Cesky Krumlov to Munich

Kinda gloomy this morning. Trying to decide whether to try for a tour of the Castle. The only way you can get inside is with a one-hour tour. Most are in Czech - the ones in English sell out fast. There is also one of the two existing Baroque theaters in the world here in Krumlov. Again, you have to take a tour and the groups are limited in size due to the fragility of the theater.

I read something of the history of this area this morning and I think I know why the towns in this area are so different from the ones we saw in Hungary and Romania. This is the area known as the Sudetenland. Before WWII, this area had a population that was 75% German. This was Hitler's argument for annexing the area - and moving all the Czech's out. In fact, Hitler celebrated the annexation of the Sudetenland here in Krumlov on the town square. After the war the Czech's decided turn about was fair play and expelled all the Germans - so the people living here are relative newcomers. The people who inhabited this area historically are gone - along with their traditions.

One thing I did not mention last night. Krumlov is situated at a place where the Vltava river makes 5 turns, creating a couple of ox-bows - and a natural moat. The earliest settlement was about a century BC. It was owned by a couple of families in Medieval times, then sold to the Hapsburgs around 1600. The hotel we are staying at is built into the old fortifications, just like the restaurant last night. Breakfast was downstairs in a "cave" like the one in the picture from last night. Better lighting, however.

The scenery this morning was wonderful. We convinced the GPS that we were not taking any really back roads today and we headed for the lake in the SW corner of the Czech Republic. Even with the drizzle, the view was great. I was able to get a couple of pictures. Up and down hills. The architecture became Tyrolean - white stucco with dark brown wood on top - window boxes and balconies. With all the rain, it was very green. Michael was asking yesterday about where the farm animals were. Apparently they are kept at higher altitudes as we saw several herds of cows today. Lots and lots of pensions so this must be vacation country.

We were looking for a place for lunch so went through Passau - another disagreement with the GPS. We did not find a good place to stop and got on the Autobahn, where we had found sandwiches on our previous forays. Not on this one. So we ended up eating at a Movenpick hotel a few miles from ours. It was the closest one the GPS recognized. Very nice buffet at a reasonable price. The Munich airport is out in the middle of farm country and for those of us from the US who are used to a bunch of hotels, restaurants and gas stations surrounding the airport, all I can say is, not here.

So we have turned in the car and are almost ready to fly home tomorrow.  Dinner at an Italian place within walking distance of the hotel. Nice bookend to the Italian dinner we had in Salzburg on the first night. Sat next to a couple of Americans, one of whom was born and raised in Serbia. Now living in Chicago.

Thus endeth the excellent Eastern European Adventure.