Karlovy Vary, Loket and BAPTISMS

The office vylet to Karlovy Vary, a 2 hour trip south west of Prague. We learned a very important lesson on our way. We have been in the Czech Republic for 14 months and really feel like we belong here. . . not so fast Robbins! We were stopped by the police who were checking who knows what? When they saw that we were Americans they wanted to make sure there weren't any illegal aliens among us. (Never thought I would be an alien!) I happily pulled out the copies of our passports that I was told to always carry with us, only to find out that they want originals ONLY. So we were given a fine right there on the spot. There was one missionary in the van who didn't have her passport, but luckily the officer didn't count. Who knows what they would have required of her!?! They really are serious about foreigners in their country.

Karlovy Vary is famous for its' hot natural mineral springs. Visitors buy a small cup to drink the water from the 12 different springs and decide which tastes the best and will cure what ails you. We personally thought all of them tasted like salty copper laced water and didn't cure anything. However we both woke up during the night with a tummy ache. (The water or McDonalds? That's another thing, who knew we would choose to go to McDonald's!?! It tasted sooo good.)

Look at the bottom of that spring, no wonder we had tummy aches!
(To the right of me is Elder Hicken, my cousin Lynn's grandson.)

Other sites of Karlovy Vary. Either a pregnant ghost or the "Ghost of Christmas Future".
(No not Waldo.)

Czech Republics' "Old Faithful" excepts it spouts continually!

The bird woman. "Feed the birds" as in "Mary Poppins"



The buildings in this country are beautiful. Is that "Waldo"?

A collumnade walk-way (I'm not sure that is a word.)

The charming "Hotel Romance", we should return there without the Elders.

Sestra Robbins getting too friendly with the Good Czech Soldier Svejk and Starsi Robbins pushing his luck.

We are told that scenes from Casino Royale we're filmed at the Grandhotel Pupp!

Since we haven't seen the movie we don't know if the exterior made it into the movie.

On to another castle. There are over 300 in the Czech Republic, so there is always one close to wherever you are going. This one is named Loket=Elbow. The name of the castle and the town are derived from the shape of the Ohre River bend which indeed suggests a human arm bent at the elbow.

Looking down on the town from the castle.

Elder Robbins found revenge for being shut up in the dungeon. . .

Can you see the tears? (Silly boy left the door open)

Zanetta "Jane" from Kazakistan was baptized. Her mother was also baptzed last month, what wonderful women they are and we are so happy to have another beautiful young single adult.

Our great friend Tugi from Mongolia also was baptized. He is a little young (11) for our young single adult group, but he comes to outreach in Hradecs and is the champion UNO and Bingo player!