CZECH REPUBLIC

Photo location: Charles Bridge, Prague

Česko

Currency: Czech Koruna, Kč
Official Language: Czech

The City of 100 Spires

Often called the “City of a Hundred Spires,”

Prague's skyline actually bristles with~500 spires, turrets, and steeples.

Prague •

Itinerary for Sat., Apr 26 10:15 Flight lands 10:45 Taxi to hotel Check out Municipal House then Old Town Square Dinner at Pasta Fresca Hotel K+K Hotel Central Our step count: 9,038

Helpful Phrases

Prague 🗣️ prah-ha Hello: Dobrý den 🗣️ DOB ree den Thank you: Děkuju 🗣️ dek oo you Please: Prosím 🗣️ PRO-seem Cheers: Na Zdraví 🗣️ naz-drah-vee

Steeples, Spires and Domes, Oh My!

PRAGUE

Apr 26—The problem with Prague 👀

Hungry on arrival, our stomachs led the way—straight to Prague’s Old Town

Square. Really, where else would you go on your first visit to the heart of

Bohemia? The square was humming with Easter Market energy and we perused

the displays, then turned a corner and found ourselves swept up in a crowd that was part of a protest. Not quite sure what we’d stumbled into (and not eager to find out), we made a strategic retreat down a quieter lane. That detour turned into a happy accident, when we stumbled upon Pasta Fresca, our plates hit the spot—but the highlight? The host greeted us warmly and jokingly nailed Mark as German—kicking off our meal with easy laughter and genuine hospitality.

The problem with Prague is where to look. Gaze up, and you’ll be spellbound by ornate rooftops, golden weather vanes, and clock towers chiming. But then, of course, you risk stumbling over the cobblestones at your feet. Look down, and you’ll miss the rooftops entirely. In Prague, the problem isn't finding beauty—it's keeping your footing while trying to take it all in.

Trying to stay on our feet—

Mark and Becky 👣

Photo Mailbag

Our Day Delivered in Pixels

Czech-ing Out the

Old Town Square

PRAGUE'S VELVET REVOLUTION

Nov 17, 1989

Shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall,

students in Prague

led a peaceful demonstration against Communist rule.

As they marched toward Wenceslas Square,

they were met by a wall of police who trapped them

and responded with force.

Rather than silence the movement,

the violence sparked something bigger.

Soon, people from all walks of life joined the protests, demanding freedom and democratic reform.

Unlike the upheavals in some neighboring countries, Czechoslovakia’s transition was remarkably peaceful —

earning it the name the Velvet Revolution.

By the end of 1989, Communism had fallen, and playwright and dissident Václav Havel was elected president of a free Czechoslovakia.

So sweet

Prague • Day 1:

Itinerary for Sun., Apr 27 Free morning: 9:30 Towers 11:30 Lunch 1:00 Gardens 3:00 Get Acquainted Meeting 4:45 Walking tour of Old Town Square 7:00 Dinner together at U Mecenase Hotel K+K Hotel Central Our step count: 25,621

Helpful Phrases

Prague 🗣️ prah-ha Hello: Dobrý den 🗣️ DOB ree den Thank you: Děkuju 🗣️ dek oo you Please: Prosím 🗣️ PRO-seem Cheers: Na Zdraví 🗣️ naz-drah-vee

When the Lights of Prague Start to Twinkle...

Apr 27—Prague-tically Perfect! ✨

Morning plan: Clementinum library tour—dashed. Reality: At 9am tours sold were

out until after 2 PM and with our 3 PM "Get Acquainted" meeting ahead, we waved

it off. Plan B: double-tower morning! First up, the Lesser Town Bridge Tower

(138 steps) with sweeping Charles Bridge views, then the St. Nicholas Church

Tower (215 steps), once a fire-watch and a secret-police post during Communism. That’s 353 steps worth of city panorama, but who’s counting when the views are that good?

Mid-morning reward: the baroque Waldstein Gardens - a peaceful retreat from the busy bustle.

Final act: meet our Rick Steves companions and set off on an orientation walk with our guide, Katka.

Evening surprise: Our walk ended with a delicious dinner at Restaurace U  Mecenáše, where Katka surprised us with a magical concert by two local musicians. It was the perfect musical prelude to our tour—and along with several companions, we strolled back under starlight, over Charles Bridge, to K+K Hotel Central.

⛪️ InSPIREd—

Mark &  Becky

Photo Mailbag

Our Day Delivered in Pixels

Lost in

Prague's Beauty—

and the

Charles Bridge crowds!

St. Nicholas Church Tower

Lesser Town Bridge Tower

Walsdstein Gardens

A feast for the eyes—

and the camera!

Carolinum &

Astronomical Clock—

complete with an

apostle parade!

Wow!

Don't miss

this 🎶 video.

A walk in the

nighttime glow.

Prague • Day 2

Itinerary for Mon., Apr 28 7:00 Breakfast in hotel 8:00 Meet to take tram/metro 9:00 Tour castle area 12:00 Lunch on our own Free Afternoon Dinner on our own Hotel: K+K Hotel Central Our step count: 19,464

Helpful Phrases

Prague 🗣️ prah-ha Hello: Dobrý den 🗣️ DOB ree den Thank you: Děkuju 🗣️ dek oo you Please: Prosím 🗣️ PRO-seem Cheers: Na Zdraví 🗣️ naz-drah-vee

Prague
Every Spire Tells A Story

Apr 28—Tram Rides, Castle Tops &
Monastery Brews

This morning, our fearless guide Katka steered us onto Prague’s efficient trams.
We disembarked in the Castle District, where we met our local expert, Jana.
Together, we wandered through the vast Prague Castle complex—a city within a
city. Highlights included the soaring St. Vitus Cathedral, the venerable Old Royal Palace, the peaceful St. George’s Basilica, and the storybook Golden Lane. Fun fact: the Castle grounds date back to the 9th century and today house the Czech president (Petr Pavel-but we didn't see him). Lunch took us to Strahov Monastery, founded in 1143, where we indulged in hearty Czech fare and a well-earned St. Norbert beer at the monastic brewery. Before leaving we visited the Baroque monastic library and were wowed with the historic library collection.

Though we didn’t have time to chase it down today, Prague brims with quirky public art by artist David Černý and others. For now, gelato in hand, we meandered through the Old Town to our hotel, freshened up, then headed to the Jewish Quarter. Though the synagogues were closing, we admired the graceful architecture, spied into the old cemetery, and quietly reflected on its poignant history. Dinner at the tasty Au Gourmand.

A beer for him, a spritz for her, and a burger for both—

Mark and Becky 🍺 🍹 🍔