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Europe » Czech Republic » Prague » Old Town June 13th 2022

We departed the luxury of the club room and headed to gate D-1 and our one hour flight to Chicago. The weather was perfect for the short flight. We had a small jet so we were able to sit next to each other quite comfortably. The plane was generally full to capacity but it was early and folks were not in a travel craze just yet. We arrived at Chicago O'Hare airport at about 2:30 PM. Due to the time change and the short duration of the flight, we left Detroit and arrived in Chicago at the same time. Isn't time wonderful? We checked our departure gate and discovered we were to depart from Terminal 5 gate M-29 We were at Terminal 1 gate F-3, essentially on the complete opposite side of the massive O'Hare airport!. ... read more
Iron Gate Hotel
Prague is famous for Pencil Manufacturing
Beautiful fruit in the local market

Europe » Czech Republic » Prague June 12th 2022

We spent most of Saturday very satisfied with ourselves that we completed our packing for the next 16 days. I kept thinking, ‘What are we missing?’ and nothing came to mind, so I enjoyed our Saturday lounging around the house, enjoying the great spring weather on the porch. We went out to dinner for some excellent Mediterranean pizza then off to my mother-in- law’s house to meet with my wife’s brother, his wife, my niece and nephew, and their two kids for my mother-in-law’s 99th birthday. We sat around and told stories and just enjoyed family time when my lovely niece, Christina commented about my travel blog. She enjoys reading the blog and learned how best to travel and be prepared for anything. She made a casual comment that she especially enjoyed the idea of packing ... read more
Priority Club Lounge

Europe » Czech Republic » Prague June 10th 2022

Our first order of business was to get the COVID test so we could board our Austria Airlines flight to Vienna, Austria then on to Prague on Sunday morning. As we were sitting in the car in line for the test Cathy got a text saying that we no longer need a test for COVID to return to the US on June 28. That saves us a whooping $300! The next order of business is packing. Now most everyone I know packs way too much. I am a minimalist. From experience I can tell you you do not need 20% of the things you pack. We are gone for 16 days. Eight days will be in hotels and eight days on a cruise. The first thing to do is check the weather for the time you ... read more

Europe » Czech Republic » Prague June 8th 2022

It has taken nearly 3 years due to Covid delays but we are FINALLY on our way to Prague! I booked a Viking cruise in May of 2019 for a vacation starting in June 2020 on our favorite web site Vacationstogo.com. We were to begin in Prague and end in Paris . Then COVID happened. We were all paid up and ready to go when in April of 2020 the trip was cancelled due to COVID issues. On the positive front, Viking offered us a 25% discount if we kept our booking and continued our plans in 2021 rather than get a refund in 2020. Sure, for 25% why not! So we took our 25% and upgraded our cabin to a veranda suite. Vacationstogo added another $250 each so we prepaid our drink packages and bought ... read more

Europe » Czech Republic » Prague » New Town June 7th 2022

I spent this morning (Monday) in Prague in museums. Then I took the train back to Vienna, a nearly five hour trip, which is bearable in first class. There’s more room in the seats and fewer people in each compartment. Today is a holiday here, and the cafe compartment was always busy. I was happy to have the book about Empress Maria-Theresa to read. It was good to visit the national museum in Prague, in the modern part of the city. A good reminder how regular people live the same lives in cities all over the world while tourists fill the historic streets and buildings. There was a sobering, informative display about the Nazi invasion during War II. So much evil towards innocent people, and even more violence to those brave ones who resisted. The second ... read more
On the way to train station I stopped at ‘Museum’ metro station
Early evening before
Even the river seemed busier

Europe » Czech Republic » Prague June 5th 2022

I got up early this morning and took the subway to stop nearest Charles Bridge. I got there before the crowds and could take photos without waiting for people to move out of the way. Prague is lovely and it lives up to its reputation. It is small and concentrated enough to be manageable. Many signs are in English and almost everyone in the service industry can, and seems happy to try to help in English. The waiter at Turkish restaurant looked online to confirm how many stops the tram would make before the castle. The subway system is not overly complicated and there are really good signs to reassure you that you are heading in correct direction. When my train arrived in Prague yesterday, I found the information centre at the train station. Desk one ... read more
St. Charles bridge
Amazingly empty early in the morning
River

Europe » Czech Republic May 20th 2022

Here wo go again. Ray Charles sang it in 1979 already. Now it is our turn to sing it. And Linda and I have reasons to sing. After three years of self imposed quarantine we hit the road again. With our little Volkswagen Polo we'll leave The Netherlands, cross Germany, cross Czech Republic, cross Slovakia, slowly traveling from spot to spot. Near the border with the Ukraine we will turn and travel back via another route, slowly again, enjoying the trip. It will take us one month. Driving in Czech Republic is not always that easy. Luckily we are with two; Linda navigates and I drive. It works as long you don't meet ghostriders on the highway. Ghostriders are normal in Slovakia, says Vlado, Linda's father. If so, you can better join them, I think. Also ... read more
Hradec Králové: Modern Art Gallery
Plzn
Hradec Králové: inside Modern Art Gallery

Europe » Czech Republic May 14th 2022

Here wo go again. Ray Charles sang it in 1979 already. Now it is our turn to sing it. And Linda and I have reasons to sing. After three years of self imposed quarantine we hit the road again. With our little Volkswagen Polo we'll leave The Netherlands, cross Germany, cross Czech Republic, cross Slovakia, slowly traveling from spot to spot. Near the border with the Ukraine we will turn and travel back via another route, slowly again, enjoying the trip. It will take us one month. At Friday the 15th of April we passed with our little Volkswagen Polo the border between Germany and Czech Republic. At the border we had to buy a "vignet" for the Czech highways (16 euro to pay in cash). Via České Budéjovice we arrive at last in Jindřichův Hradec ... read more
Jindřichův Hradec: the castle.
Jindřichův Hradec: the castle
The castle at Hluboká nad Vitava

Europe » Czech Republic » Prague » Old Town October 22nd 2021

Everyone seems to have a list of best beer drinking cities. A case can be made for even the smallest town having a great craft beer or specialty brewery. But I am thinking more of cities where you can roam around, find bars all over the city, and making it impossible not to find a good beer or a good beer establishment. Here is "the" list from Frommer's, some of which I agree with, some rather marginal. And of course, there are omissions. Dublin-home of Guinness and a bar on every corner! Templebar, touristy but fun. Tokyo-never thought of Tokyo as a beer city, but I am willing to give it a try next visit! Munich-the Oktoberfest, and much more, always easy to find a beer party, anytime. Love Hofbrauhaus. Portland-a west coast beer haven with ... read more
A tall brew in Munich
Love the 805




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