On the way to Pilsen we first stopped in to visit with Mom’s cousin in Lhotka u Radnic. After some tea and delicious pastry we went and checked into the new Marriott Courtyard in Pilsen and had some great salads and pizza for lunch.

Then we went to Dýšina to meet a long lost cousin and her family from my Dad’s side who live in the house he grew up in. More pastries consumed, we did a driving tour of the town and then visited Dad’s parents’ graves.

From there we went and met with the Stone mason who will redo the grave. From the pictures you can see the stonework is crumbling.

After we visited my Mom’s parents’ and brother’s grave in Pilsen.

It was quite windy and getting lit tea candles all the way from the entrance where I could light them took quite a few tries.

Having had enough with that business, we returned to Pilsen after doing a drive by look at Grandma’s old apartment. Then we went to dinner in yet another Italian place. The salads and entrees were great, but the desserts were lacking. The “flambe” banana lacked flambe (it came warmed, no cooking at your table) and the fondue was only so so.

Next morning we woke up and did the express 1 hour brisk walk Pilsen tour.

With Dad needing to fly off to Cork, Ireland to look at a plant for GE, we piled into the car and hit the road.

We drove through Mariánské Lázně, but with heavy rain and short on time, we barely got a look at the town.

Next morning, up early and flew home!

After leaving ÄŒeská Lípa, we stopped at Terezin. We took a tour of the small fortress. Not much to say other than the Nazi’s sucked and seeing Terezin again had more of an impact than the first time.

Thoroughly depressed, we skipped the large fortress and headed on to Prague for a late lunch. OTW there, dad played bumper cars.

Honestly I don’t recall were we went that evening, but we went somewhere.

Hopefully Lethy will remind me and I can edit this!

Anyhow, we ate dinner at Hotel U Prince (on the roof) and then had palachinki downstairs watching the clock tower for dessert!

The next day, Mom and Dad had to go meet with a stone mason so they dropped us off at KarlÅ¡tejn. It was Lethy’s first encounter with a more typical European castle up close and personal.

We took a tour in English, but were the only English speakers in our group. Combined with the awkward yet funny mannerisms and humor of our guide, it made for a fun experience.

Engrish FTW!

Afterward we went to Petr’s house to meet his wife and baby. The baby is tiny but despite Petr’s claims seemed very calm and quiet. Petr took photos which I hope to add later.

Later we went to dinner in the Old Town and walked around that area some.

The next morning, Mom, Lethy and I headed off to Prague Castle despite cold and drizzly conditions.

We beat most of the crowds to the punch and headed straight for St. Vitus Cathedral.

After taking the audio tour in there and hearing a 3rd version of the Saint Wenceslas story we headed outside just in time to catch the changing of the guard of which I didn’t get any good pictures because I hate being rude and pushing my way to the front. But later some storm troopers almost stomped Lethy into the ground and I got some better shots…

Getting hungry we headed over to the terrace restaurant at Lobkowiczký palác where we waited for Dad.

The views from there are great.

After lunch we went back and went through the actual palace area and the old little church.

The Golden Street was closed for renovations and the museum about it was a separate admission so we had to skip that.

After all of that, we made our way down the hill towards Charles Bridge and then back through the Old Town.

In one of the squares in Old Town there was a Dance Festival going on.

Later we would meet Petr for dinner in a cozy quasi Italian place.

All pictures from Prague can be found here. They are a bit out of order because of a camera swap.