Perhaps it's significant to start this new travel log/blog with our trip to Europe that began from another trip. We were in Washington, D. C. for a conference at which Sherry was a delegate. If there is any significance to the fact that we left for Europe from the Capitol of the USA, I don't know what it is, but you decide.
We flew on an Air France flight that left D.C. after 10PM, so we actually slept through most of the flight (admission: we used mileage to fly business class in which the seats are like beds). We were awakened by the cabin lights going on, coffee and tea being served, and daylight streaming in the windows as the shades were raised. I was able to grab my camera in time as the second of two small, white jet planes sped past us going in the other direction (zoom in on the above photo, if you can, and look just ahead of the wing); French military was my guess. A bit freaky to see planes that close while at 35,000 ft.
Paris - ah, how we love Paris. But the inside of Charles de Gaulle Airport is not what we love. A quick Illy espresso, following the signs to a new gate, a brief interlude in the Air France club lounge for special people (that's us, Business Class, remember?), and then aboard another plane for a journey farther east...to Praha (Prague), Czech Republic.
Beautiful Prague. We had arranged for an apartment for the few days we were there, very conveniently located a few minutes tram ride or walk from the old town area, and around the corner from a Metro (subway) stop. Prague was great. Very nice people, beautiful architecture, very accessible by foot or public transport.
(below, view of Charles Bridge with Prague Castle on the hill in the background)
We walked a lot in Prague, as we do most places we go. We went to a chamber orchestra concert in the Municipal Building (below), had a guided tour of the old Jewish Quarter, including synagogues that survived the Nazi occupation, ate Czech and other foods, drank Czech beer, rode the trams, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
We took a tram up to the Prague Castle, but chose not to go inside, instead walked around the grounds, looked at the architecture, and had a good lunch (and Czech beer, of course) at the Castle cafe on a patio overlooking the city.
Opinion: Prague is a city that is easy to navigate, once one grasps the transit system, walkable, and has beautiful architecture and sights. However, it is a dirty city, and still has some remnants of the communist era. Czech food is typically heavy in meat and dumplings, although there are many alternative cuisines. Our favorite cafe, where we ate three times, was Cafe Corso, a modern-looking place in a sort of strip mall near the Municipal Building. Inspired food, very friendly staff, moderate prices were what kept us coming back. Unfortunately, most Prague restaurants allow smoking, and one smoker can fill up the room with smoke.
We left Prague by train for Wien (Vienna), which will be the topic of my next post.
posted from the fisheyepad
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