Earlier this month, my amazing mom came to visit! After my classes, we explored parts of Prague that were new to me. I also enjoyed showing her my favorite coffee shops, taking her to lookout points of the city, and sharing historical anecdotes of Prague that I have learned.
We ventured to the spa town of Karlovy Vary (aka Carlsbad or Karlsbad), just a few-hour bus ride from Prague. According to legend, King Charles IV discovered the mineral hot springs during a deer hunt in the 14th century, and it became the go-to vacation place for Europeans. The hot springs are also known for their alleged medically healing and relaxing effects. Although Mom and I did not pack our swimsuits for the hot springs, we still had an amazing day trip. Here are our five favorite things we did on our brief trip:
1. Tasted the mineral water from a traditional cup
Our favorite activity was a scavenger hunt for the 15 hot springs. At each spring, we drank the water from a traditional spa cup. Most of the springs were in one of the few colonnades built in the 1800s. One spring (Vřídlo) was more than 72 degrees Celsius (161.6 degrees Fahrenheit for my fellow Americans)- this spring, we did not attempt to taste. In all honesty, the water tasted disgusting, and I am not sure why I was so determined to try as many as I could. There weren’t many public restrooms, which quickly became an issue.
2. Tried a spa wafer (lázeňské oplatky)
Another iconic symbol of Karlovy Vary is the spa wafer. The wafers come in a variety of flavors, and we shared an almond and a hazelnut wafer. The dough is premade, and the street vendor heats up the dough to create a thin, delicate, warm wafer. I’ll stop my description of the wafer here to make your Lenten fast easier. 🙂
3. Visited churches
There are two things that I enjoy doing in new European places: visiting the churches and appreciating the manhole lids. Karlovy Vary attracts many Russian tourists, and there is Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church just uphill from the Teplá River. Catholic churches and Orthodox churches are decorated very differently and I have not visited an Orthodox church in Texas. I was amazed at the intricate detail and beautiful icons that decorated the church on the inside and outside.
We also visited St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church on the other side of the river.
4. Rode the Diana funicular and hiked down
While my favorite travel “collectibles” are churches and manholes, my mom collects funicular rides. We rode the funicular to the Diana Lookout Tower (Rozhledna Diana). We took the stairs to the top of the tower and admired the views along with the many other Russian tourists. These views are my favorite views in the Czech Republic so far- a bold statement, I know. There was something about the rolling hills and forests that seemed simultaneously so peaceful, powerful, and so magnificent. Afterward, we meandered back to the city center, taking one of the several hiking trails with lookout points.
5. Window shopped on Stara Louka
After we hiked down from the Diana Lookout Tower, we strolled down the main promenade, Stara Louka, and took our time window shopping. There were dozens of high-end purses, jewelry, and clothing stores and it was fun to admire the quality of the items through the windows.
There is also the famous Becherovka factory and the Moser Museum, but we did not have a chance to visit. Becherovka is a traditional Czech liqueur, with strong notes of anise, cinnamon, ginger, and citrus. It was invented in the late 1700s and is still produced in Karlovy Vary. The Moser Museum shares the history of Moser glass making and has over 1000 exhibits of intricate glass pieces on display.
Like Český Krumlov, this is an excellent travel destination in the warmer months. Thankfully, Mom and I know how to have a good time, no matter the season.
PS
Mom visited Karlovy Vary in 1984. One of the photos is the original, the other is our attempted recreation in the same spot- I’ll let you guess which one is which.
kira vesta 
One thought on “Karlovy Vary, feat. Mom”