Joining the Tour
We arrived in Prague on Saturday morning and our tour began on Sunday evening. This gave us a chance to explore parts of the city ourselves, see a few things that were recommended in the guidebooks but not on the tour, and get over jet lag.
We spent Saturday around Old Town Square and at Havelská Market. On Sunday, we went to St. James' Church and the Museum of Medieval Art.
At our first meeting our guide, Jana, immediately put us at ease. She had a great sense of humor, and answered all of our questions. She made everyone feel at home with her expertise and willingness to share her own history as a part of Prague's history. As we shared about ourselves, it was easy to pick out Rick Steves tour alums. My mom had her notepad out, taking notes so she could remember everyone!
Choosing and meeting our buddies (someone to check in with along the way, who is not a member of your personal group) was another great way to feel comfortable on the tour. We had immediate bonds with someone we hadn't known before and those connections made the group immediately closer. Our upcoming game of "two truths and a lie" buddy-style helped break the ice.
A Plane to Prague
We flew into Prague on Saturday, June 28, 2014. We arrived early in the morning. Our first impressions of Prague came from the bus ride across the city to the city center.
Busing to Budapest
We arrived in Budapest late in the afternoon on July 3. We drove through Buda to view the city from the height of the castle. We were not disappointed!
Powder Gate was the first major landmark we saw in Prague. It was originally a gate through a city wall, and later held gunpowder. For us, it was a helpful orientation landmark!
Our first view of Pest came from Fisherman's Bastion in Buda. Across the Danube is the Budapest Parliament Building, modeled after Parliament in London.
heading photo- Danube River and Parliament, Budapest