Sunlight and shadows

I have a habit of falling in love with the cute towns I visit. They are probably a bit too twee for some, but I have had enough of the rough edges of life for now. It can be good to have a diversion for a while, a happy escape .

The Bavarian town, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the kind of place where, if I had the opportunity and language and wasn't a barrier, I would remove surplus tourists and toffee nosed types and place all my favourite people to live with me. 

Some people find the place a little too perfect, but I like the Christmas all year round sweet appeal of the cobbles and buildings. It is true that even Cesky Krumlov has an edge, compared to this town, but I felt there was enough mystery here to stop it being too nauseating, an unidentifiable essence  that can't be spoilt by an abundanceof tourists like me!

Once, the richest of towns

 

 

What makes a place seem special? It could be only the particular way that the light falls that day. It may be unusual details, tiny quirks, the people who can be bothered to smile. 

Kutna Hora is one of those atmospheric towns here - once mined for it's silver, once the richest town in the Czech Republic.The nearby church made of bones is a haunt of celebrities and tourists. It can be viewed as a strange, baroque monstrosity, but it must be understood in terms of religious views on eternal life and redemption at the time. Staff there told me that Ozzy Osbourne wanted to sleep there. They declined.

Sew sew and castle on a hill

It has been a scorcher this week. Eliska and I have had a few jaunts out on the bus (which she loves), but as we are both lily white, we have stayed indoors sometimes to avoid getting too hot and lobsterish (if that is a word). Whilst indoors I made a few things  with the new house in mind - bunting and cushions, which it seems I never have enough of. To assauge the guilt of buying more, I make them...hmmm.

We visited another castle and Eliska seemed to be at home in the grand surroundings. It is great to have days out in the sun. Moravia seems to come alive in the sunshine and the landscape is at it's best at this time of year. All the coloured houses are made for sunny days.