Ozbrecht 2017 - Europe's Rhine & Danube Rivers
Budapest, Hungary to
Prague, Czech Republic
Day 18 - July 10
We are on our bus headed from Budapest to Prague, a 7-hour trip. Our farewell party: Dawn the Program Director, Claudia the Hotel Manager, Cristina, who worked at the Reception desk, and one of our fellow travelers.
It is an interesting dynamic on a small cruise. Over the course of 15 days, you develop close friendships with many of the folks on the ship - travelers and crew alike. All this knowing you will in all probability never see them again. From the traveler’s perspective, this is a one-time dynamic; for the crew, it occurs over and over again, trip after trip.
On the highway, headed for Prague.
Sunflower fields were everywhere
We cut through a corner of Slovakia.
This is Bratislava, its capital
We arrive in Prague; our hotel the Corinthia
The pool occupies the top floor (the 26th) of the Corinthia, with windows looking out over about 270 degrees of the city.
This is a panorama looking across the pool
There are a few of these…
That’s the television tower on the left. We will have dinner there tonight. Not at the top, but at the second highest “disk” you seen
The Zizkov Television Tower, looking up from the base. Heading in for dinner
At our dinner table, looking out over Prague
From the Tower; dusk view
From the Tower; sunset
Again from the base, looking up. Colorful, and see the babies climbing up?
Day 18 - July 10
Budapest, Hungary through Slovakia to Prague, Czech Republic
Early to rise, we disembarked our home for the last 15 days. We love you, Modi, and all who work therein! We will never forget you!
The next 7 hours or so were on a bus ride from Budapest to Prague. There were 2 stops along the way – by law, the bus driver can only drive a prescribed length of time before resting. One of the stops was for lunch.
We traveled through Hungary, Slovakia and into the Czech Republic. Beautiful countryside. Hungary is filled with sunflower fields in full bloom. In Slovakia, we drove through Bratislava, its capital. We had passed it before, as it sits on the Danube. Rolling hills took us into Prague.
The Corinthia Hotel, where we will stay for the next 3 nights, has a pool on its top floor, the 26th. After checking in, we went up there to an amazing 270 degree view of the city. The sky was full of puffy clouds, so the views were incredible.
For dinner, we made reservations at the restaurant in the Zizkov Television Tower. The restaurant was about 1/3 of the way up the tower, and gave us more amazing views of Prague – through dusk and into sunset.
Prague, Czech Republic
Day 19 - July 11
Welcome to Prague. Our bus tour begins
So many spires. Prague is known as The City of 1,000 Spires
Prague’s main synagogue
Josefov Town Hall, and the Hebrew clock
The church at Old Town Square
Old Town Square - St. Nicholas Church
Old Town Square - the Astronomical Clock. Built in 1410, it is the third oldest astronomical clock in history, and the oldest still running.
The clock mechanism itself has three main components: 1) the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; 2) “The Walk of the Apostles,” hourly showing figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures—notably a figure of Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time; and 3) a calendar dial with medallions representing the months.
According to local legend, the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy; a ghost, mounted on the clock, apparently nods its head in confirmation
Hear the chimes, and notice the apostles briefly reveal themselves at the top (video)
The Minute House in Old Town Square. What you see are “sgraffitoes,” which are scratchings into a lower layer of the stucco, revealing a different color
Typcial Prague architecture and coloring
Prague’s Old Town streets
Casserol Restaurant, Old Town. We will eat here tonight
Making our way toward Charles Bridge
Tower at the entrance to Charles Bridge
Close-up of the tower
Views of the Prague waterfront from the Charles Bridge
On the Charles Bridge - a popular spot
It is a defining point of interest in Prague. Construction began in 1357 and took 50 years to complete. Until 1841, it was the only bridge to cross the Vltava River. When constructed, it turned Prague into a major trade route between western and eastern Europe
Exiting Charles Bridge
The Streets of Prague; the Charles Bridge Tower is in the background
More steeples!
A Prague canal
The Crawling Babies, by David Czerny. There are a few of these in a location along the river, and the babies you saw at the Television Tower are from the same sculptor. Originally, they were intended to be in this park a short time, then removed. The citizens liked them, and they stayed
Kürtöskalács - or Chimney Cake, is a favorite Prague pasty. It is baked around a cone-shaped spit. Very sweet, then sugar and powdered cinnamon are added
Exiting Charles Bridge
The Prague Castle is more of a “complex,” including the residence for the President of the Czech Republic and a number of religious buildings such as a cathedral and a basilica
The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept in a hidden room somewhere on the grounds
The main entrance to Prague Castle. Behave!!
St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle
St. Vitus Cathedral. Golden
St. Vitus Cathedral clock
Hello, Gargoyle!
Some of the gargoyles serve double duty - they are also rain drains
St. George’s Basilica, also at the Prague Castle complex
St. George’s Convent
At Prague Castle, waiting out the rain
Back to Old Town Square, and the Church of Our Lady
Casserol Restaurant. We descended about 3 flights to our eating area, in the catacombs. Delightful
Sheila & Andy
And Ric & Kathy
Ric had duck - a Czech specialty. Superb
Kathy had Spinach Risotto. She loved it
Highly recommended, if you ever get to Prague. The ambiance, our server and the food were five star
Day 19 - July 11
Prague, Czech Republic
Each town, village and city we visited had its own character and beauty. I think Prague is the most beautiful large city I have ever visited. I know I’m not alone – Prague is on any list you can find.
We started our day on a bus/walking tour. Prague is the 14th largest city in the European Union, and is the historical capital of Bohemia. It was founded in the 6th century and has Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque influences. It played a major role in the Protestant Reformation. It is known as “the city of 1,000 spires.” I didn’t count them, but I’ll bet there’s more! We pass by churches, synagogues and museums.
