Cesky Krumlov Sunday 17 July 2011

No driving today! We have a guided walk booked for 10:00 until 11:30 and have been blessed with a gorgeous sunny day.
Breakfast is a good spread with a fair choice of both hot and cold food, better than I expected!
We all congregate in the main square at the front of the hotel and await are guide, who according to the voucher is a lady called Karolina.
Our guide is indeed a lady but Karolina has been replaced by Ollie, who does pronounce her name but says Ollie is easier. And she is not wrong.
I explain that we have some slow walkers and Ollie promises to keep the pace gentle and stop in the shade where possible. It is only 10:00 but the sun is extremely hot already.
Two of the group have gone to church and hope to catch up with us during the tour.
Ollie proves a superb guide with a great command of English and an understanding of the groups capabilities. She is also very lovely too.
The tour is entertaining and informative and she gives us some pointers towards where to eat and what to buy or rather what not to buy.
Our tour finishes at the castle where we are told what we can do next or where we might like to visit.
There are three bears (!!) in the castle's old moat but the heat has driven them inside to the shade and we can't see any of them.
I walk back to the square with Ollie where we say our goodbyes and I pop back to my room.
One of the places Ollie showed us was a restaurant on the river side called Marie Marie and this is where I head next.
I am early and manage to bag a seat right by the river. The table I am on would seat eight so I don't anticipate being alone for long, especially with lunch looming large. I settle for a beer and a cursery look at the menu as I will probably eat elsewhere.
It is lovely sat here as I can watch at close quarters the many canoeists and rafters happily going down the river.
There are family groups, groups of men, women and a mixture all having fun. Some of the canoes are towing blow up crocodiles and sharks! What a crack and a great way to spend a sunny Sunday. There are all sorts of bright colours and as you watch them all go by you can't help but smile. A lovely spectacle.
I am joined by another lovely lady but this one is called Elena and hails from Moscow!
Having been to Moscow twice I am immediately fascinated to learn more about this beguiling city.
My Russian is non existant (Well I know the word for beer!) but Elena's English is not bad due to a month spent in Folkestone a few years ago. I know, why Folkestone but that is where she stayed and her most vivid memory is the noisy seagulls! Am not surprised as there is not much else (except the tunnel) in Folkestone. I spent a week there once. My what a long week that was!
My new found Russian friend proved an enjoyable companian over lunch and it was with much hilarity that the waiter wanted to serve our meals together as if we were together! We had the same problem when asking for the bill. Funny.
We bade each other farewell and I made my way back to my air conditioned room and Elena made her way up the 170 steps of the tower.
I stay in my room for a couple of hours but decide to go back out as the weather is so good I don't want to miss anything from this stunning place. The more I see of Cesky Krumlov the more I like it. It really is a special place that has been catapaulted into my top ten favourite places.
Dinner in the hotel is nice tonight. I had chosen the duck and it came with dumplings and red cabbage. It must have been a fair sized duck as the leg I had was bigger than any ducks I know!
It reminds me of the old joke where a man is served a half chicken and asks why only half the chicken.
"It was in a fight sir" explains the waiter
"Well bring me the winner then!"
Old I know but still brings a chuckle.
The waiters in the hotel are a real moody bunch without a smile between them. I know they can be a bit dour but surely when dealing with customers in a restaurant you shouls look at least happy. I get the feeling that we are in the way instead of being the reason they are working. The younger one especially is not a happy bunny.
Just before dinner they rush about clearing the tables outside as the wind has suddenly got up and it looks like a storm is imminent.
The storm comes with lots of heavy rain.
Due to the rain the restaurant is gradually filling up and tables are becoming scarce.
Young Mr moody approaches me and asks if we could start clearing our tables as they are becoming busy.
"When we've had our coffee" I explain
"No coffee today, only first night" He says
"No, we have tea or coffee every evening after dinner"
"No, you have first night the same as the welcome drink"
I could slap him!
I go to reception followed by moody and ask to see my requirements voucher. The young lady at reception starts flicking through some papers very half heartedly when I explain that I arrived yesterday and gave my voucher in then
"Yesterday" she nearly shouts as she throws the papers she has in her hand down and tuts loudly. Another one I could slap! What is going on here.
She finds the voucher and on it very clearly is tea/coffee after dinner for five nights.
This does not impress my mate as he goes back to the kitchen to begin serving our coffees.
We definitely don't get a smile when they are served and nearly don't get any milk either. By the time that has come the coffee is nearly cold. Not good.
I love Cesky Krumlov and am impressed with the hotel up to a point, but they really need to get their customer relations in gear.