Czech us out...

we spent the weekend in the Czech Republic!

The pictures above we took in Karlovy Vary where we rented an apartment for Friday and Saturday nights. Karlovy Vary is also known as Karlsbad and has been a famous spa town ever since the discovery of the mineral springs in the middle of the 14th century. Twelve of the springs are used commercially and are located in several picturesque colonnades where tourists gather around and drink from special cups. We enjoyed strolling and looking at all the different types of architecture in the different spa hotels, churchs, pavilions and other buildings. Our favorite one was the Russian Orthodox church of St. Peter and Paul. It is built in the Byzantine style and filled with beautiful icons. It is so unlike the other churches and cathedrals we have visited, looking like something from a Disney movie or something. We tasted the local favorite "oplatky" wafers and watched the ladies working busily to keep up with the demand. Ours were fresh out of the press that they use to make them, but most they were making were being boxed up to be sold in bulk quantities.