The bus dropped us off at Prague’s Old Town Square. St. Nicholas Church is here, as well as the famous Astronomical Clock. Our guide waits for the clock to strike the noontime toll. A gorgeous clock, with so many moving parts! The tour next took us on a casual stroll down narrow Prague lanes, dense with shops and restaurants.
The walk led us to Charles Bridge, one of the most well-known landmarks in Prague. An amazing feat of engineering, this stone bridge was constructed in the 14th century, and for 500 years served as the only bridge to cross the Vltava River in Prague. The bridge turned Prague into a popular trade route for western and eastern bound commerce. Over time the bridge has been given over 30 statues, which now dot the bridge all the way across. The bridge is crowded – this is a very popular site.
Next was a visit to Prague Castle. Not really a castle as far as I can see, but a complex which includes a presidential residence, cathedral, convent and basilica. Wonderful architecture!
Viking provided a regularly-scheduled shuttle service from the hotel to Old Town Market. We returned to the hotel for a little rest, then shuttled to Old Town Market for dinner.
The Casserol Restaurant was recommended to us by our Viking guide. It is on one of the narrow streets that leads from Old Town Market to Charles Bridge. In the restaurant, we descended 3 floors to our table – we were in the catacombs! Our dinner is incredible – I had duck. Duck can be gamey, but this was so tender! Duck is a specialty in the Czech Republic. Kathy had spinach risotto, Andy had lamb chops and Sheila had beef tenderloin. Tasty!
Prague, Czech Republic
Day 20 - July 12
Our last day...
The Vlatava River and Charles Bridge
Vlatava River and Charles Bridge
The Memorial to Victims of Communism.
Very moving
Prague’s funicular. Halfway up. We got off by mistake, and had to wait for the next one
From the funicular
Petrin Tower. We ascended for some amazing views of Prague
A few views from the tower. Prague Castle
Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge on the right, river’s bend to its left. Old Town Square is across the river a few blocks from Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge again. Prague is the most beautiful city I have visited
Back on the bridge. Notice some of the statues
Charles Bridge musicians
Old Town Square and
Church of Our Lady
Old Town Square panorama
Old Town Square panorama #2
On a building wall - two heroes who fought against the Communism control following World War II
For our final night’s festivity, we attended a traditional Czech dinner and folk concert
Czech beer
Sheila playing a horsehair attached to a clay vase. Very deep sounds
Another instrument. Looks, and even sounds like a didgeridoo, but it has a reed
The hammered dulcimer and violin, taking a break
Andy gets to dance!
This fellow could really rip on the hammered dulcimer (video)
Kathy, Andy and Ric teaching the rest how to dance.
Naturals - not!(video)
Day 20 - July 12
Prague, Czech Republic
Our last day – we get on a plane tomorrow morning. We had a free day until the evening, when we attended a local Dinner and Folklore Concert.
We took a bus to the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. The communists controlled Czechoslovakia (which today consists of the Czech Republic and Slovakia) from 1948 until 1989. The memorial displays seven bronze figures descending a flight of stairs. The statues appear more “decayed” the further away they are from you - losing limbs and their bodies breaking open. It symbolizes how political prisoners were affected by communism. A bronze strip up the center indicates estimated numbers of those impacted by the communists: over 200,000 arrested, 4,500 died in prison, 248 executed.
A short walk from the memorial was a funicular, which took us up to a hilltop, where we found the Petrin Tower. It is 210 feet tall, and resembles the Eiffel Tower. It’s a beautiful day, so we ascended to the top for 360 degree views of Prague. What an incredibly gorgeous city!
In the afternoon we trudged back across Charles Bridge (not quite as crowded today) to Old Town Market, and shuttled to the hotel.
For our final evening, we (along with about 25 other Viking travelers) have chosen a Viking optional excursion called the Czech Dinner and Folklore Concert. A 45-mile bus ride took us into the western countryside of Prague, to a small farmhouse with a small dining area.
What a treat this was. What a fabulous finale to our trip: a wonderful Czech-styled dinner (with Czech beer and wine).
A violinist, bassist and hammered dulcimerist are the musicians. Two young folks (probably in their 30s), a man and woman, are dancers. And a lovely woman sings and MCs. I have always loved the dulcimer (I have one at home which I have hardly ever played), so really enjoyed the dulcimer solo. So fast!
And of course there was audience participation! Sheila and I played a simple instrument that has a horsehair connected to the inside bottom of a clay vase, and issues a drone-like sound. Andy, Kathy and I are called up to join in simple (good that it’s simple) couples dance. So much fun!
Prague, Czech Republic to
Yorba Linda, California via
London, England
Day 21 - July 13
Day 21 - July 13
Prague, Czech Republic to Yorba Linda, California via London, England
Our journey has concluded. Up early (3 am) in Prague, we flew to London then to Los Angeles. Much thanks to Andy – I was pretty sick (I would end up a couple days in the hospital when I got home from an obstructed bowel), and he used his pull to get me the only First Class seat available. I slept about 8 ½ hours of the 11 hour trip home from London; it would have been torture had I been in coach. As it turned out, for all the plane rides we took, 3 of us had a First Class leg on Andy’s “dime.” The only one who didn’t? Andy. What a guy!
We arrived home in mid-afternoon, tired but thrilled with our unforgettable trip, even with the plane trouble at the beginning and health stuff at the end. It was a three-week highlight reel.
Hey Andy and Sheila – let’s do it again sometime!!
And finally – a big thanks to the blog readers who have labored through almost 600 pictures. I apologize that this is so long. I had a goal of making it much shorter – but just couldn’t!