Cesky Krumlov, Czech

Cesky Krumlov is an enclosed town in southern Bohemia. It has been refurbished since communist rule was dispensed with. The town is within a spectacuar setting with a wide range of architectural styles.

About to be drenched

A smorgasbord of roof lines (food is never far away).

It's not far away Anna

A river extens around tree sides of the town.

Telc, Czech

Telc, in contrast to Verersska Bityska, was a picture perfect town that appeared to exist primarily for the purpose of selling stuff (mostly food) to tourists. For us it provided the opportunity of a cheap night in a carpark and a walk around a beautiful lake. Czech has a lot of lakes, most of which are very small and very muddy. The lake at Telc was an exception on both counts.

Telc was reconstructed after a fire in the 16th century, being built to the design of an Italian architect.

Telc has an enormous town square.

New Regent Street?

, Czech Republic

Despite many words lacking sufficent vowels and having an incongruous array of consonants, our first impressions of the Czech Republic have been very favourable. Friendly people, cheap prices, the best bread we have eaten anywhere (this is important) and lots to see. On the downside it was very hot, mid 30's degrees each day.

Veverska Bityska is a village with understated architecture but lots of other interesting activities and amenities including a free rock concert less than 100 metres from where we were camped, that finished at 1.00am (playing 1980's english rock), and a great cycle-way.

We met an Anita lookalike, Clara, who is training to be a pharmacist.

The main town square is dominated by an attractive church.

The cycleway wound its way through forested areas. Bizarrely we encountered a wedding party being driven in American World War 2 jeeps. We get the feeling the Russians are not that popular in this part of the world.

Slovakia

Our intention on entering Slovakia was to traverse the country west to east in a trip taking between 7 and 10 days. Unfortunately for us (maybe fortunately for Slovakians) we were there for only 48 hours. Facilities for motorhomers were scarce. In two days we saw only one other motorhome and that was a Slovakian one. We did come across one campsite. It appeared to have been built about the time the Russian tanks rolled in (the first time in 1948) and had not had any maintenance since. Strangely the toilet amenities were locked, and you had to ask for a key desired to utilise the loo. Asking would be a pain if we could speak Slovakian, we couldn't.

It is a shame because Slovakia has a lot to offer. The people are friendly, the food is cheap and of good quality, and Slovakia contains extensive areas of attractive forest set in rolling hills.

Of all the countries we have been in Slovakia appeared to be the poorest. Housing was simple and for the most part very poorly maintained. Their roads ranged from average to poor, some bearing a likeness to jigsaw puzzles where large hunks were missing in a random pattern, requiring concentration so as not to bottom out. Grass berms and roundabouts were invariably high with grass and weeds  (a bit like Tama Tce). This apparent lack of care was at odds with the way Slovakians dress, stylish clothing was the norm (Tony felt out of place).

For a country with a population not much bigger than New Zealand we saw more nuclear power stations in two days than we have seen in any other country. We were intrigued by this, thinking they must be a net exporter of power. On researching on the web we discovered several of their nuclear plants, dating back to Russian occupation, did not meet EU safety standards and had been closed down.

Slovakia do castles well. A fairy tale castle in Bojnice to rival Neutchwanstein.

Monet's haystacks transplanted. We saw farmers building haystacks with curved pitchforks.

In the rural towns housing was basic. At least the houses in this photo did not have grass berms.

Driving through the forested areas showed Slovakia at its best.

Vienna

The architecture in Vienna lived up to and exceeded all we anticipated. Battling the crowds of tourists was an issue when around the main attractions such as Schonbrunn Palace and St Stephen's cathedral, but when we went sought out the less well known sites the crowds soon thinned out.

Our enjoyment was enhanced by the efficiency of the Vienna underground and the provision of a well run aire (motorhome park) adjacent to the underground.

A highlight for Gretel was attending a concert in the same theatre where Mozart played. Due in part to cost and part to being musically retarded Tony did not attend, but snuck round the back of the theatre and took a photograph through the window.

The inside of the Vienna Opera house where the set was being prepared for that nights performance of Don Giovanni. Five separate operas are performed in any one week, a logistical nightmare for the set crew.

The exterior of the opera house.

Europe has a lot of sculpture and memorials. The Judenplatz Holcaust memorial, tucked away in a picturesque square mostly devoid of tourists, is one of the most moving we have seen. Known as the 'Nameless Library' the memorial depicts 65,000 books (the number of Austrian Jews killed in World War 2) with the spine turned inside out, the titles hidden, the untold stories of each individual. We sat and had a quiet coffee, thinking.

A close up of the books.
 

Gretel showed patience to photograph a butterfly, within the Vienna butterfly house, displaying its colour.

A block of flats designed by Friendensreich Hundertwasser, who dispensed with straight lines and incorporated plants as an essential feature of the building. The building was constructed in the 1970's. Whether or not it has aged as well as the more conservative architecture of Vienna is clearly subjective. Interestingly Hundertwasser purchased a large area of land in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand where he designed and helped build the famous Kawakawa toilets. He died in 2000 and is buried in New Zealand.

Typical Viennese architecture

Eagle's Nest and Obersalzberg tunnels

Visiting both Eagle's Nest and the Obersalzberg tunnels gave a chilling insight into the thinking of the Nazi Party and an appreciation of the engineering skills involved. The drive up from Obersalzberg to Eagle's Nest was within a bus. Interestingly, the bus driver described Hitler as a dictator, conveniently omitting he was was democratically elected.

The lodge was a gift from the Nazi Party to Hitler for his 50th birthday. 

View looking towards Lake Konigssee.

Gretel (camera shy) sitting on the same window sill as Gretl Braun might have sat when she was married at Eagle's Nest

The brass elevator that ascends the final 124 metres.

Inside Eagle's Nest

The Obersalzberg tunnels where Hitler, Bormann and Goebbels had rooms.

On capture of Obersalzberg the Americans turned it into a golf course for their use until 1960.

Jim Roberts: 5th April, 1933 - 25 June, 2016

It was with great sadness that we got the news that Jim Roberts, my dad, passed away yesterday. He had been sick for a couple of months, but deteriorated quickly over the last two weeks.  We are both feeling a bit useless being stuck on the other side of the world. Our thoughts are with his wife, Helen.

A poem by James K Baxter, written for his own father's funeral, eloquently expresses our thoughts about Jim and is an appropriate tribute.


                                                                     "To my Father"

                                                .... I have loved
                                                You more than my own good, because you stand
                                                 for country, pride and gentleness, engraved
                                                 in forehead lines, veins swollen on the hand;
                                                 Also, behind slow speech and quiet eye
                                                 The rock of passionate integrity.