Czech

We cycled across the Czech border, no longer controlled and stopped at the first supermarket we saw. Initial impression: cheap! having to convert to czech crowns which is always difficult at first. 25 crowns = 1 euro = 2 nz dollars (or probably more now :( )

We cycled along a main road beside the river to Cesky Krumlov. Road was suprisingly quiet. river was suprisingly busy. holiday makers sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, rafting, frolicking...

Cesky Krumlov is lovely. After doing a fairly long days cycling in the heat (including one big hill too), we jumped in a raft and joined the others going down the river. 4 small rapids. 2 which we fell out in... (one we attempted 3 times, with an audience and fell out every time)... was great fun. Cesky Krumlov is definitely a place I could spend longer....

The next day we took a train to Prague. Prague is beautiful.... we cruised around in the hot afternoon among crowds of tourists. and decided we should get up early the next day to explore (after our successful early morning trips in Rome). So we did and had the main square and the Charles bridge almost to ourselves (both which get absolutely packed during the day). then it rained while others were still in bed. Byrdie actually suggested going for a coffee!!!

We went on another 'free' walking tour, which was enjoyable. By the end Byrdie had had enough of walking around in the heat (by 1pm we had spent almost 7hrs touring around!)... so decided to go and do what she loves; planning, plotting, scheming.... map buying, train tickets etc...

Meanwhile I explored other areas by bike. The grand palace, just in time to see the changing of the guards. and back to the main square in time to see the clock do its thing.

Meanwhile Byrdie got pick-pocketed at the trainstation. she got out money at the ATM, put it in her bag on her bike, walked a short distance and by the time she reached for her money in queue for tickets, it was gone. along with passport, drivers licence....

then spent the rest of the afternoon at the police station and looking through rubbish bins for her passport.

meanwhile i was been blissfully unaware, watching the clock - every hour the skeleton pulls a chain which opens doors and apostles move around (with one hand on my bag as our tour guide said while all the tourists are gathering to watch the clock, the pick-pocketers are going pick, pick, pick....)

So the pick-pocketing really complicated things. Byrdie has to get a new passport sent from London, after sending stuff to them. We only have two weeks of our schengen visa left (which now includes czech, poland and the baltic states, which we or rather the planner didn't realise)... So probably won't travel as far before heading to UK.

Meanwhile today we took a train to Brno. Our hostel is a school converted to hostel during summer....