I recently got home from an excellent adventure in Central Europe, travelling to Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia. I went on my own this time, joining a Rick Steves tour when I arrived in Prague.
To Join A Group or Not?
I was a bit hesitant about joining a tour, because I am used to going my own way when I want to, BUT, I really wanted this trip and my usual travel buddies were not available. Plus my husband was not thrilled for me to travel on my own, so I chose the tour. And I am glad I did.
Prague Day One
I started my journey in Poughkeepsie, as I needed to get to JFK, couldn’t find a decent flight from here, and did not want to have to actually drive into the city. So, my hubby dropped me at the Poughkeepsie train station around 9 am. I managed to successfully navigate three different train lines and got myself to the airport in plenty of time to relax in the Lufthansa lounge before catching my 3:40pm flight.
I arrived in Prague around 9am the following morning and was able to check in to my hotel early for a nap and a shower before meeting up with the tour group.
After a short introductory meeting, we set out for our first exploration of Prague, followed by a group dinner at a traditional Czech restaurant. The square in old town is beautiful, built in the 12th century, and includes the Orloj, a medieval astronomical clock created in 1410.
An interesting note about Prague – it never got bombed during either world war, so the majority of the structures are original. And the architecture is gorgeous! So many beautiful buildings.
Known as the “City of a Hundred Spires”, Prague has Romanesque buildings from the 10th century standing shoulder to shoulder with Gothic structures from the 14th century and Renaissance buildings from the 16th century. There are also fine examples of Baroque and Rococo style as well as Art Nouveau and the Czech-specific Rondocubism of the early 20th century.
Prague Day Two
Our second day in Prague, we ventured across the Vltava River to visit Prague Castle, which is the largest castle complex in continental Europe. We spent the morning exploring St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, and the Golden Lane, which is a narrow alley filled with Czech artisans.
We also visited the Jewish Quarter and learned about the history of the Golem and the rumors that it is hidden in the old synagogue.
After the tour, we had all afternoon and evening to ourselves. I spent the rest of the day walking across the Charles Bridge, exploring old town, and doing some shopping. I ended up walking about 8 miles that day and was happy to get back to my room for the evening, take ff my shoes, and prepare to leave for Poland the next morning.
Next week the adventure continues. Thanks for reading!