brno

if someone told me earlier “in a week, you’ll travel to brno for the day”, i would’ve wondered whaaaaat would ever compel me to undertake that. but my father (whom i haven’t seen in 3+ years) was on business from singapore, so it would be almost criminal not to meet up after being so close! brno, the second largest city in the czech republic, is almost four hours away by bus which isn’t exactly day trip material. but you know what? brno it is! because sometimes plans change!

as my mind surely did as i stepped off the bus and was greeted by the warmest sun on my face i’ve felt since last fall (SO GREAT!), about 14 or 15 C. and as a self-proclaimed morning person, nothing sounds as good as exploring a new city or place by myself on a sunny sunday morning.

i wandered aimlessly around the zelny trh (cabbage square) for awhile, with it’s giant can’t-miss-it stone sculpture fountain and beautiful surrounding architecture. mass just let out at the famous finding of the holy cross church (above), located at the southern end of the square. behind the church is a 15th/16th century crypt from the capuchin order of monks (not to be confused with the one in rome) that is unique for it’s +40 exceptionally preserved mummies, due to the soil they were stored with or perhaps the unique air vent system. what an absolutely spooky experience. 

“what you are, we were. what we are, you will be”.

i was entirely ready to join the rest of the living after this. although, if you like creepy sites i would have to recommend it, as it’s undoubtedly fascinating.

denisovy sady (ernst denis park) on petrov hill wraps around the cathedral of st. peter and paul and is the place to be on a sunny day as far as i could tell. it was interesting to sneak some views of the industrial, historical yet modern city of brno. 

narrow walkway between building and church

channeling jethro tull with my sitting on a park bench…

below, waiting in the gorgeous lobby of the barcelo brno palace hotel.

and an afternoon with dad!

so that’s two parents that have visited me in the czech republic in 2014! pretty great, eh? for the almost eight hours i spent on the bus, i would say i sufficiently enjoyed my time wandering brno and was really happy to be there to for a family visit. totally worth it! yeahhhh, even with the 5:30am wake-up i was complaining about, i guess… or else i would have never chosen to watch such fine films as five fast and furious (RIP paul walker) or ridley scott’s robin hood, both of which i considered an exercise in tolerance for popular main-stream media.

you can read about my other SURPRISE trips to vienna and berlin. life is unpredictable!

linking up for travel tuesday– a collection of travel themed posts from all over the world!

i have to mention that by some struck of luck, i was voted (by you guys!) one of the top 100 international experience blogs for 2014 on lexiophiles. so THANK YOU, i never would’ve guessed.