Sunday 26th July 2009 Karlovy Vary

Today we are off to the magnificent spa town of Karlovy Vary, about an hours drive away.
We are away by 10:00 and I have decided to go the main road route as opposed to the shorter cross country route. The reason for this is that there is a low bridge of 3.7m on this road and the coach is 3.65, which doesn't leave a lot of room for error! The bridge is a flat iron railway bridge not an arched concrete bridge where the centre is normally higher than stated on the signs.
So it is off towards Cheb that we head before taking the main road to Karlovy Vary.
Once here you have to partk in the coach park which is out of town and then catch the free shuttle bus to the town.
When we arrive it is not very busy and we have a bus to ourselves as soon as we arrive. I then walk the group into the centre and let them loose!
This is truly one of the most magnificent towns I have seen with the most amazing buildings and archtecture nestled amongst the green tree covered hills of the surrounding forests.
We came here 5 years ago and I had forgotten how beautiful it is, stunning. Everybody walks around with what look like little tea pots drinking the spring waters from the spout.
This was also the town used in Daniel Craig's first Bond film Casino Royale, doubling as Montenegra with the casino from the title here. Being a huge Bond fan I find this exciting! Very sad I know but very interesting!!
We are leaving here at 16:00 but I think they will be back early as they will not want to miss a bus!
We leave here at 15:30!
I have spoken to a local coach driver and he reckons I will get under the railway bridge with a couple of inches to spare!
I'll have to go back that way now!
We reach the bridge and manage to go under it quite comfortably although I did lower the suspension! It is worth it as the journey is far prettier and also ten minutes shorter. What you could say is a rightn result.
I come down to the bar for a beer before my dinner but am a little put off by the noise! There is a pretty young lady playing the piano in the bar area rather loudly and I am not in the mood for some classical before dinner. As before with the squeezebox I am sure the majority in the hotel will like the piano music but it just isn't my scene so I go to the bar next door for a beer before dinner, and it only costs £1.71 for a pint!
After dinner I go for a walk to the wonderful spa area and the singing fountain which is a computer controlled fountain whose water jets vary and on the hour move to music. The setting is breathtaking in its beauty and very popular judging by the people here.