By now the whole family is exhausted and I am in hellish pain (from my ear infection).
Traveling from one town to the next, tour after tour, information about different towns, one castle to the the other, a toss between centuries... it is quite a lot to absorb.
One thing I learned? I'm gonna have to take it easy in the next trips.
No doubt I have no regrets with the tour, the place, the food and most especially my chosen tour guide, it's just a matter of logistics the way I laid out the days.
I should have put a breather day every two tours or every other tour so it will be less daunting.
I would have also had time to at least write my blog piece fresh from the experience.
But no crying over spilled milk, what's done is done. We just have to bear the exhaustion as much as we can and push for it.
Today's tour is Glass works production, which is along the way to Karlstejn Castle.
Hubby and I felt like kids going on field trips, because essentially, it is a field trip!
I have never seen glass blowing in action, in person. The next one we'll see will be in Murano, Italy (God-willing our visa makes it to fly time, what with the holidays coming up, Murano might be moved to next year).
Traveling from one town to the next, tour after tour, information about different towns, one castle to the the other, a toss between centuries... it is quite a lot to absorb.
One thing I learned? I'm gonna have to take it easy in the next trips.
No doubt I have no regrets with the tour, the place, the food and most especially my chosen tour guide, it's just a matter of logistics the way I laid out the days.
I should have put a breather day every two tours or every other tour so it will be less daunting.
I would have also had time to at least write my blog piece fresh from the experience.
But no crying over spilled milk, what's done is done. We just have to bear the exhaustion as much as we can and push for it.
Today's tour is Glass works production, which is along the way to Karlstejn Castle.
Hubby and I felt like kids going on field trips, because essentially, it is a field trip!
I have never seen glass blowing in action, in person. The next one we'll see will be in Murano, Italy (God-willing our visa makes it to fly time, what with the holidays coming up, Murano might be moved to next year).
Wherever you go in this amazing country, one thing is for sure, you will always end up smiling because your heart just feels warm and fuzzy. A message that you receive from the universe through gorgeous nature surrounding you. It's like getting a big hug from your grandpa or something.
Today we get to see everyone in action at different stages. From initial glass blowing, to cutting, to designing to polishing.
The tour explained the process and how they re-use excess glass and rejected ones. It also explains the assembly type process where one designer is only responsible for one portion of the design.
Questions of the day which we haven't really asked and probably will ask our tour guide Eva to shed light on are:
The tour explained the process and how they re-use excess glass and rejected ones. It also explains the assembly type process where one designer is only responsible for one portion of the design.
Questions of the day which we haven't really asked and probably will ask our tour guide Eva to shed light on are:
- If every production included excess glass, the trimmed ones and the rejected ones, how was the first production done? Was it through glass from somewhere else or through other composites excluding glass altogether?
- If one designer is only responsible for a portion to ensure accuracy, do they get to do rotation, because, really, I think I will be bored to be doing the same sets of lines forever.
RÜCKL CRYSTAL a.s. located in Nižbor have been around since 1846. It is a family-owned and managed business, which I think is awesome.
At the end of it all, we get to do some shopping from their own showroom. Since I came up with the idea of one-back-pack-each, I have to be content and happy with cute earrings.
I got lilac, blue, clear and pink. I gave the three as gifts while I kept what's not chosen for me. Glad because I really wanted the blue one but didn't want to be greedy :P
I got lilac, blue, clear and pink. I gave the three as gifts while I kept what's not chosen for me. Glad because I really wanted the blue one but didn't want to be greedy :P
Hubby was eyeing some wine glass sets and I would love a water pitcher, but unfortunately it won't be possible in this trip, if he's not willing to check-in a bag.
As a side note: he got sold with the one back-pack each idea when he saw tourists dragging their wheelies all over the cobble-stoned streets. It was a sorry sight especially in our last few days, it wasn't as cold anymore and mid-day you'll sweat bullets. Imagine arriving in Prague taking the train or tram with suitcases? It's such an effort.
