Cesky Krumlov, Czechia. Tuesday, 23rd May 2017
Up and about at 05:35. Wrote part of the diary entry for yesterday, sitting at the same table offering the awesome view. It is 06:27. Shortly, we will enjoy tea with TUC.
It is now evening as I pen this entry and I fondly look back on the day. Left leisurely at 09:15 this morning, took a different route to the castle. This route skirted the river on its left, rather than passing through the village. The scene was of course magnificent! Passed under the bridge and turned right. A lovely garden with curving pathways lay to our right, beyond which lay the outskirts of the pretty village, the main road with modern constructions by its sides.
We climbed up to the castle and soon joined the familiar path leading up to its entrance. Could not spot the bears this time. Went to the office window and admired the views of the village again, through the same window through which I had clicked that beautiful photograph which I later got enlarged and framed; and which now adorns a wall of our living room back home. I had also shot a video on that 2014 visit but contented myself with just a picture, now. Went up to the museum entrance and contemplated going up the tower. Decided against it, as neither of us was really interested in climbing so many steps! Stopped at a small restaurant near the exit, for hamburger and coffee. The guy serving us was surly - did not allow us to sit at a 'reserved' table! Walked slowly along the cobbled road to Drovak restaurant for draught beer, ginger ale and chicken steak in mushroom sauce - super! We told the waiter who was serving us that we were at the same restaurant in the same month of 2014 and had returned because we had liked it. He was visibly pleased and thanked us. We left him a generous tip, which pleased him more.
Walked back slowly to 'our' bungalow. Spent a quiet afternoon leafing through the guidebooks on Prague and CK; and generally absorbing the cosiness of our dwelling on what was our last afternoon here. Urmila is preparing coffee and we will savour it sitting at the round table near the old fashioned window, marvelling for the umpteenth time at the spectacular view. It is bright and sunny now. the sun had been playing hide-and-seek since morning. Out of curiosity, I turned back the pages of my diary, to the trip of 2014. By the strangest of coincidences, we were here at this charming Czech village on this very day, three years ago!! I had clicked the beautiful photograph (which now adorns my living room wall as mentioned earlier), on 23rd May, 2014. And, today, on 23rd May 2017, I had clicked an almost identical photograph from the same spot !!! [This is that picture; which I have used as the thumb nail pic for my earlier blog, ' A Bohemian Rhapsody':]
At 17:00, we set off for another leisurely stroll, after having shot an extensive video of our dwelling- Ubytovani Jelinkova, right from the garden gate to the washroom! Took a slightly different route, to the left of the bungalow, up to another bridge for another delightful view of the Vltava. Returned by a parallel road to our familiar spot - the pizza restaurant opposite which lay the familiar bridge to cross the Vltava. Continued on the regular route, but took a slight deviation after the second bridge. Instead of turning left towards the town square, we turned right in the direction of the museum.
Were soon occupying a bench in the garden, taking in the scene yet again on our last evening in our favourite European village. Left the place at 18:30 and were back at Ubytovani by the regular route. The sun kept playing hide-and-seek and the dark clouds kept gathering, only to disperse.
At 20:00 we went down to the study, as Vera had invited us for drinks and snack. We spent a very nice hour over beer, cognac and a snack that Vera had prepared - small, round cut pieces of sausage and cucumber on bread to match; plus wafers. We too had carried a packet of salty biscuits. We discussed Cesky Krumlov, Prague, Nashik and Mumbai, Vera kept referring to a Czech-English dictionary whenever she was stuck. She receives many guests throughout the year; and complemented us for being good guests and keeping the rooms clean. We showed her a few photographs of Prague that we had clicked on the 2014 trip; and a photograph of our living room at home. She seemed to like it.
It is 21=29. As I write this seated at the round table, the night view of the well-lit castle and the towers is superb - mysterious yet heart-warming! It will be difficult to bid 'good-bye' to Cesky Krumlov, but I remember Robert Frost's message in his mind-boggling poem, 'Stopping by woods on a snowy evening'.
It will be very difficult to get back to Dairy Milk after Ritter Sport, which we both are savouring right now.