2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #11 - Vukovar, Croatia

Croatian Countryside & Wine Tasting
Croatian Castles and Fine Vintages
Discover the rich and varied history of northern Croatia and sample some of its delicious wines.

Since Roman times, this region of the country has been coveted, thanks to its strategic location on the Danube. During this enlightening excursion, you will drive with your guide to one of the area’s renowned museums, a castle with fascinating medieval origins, where you will browse a rich and revealing collection of artifacts dating back centuries. As you tour the castle chambers and halls, Croatia’s past comes alive in priceless relics that have survived the ages. You will also turn to the fruits of the earth when you descend into a wine cellar in the historic town of Ilok. In these dim corridors, you will taste a combination of five red, white or rose wines and experience for yourself why its prized grapes and hearty vintages have helped put Croatia on every oenophile’s map.

We ended up sleeping late. It was almost 7 am by the time we were moving. We decided that we were going to skip the morning Viking included excursion. We got a large dose of this area when we stayed on a local farm during the OATS trip in 2024.

With almost everyone taking the morning excursion, we had the restaurant to ourselves. Surprisingly, after the morning excursions left, the boat pulled away from the dock and headed back up river. It docked at a freight dock where a truck was waiting for supplies for the boat. The crew spent more than two hours loading the boat using a human chain. Talking to the bartender (Carlo) at lunch, we said that they stop once a week to load provisons.

Sharon and I did a 10 minute bodyweight Peloton workout and 15 minute full body stretch together. Afterwards, we walked for thirty minutes on sun desk. Power walking in circles, I covered almost two miles.

We had lunch in the Aquavit Terrace with a nice table for two. We both had cauliflower soup and nicoise salad. After lunch, we did the after optional Viking excursion titled "Croatian Countryside & Wine Tasting." I was surprised at the size of the group; they loaded more than 50 people on one bus.

The first stop was the Vukovar Municipal Museum (Castle Eltz). The museum is housed in a grand 18th-century Baroque palace complex. Originally built between 1749 and 1751 for the noble Eltz family, it was expanded over the centuries into one of Croatia's most significant examples of secular feudal architecture. .

We saw a film showing the damage from the 1991 Battle of Vukovar. The city is best known for the 87-day siege by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and Serbian paramilitaries. It was the first major European city to be entirely devastated since World War II.

We walked through the Ethnographic Collection. This section features traditional folk costumes and jewelry from the Danube region.

Leaving the museum, we passed the Vukovar Water Tower. It is the most recognizable symbol of the city and a powerful emblem of Croatian resistance. Standing 165 feet tall along the Danube, it serves as a "silent witness" to the 1991 Battle of Vukovar during the Croatian War with Serbia.

Heading out into the countryside, we drove almost 45 minutes to the Kast Winery. We did a cellar tour.


After the cellar tour, we did a tasting. Sharon and I were both impressed with several of the wines. Sharon was very critical of Croatia wines during our OATS tour; she was pleasantly surprised. Interesting, Sharon's brother Tom visited this winery on this trip last year.

We ended up sitting with Bill and Joel at dinner. I had the regional dinner again. It included: Podunavska Mesna Seleckija (assorted local cold cuts) as a starter; Pecena Vratina sa Ajvarom (pork roast with ajvar potato, savoy c abbage) as a main; and Cupavci (chocolate coconut cake) for dessert. Sharon had a steak.

We crashed just before 10 pm.

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #10 - Kalocsa, Hungary

Kalocsa & Puszta
Hungary’s Capital of Paprika and Equestrian Arts
Visit one of Hungary’s major cultural centers and attend a breathtaking display of traditional horsemanship.

Depart your ship for a short drive to the city of Kalocsa, where a rich history is flavored by the town’s renowned peppery paprika. In Holy Trinity Square, you will see the splendid cathedral and admire the Archbishop’s Palace. After a short organ concert at St. Joseph Church, continue to the Bakodpuszta Equestrian Center. The people of the Hungarian Puszta region have long relied on horses for transportation, settlement and defense of their land. Many locals worry that their country’s equestrian connection is being lost to a motorized world, so they hold fast to rural ways and to their four-legged comrades, elevating horsemanship to an art form. Witness the sometimes acrobatic culmination of this long-cherished relationship during a thrilling show.

I slept a litte better. We were up moving about 6:15 am. Although there is not much space in the room, I did a five minute Peloton core workout.

We headed to our first breakfast on the ship. We ended up sitting with Gary and Cindy. They split their time between Naples, Florida and Minnesota. He was a primary care physician.

