Twitter
Facebook
My friend went left, I went right, and we agreed to meet back in the center of town at day’s end.
***image1***It had been a couple of months since my best girlfriend told me the secret of Karlovy Vary – a small, picturesque town just across the eastern border of Germany in the Czech Republic. Over the centuries, famous people (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Beethoven, to name a few) had found that Karlovy Vary was the place for rest and relaxation – something about the water being healing, or so the legend goes.
Well, we’re not famous, but thought a little R&R would be good. So, we booked our rooms at a lovely pension with a view of the Teplá River and made the four-hour drive east.
This little town is quite the opposite of its big sister Prague further east in the Czech Republic. Here, walking into the small valley town, is like stepping into a postcard. At once, you will relax.
***image2***Normally, my friend and I don’t split up in town during our weekend excursions. But she had her heart set on a spa treatment, saying this was the region of 100 hot and cold mineral water springs, and 12 used only for treatments. In fact, Karlovy Vary was founded in the 1300s after the discovery of mineral springs by a Czech king who was out on a hunting trip.
I was on a hunt too. Once I learned that this Bohemian region was known for its gemstones – garnet and amber – I had to have some.
So, my friend went left to the spa’s masseur and mineral baths, and I went right on down the main shop-lined avenue in search of the perfect gemstone.
Snacking on the famous flavored wafers and following the meandering river, I couldn’t get enough photos. The town, where about 50,000 people live, is filled with colonnades, lots of them. This architecture makes for stunning photos with the tree-studded mountains in the backdrop. Of course, the horse-pulled carriages waiting to give you a lift add to the ambiance. If the large white Grand Hotel Pupp at the end of the avenue looks familiar, you may have seen it featured in two recent movies, “Long Holiday” and “Casino Royale,” making it one of those fun secret facts to let your friends in on when showing them your fabulous Karlovy Vary pictures.
***image3***Even if you’re not the spa-type, you can get a taste of the spa life at one of the many fountains around town. Dozens of sidewalk vendors will sell you an inexpensive porcelain drinking cup so that you can get a sip of that warm mineral, maybe healing, water flowing from fountains around town.
Now, lean in for this part of the secret. This seemingly lavish life style is fairly inexpensive for a weekend get-away. You can spa and shop like a king of the 14th century even if you’re a working class citizen of the 21st century. My friend’s spa day was less than €40 and my gemstone shopping was barely more.
***image5***Back at our meeting place in the center of town, my friend felt rejuvenated and happy. And, I was sporting a fashionable rose petal-design garnet ring. We capped the day with a wonderful dinner, featuring duck paté and pheasant, and the price was more than reasonable, giving us a fine dining experience for a fine price. Ahh, rest and relaxation complete.
Now that you know about Karlovy Vary, don’t keep it a secret.
***image4***
