
My Travel Tribe…Cindy, Janie, Sylvia and me.
This summer’s vacation took me to the Central European countries of Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. It was great to be joined by my friends and travel companions Sylvia, Cindy and Janie.
Three of us arrived three days prior to the start of the tour to spend some additional time exploring Prague. On our first full day we took a food tasting tour. What a great way to get oriented to the city and eat…eat…eat. We started at a gingerbread shop. From there we had sandwiches, meats and sausages, soup, wine and finished up with a meal of braised beef with dumplings and apple strudel. It was all delicious.
On our second full free day we visited the Lesser Town covering many sites. We traveled by foot, tram, funicular and Metro. Long and tiring but we saw much.
One day in Prague I opted to set up an e-bike tour. That was really fun. I’d never ridden an e-bike before. It was so fun and easy. Over 3 hours we covered about 12 kilometers including a ride up to Prague Castle. I hardly broke a sweat. Best part, I was the only one to sign up so got a personal tour with my own guide.
After leaving Prague we drove to little town of Cesky Krumlov for three nights. What a spectacular place. Our hotel was on the town square in the city center. You couldn’t ask for a better hotel location.
From Cesky Krumlov we headed to Slavonice. On the way we toured the Budweiser Budvar factory in Ceske Budejovice. Slavonice was a little town in the middle on nowhere and off the tourist route. This was the local interaction part of the tour. The day we arrived we had dinner at a local woman’s house. She had a wonderful garden compete with tomatoes and cannabis! Very progressive gardener. The next day we spent time at a local horse farm meeting with the owners and joining them for lunch.
The next stop was Bratislava, Slovakia for 2 nights. This town didn’t have the history of some of the others but still had a great city center with much to explore.
The final stop was Budapest for four nights. Over three days we explored much of the city including an evening cruise on the Danube. After our farewell dinner as a group we drove up to the Citadel in Buda for spectacular views of the city lights. Once the formal tour ended the four of us spent one final day exploring Budapest.
The food was good, but very heavy with lots of meat, potatoes and dumplings. For our free meals we broke it up with some burgers and Italian food. Who wouldn’t want a burger from a McDonald’s housed in a train station designed by Gustave Eiffel? It was the fanciest McDonald’s I’ve ever seen.
Keeping up with three currencies was a challenge. 23 Czech Koruna to the Dollar; .89 Euro to the Dollar; 274 Hungarian Forints to the Dollar. When we arrived in Hungary I hit the ATM and withdrew $100…the ATM spit out a 20,000 and 10,000 Forint note. Tough to buy a gelato with notes that big.
Hope you enjoy the photos of my journey. Time to plan my next adventure.
Dates: May 24 – June 11, 2017
Operator: Overseas Adventure Travel
Our tour map
Highlights of the food tour
Petrin Tower, Prague
Prague
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
Baby sculpture by David Cerny
Prague from Castle Hill
Charles Bridge, Prague
Memorial in honor of the fire fighters who died on 9-11 placed by the Prague Fire Department.
Astronomical Clock, Prague
Astronomical Clock, Prague
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
Prague
Prague Castle
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
Changing of the guard at Prague Castle
Prague
St. NIcholas Church, Prague
Prague
Prague
Library at the Strahov Monastery, Prague
Strahov Monastery, Prague
Library at the Strahov Monastery, Prague
Prague
Statue on the Charles Bridge
Prague
Metalmorphosis sculpture of Franz Kafka in Prague
Prague
Tram in Prague with a cool Pepsi ad in the back
Jewish Quarter in Prague
Tasty treats in Prague.
Prague
The bubble man of Prague. Got to make a living somehow.
Cistercian Monastery in Vyssi Brod.
Cistercian Monastery in Vyssi Brod. Established in 1259.
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
The aptly named “Piss” sculpture by David Cerny. At the Frank Kafka Museum. Every little while their hips moved back and forth. Too funny.
Prague
View of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Church from Petrin Tower
St Lawrence Church, Prague
Vojna Memorial. Former post-WWII labor camp.
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Lennon Wall, Prague
Town Square in Old Town Prague
Pisek, Czech Republic
Pisek, Czech Republic
Pisek, Czech Republic
Pisek, Czech Republic
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov Castle
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Rafting in Cesky Krumlov
Viewing tower near Cesky Krumlov. The slide down was optional…but couldn’t be missed.
Sylvia had too much fun on the slide.
St. Vitus Church, Česky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Town Square, Cesky Krumlov. Our hotel is in the middle of the photo.
St. Vitus Church, Česky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Dinner on the Vltava River, Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov Castle
Cesky Krumlov Castle
Budweiser Budvar brewery tour.
Lunch stop in Trebon
Lunch stop in Trebon
Lunch stop in Trebon
Lunch stop in Trebon
Lunch stop in Trebon
Lunch stop in Trebon. We saw many sun dials like this on the trip.
Lednice Castle
Lednice Castle
Lednice Castle
Lednice Castle
Lednice Castle
Rear Synagogue in Tebic
Slavonice
Wine cellar at the hotel in Slavonice. It was in tunnels under the city from the 16th century.
Had dinner at a ladies house near Slavonice. She had an amazing garden. Tomatoes and cannabis.
The everything store in Slavonice
Slovanice
At the pottery workshop
Our ceramic shop visit. I’ve found a new career!
Lunch at a horse farm
Visit to a horse farm for lunch
The sleeping beauties.
Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava
I love buffet breakfasts. I love breakfast buffets with brownies even more.
Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava
The “UFO” Bridge, Bratislava
My new friends
Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava
Wine tasting with dinner in Bratislava.
Church of St. Elizabeth – Blue Church, Bratislava
Grasshopper store
Bratislava
Lunch stop in Goyr, Hungary
Who is Jim Carrie? In Goyr, Hungary
Lunch stop, Goyr, Hungary
Goyr, Hungary
Lunch stop in Goyr, Hungary
Lunch stop in Goyr, Hungary
Hero Square, Budapest
Budapest
St. Stephen’s Basilica, Budapes
Matthias Church, Budapest
Budapest
Liberty Bridge, Budapest
Parliament Building, Budapest
Great Market Hall, Budapest
My favorite pay toilet sign.
Margaret Bridge, Budapest
Parliament Building, Budapest
Parliament Building, Budapest
Budapest
Budapest at night
Budapest
Matthias Church, Budapest
Evening cruise on the Danube, Budapest
Farewell dinner in Budapest.
Budapest reflection
View from,St. Stephen’s Basilica
View of Budapest from the dome of St. Stephen’s Basilica
Interesting sculpture in Budapest
Budapest
Lunch at the McDonald’s designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Budapest
Cute pink T-Mobile phone booth.
Chain Bridge, Budapest
Great Market Hall, Budapest
St. Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest
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Your pictures are incredible as usual!!!! Thanks for sharing :O)