Behind The Curtain

The first couple of days of our trip (yes, flying east adds another calendar day in a compressed time period) was eventful and fraught with miniature interruptions.

Everything began with a weather delay of our flight from Milwaukee to Chicago necessitating a mad dash to connect with our flight to Brussels.  Which was delayed anyway.  More bad weather and a visit from armed agents (and their dogs) from Immigration and Border Control selectively stopping to question selected individuals in the jet way.  We were personally witness to the removal of six passengers from the aircraft accounting for further delay.

Following departure,  an undisclosed medical emergency requiring the attention of a couple of doctors traveling as passengers 700 miles into the flight.  The aircraft commenced a course correction to Iceland; cancelled 90 minutes later with the stabilization of the initial emergency.

Arrival in Brussels was late, barely making the connection the Prague.  Three firsts:  No boarding pass in Chicago - facial recognition technology was used.  All of our luggage made the Prague connection; which was the first on-time flight in two days.

Checked-into the Art Nouveau Palace Hotel in the oldest part of Prague, freshened-up and walked to a local joint for great food and the most excellent Pilsner Urquell we ever had.

With the arrival of evening we began what would become a daily routine of walking on cobblestone sidewalks and streets, sightseeing, more food and more terrific Pils.

Church of Our Lady before Týn

Old Town Hall and Clock Tower

Pivnice Stupartska Bar

Republic Square and Powder Tower

St. Nicholas’ Church

On Celetná street, in the heart of the historic Old Town district, Prague's Černá Madona cafe has been selling out of a confection that looks like the coronavirus 

Czech-in periodically (pun intended) for more travelogue from our trip behind what formerly was behind the iron curtain.