I’m back from my last vacation. I spent a week in Prague, Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria. It was an incredible trip filled with beautiful sites and lifelong memories. Here are a few of my observations.

1) Prague was nothing like I expected. For some reason, it was locked in the communist era to me. I was expecting more gray buildings, boring architecture, and rundown facilities. Sure, there was a little of that, as we saw some remnants of the Soviet’s rule. But, overall Prague seems to have flourished over the past 20 years. The architecture on almost every building was ornate and beautiful. The buildings were painted in bright colors, many with a pastel hue. It was FAR from the dreary destination I had envisioned.

2) Before I left, a good friend told me I would LOVE the food. Well, he was wrong. While we found some good to great restaurants (that we visited more than once), overall I’d say the food was not memorable. It was heavy on protein and carbs. The Czech people love potato and bread dumplings that often taste undercooked. They also love pork, all parts of the pig. Even at fine restaurants, you’d often find pig knuckle, pig tail, pig… everything!

3) The Czech people can be cheap. If you ever visit, just expect to be charged for everything. And I do mean everything. We were charged extra for a napkin, soda that would be mixed with a cocktail, bread that would normally just be served with the meal, to use a public restroom at restaurant… you get the picture. Frankly, if they could charge for the oxygen we were breathing, I suspect they would!

4) One more warning if you plan to visit: beware of the drivers. I have traveled to many different countries over the years and have experienced some bad drivers. One of the worst areas is the Caribbean, where people tend to drive with their horns more than their brakes. But, I have never experienced worst drivers than in Prague. As a pedestrian, you take your life into your own hands every time you attempt to cross the street. I often felt like I was in the video game Frogger, attempting to dodge traffic coming at you at an increasingly high speed. And, being in the car doesn’t feel any safer. While riding in cabs and buses, I often would just close my eyes and pray that I would make it to my destination safely. But, I should point out that I did not see one accident the entire time I was there… much to my surprise.

5) While in Eastern Europe, we made a quick trip to Vienna. It is also a beautiful city, but there are differences. For one, pedestrians and bicyclists have the right of way here. In fact, this is a BIG bicycle city. The official buildings here are much more regal than in Prague. They almost had a Greek quality to them. But, the private buildings were far more mundane and ordinary. In Prague, it seems every block brought a new vision of sculpture and architectural delight.

6) The Czech people are very proficient in English. They may not speak it fluently, but almost everyone we encountered was able to communicate in English quite effectively. The French could learn something from them!

7) As I found in Paris and London, it would be difficult to live in Prague with a handicap. The trams, cobblestone sidewalks and streets, and many doorways are not equipped to accommodate someone in a wheelchair.

All in all, it was a great trip. But, as always, it was good to be back in the Star City. It’s always good to be home!