The following text is all the written record I have of this holiday:
THE CZECH PARADISE
8 DAYS £299
A scenic wonderland unfolds during a week of leisurely exploration based at Pardubice, Czechoslovakia’s historic “gingerbread” town. Be among the first to enjoy this splendid new Cedok itinerary, visiting Prague, the Giant Mountains, Kutna Hora, the “Rock Towns”, Ratiborice and the wild and beautiful Moravian Karst.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Prague
Morning sightseeing; guided afternoon tour of the Old Town on foot.
Pardubice
Visit Kladruby stud farm and Kutna Hora Full day tour to the Giant Mountains; country wagon ride and Chairlift ascent. See the Trebechovice Nativity woodcarving. Full day tour of the “Czech Paradise” region. Visit the Castles of Kost and Cesky Sternberk.
Moravian Karst
Descent of the Macocha Abyss; boat ride on the underground Punkva River.
Brno
Farewell Celebration Dinner with wine and music at the “Moravian Cottage”
Day 1: London to Prague
Welcome aboard your C.S.A. Czechoslovak Airlines flight from London Heathrow direct to Prague. Transfer to the Hotel Garni (the city centre is within easy reach by tram).
Day 2: Sightseeing in Prague
Our tour this morning will show you Hradcany Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, the Loretto Church and Duke Wallenstein’s Palace. You may wish to enjoy lunch at a typical Bohemian tavern before our sightseeing continues on foot across the Charles Bridge to the Old Town Square, Tyn Church and, of course, Prague’s celebrated Astronomical Clock. Later we depart for Pardubice and the excellent modern Hotel Labe where we spend the next 5 nights. (B.D.)
Days 3-6: At Leisure in Pardubice
Cedok have planned a most interesting and enjoyable sightseeing programme to make the most of your stay in Pardubice – three full day excursions and a half day tour are all included! The first takes us to the world-renowned stud farms at Kladruby where thoroughbred race horses are reared and trained for the great Pardubice Steeple Chase, an annual event since 1874 – and even more demanding than the Aintree Grand National! Next comes Kutna Hora, among Czechoslovakia’s most perfectly preserved medieval towns, with time to visit the glorious Cathedral of St Barbara, then Cesky Sternberk Castle. Our second day excursion to the Giant Mountains is a feast of magical scenery no photographer can afford to miss! A highlight of the day is a ride by traditional horse drawn wagons through “Grandmother’s Valley” to the village of Ratiborice. We continue to the mountain resort of Spindleruv Mlyn and enjoy a chair lift ride to the summit of Mount Plane. Our third full day tour through the “Czech Paradise” region visits Jicin and the famous limestone Rock Towns and includes a tour of mighty Kost Castle, founded in the 14th century. During a morning tour to the little town of Hradec Kralove, we shall see the spectacular “Trebechovice Nativity”, a superb masterpiece in carved wood, comprising 400 mobile figures created by an unknown craftsman. (B.D.daily)
Day 7: Through the Moravian Karst – To Brno
We see Litomysl, a charming renaissance town and birthplace of Smetana, then commence a scenic drive through the Moravian Karst, a wonderland of limestone cliffs masking a subterranean world of caves and mysterious deep lakes. We descend to the floor of Macocha Abyss and continue by boat along the underground Punkva River to Katerinska Cave, a vast “Cathedral” of stalactites and stalagmites. You are welcome guests tonight at the “Moravian Cottage” wine tavern for a-farewell dinner with wine and tasty local specialities,
serenaded by folk musicians (B.D.)
I remember we met some Russian girls at the caves who were unimpressed by the efforts of Western men to chat them up!
- At coach stop
- group photo
Day 8: Homeward Bound
An early breakfast, then we depart for Prague Ruzyne Airport and our waiting C.S.A. Czechoslovak Airlines London-bound flight with happy memories of a lovely holiday. (B)