Prague, Czech Republic

Today we checked out of the Dresden Kempinski to head to Prague.

A quick word about all the breakfast buffets we have had at the various hotels in Germany.  Every single one was excellent.  So far and above what is typical in the U.S.  You can get eggs any way you want delivered to your table by a waiter.  Your table has a starched white tablecloth.  Lots of fresh fruits, various types of ham meat, champagne, lox, several kinds of yogurt, cereals, potatoes, bacon, juices and all kinds of breads.  Below are photos of the stations at the Kempinski but even the Le Meridien had a similar spectacular setup.

Hot and cold proteins

Champagne, lox and pickled fish

Fruit, juices, yogurts, grains

Breads and pastries

Jams, jellies, pancakes, waffles

Every taxi driver in Germany spoke either terrific English or at least enough to make you feel comfortable that they knew where you wanted to go.  From our hotel to the train station in Dresden was less than ten minutes.  Our driver loaded our luggage in and unloaded it with a smile.

At the station we were able to find an elevator up to the platform making the dreaded luggage haul less stressful.  Once the train arrived, we discovered that the first class cars were compartments with three seats facing three seats.  There was a family in the other four seats but they did not have a lot of luggage so we were able to use some of their space.  Every thing fit except one of our big suitcases which we left out in the hallway hoping the conductor would not pitch a fit (he did not).

The trip to Prague was about 4 1/2 hours.  We were met at the station by a Tauck tour representative who loaded our luggage into his van and drove us to our hotel, the Marriott Prague.  He told us to go in to the hotel to check-in and he would arrange for our luggage.  Yippee, no more responsibility for luggage for the next twelve days and no worries about tipping since its all included.

Our room is very nice, albeit still a Marriott.  We upgraded from what Tauck offered.  Tauck provided us a very detailed plan on where we have to be and when and they also gave us recommendations on where to eat when we are on our own.  We used one of their choices for lunch and it was superb.  It was in the building below.  The inside is as pretty as the outside.  I had a wonderful piece of perch paired with a great Sancerre.  Jeff had foie gras followed by a cheese plate and a Gewürztraminer.

We then just walked around the city.  My goodness, there are a lot, I mean a lot, of tourists here.  Gobs and gobs of them.

Happy smile as purchase accomplished!

Beautiful Vltava

And no more having to listen to CNN International as our only source of English speaking TV.  In the Czech Republic we get English movies and even Castle.  Jeff is in heaven.

Goodnight.