Rambling in Eastern Europe

The countryside we passed through as we drove through Eastern Europe is quite different from that in the United Kingdom.

In every village or small town we could see a church with a very high spire. It was quite obvious that in the years gone by, the church was the center of the community.

The highways are very good, as good as the motorways and I noticed that there is rarely a toll, unlike in Peninsular Malaysia where road users have to pay toll so many times to get from one part of the country to another, even for short distances, as in the Klang Valley.

There is also a very quaint practice where lovers have their names on padlocks which are then locked onto a bridge and the keys thrown into the river. I believe this is to symbolise their undying love for each other.

Some roads in the countryside run along rivers and the scenery is very picturesque.

Houses in rural Hungary are reminiscent of houses in rural Asia.

Wind turbines are used to generate electricity.

Solar panels are also extensively used.

I also saw fields and fields of beautiful sunflowers, their big yellow heads turned towards the sun.

Everywhere in the public squares in the East European cities, people loved to sit out in the open drinking coffee. We were not the exception. The coffee was really thick and good. I also enjoyed the ice cream.

I would love another opportunity to visit other countries in Eastern Europe.

Prague

Still in the Czech Republic but this time in Prague, the capital.

The churches overwhelm me with their majestic grandeur and beauty. Some of them took a very long time to be completed and they are architectural gems. This kind of artistry cannot be found these days. I cannot recall their names anymore but here are some pictures.

The old town hall is famous for its astronomical clock.

This guy in armor was standing at one end of the famous Charles Bridge.
This is a view of the River Moldau which is spanned by 18 bridges.

The old town has very narrow streets and some of the houses are also very old and narrow. They are preserved very well so that we can see how people used to live in the old days.

This is one of the guards at the old castle. Reminds me of the guards at Buckingham Palace.

A vintage car to take you sightseeing if you wish.

Cesky Krumlov, the Czech Republic

This is a lovely old town that hasn't changed much since the 18th century. Its beauty can be seen in the photographs below.

We were en route to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and we stopped by to see the old town.

The above is the Coat Bridge, a part of the old castle on the hill.

This is a pork dish which I had for lunch.

Incidentally it was my birthday and we had lunch at this restaurant. I also had a salad before this main dish.

After lunch we resumed our journey to Prague.

Salzburg, Home of Mozart

Beautiful Salzburg was home to Mozart, the child prodigy who gave the world lovely music that is still played and appreciated today. I remember the violin and piano pieces composed by Mozart which I tried very hard to master in my school days.

We visited Mozart's home

and the Mozart Museum which are tourist attractions today.

This is a statue of Mozart, the famous composer.

We also visited the Mirabelle Gardens where newly-wed couples love to have their photographs taken.

This garden was also where some scenes from the movie "The Sound of Music" were shot.

There are also statues in the garden depicting stories from Greek mythology.

This is Pegasus, the flying horse, at the center of the fountain.

Just look at the enormous castle on the hill.

This is a narrow street with hanging decorative structures that advertise the nature of their business.

This is one of the buildings fronting a street

and this is a shop selling chocolates with Mozart as its brand.

Below are photos of some places in Salzburg but I've forgotten their names!!