České Budějovice

I had a ticket for the service arriving about 1830 at České Budějovice. The problem was the Hotel Amadeus was only open until 1900. In retrospect I should have booked an earlier service. The map showed that it was a fair walk. I decided to catch a taxi and I ordered one using a taxi app. I checked in with minutes to spare. The hotel is in an old building, but the rooms are very well appointed, possibly one of the most attractive rooms I stayed in during my holiday. The reception suggested a few restaurants in the vicinity for dinner, but I didn't feel that hungry. At the nearby Lidl supermarket, I had the idea of buying some savoury pastries and fruit to eat in my room. And so I spent a quiet evening.

České Budějovice is the origin of Budweiser beer and it is still a major product. The US namesake is a copy of the Bohemian beer. They tried to buy the rights to the name, but Czechia says it's not for sale.

The next day I had until about 1130 to catch the train. I had to vacate the room at 1000. Before I did that I ate a very tasty cooked breakfast in the dining room including a couple of fried eggs with bacon, breads, and excellent coffee. The waitress didn't speak any English but that was no problem because there was a menu I could point to.

I walked over to the old town to get a glimpse of the city before leaving. I liked the colour of this building, besides the architecture. Google Maps tells me it's just an exchange office.

This is the city government office on one side of the square containing Samson's Fountain.

And the fountain in question.

On the opposite side of the square is the Grand Hotel Zvon. Maybe I should have stayed here, central to everything.

Peeking out from the northeast corner is the Black Tower.

Another view of the government offices.

The Obchodní Galerie Dvořák on the southern side is a shopping mall.

Leaving the square by the northwest corner, this is the Commercial Bank. I seem to remember there was historical background to the building mentioned in the online city walk guide that made me take a picture.

Walking east towards the station on Hrozová now, I encountered this building housing TCM Herbs.

Crossing over to the street to the south that crosses Mlýnska stoka, the city channel, the Dom St. Nikolaus.

On the other side of the channel now, the Czech national bank.

Nearby is a pedestrian mall with shops and eateries.

I seem to remember I bought a coffee here and enjoyed the fresh cool air for a while.

Finally, the train station, which is more or less opposite the shopping mall containing the bus station I had arrived in the day before.

A mural in the station.

The journey involved returning to Prague and then catching a connecting train to Olomouc, such was the railway network. There was little margin at Prague station and there was a worrisome moment when a guard prevented all but ticket holders from boarding the carriage. Probably to stop people without reservations from boarding and then clogging the passages. Only by showing my reservation on my phone did he allow me to board.

Finally to close off this day, the first picture in Olomouc. I chose a Vietnamese restaurant for dinner, being a little homesick for Asian food. It was quite good as the owners were Vietnamese. As expected, a Czech waitperson, a waitress to be exact, took orders.