september 11 - from Cesky Krumlov c to Karlovy Vary CZ

In order to enjoy Cesky Krumlov more, Li gave us more time to look around of this beautiful town.  Some of us got up early to take photos under the morning sunlight.   Some of us just walked around town for more scenery.

Mariánské Lázně is a spa town in Czech Republic. The town, surrounded by green mountains, is an exquisite mosaic of parks and noble houses. Most of its buildings came from the town's Golden Era in the second half of the 19th century, when many celebrities and top European rulers came to enjoy the curative carbon dioxide springs.

There are approximately one hundred mineral springs found in the surroundings of Mariánské Lázně; in the city itself there are about forty. 
All the springs have cold acidulous water, with temperatures ranging from 7° to 10°C. The amount of water prescribed for a drinking cure is usually about 750 ml per day. The mineral springs are also used for inhalations and mineral baths.

The 1st spring we visited was the Cross Spring in the Kolonada.  Although the Cross Spring was not the first spring to be discovered, it has attained virtually worldwide renown. Historical records of the Teplá Monastery, dating back to 1749, were the first to mention the Cross Spring, describing it as a “salty" spring producing “salty acidulous water“. At the time, the spring was used for drinking and bathing. Later, builder Antonín Therner used a layout designed by the regional building office in Prague and roofed the spring with an impressive pavilion standing on 72 Ionic pillars and decorated with a cupola and a golden cross.

Then we visited the Singing Fountain that is one of Mariánské Lázně's unique wonders. It is a round pool with a diameter of 18 m featuring a 12-piece stone sculpture representing a flower in the center of its shallow bowl. The core of the flower is made of polished stainless steel. The fountain contains 10 intrinsic water jet systems with more than 250 water jets. The water gushes from the water jet in the center up to a height of 6 meters. The creator of this artwork is the architect Pavel Mikšík.

Then we travel to Karlovy Vary and stayed at Wellness Hotel Jean de Carro that is situated on top of hill.  We have to walk to the hotel.  We had a nice dinner at the hotel.  Our entertainment director Jerry found out that there was a live band at their club that evening, therefore we all moved to the club and dance the night away.