Martin CZ
The Journey: Denver to Prague
It started the way these trips always start — at Denver airport! One last selfie under the Gate A43 Frankfurt sign, and off I went. Two long days of travel, and then? Prague!
Have you ever seen a portrait made entirely of objects? Right there at Vaclav Havel Airport stands an amazing portrait of Vaclav Havel, built from all kinds of everyday things. What a welcome back! From there it was on to Prague main station, through the streets of Prague, and then a train ride — and home, to a table full of food, the way only family can do it!
What a start to the trip. Tired, happy, and home at last!
Karvina: Home, School, and the Bridge
Pavlik was kind enough to pick me up in Karvina. And our first stop? My old elementary school! It was surreal walking through those familiar corridors and reliving childhood memories. The neighborhood around the school has changed, but the building itself still stands strong. We took a few photos to capture this nostalgic moment.
Our little adventure continued as we explored more of the town, including a visit to Kovona Bridge. Home is a funny thing — some things change, some things stay exactly as you remember them. And both feel wonderful!
The Big Bike Ride: Rychvald, Petrvald, Havirov
To burn off some energy, we decided to go for a bike ride. Our route took us through Rychvald, Petrvald, and Havirov — 15.7 miles in total! Along the way, we indulged in refreshing ice cream and Kofola — classic Czech summer treats! We even managed to squeeze in a quick swim at a nearby lake.
[Photos: IMG_0724, IMG_0615, IMG_0829, IMG_0832 — cycling and lake]
Have you ever finished a long ride with a swim? Best feeling in the world! Tired legs, cold water, and a summer day done right.
And on another day, we found an indoor pool with a bright orange waterslide — because why not?! Who says grown-ups can’t enjoy a waterslide?
Mala Fatra: Velky Rozsutec and Janosikove Diery
One morning we drove out to Slovakia, to a mountain lodge area under tall peaks — and up we went! Have you ever hiked in Mala Fatra? Our goal was Velky Rozsutec, 1,610 meters of rocky pyramid rising over the Vratna valley!
The way up was an adventure all by itself. First a gorge where the trail climbs on ladders right beside waterfalls — Janosikove diery, a narrow canyon of footbridges, platforms, and iron ladders over sparkling water. Then the forest trail, then the foggy ridge. And the final climb? Chains bolted into the rock, pulling us up a steep rock trench to the very top!
And the view from the summit! The whole ridge of Mala Fatra curving away, the twin peak of Maly Rozsutec beside us, and the valley far below. We took the group photo up there — tired, happy, and already talking about the next climb!
Truck Sraz Orlova 2024
And then came the weekend I won’t forget — the truck meet in Orlova, August 9–10, 2024! Big trucks everywhere, a fire and rescue demonstration, and martial arts right in front of the crowd. What a show!
The engines, the crowds, the demonstrations — it was loud, exciting, and so much fun! Have you ever stood next to a fire truck demonstration? Impressive is an understatement!
Cesky Tesin: Murals, Fountain Square, and the Old Tram
Have you ever walked into a town and found cartoons on the walls? In Cesky Tesin, we did! A whole colorful mural wall — Simpsons, Mickey, and the town’s name painted big and bright. What a surprise!
Then the square, with its fountain in the middle — built in 2004 as a symbol of different nationalities living side by side. And the old red tram! A beautiful historic tram, like the ones that ran here from 1911 to 1921, from the station to the square. We walked the streets, took photos, and just enjoyed this border town with its mix of Czech and Polish history.
What a charming place! Small, colorful, and full of stories.
Landek Park: Down in the Mine
And then we went underground! Landek Park in Ostrava — the largest mining museum in Czechia, and the only place in Ostrava where you can go down a real shaft. We stepped into the original mining cage, and down we went into 250 meters of tunnels of the Anselm mine, the oldest mine in Ostrava!
A retired miner showed us around — the equipment, the rescue exhibition, and the daily grind of the miners. And the horses! Did you know horses worked in these mines? There is an exhibition about Ferdinand the Horse and the other four-legged miners. We wore helmets, walked the dark corridors, and came back up with a whole new respect for the people who worked down there.
What an experience! Dark, deep, and unforgettable.
Swimming Pool Karvina: Lanes, Slides, and Waterfalls
Some days were made for water! A big pool complex with swimming lanes, slides, and waterfall features. We swam laps, tried the slides, and stood under the waterfalls like little kids!
The indoor pools were huge — lanes for serious swimming, play areas for fun, and water everywhere. Is there a better way to spend a hot summer day? I don’t think so!
A Greek Evening: Dinner at Agiu Georgiu
One evening we went Greek! Have you ever eaten dinner in a castle? At Zamek Poruba in Ostrava sits a traditional Greek taverna called Agiu Georgiu — and what a place!