Just before 9 am, they loaded almost the whole boat on four buses. It was about a twenty minute ride to The Bakodpuszta Horse Farm. We saw a horse riding show. Afterwards, we wandered the property. They had HUNGARIAN GREY CATTLE, MANGALICA PIGS and HUNGARIAN RACKA SHEEP.

Sharon bought some paprika. The region is a major paprike growing region.

From there, we headed to the Assumption Cathedral (also known as the Kalocsa Cathedral). It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Kalocsa-Kecskemét and one of the most important religious sites in Hungary. The current building is a masterpiece of Italian Baroque architecture, completed between 1728 and 1774. It was built on the ruins of several earlier churches, the first of which was founded by St. Stephen around 1010.


There was a twenty organ concert in the church. Afterwards, we headed back to the ship.

We were on the first bus back. We grabbed a seat on the front of the boat in Aquavit restaurant. We ended up having a long leisurely lunch with Lindsay and Shelia. With temperatures in the 70s, the four of us ended up sitting there and visiting long after they closed up for lunch.

We both took naps after lunch. I did two Peleton outdoor walks around path on the sun deck for half an hour.

We went to the lounge for a welcome drink with the captain. This was followed by a review of the optional excursion over the next couple of days.

We sat with Chris and Coleen and Phil and Fern at dinner. Both Sharon and I had the regional mail. It included Hortogbágyi Palacsinta (chicken crepe roulade, creamy paprika sauce) as a starter, Fogas Kárpathy (seared pike perch, shrimp, mashed potatoes, white wine sauce) as the main and Somlói Galuska (traditional Hungarian trifle) for dessert.

We crashed about 10:30 pm...

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #9 - Budapest, Hungry

Highlights of Budapest
Visit Hungarian Parliament and Sample a Selection of Dishes
Step inside Hungary’s grand parliament building and get a flavor for the nation’s hearty cuisine.

Transfer with your guide to the Budapest Parliament building, the world’s third largest. As the nation’s business goes on around you, you will enjoy a guided tour of select public rooms. Next, walk to Szabadság Square, or Liberty Square, stopping to view the statue of Ronald Reagan and the art nouveau treasures that surround this public space. You will also see the US Embassy and the decorative Postal Savings Bank. Pause to taste some pogácsa, or salty scones, enroute to the Urban Betyár Restaurant, where you will sample heart sausages and a cup of goulash soup. Finish your tasting tour with a delicious Somlói Galuska and hear the story behind this beloved sweet treat.

Moving day. We are finally getting on the Viking Longship Honir today!

We set an alarm for 6:15 am. After packing up the room, we went to the breakfast buffet in the hotel. Back at the room, we put the suitcases in the hall at 7:45 am. We headed down to join our excursion at 8:15 am.

We did the "Highlights of Budapest" excursion. It turned out to be much different than I expected. It was a walking tour. With a group of twenty, we boarded a tram in front of the hotel. We rode the tram to the Parliament Building. We did an audio tour of the building. Getting a chance to see the building over the last couple of days and then tour it was very cool.

From there, we walked through Freedom Square with statues of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. The latter was poignant because I read a book about Bush senior recently. He was very involved in the fall of the Iron Curtain.


We had a group lunch at Urban Betyar. We had Hungarian Goulash Soup.

After 5lunch, the guide got everyone on a bus to the Viking Longship. We got checked in and started to settle in room. Although I tried to prepare her, Sharon was a little surprised by the small size of the room compared to the other cruises that we done.

Getting cleaned up, we went to the lounge for the Captain's welcome and the port talk. Heading to dinner, we sat with two other couples: Angela and Scott; and Joel and Pat.

While Sharon had Halibut, I had the regional dinner. It included Magyar Marhagulyás Leves (Hungarian goulash soup with paprika spiced beef and vegetable broth) as a starter, Sertésszüz Szeletek (pork tenderloin medallions with pepper sauce; mashed sweet potato, savoy cabbage) as a main and Mákos Guba (poppy seed bread pudding & plum jam) for dessert.

As we were finishing dinner, the boat pulled away from the dock. We sailed up river and around Margaret Island. As we started back down river, the view of the city was beautiful. With so many building lite up at night, Sharon noted that there may not be another city in the world with this kind of view from the river.

We crashed about 10:30 pm.

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #8 - Budapest, Hungary

Panoramic Budapest
Hungary’s Graceful and Inspiring Capital
Take in one of Europe’s great cultural capitals and see its iconic sights.

