The Czechs Should Stick to Beer

Day 96

Feeling energetic we decided to go for a run around our new favorite town of Olomouc.  We ran around the outskirts of Old Town in a loop through the park returning to Maxi from the other direction.  On the run back we passed huge 10m city walls, which was very unexpected, as the town seemed very level when touring around it the previous day and we were not aware of city walls.

An hour or so drive from Olomouc was Czech’s largest wine growing areas of Moravia.  Not ever having tried Czech wine we were keen to sample the local specialties and see the area. 

You could see the town of Mikulov sitting high on a hill as we approached it from the north.  It was stunning and building up from the base of the hill were orange roofed houses, rising up to the city walls and a church perched high above the town.  

Main square of Mikolov Old Town.

Wandering the quiet cobbled backstreets.

After finding a park on one of the back streets not far from the main square we set off to explore the town.  Winding through the streets we came to a look out tower that gave a panoramic view over the Old Town of Mikolov.

View from the top of a tower just outside the Old Town. A lady sat out in the sun all day collecting the $1 or so to take in the view - a highly stressful job I would imagine.

After visiting the church we made our way back to the main square to the local ‘Vine Skleppy’ (Wine Shop) where we purchased two recommended bottles of local Czech wine. 

Satisfied with our look around town and eager to try the new purchases we drove back along the road to a lakeside camping ground we had spotted earlier on the drive into Mikulov.  

Czech version of the Notre Dame?
Luke is proudly showing off the two bottles of Czech wine as well.
Two bottles of beer would of been better.

Once parked up alongside the lake with a perfect view we took the opportunity to take a swim in the fairly murky water.  The lake looked very inviting from a distance but not so much up close as it was muddy and had a slight stench of fish. Nonetheless we went for a dip and tried not to freak out with the unknown lurking below. 

Lakes always look better from a far.
Until you get in them.

Just about to tuck into dinner.
Not sure who the other chairs are for?

After the swim we enjoyed a platter of cheese, prosciutto, pate and biscuits with the new Czech wine, which turned out to be fairly average but drinkable – I guess that’s why we hadn’t heard about Czech wine before!

Dusk over the lake just outside of Mikolov.