It was very hot, unusually so for Czechia, and this hotel, like many, didn't have air conditioning. But this one didn't have a room fan, either. And the windows opened out onto a noisy street with a tram coming by and hitting the brakes every 15 minutes or fewer. So I called the room service. First they brought me a hair dryer! But they understood my English better, with hand signs showing an oscillating fan, and then we got one on a base that alternated between our two twin beds. This room had a refrigerator, microwave, counter and sink! We must have eaten dinner somewhere, but I can't remember it.
Olomouc is second only to Prague in size in the Czech Republic. It is surrounded by a ring of parks and remains of a Medieval town wall, which is enormous and very impressive.
The next morning, with me in the wheelchair with a broken front wheel, we headed out. A couple of blocks behind the hotel was St. Wenceslaus Cathedral, next to a museum of Roman Catholic treasures. When Pope John Paul and Mother Theresa were in Olomouc in the 1990s, (I think), he wanted a museum created to house the treasures the church had \collected, and in the 2010s it was done. They had ramps and an elevator, once we managed to bump over the big rocks in their "cobblestone" entranceway/garden.
No one spoke English, but they showed us the elevator and ramps. My favorite part was a small circular room, mostly dark, with chalices, and other objects to house or display the host, in gold and encrusted with jewels. We couldn't really take pictures in there, and the step to get in and out was treacherous. There were also lots of paintings and statues.
Next we walked several blocks down to the Main Square, which had an Astronomical Clock with proletariat figures. The communists had put these figures in to replace the saints, because they aren't keen on religion. .
Hercules Fountain in the main square.
This Astronomical Clock in the Horni Namesti, or main square. It was acquired in the 1400s, and is in the wall of the Town Hall.
Holy Trinity Column
The column has 3 tiers, with religious and historical figures, and is an example of European Baroque sculpture.
One of the 7 fountains in the city.
Arion Fountain. Arion was an ancient poet. This was created in 2002 to a design created by the Olomouc councillors 350 years ago. There are 7 famous fountains in the city.
UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Heritage Column.
Crowned by figures representing the Holy Trinity. Erected in 1716/17.
In the background is the Edelman Palace, dating from 1525, on the right in white. It is supposed to be "very opulent" but we couldn't get in. (wheelchair).
Next stop, Church of St. Maurice.
Then it poured down rain, so we huddled under a shelter. We had an umbrella, but couldn't keep it over my cast well, which I'm not supposed to get wet. The tracks in this shot are for the trams (electric).
When the rain quit, we went back to our hotel. Then dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant. They didn't have some of the meals listed on the menu, and brought me a completely wrong dish, but the wine (Moravian) was good. Afterward we walked through a park around the town center, with the huge Medieval Town Wall, and peeked into the closed Botanical Garden. Lots of people were out, strolling, walking dogs, gathering with friends.
The walls were built over these rocky cliffs and outcroppings. I never saw a wall like that, and I love it!
There were occasional openings in the wall, with stairs up into the town.
This is on a small bridge over a lovely brook, and would have led us into the Botanical Garden if it had been open.
Sun is setting, must be getting close to 10 pm. Off to the Irish Whiskey Bar.
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