{"id":17491,"date":"2015-07-23T12:55:23","date_gmt":"2015-07-23T18:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/?p=17491"},"modified":"2017-11-18T12:55:49","modified_gmt":"2017-11-18T19:55:49","slug":"taucks-ms-savor-day-six-cesky-krumlov","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rivercruiseadvisor.com\/2015\/07\/taucks-ms-savor-day-six-cesky-krumlov\/","title":{"rendered":"Tauck’s ms Savor: Danube Reflections, Day Six, Cesky Krumlov, Picture Perfect"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"map_rve2015\"<\/a>

We’re midway through our trip on Tauck’s 12-day Danube Reflections. Today, Cesky Krumlov.<\/p><\/div>\n

Following yesterday\u2019s long bike ride from Passau to Linz<\/a>, I was glad to have 90 minutes in the bus to reach Cesky Krumlov. As we traveled out of Linz, through the Austrian countryside, across the border into the Czech Republic, we were fortunate to have an extremely knowledgeable guide who lived in Cesky Krumlov and spoke impeccable English. There was good reason for his command of our language. Bryce\u00a0was originally from Florida.<\/p>\n

A former school teacher,\u00a0Bryce\u00a0moved to Cesky Krumlov 25 years ago. He gave us quite an education about the Czech Republic and Cesky Krumlov before we arrived. Once we there, Bryce turned us over to a local guide (or should I say another local guide since Bryce is local?) who was equally as entertaining and informative.<\/p>\n

I have had several opportunities to visit Cesky Krumlov in the past, but one thing or another kept me from doing so. I\u2019m glad I arrived on a beautiful day like today and with Tauck.<\/p>\n

For starters, as I\u2019ve noted, our guides were first-rate. Tauck is first and foremost a tour company, and it shows. Secondly, as mentioned in a previous post, Tauck has taken all of the worries out of travel<\/a>. Few, if any, of us had Czech coins to use the public toilets. Not to worry. All we had to do was show our Tauck lanyard (which holds the Vox devices) to use the toilets\u00a0free of charge. Tauck\u2019s tour directors came along later and paid the lump sum for the bathroom visits. I’m wondering if the lanyard will work elsewhere in Europe if I were to keep it?<\/p>\n

Another pleasant surprise: Lunch was scheduled for\u00a01 p.m. Around mid-morning I became\u00a0a bit hungry. I considered taking some Czech notes from the ATM, but there was no need. Tauck\u2019s tour directors had a surprise for us after we had completed\u00a0our tour of the town: \u201cOld Bohemian Gingerbread\u201d cakes topped with chocolate. They were so delicious that I had two.<\/p>\n

Ours would be a full day tour. We started by touring the incredibly well-preserved medieval town, which looked as though it had been built for photographers. At every turn, down every street, there was a postcard-perfect photo just waiting to be snapped. I wasn\u2019t surprised to learn that the old town was a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n

Our walking tour also included a visit to Krumlov Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, with\u00a040 buildings and palaces of medieval, Renaissance and Rococo designs, plus numerous courtyards and gardens.<\/p>\n

Tauck had another surprise waiting for us when we exited the castle. Our guide Bryce had changed into Renaissance clothing and was playing the guitar, along with a violinist, in a large courtyard that was part of the Winter Riding School. The mood was festive as we entered an expansive hall where 18th-century aristocrats exercised their horses during\u00a0inclement weather. We sat down\u00a0to a lavish lunch in the riding school.<\/p>\n

Following is our day in pictures. Tomorrow, we head to Grein before making our way to the beautiful Wachau Valley.<\/p>\n

\"Bryce,<\/a>

Bryce, our “local” guide, who hails from Florida but lives in Cesky Krumlov, offers us a taste of Becherovka, an herbal liqueur. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cesky<\/a>

Picture-postcard perfect Cesky Krumlov. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Even<\/a>

Even laundry appears as art in Cesky Krumlov. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Our<\/a>

Equally as informative and entertaining as Bryce, our other local guide in Cesky Krumlov. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Street<\/a>

Street scene in Cesky Krumlov. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Every<\/a>

Every alley frames a photo in Cesky Krumlov. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Just<\/a>

Just point and shoot. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Daisy<\/a>

Our Tauck tour director Daisy rewards us with Bohemian gingerbread cakes. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cesky<\/a>

Be sure to visit Cesky Pernik for delicious gingerbread. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Tauck<\/a>

Tauck even covers the fees for entrance to public toilets. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Uphill<\/a>

Uphill to Krumlov Castle. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Continuing<\/a>

Continuing uphill to Krumlov Castle. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cesky<\/a>

Cesky Krumlov from Krumlov Castle. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Guarding<\/a>

Guarding the entrance to Krumlov Castle. No photos once inside. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Bryce<\/a>

Bryce transformed from guide to musician. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Tauck<\/a>

Tauck treated us to a private lunch at the Winter Riding School at Krumlov Castle. \u00a9\u00a02015 Ralph Grizzle<\/p><\/div>\n

Tauck ms Savor – Danube Reflections, Live Voyage Report<\/h2>\n