spending your inheritance: Spa town in the mountains ... Karlovy Vary.

Beware, this place was very photogenic. From the moment we stepped off the train we were wowed yet again. Well once we found our accommodation. It was on the other side of the river and as we were not sure how to get there by bus we decided to walk there using my google maps on the phone. What we realized once we had started that it was a serious climb uphill with our backpacks. It was very warm ..lots of stairs up and down to cross a busy highway and we were there. No one answered the door on the Pension or answered the phone. So down we went again this time on the bus. A couple of hours later we went back up again. No answer again. We booked the night before on a hostel website so thought maybe they didn't have the booking. We found a different phone number and the owner answered. She was so embarrassed. Checked the emails the night enforce so decided to take the day off. She drove us into town, did our laundry for us and gave us an upgrade.win ,win. The pension is only 5 years old so was fitted out with everything. We had a mini kitchen as well. Very comfortable way to spend three nights.

Day one we decided to go for a hike up to the lookout. First we had to go downhill to the town then start walking uphill across the valley. We came across a beautiful Russian orthodox church on the way.

The colonnades that the people of the day used to take the air before they went to the baths was also on the way.There are various springs round the town where people are able to fill up their little souvenir jugs to heal and cur their ailments.

The day was sunny and not hot. We walked up through the forest . It was wonderful. We could have taken the funicular,I am glad we didn't.We arrived in need of a coffee, of course there was a cafe up the top by the lookout tower.

I filled my bottle with water.. Nick nearly choked on it. It was so salty and gross, he nearly was sick. I decided to opt out of drinking it. Someone standing nearby scoffed because I filled up a bottle and not the little jug. Oops!

This was our reward for all that hiking. We asked for a slice of apple strudel to share, even though she said it was a small piece. This is what we were presented with. Smothered with cream, ice cream and melted dark chocolate. It was the most delicious apple strudel we had eaten. Just as well we were going to climb the 250 steps up to the top of the Diana tower.

The views were astounding. So much forest surrounding the town. No woder so many Czechs go there to take the waters.

See how high we had to climb .... It was high, really. We were going to ate the funicular down but then decide to get off half way to look for the Stags Leap lookout . We really needed to work off the strudel.

The views were outstanding . This little deer was very hard to find in the forest. We were expecting a big deer statue to commemorate the deer who was killed by the man who founded the city. He was out hunting when he found the spot where there were hot springs and nice buildings and great views.