Prague - Czech Republic - 8-26-2010 and 8-27-2010

8-25-2010 Our trip to Poland and other interesting places in Europe.

It takes a day to get out of the good ol’e USA. Starting at 8 am in Denver we slide through the ticket counter happy to check a bag without the usual $25 charge. The carry-on became annoyingly heavy carrying it through security, trains and other long corridors.

United was friendlier then I have seen recently. At least it only took 15 minutes or so to get through the ticket counter.

Chicago only takes a couple of hours but crowded flights and cramped conditions still take their toll on older bodies.

The flight from Chicago to Warsaw Poland was a long 9 hours. Stan was the lucky one in the middle seat. At first we hoped for an empty seat in the middle, but soon the plane filled up to the brim. A women sat down next to Stan and proceeded to talk, talk, talk. She was traveling back through Poland and spoke in very broken English. She told him immediately that she was going back to the Czech-Republic to visit the hospital there as the hospital in her home town of Dallas Texas was too expensive. She holds a passport from the Ukraine but had lived in the USA for years with her family.

So she says her reason for her hospital visit was being attached by two pit bull dogs from the next door neighbor. She probably weighs about 90 pounds and a fierce wind could blow her over. Imagine a couple of meanly trained pit bulls. The dogs were put down - thank goodness she didn’t show Stan her injuries. She’s probably lucky to be alive.

She mentioned that the neighbor is a drug dealer from Mexico. Bars on the windows attest to the fortification of the place. There was no secret to his easy dirty money that was easy to spend. Boxes and boxes of goods and upscale furniture were delivered day in and day out purchased with those dirty dollars. The police had watched this neighbor for over 8 months and finally arrested him. Of course he offered them $200,000 to turn their back and let him return back to Mexico. He was found guilty and is in jail for over 25 years.

The stories went on and on until I switched places with Stan to give him a break. She interrupted my movie watching once by talking loudly to the person in the seat behind. I’m not shy about telling her to keep it down.

We finally arrived in Warsaw, Poland and escaped the chatter of Stan’s seat neighbor. We can’t read Polish and/or signs were limited so we had to go through security twice. It is a maze and if you don’t go through proper passport control you just can’t get to the gates. I have that shoe, bag of liquids and computer thing down pat. Speaking of that – a few people did get a little pat down.
Next plane trip to Prague is another 3 hour wait in the terminal. The flight was only an hour to Prague. Small plane, leather seats, lots of leg room made napping easy. This is really old time flying. They served a delicious sandwich, wine and a winner smile.

I talked to the tour guide and found that the 160 steps up some ancient castle were exchanged for a more modest view of the city. Thank goodness. My knees were sure planning to miss at least 130 of those steps.

I was happy I changed into my extra clothes I brought in the carry-on as sure enough city tour right as we are busing in from the airport. A quick rest at the lovely hotel with 15 foot tall ceiling situated on the edge of old town Prague and then walking tour of the area. Beautiful old building loaded with carvings centuries old, un-scathed from the ravages of war like many other European countries, they stand tall today.

We waited in front of an old clock tower for the chimes to ring on the hour. Doors open and wooden disciples pass by for that touists deight. I posed the video camera and carefully recorded the moment. After the 20 second opening and trumpet playing from the top of the tower, I noticed I forgot to turn on the camera.

Clock Tower = no chiming


People are friendly. Stan noticed scantily dressed attractive women. No observable American disease - obesity. Our bus friends on the trip are all from Canada so politic chatting will be kept to a minimum.

Older buildings well kept although some show their aging from the environment changing the stone to a dark color. Streets are clean. Riding the bus through town showed us modern transportation systems of uncrowded roadways. The trolleys that meander through the old town was filled with people, but not packed with stress as you see in some cities. On many street corners you see Iphones, and other personal devised, but clearly people were engaged with each other not necessarily their devices.

Prague - dinner music from a strolling accordionist



Prague - Czech folk dancers



Prague - Czech folk dancers



Here is the itinerary

WED, AUGUST 25 – Departure from Toronto / New York / Chicago on overnight transatlantic to Prague

THU , AUGUST 26 - PRAGUE
Early afternoon arrival in Prague. Transfer to hotel and check-in. We will later meet for a short walking tour before dinner : The Old Town Square is the most significant square of historical Prague. It originated in the 12th century. We will see the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the baroque St. Nicholas church, the Stone Bell house – a gothic city palace from the 14th century and the Memorial to Master Jan Hus. Also we will view the tower which bears a unique astronomical clock from the year 1410 which shows the statues of 12 apostles at every hour between 9 am to 9 pm. Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Prague. ( B , D )