Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic. The view of central Prague along the scenic waterfront of the Vltava (no it's not a typo) River. Prague Castle is on the left; the historic and beautiful - and very busy - Charles Bridge is center. This pedestrian-only bridge is one of the main gathering places in the city.

Prague, Czech Republic. The Charles Bridge is one of the main hangouts in the happening city of Prague. It's for sure one of the most scenic spots, with great views of the Old City all around. And perfect for people-watching.

Top: At most tourist sites in the U.S. you can hear street musicians playing simple songs very badly. Here, you get a string quartet playing Mozart beautifully.

Middle: A late afternoon walk along the Charles Bridge, connecting one interesting part of Prague to another.

Bottom: There are lots of independent "artists" everywhere, especially on the bridge around sunset. They all claim to have produced each painting by hand but I couldn't help but notice that most looked like identical mass-produced prints. With street art, let the buyer beware!

Prague, Czech Republic. The royal palace looks pretty average by European standards but I had to laugh out loud at the not-so-welcoming main gates, which feature presumed 'enemies of the state' getting brutally pummeled and stabbed to death. "Don't piss off the King!"

I visited Eastern Europe in May/June, and I guess like in most places, June is the time for weddings. In the early mornings before the crowds began to build, photo-teams were out all over the most scenic parts of the city shooting wedding photos. This very professional photo-shoot is in the main town center, before even the coffee shops opened. Drunks were still staggering home from the night before! And no, I wasn't one of them. This time.

Some nice, typical, old-world photos from around Prague.

Prague, Czech Republic. The busy town square at sunset, and the somewhat menacing towers on the Church of Our Lady. I read in some guidebook that it looked like the home of some evil Disney princess. Can't argue that!

Lest we forget, this country was under the control of the USSR for about 45 years. There are still a few not-so-subtle reminders of those days around town. That little cuddly bear makes brutal repression look so CUTE!

Prague, Czech Republic. Great views of the old town area of Prague can be had from high up on the hill at the Petrin Tower. The Royal Palace (left), Charles Bridge (center), Old Town (everywhere), and Vltava River can all be seen from here.

Karlstejn, Czech Republic. Out in the countryside well away from Prague, a medieval fortress stands guard over a tiny little village today. Like most fortresses throughout Europe, tours are available and most are usually worthwhile, as was this one. It's well worth the scenic train ride out here.

I travelled around eastern Europe almost entirely by Eurail on this trip in 2017. It was a great way to see the countryside outside of the main cities. The drawbacks vs flying : a lot slower, and quite a bit more expensive. In my opinion it was still worth it, for the great rural scenery and the camaraderie of train travel.