Touring Prague, Czech Republic

Us with a city view of Prague in the distance taken from Castle Grounds

We followed Rick Steve's advice and booked a discount Ryan air flight, just a one-hour hop for only $75 per person.  Ryan certainly knows how to move people quickly since you are booked to board either in the front or back of the plane, and of course, you exit that way too!  We never saw such a quick turn around time!

Czech Republic is known for its beer!  55 gallons of beer
per person a year!  Here Richard enjoys one at the Abbey.

Both Hungary and  the Czech Republic are members of the EU, but strangely, they haven't gone to the Euro currency - so we changed our dollars to korunas, about 22 to a dollar. 

Our hotel in Prague - The Leonardo, very nice!

We booked the Leonardo Hotel on Hotels.com, one of Rick's choices since it is in a central location, the Stare Mesto.  We got in last night about 9 p.m. and after a quick meal (European's don't even start to eat dinner until 8 p.m.), we enjoyed a great night's sleep.  

Colorful stained glass window St Vidas

After a hearty breakfast (the hotels here have free huge breakfast buffets with everything imaginable), we set off by foot to the Old Town Square, famous for their Astronomical Clock and free walking tours.  We found a great guide with Green tours.  He is originally from Santa Barbara, CA, but fell in love with a Czech girl.  Since he couldn't talk her into moving to the US, he immigrated here.  Both of them are licensed professional tour guides and he was great!  He works for tips or whatever you want to pay him.  Of course, when he was done with the tour, we paid him generously since he was excellent. 

Pope at Abbey on tour

Our ultimate destination was the Prague Castle that has been the seat of Czech monarchs and is still the official residence of the president of the country. 

Gargoyle on cathedral

The Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, and its beginnings date to the 9th century.  On the way, we stopped at an abbey for coffee and to hear the bell town chiming.  We visited St Vitas Cathedral,that was built over a time span of almost 600 years.  We admired the gorgeous colorful stain glassed windows.  We toured the Lobkowicz Palace Museum and used an audio guide that brought the displays to life.  This palace was home to an aristocratic family for 400 years.  The Nazis confiscated it in WWII and then the communists one again took it in 1948.  Finally the palace was returned to William Lobkowicz, an American real estate developer in 2002.  He opened it to the public and has fascinating pictures and amazing treasurers (e.g., original Mozart score) to share with us.  One of the best museum tours we've taken!

Look up!  See Freud hanging
from a building!

Tonight we enjoyed a lovely Czech dinner at a jazz venue.  Our first day was great and we are looking forward to a few more days here in this beautiful city by the Vitava River.

Charles River Bridge Tower 

Our hotel is located by the famous Charles River Bridge circa 1357.  Its tower is one of the most impressive Gothic structures in Europe. One got up early to walk it before the tourists make it impassible!

Joanne posing on Charles River Bridge

Later we toured the Jewish Quarter, where by the end of WWII, more than 77,000 Czech Jews were transported to concentration camps and executed.  Today it is a thriving area where the old Synagogues and monuments can be visited.  We checked out Wenceslas Square, the site of the Velvet Revolution where the end of communism was proclaimed.  We looked at the St Wenceslas statue of Christmas-carol fame.  There was much construction here because they are improving the Metro Stop.  We hiked up to metronome, site of a large city park.  There we enjoyed grilled shrimp and salad and talked to some of the locals.  We took in the Black Light Theatre of Prague where we saw a spoof on the "Colorful Dreams of Dr. Frankenstein."  This is a non-verbal performance with fascinating visual effects and creativity.  So, our journey is over for now!  

Some of my favorite memories of this Viking Cruise and "Rick Steves Land Tour" of Budapest and Prague are

• The gorgeous breathtaking lights of Budapest as the Viking ship approached the city at 11 p.m.  
• People we met along the way.  On the ship, we met lovely Canadians who winter in Boca Raton, FL that we hope to see again.  We also met a lovely couple from Houston.  In Prague, we met a Belgian student who wants to come to the U.S.  We hope he'll visit us someday.  On the street, we were approached by Chinese ladies, who asked if they could take a picture with us.  I think they liked our Australian hats!
• I really liked the hot springs baths of Budapest
• The river scenery along the Danube
• The Viking Cruise was first rate - loved the "free excursions" to the monasteries, the cultural programs on the boat, the Vienna concert and the food on the ship - delish!