have herds of white cows gently eating grasses.

Both on our way through the Czech Republic and to Vienna Austria we saw fields of corn and rolls of hay dotting the landscape from recently harvested alfalfa (hay). Stan noticed some pretty hefty power lines, carrying 500 to 750 kV (kilovolts) that supply electricity throughout the region. This compares to most of our power lines that carry generally 230 to 500 kV. As we didn’t see any power plants, but did see cooling towers from probably nuclear power generation plants.
We rode the metro for about $3 to downtown to exchange money. It was really a better rate at the hotel (1.32 to 1.68). We really need to do something about the dollar. Euros are a killer.

The downtown open courtyard with upscale shops on either side it a delight to visit. As it was Sunday afternoon most of the shops were closed except the one selling Mozart balls or was it Mozart’s ball. We tried one. It was delicious chocolate surrounding creamy maple or hazelnut with some mocha swirls.

We peered into some shoes stores. Really. Isn’t 500 euros a little high for shoes even if they were attractive high heel leather boots. Men’s wing tips were 395 euros. Stan skipped and stayed with his tennis shoes.

There was a pretty fountain off to one of the side streets. We enjoyed watching the people. We tried to guess if they were Americans or Europeons by their shoes. Not many American on the square today, but we really did see a pair of bright orange ones.

We had dinner in a delightful place up a hill. The bus squeezed through the streets and let us out to enjoy the evening. Food was brought in on large platters. There was more than enough to feed an army. Veal schnitzel, slices of pork roast, ham, chicken, sausage, sauerkraut and potatoes. We added some freshly ground horseradish to add to the peace of resistance. I had potatoes pancakes with a sour cream pickle type sauce along with chucks of potatoes. Is that too many potatoes? Does it really matter.

The wine flowed freely as did the laughter. An accordion and violin player entertained us the evening through. They played every Polish song requested as we sang along and danced in the aisles. Connie and Tony from our group were celebrating their 46th anniversary to add to merriment.



SUN , AUGUST 29 : CESKE BUDEJOVICE – VIENNA .
After breakfast we drive to Vienna , one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with numerous cultural and historical landmarks . After checking in to hotel some leisure time before meeting for meeting for dinner with music and wine or beer at a local restaurant in Grinzing the most important wine hills in Vienna.
Overnight in Vienna . ( B , D )