Cesky Krumlov is a place designed as though for Disney princesses. The quintessential European small-town, its narrow cobblestone streets and glorious river have put it on the map as a Czech Republic tourist hotspot. Not to mention its adorable houses. The name of the town itself comes from the bend in the river that forms its shape; its layout almost reminds me of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona.

Lunch today consisted of simple sandwiches on the riverside under the shade of umbrellas, a simultaneously modest yet glamorous experience. The bright sun warmed our world to a healthy 75 degrees. We watched as hundreds of kayakers paddled down the river, some bumping into each other and almost flipping over, with the perfect small-town building backdrop. There is easy access to the river from most buildings and restaurants that line it, and the little boy above was taking full advantage of its close proximity.

He chased the several ducks that ventured onto the shore up and down the water’s edge, his parents watching from the deck of the restaurant a few tables away from us. When I asked his dad for permission to make some photos, he gave an enthusiastic yes. As it turns out, several groups of tables had been watching this little boy run back and forth. They laughed good-naturedly as the ducks escaped his reach every time, but that didn’t stop him from trying again. His contagious joy entertained us for the rest of lunch, an afternoon well spent away from the busyness of Prague.