Catching up with friends: on to Olomouc and a side trip to Mikulov

 It was 2018 when we last saw our friends in the Czech Republic.  Tomáš was a single young man in university. Now he is married with two young boys and teaching at the university in Brno. We had a most enjoyable time on a walk and dinner with him on the edge of Brno. 

Jitka was pursuing a graduate school and helped her with applications to attend in the US. Now she works in IT and is married living in Brno. 

Reconnecting with friends and seeing how they have navigated adulthood was a blessing for us. 

On to Olomouc. Another train took us to the familiar train station in Olomouc where Jared met us. Our first stop was the Center of the Universe, where politics is not allowed to be spoken. But stinky cheese and pivo is highly recommended.  

We are staying with The Jared and Daniela in their home on the hill overlooking Olomouc where hikes just outside their door are in order. 

Then it was onward to more wine country, Mikulov with a 10 mike hike through vineyards before a tour of the Holy Hill and dropping down into the village of Mikulov with another castle storming and a Mercedes parade.

 Then a shorthop to the next village of Sidlec for the Sidlecká Vína wine festival.

On our return to Olomouc we stopped at the Lednice Chateau.