One of the key destinations on our road trip was the Czech Republic. Troy studied there 12 years ago in Olomouc and was anxious to get back and to show me around. We stayed in three different cities, České Budějovice, Olomouc and Prague. We were able to meet up with an old friend and Troy’s first composition professor too. It was a bit of an emotional trip, as we also spread the ashes of our close friend Brad (who studied in Olomouc with Troy) around the Czech countryside near the dorm where they both had lived.
The countryside by Olomouc
Troy took me to a number of places he remembered, like a very old placed called “Blues Bar” that serves cheese and meat fondue in Olomouc. I really enjoyed the Czech countryside, food and beer. And the people were quite friendly too!
Here’s a very typical and delicious meal we enjoyed in Olomouc. It consisted of garlic soup, roasted duck with pickled cabbage and polenta and also some potato pancakes filled with Olomouc’s famously stinky cheese (it’s so potent that they serve it with a mint).
Garlic soup (with ham, cheese, croutons and a poached egg)!
Roasted duck and potato pancakes
After Olomouc, we headed to Prague. It just so happened that our friends Felicia and Yvan (from Ghent) were also on a road trip and we managed to meet up with them there. It was really fun to explore the city with them. And what a gorgeous and interesting city it is!
Yvan, Felicia and Troy in Prague
We all camped at a ridiculous campsite (basically a small plot of grass). One thing I’ll look forward to when I return to the states is a real camping experience. All of the campgrounds we’ve stayed at in Europe have been pretty pitiful in terms of privacy and space. The big plus is that it was only about a 20-minute tram ride from the city (some of the hotels I looked at were farther away).
In any case, we got by cheap with the lodging and were able to enjoy the city’s amazing architecture, food and beer with our friends.
Na zdraví!
Prague
Troy & me in Prague
Saint Vitus' Cathedral
On our last day together we went to Plzeň and toured the Pilsner Urquell brewery. We even got to taste beer directly from the cask. Yum!
Pilsner Urquell brewery
At Pilsner Urquell
You can see more Czech Republic pics here.
It was really a whirlwind trip with lots of driving and not nearly enough time in each place. Despite that, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and are really happy to have taken the time for these travels.
