When it came to planning this trip I decided to do the Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door Eastern Europe (which is technically Central Europe, but they call it Eastern) Tour. This tour started in Prague in the Czech Republic and ended in Bled, Slovenia. We hit Krakow (Poland), Budapest (Hungary), Plitvice national park in Croatia among other spots on the itinerary. After ending in Bled we then made our way to Zagreb, Hvar and ended the independent portion of the trip with 5 days in Dubrovnik (all in Croatia).
Central Europe was a destination I had my eye on for a while, but didn’t necessarily want to do it on my own. Solo travel doesn’t bother me, I’ve done it quite often, but when my friend (CL) indicated she too would like to see Central Europe I jumped at the opportunity.
Now, please understand, I am a “big” planner/organizer, so putting together this trip has been an absolute joy for me, as you can tell from reading previous blog entries! I love doing all the research and anticipating what the locations will be like once I get there. CL, is not so much into the planning process and this actually worked out well for us. I would research, come up with several options, discuss with CL and then we would make a decision, such as with airfare, restaurant choices/recommendations, accommodations, entertainment options, ferry schedules and so on. Good thing she is so laid back and agreeable! We’ve also discussed the need to have our own individual time if we need it, since we have not traveled together before and thankfully we are both on the same wavelength for that.
Alrighty then onto the trip report!
Day 1, September 2, 2006 – Departure from Savannah, Georgia
The adventure begins with my alarm clock going off at 4am. It was a smooth morning and CL and I were both ready when the airport shuttle arrived at my house. To my astonishment the shuttle arrived to pick us up 15 minutes early! Thank God we are not the dawdling type!
We arrived at the Savannah airport by 6:20am! Our flight didn’t leave until 9am. Yes we could have come later and slept an hour more, but at least we wouldn’t have to sprint through the airport trying to catch a plane! Plus with the recent “beefed up” security I wasn’t sure how thorough the security would be at the airport. OK, so it was the Savannah Airport, and not Atlanta or JFK, but sometimes there are those horror stories.
There was no line at the ticket counter when we checked in and we handed over our suitcases while praying and keeping our fingers crossed they would arrive in Prague with us the next morning.
The flight from Savannah to Atlanta was short (40-ish minutes) and uneventful. So far, so good, we are on time so we stop for an early lunch since we were both hungry. After a wrap sandwich and poking around the Atlanta airport to kill time we head over to the gate for the flight to JFK.
As we sit at the gate waiting for the flight to JFK, everything is looking good and we should be boarding and taking off on time….or so we thought!
About 20 minutes before the listed boarding time the gate agent announces the flight would be taking off 2 hours late…YIKES! That meant we would be landing at JFK an hour and 45 minutes before our Czech Airlines Flight to Prague is scheduled to leave! Oh and I forgot to mention Tropical Storm Ernesto is barreling up the Eastern Seaboard this day! Now, normally a one hour and 45 minute lay-over isn’t anything to fret over, but with the storm, and having to check our luggage (we originally were going to do carry-on bags only, but with the new carry on restrictions we bit the bullet and checked the bags, so my concern was that the bags would not make it from the Atlanta flight to the Prague flight with a tight turn around time!), and knowing what things can be like at JFK, I was getting slightly nervous about this delay in Atlanta.
But, the Infant of Prague (patron Saint of Travelers, might I add!) must have been looking after us, because within 20 minutes the gate agent made another announcement saying the flight is back to it’s original departure time…And, it’s a good thing that happened!
Once we arrived at JFK changing from Terminal 3, where we arrived, to Terminal 4 was not difficult once we found the air train…note to JFK officials, the signage at the terminals for the air train really stinks! We putzed around JFK for a little while and then headed for the security check point with the boarding passes that were issued to us in Savannah for the Czech Airlines portion of the ticket.
ERRRRTTTT!!!!! Roadblock….we began walking through security and were promptly stopped because we didn’t have the right boarding passes! UGGGGHHH…what do you mean???? They told us this morning in Savannah these boarding passes were for all the legs of outbound flights. Not so! We had to go up to the check-in/ticket desk for Czech Airlines…Thank God there were only 3 people in line ahead of us. We get the Czech Airlines boarding passes and go back to security…no trouble; we pass right through without a hitch.
Of course it was a pain to have to do all that running around at JFK, but in the end, even if the flight from Atlanta would have been delayed we still would have been on time for the Prague Flight, since it took off an hour late. So all is good in the “friendly skies” and we are on our way to Prague…vacation here we come!
As on all our flights (except the very last leg of the return home journey) CL and I sat across the aisle from each other, since we both prefer to sit in aisle seats and this worked out perfectly for the entire trip. The seats on this Czech Airlines plane were very narrow and luckily I had a seat mate who didn’t get up once during the entire flight!
Poor CL had a Greek woman sitting next to her who did not stop talking and only spoke Greek…it certainly made for an interesting flight! But the woman couldn’t understand any of the announcements (they were made in Czech and English) and during the taxi for take-off she decided she needed to get up and use the toilet…try explaining the plane is taking off to a woman who has her mind set on using the toilet…it was a comedy of errors!
Once the toilet debacle was complete we settled in for a smooth flight. Honestly, I don't remember anything that stands out in my mind about the flight, I don't even remember what food was served or what movie played. So, other then narrow seats, flying Czech Airlines was ok, and I would probably do it again.
Second installment to come...stay tuned for Day 2, first day in Prague!
1 comment:
Hello Macy
I hope you like Prague as much as I did.
I’ve been to Prague many times and I never get sick of it. I stayed last September to study. I love Czech people they are very nice and friendly and also a literate society, as you can see here in this government document. I was amazed buy the Jewish quarter and the bridge, to walk all the way to the castle and the cathedral, as well as the Kafka’s museum but specially the Mucha one. I also liked the sausages in street: ) there’s nothing better when you are hungry.
Besides the small streets I also enjoy in this city is the night life, the Prague music clubs are all so cozy and have such a nice environment and decoration and make you want to stay long.
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