Today was our trip to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. We started out early in the morning from the town of Linz in Austria. The drive took about an hour and a half through the Austrian and Czech county side. As we neared Cesky Krumlov we traveled along the Vltava River which appears to be a popular recreation location for local residents. There were many campgrounds along the river and the campers were canoeing, kayaking and rafting down the river. The river took them all the way to Cesky Krumlov where we watched them glide down a waterslide of sorts. With the day being warm, many appeared to tip the vessel to dump the occupants into the water.

We started our tour in the castle which sits on the outside of the river's bend . The castle sits high on the hill, so climb we must. From the castle we had a wonderful view of the old section of Cesky Krumlov. The castle also has numerous courtyards and a beautiful tower. Upon leaving the castle through the red castle gate, we found ourselves on the cobblestone streets of the old city. The city had become run down during the communist regime, but since the end of communist rule in the Czech Republic the city has worked hard to uncover the history and beauty of the city. Frescos were hidden under the paint that covered many walls. On the ground floor of many of the buildings are various shops and restaurants. In the center of the city there is a main square where we had lunch in a local restaurant. We witnessed to a gypsy wedding which was held at the town hall. They drove through the streets playing their music and then danced their way to the town hall. Their cars were gaily decorated. We, of course, did not see the actually wedding, but again got to hear the music and see the dancing as they left .

After lunch we had free time to visit the shops or climb the tower. We opted for the shops rather than the climb.   After a pleasant day in Cesky Krumlov, we boarded our buses to return to the boat which was now in Passau, Germany.

Arriving back to the boat with a couple of hours to spare before dinner, we grabbed a map and wandered out into Passau. Passau is home to St. Stephen’s Cathedral which has the largest cathedral organ in the world. The organ has 17974 pipes, 233 stops and 4 carillons. After the church almost completely burnt down in 1662 it was rebuilt in 1688 containing the works of several baroque artists. We also stopped by St. Paul’s Church nearby.

We made our way back to the boat for dinner and evening entertainment by Hans O, a comedian and musician.

Tomorrow we will be in Regensburg.