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| The river running thru this city is heated by hot springs |
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| This beautifully restored Russian Orthodox Church was unexpected |
We are spending 2 nights at the Olympic Palace in Karlovy Vary. I never heard of this place before our trip. Lulu said she wanted to stay in this historic spa town. Ever since the 1300s - people have been coming to this resort town that is laced with about 300 hot springs. They vary from 90 degrees to 160 degrees. There are geysers and fountains shooting hot water 30 feet into the air. The water from the springs keep the river hot all year. It started out when Charles IV - Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia - came here in 1349 - for an injured leg. He was convinced the hot mineral water cured his leg.
The town is full of mansions - hotels and pavilions from the 1800s and 1900s. People come from all over the world to bathe in these hot springs. Man famous people have come here seeking help form the hot mineral water. Karl Marx stayed here 3 years - he actually stayed in our hotel.
The Czech Republic is not religious. 80% do not claim a religion. 10% are Catholic. 1% are Protestant.
Because of covid - you can tell the crowds are light here now. Even though we are vaccinated - we still wear masks when we enter stores - restaurants - or other enclosed areas. All the food servers and vendors wear masks.
Tomorrow - we will drive our rental car back to Prague. We will fly back to Paris from there. We are about 80 miles west of Prague - then our flight to Paris is under 2 hours. It will end our 10 day adventure to Eastern Europe. So far - the only place that asked to see our "covid passports" is this hotel. We think we do not have to get covid tested to fly back to Paris. Today is the halfway mark in our 60 day trip to Europe. We flew from Florida to Paris on June 28th.
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| Our hotel has a stainless steel pool and hot tub - full of heated mineral water |
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| The hot river is lined by restaurants - hotels - spas - shops |
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| These pavilions have hot springs and pools |
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| I am guessing the palms trees are enclosed in water |
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| Builds are heated by hot water from the springs |
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| Lots of interesting shopping |
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| Town museum |
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| Pavilion with 3 springs |
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| This herbal liquor is produced here |
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| Outside springs |
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| Karl Marx spent 3 years here |
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| Recently restored church |
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| Lots of beautiful berries |
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| Covid tests right in this hotel |
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| Wherever we travel - kids love English shirts - they do not know what they say |
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| Popular tubular doughnut |
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| Springs pavilion |
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| Vendors sell little cups for drinking hot spring water |
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| This is the first spring - over 700 years old |
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| No cars allowed on main streets |
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| Artesian spring - 160 degrees. |
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| Theatre |
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| Karl Marx - our hotel |
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| Olympic Palace - our hotel - five star |
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