Not to mention if you end up in an accommodation that has no lift? God bless you. In Europe, being an old world beauty and all, most buildings don't have elevators.
Honestly the one back-pack each is a great idea especially towards the destination but coming home I think it's fine to check-in a bag because at some point you'll be having souvenirs and shopped items (lady talking here!). I guess on this case because I want to pass by Amsterdam, no luggage to collect is indeed a good idea.
Going back to the tour, let's just say, we had a "blast!" Get it? Glass works? Blast? Pfft! please get it so I don't sound ridiculously sad.
As a side note: he got sold with the one back-pack each idea when he saw tourists dragging their wheelies all over the cobble-stoned streets. It was a sorry sight especially in our last few days, it wasn't as cold anymore and mid-day you'll sweat bullets. Imagine arriving in Prague taking the train or tram with suitcases? It's such an effort.
Not to mention if you end up in an accommodation that has no lift? God bless you. In Europe, being an old world beauty and all, most buildings don't have elevators.
Honestly the one back-pack each is a great idea especially towards the destination but coming home I think it's fine to check-in a bag because at some point you'll be having souvenirs and shopped items (lady talking here!). I guess on this case because I want to pass by Amsterdam, no luggage to collect is indeed a good idea.
Going back to the tour, let's just say, we had a "blast!" Get it? Glass works? Blast? Pfft! please get it so I don't sound ridiculously sad.
After the glass works tour, we traveled forty-five minutes to reach Hrad Karlstejn.
Once again, King Charles' popularity proved itself. Karl is a German term for Charles.
Once again, King Charles' popularity proved itself. Karl is a German term for Charles.
But first, we have to climb the steep hill, the old way. Horse drawn carriage. Obviously you can hike up, walk on the road, do what you want, but we're not coming here every year. We don't even know if we'll manage to come back to this town in the future... so might as well do the right thing. Arrive like a queen. Did you see my wave?
The carriage will drop you off up to the area where transportation are permitted to pass, the remaining distance you'll have to cover by walking.
We have a video clip of this ride but still need to locate it in the abyss of videos and photos.
*to rent the whole carriage is CZK 1,000 which is AED 200 roughly. For a 15-20 minute ride for the five of us, it's not so bad.
The carriage will drop you off up to the area where transportation are permitted to pass, the remaining distance you'll have to cover by walking.
We have a video clip of this ride but still need to locate it in the abyss of videos and photos.
*to rent the whole carriage is CZK 1,000 which is AED 200 roughly. For a 15-20 minute ride for the five of us, it's not so bad.
The castle was initially built to be the treasury of royalties but ended up like the Summer Palace for some royalties while some made it their home base. The castle now is pretty much how the castle was centuries ago. Some of the interiors were refurbished, restored, replicas and some originals from hundreds of years ago.
The real crown jewels used to be in Karlstejn but now was moved to Prague Castle. The jewels in this castle are now just replicas.
In it are exquisite designs, furnitures from all over the world and a lot of them from the Orient. Makes you think, I thought "made in China" is only popular nowadays? Apparently not!
Being able to afford importing of furnitures from the Far East used to be a sign of wealth. Today, if your stuff is made in China, people smirk.
In one of the castle's room, locked in (at least for the duration of her duty), there was a beautiful lady who performed for us. She was wearing traditional garb and had a beyond-words voice of an angel who also played the flute. We were in a trance for the whole duration. Somebody could have robbed us and I'm pretty sure no one will notice whether items are missing. It was like Liv Tyler's elf enchantment in Lord of the Rings.
The way the tour happened for Karlejn and Cesky were: tour guides have their own set of keys. Every time they open a door, once the last guest is in the room, they lock the door we entered from. Then they continue with their information bit while you are all locked in that room. Once they're done with their bit, they'll open the next door and the same claustrophobic practice happen.
A bit eerie, much like in the movie Twilight were a bunch of tourists were led to the dungeon thinking they'll be seeing historical artifacts but actually ended up as snacks? Yikes!
