One of 2018’s biggest non-regrets: ignoring physical exhaustion and hopping on a four-hour train from Prague to the charming fairy-tale city of Česky Krumlov in South Bohemia.

Instead of spending the day horizontal in my airbnb in Prague, I woke at the early hour of six to catch the 7am train, the one headed for Budapest, that would make a stop at Česky Krumlov around 11. Being one among a handful of passengers who disembarked (and the only traveler that day) threw me off a bit. While most European stations I’d passed through would always buzz with activity and have no shortage of signage flashing directions to the local must-see destinations, Česky Krumlov’s was very quiet and because I ended up leaving my local phone behind in Prague, had no one to turn to for directions. I ended up following the lone road leading out.

Twenty minutes of self-doubt and walking along what I assumed was the main road, I finally caught sight of the town and its famous castle tower.

The closer I got to the walled castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a town on its own really, the more it felt like I was entering a time warp into the 16th century.

Or a story book.

Because seriously, how is this not off a page of a Hans Andersen fairy tale?

Walking into town, I half-expected everybody to break into song—Bonjour! Good day! You call this bacon? —yep,exactly like that Disney film that glorified Stockholm Syndrome. :P

Cobbled streets, vibrant colour-washed houses…daring sword fights, a prince in disguise!

And a lot of places where you can park your ass by the Vlatva River that runs across town, and people watch while downing a pint or two or three of really good Czech beer!

And a lot of pretty trees!

I want my ashes scattered in the palace gardens so I can roam around the place foreverrrr.

Well that took on a bit of a morbid turn…

Ciao!