I started by the lake, golden in the setting sun, then went through the iron gate into an ivy-covered garden terrace. The walls were painted with colorful murals — a woman, a man with a lute, and Saint George on horseback, right on the menu!
And the food! Grilled halloumi, creamy dips, olives, roasted potatoes, and a cold beer. We sat outside under the evening sky, five of us around the table, until the castle glowed in the dark. What a dinner! A little piece of Greece, right in Ostrava!
The Botanical Garden in Orlova
Have you ever walked into a greenhouse full of cacti? One day we visited the botanical garden in Orlova — a cactus and succulent garden — and what a place!
Row after row of cacti in every shape and size! Giant golden barrels, tall spiky ones, tiny ones with bright pink flowers, and desert roses in full bloom. The grower showed us around his greenhouses, and we just stared — how does he keep them all alive and blooming?!
We wandered between the benches, careful around the spikes, and admired the hanging flowers outside too. And how did we finish the day? With ice cream, of course! A perfect sweet ending to a prickly day!
Karvinske More – K mori na kolech
A Special Dinner at Zamek Chalupki
One evening we dressed up for something special — dinner at Zamek Chalupki, a castle hotel and restaurant just across the Polish border! Have you ever eaten dinner in a castle? Chandeliers, white tablecloths, flowers on the table, and a waiter in a bow tie!
And the food! Carpaccio, beef tartare, duck with dumplings, creamy soups, schnitzel with potatoes — and for dessert, cheesecake and sweet dumplings with poppy seeds. Have you ever finished a dinner with poppy-seed dumplings? The perfect sweet ending!
We took group photos in the restaurant, then walked the castle park at night, the castle glowing behind us. What an evening! Good food, good company, and a castle — it doesn’t get better than that!
A Visit to Bezdinek Farma
Have you ever seen tomatoes growing in rows as far as the eye can see? One day we visited Bezdinek Farma in Dolni Lutyně — the biggest tomato farm in Czechia — and what a place!
In the greenhouse, tomato plants stretched in long green rows, and in the farm shop, shelves were full of tomato sauces, jars, and goodies. We even got a T-shirt with the farm logo! Have you ever bought a T-shirt at a farm? Why not!
And of course we tasted the food — dumplings with meat and sauce, and a cold Kofola. Then a stop at the Bohumin train station on the way home. What a day! Fresh tomatoes, good food, and a farm souvenir!
Saved in both files. The farm’s town comes from its listing — Dolni Lutyně, right by the Polish border, which fits with the Bohumin station stop.
The Bolt Tower in Ostrava
Have you ever had coffee on top of a blast furnace? One day we visited the Bolt Tower in Ostrava — the viewing tower on the old ironworks, christened by Usain Bolt himself in 2015! And what a place!
We climbed up past the rusty giants of the old steelworks, and from the top, the whole of Ostrava stretched below us! Old tiny Fiat cars were parked below, like toys from another time. Then coffee and cake in the tower café — chocolate cake, cheesecake, and a perfect cappuccino!
What a view! Industry, history, and cake, all in one tower. Have you ever seen a city from a blast furnace? We did — and we loved it!
Our Trip to South Moravia: Stramberk, Lednice, Valtice and Mikulov
Our trip to South Moravia started with a wonderful stop on the way: Stramberk! We climbed the tall round Truba tower, and the view over the town and the green hills was amazing! The square with its fountain was so pretty, and of course we tasted the famous Stramberske usi and ice cream!
Then came castles and wine! In Stary Jicin we walked through the old castle ruins, and lunch was svickova with dumplings, the perfect comfort food! In Pavlov we wandered among vineyards and wine cellars, and in Lednice we admired the beautiful castle, the palm house, the tall minaret, and the romantic ruin of Januv hrad. We even took a boat ride on the ponds!
Valtice surprised us with its castle, wine tasting in the cellars, and the Iron Curtain museum, a real step back in time. And in a little shop we even found Krtek! In Mikulov we walked the lovely square, looked up at the castle, and climbed Svaty kopecek. And the best refreshment? A swim in a turquoise quarry lake! What a trip!
Video section – South Moravia
Mountain Hotel Excelsior: Pool, Tennis and Good Food in the Beskydy
One of the best parts of our trip was our stay at Mountain Hotel Excelsior in the Beskydy mountains! We enjoyed every minute there!
The outdoor pool was the perfect refreshment on warm days, and we played tennis and ping pong until we could not anymore! The wooden wellness tubs were so relaxing after all the activities. And the food? Breakfast buffets full of pastries and fruit, and dinners together on the terrace with a cold Radegast!
Our first stop every morning? The pool, of course! And how did we finish our days? With good food, good company, and the mountains all around us. What a relaxing stay!
