August 18, 2014 – Brno, Luhačovice, Valašské muzeum, Pustevny

Brno

This was my morning for exploring Brno on foot and getting some shopping done. Proud to say I found all three recommended stores (the major book and music shop and two places selling traditional crafts - one was closed on Mondays, so that will have to wait for another time), plus on the way back navigated finding children's safety vests - not at the children's clothing store, not at the sporting goods store, but finally at a cycle shop! Mission accomplished!

Lucie and Martin's Desk is the upper corner of this building:

I find one of the biggest challenges here, as someone not yet fully immersed in the culture, is figuring out from a shop name what might possibly be inside. This one had two words recognizable in English - obviously a place to get your nasal cavities power washed! Who would have guessed it was batteries, light bulbs, and other electrical equipment?

Here are the children's safety vests.

Luhačovice

Luhačovice, a Moravian spa town. First stop on Martin and my ten hours of touring today. We tasted all five of the spring waters, which were very salty to my taste, but reputed to be good for asthma, bronchitis, and other lung issues. I must admit I enjoyed the warmed spa wafers more than the waters! A very beautiful and calm place!

Valašské muzeum v přírodě v Rožnově pod Radhoštěm

(Wallachian Open Air Museum) Our second tour stop today.

The Slivovice Shop

The special Slivovice made from Trnkas was sold out - alas! So I didn't get to try some.

Pustevny

Pustevny, our final stop today, is a mountain saddle in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids mountain range not far from Radhošť, in the municipality of Prostřední Bečva. It was named after the Czech word for a hermit. Hermits lived here until the year 1874.