Karlovy Vary Trip

On Saturday, March 17th, I went on a bus trip with 19 other women to Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad), Czech Republic. The bus got on the road at 6:05 and arrived a little bit after 11. The trip went fast, probably because we were all excited for the trip but also because the ladies who organized it, went all out. They brought a breakfast of muffins, donuts, and a huge basket of fruit as well as mimosas! There were several games: a trivia game, a name that song with lines of lyrics from 80s songs game, and a scavenger hunt to take with us in town. They also provided a delicious lunch of fresh bread, 4 or 5 types of meat, and 5 or 6 types of cheese. It was fabulous!

The town of Karlovy Vary is very quaint. We had a tour guide, Philip, who wasn't the best tour guide ever but pointed out The Grand Hotel Pupp (in the movie Last Holiday as well as Casino Royale); a balcony that Hitler spoke from; where Beethoven, Mozart, and Goethe stayed;as well as a few other spots.

Karlovy Vary is known for its hot springs. Philip pointed out the three large spa houses in the town and explained which one to get water from to cure different ailments such as intestinal, liver or kidney problems. At least one of the springs produces about 2000 liters of water a minute! There is a room in one of the spas where you can see the water shooting up in the air like a geyser. I only tasted a sip of the water from one of the 72 degree celcius springs. It sort of tasted like you put a penny in your mouth...not very quenching! But, ironically almost everyone in town walks around sipping the spring water from a characteristic mug! Maybe it's an acquired taste.

After the tour, we went shopping for the rest of the afternoon. The Czech Republic is known for its crystal. We didn't venture too far off the main street, but had more than enough to choose from! We looked in almost every store, made mental lists and then went back to make our purchases. Let's just say that Kurt's eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw my trunk! I found really cute everyday glasses that have a simple daisy pattern etched on them. I saw these in the first store and thought about them all day before I bought them. I also go a set of red and white wine glasses as well as a really pretty vase. I would definitely like to take Kurt back some time to show him everything I COULD have bought but didn't! =) Maybe I can convince him that we need a chandelier to bring back to the States with us!

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While the girls were off shopping, Kurt and a few friends got together to play video games on the xbox and watch movies all day. This was the first time in over a month that Kurt got to play on the xbox, so you can imagine how excited he was!

Next up, we're looking forward to going to an Easter Festival next weekend and then to Holland for Tulip Time the week after Easter.