Courtyard By Marriott Pilsen Plzen

... of old time beer making equipment, and beer bottling equipment and capping. We also got a small coin which was used in payment in olden times. Workers with this coin were entitled to a beer. We turned in our coins to get a nice beer. As we were running behind, our guide asked if it was ok for us to eat here as well. We each got a nice bread bowl full of goulash soup and then a plate of bread ...

... I would - as they were pretty impressive, but then you all know how to use google!!


We then had a tour of the fermentation tanks and details of the vital ingreadients (water, malt, special yeast and bacteria...). The tour concluded in obvious fashion - with a taster straight from the keg, poured by the most photographed man in Plzen!!

Today we went to the Pilsner Urquell brewery in Plzen. Pilsner, the type of beer, originated here, where Pilsner Urquell was brewed from local crops and local mineral water. The tour was awesome. We saw the traditional brew kettles and the modern ones, as well as a very modern new packaging plant. We also tasted some unpastuerized beer directly from fermenting barrels.

(76 miles) Slowing ourselves down has really helped us go longer while feeling like we are riding less. Today we entered the Czech Republic and found out that the roads are not as nice and little towns are run down. It's interesting the change. Everything is much cheaper here as well. We find ourselves dodging potholes more and eating out more. However so far I have taken less pictures ...

... charm, but with a patina of decay, the legacy of communism and several subsequent political unheavals. This country has one of the most fascinating political histories and we look forward to learning more as we explore. We are already crashing our way through Slavic Languages 101. I was getting a little cocky in Germany, where I was starting to get by pertty well after only a week, because there are enough similarities to English to start connecting dots. Well, THAT has certainly ...

... like the unfiltered beer (actually gave it away), but it was a nice thing that they let you try it (unfiltered beer is supposed to be the freshest, purest beer but they can't sell it because it only lasts 2-3 weeks). After the tour, we ate in the restaurant at the brewery, which was actually quite good, though over-priced, bought cheap steins as souveneirs, and ran (literally ran) to the bus station across town to catch the 6 pm bus.

Our arrival to Plzen was synonymous with some very sad news from home. My Grandpa Allan had passed away. He had been suffering for some time with various illnesses so although the news was devastating, I know he had a long and wonderful life and all the family have many happy memories of the time we shared with him. As a tribute, we visited a traditional Czech restaurant that night and strangely ...

... music. Afterwards we had a wonderful lunch at a small basement pub near church. From there we ambled through the town to the Stavovske divadlo where Mozart's Don Giovanni premiered in 1787. We had tickets for Chorea Bohemia. We all thought it was going to be a choral concert. Instead it was a delightful folk program of dancing, singing, and instrumental music. 25 people made up the group. We were most impressed with their ability and professionalism. The program was very ...

... giving us maps, directions on how and where to buy a used cell phone, how to get to Tesco (the local discount store, that was formerly a K-Mart, in the heart of City Center. We left the school and walked to Tesco. Couldn't find the phone store. We bought two bath towels, two wash mitts, and a kitchen towel. By this time we were starving so we, horror of horrors, went into Tesco's food place. It was a Little Caesar's Pizza joint! Well, we bit the bullet and had a slice and a ...

... at them (after they took away all his other weapons). We were not allowed to shoot pictures inside, so these were done on the sly. The tour guide had no clue (yeah, right...). Befitting a hunting castle, there was a bear enclosure (but no bears visible), a display of (damaged) hunting birds - Pose with one!, and a watchdog. Time to hit the road, Northward to Berlin. After ...