On our 8th riding day we could check country number 4 off our list: Poland. The former Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz is shocking and terrifying, so the group was happy to arrive in Krakow that day. This incredibly beautiful old city helped us to get over what we saw in the afternoon, and the tasty local beer did its job, too. Among the cities we've seen on this tour so far Krakow was the best. Tomorrow we go to Budapest. We'll compare. And we'll let you know!

The infamous cynical inscription at the entrance to the Auschwitz concentration camp

The spectacular old town of Krakow

If in Krakow, do as the locals do and drink beer from large steins. They later told us that these were actually pitchers, not steins. Too late...

As yo can see, Rob absolutely LOVES the local beer...

A happy group of 17 is already well underway on our first Kings-And-Castles tour 2013. We started in Vienna, went along and across the Danube into the Czech Republic. After a rest day in the huge open air museum that is Prague we headed to Germany, to Dresden, to take in some more culture, history and heritage. And some more beer of course...

Can you guess where we spent our first night after leaving Vienna?

The city hall of Budweis

Cesky Krumlov, aka Krumau, is Bohemia's Rothenburg.

When it comes to beautiful cities the Czech capital Prague certainly tops the list.

At night Prague is even more captivating!

A cosy picnic spot in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park

Brent from Wyoming enjoys the spectacular view of the Elbe River Valley.

A walking tour through the spectacular old town of Dresden made us thirsty. Good thing that around here a beer is never far away!