Stepping back in time: Three Great Medieval and Renaissance Festivals.

1. The Five-Petalled Rose Festival of Cesky Krumlov

Some years ago David and I chanced on The Five-Petalled Rose Festival of  Cesky Krumlov. Cesky Krumlov, in the Czech Republic is one of the best preserved Medieval/Renaissance towns in the world. We knew nothing about the Festival but just happened to book our stay to coincide with its first day.

We came to see the Castle and the medieval houses, instead we travelled back in time to 14th Century Europe. Czechs from all over the country had converged on Cesky for a celebration of period costume, renaissance markets, tournaments, jousting, street theatre and processions.

Perisher Valley, Skiing - 'Big Brother' Is Watching You?

David is a Thredbo man. Nothing I say or do is going to change that. Of the two premier ski resorts in New South Wales, Thredbo and Perisher, D's view is that there is Thredbo and there is daylight.

At Thredbo Alpine Village he can drive the car up to the lodge, park and unload outside the door, walk to restaurants and shops and stay in a self-contained apartment owned by our ski club. At Perisher he has to park the car 10 km away at Bullock's Flat, load our luggage onto the Alpine Railway, unload it all again at Perisher Valley terminal and then pay the equivalent of our combined weight in gold bars to have it transported by oversnow-cat to our communal club lodge.