As a side note: Czech people are blessed with amazingly gorgeous features, they do look like they came from vampire movies. Unfortunately, whatever shots and videos (including the singing awesome lady!) we managed to take inside the castle can't be published here. Sowee. Trust me, you have to visit the place to understand our fascination.
Natural red hair women with healthy, rosy and porcelain skin are everywhere! I mean of course brunettes and blondes were also mingling around and they're also gorgeous as hell (ask my hubby), but somehow the most fascinating ones are the red hairs. And don't get me started with their guys. You kinda have to stop yourself from offering your neck and stupidly saying "please bite me". Everyone is strangely captivating.
The real crown jewels used to be in Karlstejn but now was moved to Prague Castle. The jewels in this castle are now just replicas.
In it are exquisite designs, furnitures from all over the world and a lot of them from the Orient. Makes you think, I thought "made in China" is only popular nowadays? Apparently not!
Being able to afford importing of furnitures from the Far East used to be a sign of wealth. Today, if your stuff is made in China, people smirk.
In one of the castle's room, locked in (at least for the duration of her duty), there was a beautiful lady who performed for us. She was wearing traditional garb and had a beyond-words voice of an angel who also played the flute. We were in a trance for the whole duration. Somebody could have robbed us and I'm pretty sure no one will notice whether items are missing. It was like Liv Tyler's elf enchantment in Lord of the Rings.
The way the tour happened for Karlejn and Cesky were: tour guides have their own set of keys. Every time they open a door, once the last guest is in the room, they lock the door we entered from. Then they continue with their information bit while you are all locked in that room. Once they're done with their bit, they'll open the next door and the same claustrophobic practice happen.
A bit eerie, much like in the movie Twilight were a bunch of tourists were led to the dungeon thinking they'll be seeing historical artifacts but actually ended up as snacks? Yikes!
As a side note: Czech people are blessed with amazingly gorgeous features, they do look like they came from vampire movies. Unfortunately, whatever shots and videos (including the singing awesome lady!) we managed to take inside the castle can't be published here. Sowee. Trust me, you have to visit the place to understand our fascination.
Natural red hair women with healthy, rosy and porcelain skin are everywhere! I mean of course brunettes and blondes were also mingling around and they're also gorgeous as hell (ask my hubby), but somehow the most fascinating ones are the red hairs. And don't get me started with their guys. You kinda have to stop yourself from offering your neck and stupidly saying "please bite me". Everyone is strangely captivating.
The castle is surrounded by greenness. There were a lot of stairs to climb but they were all worth it. Czech in general is a walking country, so much so that my bum hasn't been this toned since my exercise obsession days.
One of the best room in the castle is where the King's Throne is situated. It is by the pillar in between big windows.
A tactic used, we found out. The King has a very good view of whoever is in front of him while you can't see his face at all. The center throne's detail is zero from where we were standing. The glare from the big window is so bright, it was almost blinding.
One of the best room in the castle is where the King's Throne is situated. It is by the pillar in between big windows.
A tactic used, we found out. The King has a very good view of whoever is in front of him while you can't see his face at all. The center throne's detail is zero from where we were standing. The glare from the big window is so bright, it was almost blinding.
Going down from the castle's hill is another experience. The streets werelined with different restaurants to choose from and items for sale that are just downright cute. There were clothes, wigs, bags, clocks, etc.
My boys had fun trying out knight's helmets. Even my hubby has to join in.
My boys had fun trying out knight's helmets. Even my hubby has to join in.
Our guide is Eva of Sightseeing Prague. She and Adrienne (our designated driver) fetch us from Krumlov and brought us to the destinations today.
Our tours were a mix of education, fun and relaxing moments. It's never too much of everything.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile phone: +420 728 880 367.
Website: http://www.sightseeing-prague.com/en
For more information on Ruckl Crystals, please visit: http://www.ruckl.cz/en/
Our tours were a mix of education, fun and relaxing moments. It's never too much of everything.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile phone: +420 728 880 367.
Website: http://www.sightseeing-prague.com/en
For more information on Ruckl Crystals, please visit: http://www.ruckl.cz/en/
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