Over the last few decades, Budapest has reemerged as one of the continent’s iconic cities, divided by the Danube River and connected by the graceful Chain Bridge. Meet your guide for a panoramic tour, beginning in modern Pest. Along the elegant Andrássy Avenue, admire the National Opera House. Pass Heroes’ Square, a spacious plaza of monuments and statues commemorating the Magyar state. Across the river, explore the more traditional Buda side of the city. Here, visit the Castle District with its massive hilltop castle complex, the turreted Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. From the heights of Buda Hill, take in views of the famous Chain Bridge. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the enchanting Buda Hill Castle area at your leisure, before returning to your ship.


Budapest by Night
An Enchanting Evening of Sights and Landmarks
Be captivated by Budapest as you explore the city after dark and raise a toast to its stunning landmarks.

Meet your guide and set off on a panoramic drive to witness several iconic sights. Admire the twinkling lights along the Danube and enjoy memorable views of the city known as the “Paris of the East.” See brilliantly illuminated bridges, including the Liberty Bridge—the shortest bridge in the city that connects Buda and Pest. View landmarks, such as Gellért Hill and Buda Castle, as your knowledgeable guide regales you with stories of the city’s history. Your drive continues along the Danube River to the beautiful Parliament building; its illuminated façade is a sight to behold after dark. Cap your excursion with a visit to a bar, where you can enjoy views of the Danube River as you sip a glass of sparkling wine.

I know that I am a broken record, but I am not sleeping well on this trip. I am building up a large sleep deficit in Oura.

We were up and moving about 6:15 am. I did a ten minute bodyweight Peloton workout.

After getting breakfast at the hotel buffet, we joined a cattle call for Viking "Panoramic Budapest" excursion. I think that the Viking host said the night before that there were 180 guests joining the boat on Saturday. They were all in the lobby waiting to join the excursion.

The excursion did a driving tour of the Pest side, including: the Great Synagogue; the Hungarian State Opera House; and, Hero's Square. It was quickly apparent that this city is much bigger than Prague; it is not as walkable.

Crossing the river to the Buda side, we got off in the Castle District. The Castle District is the historic heart of the city, perched on a hill above the Danube. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a dense collection of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.

We did a walking tour to the Church of Our Lady of Buda Castle (Matthias Church). This 13th-century church is famous for its striking tiled roof and ornate interior. Once inside, the guide gave us a brief overview. Afterwards, Sharon and I explored the Church and the Fisherman's Bastion. The Fisherman's Bastion is a 19th-century Neo-Romanesque fortress features seven turreted towers representing the original Hungarian chieftains. It is widely considered the best spot in the city for panoramic views of the Parliament Building across the river.

With some free time, we did a little shopping and got a beverage. Viking bussed back to the hotel.

With a nighttime excursion planned, Sharon had made a 3:30 reservation for an early, early dinner. We decided to pivot and have a late lunch. We walked to Textura. We had a four course tasting menu. My courses included a very good pork knuckle starter, chicken soup, pork neck main and dessert. I didn't get a copy of the menu...

After lunch, we explored St. Stephen's Basilica. It is the largest church in Budapest and one of the most significant religious buildings in Hungary.


From there, we walked across the Chain Bridge from the Pest side to the Buda Site. Heading up river on the Pest side, we walked to the Shoes on the Danube Memorial. This is a poignant memorial that honors the Jews who were killed by the Arrow Cross militia during World War II.


With a late excursion planned, we crashed in the room for a bit and then had a drink and a snack in the bar at the hotel.

The evening excursion was "Budapest at Night." It was fanastic. It may be one of the best Viking excursions we have ever done. After a quick stop for a glass of champagne at Felix, we headed to the Palace. We walked to a terrace overlooking the city. It was a great spot for pictures.

We toured the Palace area. It was empty of people and lite up with lights. I really enjoyed the walking tour through the Palace.

Getting back to the bus, we stopped across the Danube from the Parliament Building for more pictures. It was almost 11 pm by the time we were back to the hotel.

Unfortunately, it was after 11:30 pm by the time we crashed...

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #7 - To Budapest, Hungary

A long day.

Up at 5:45 am, we packed up the room. I did a five minute Peloton core workout. We put our bags in the hall and went to breakfast at 6:45 am.

The pre-tour group met in the lobby at 7:30 am. They loaded 29 people on a very comfortable bus with a capacity of 55. The bus pulled away front hotel about 7:40 am.

Using my iPhone as a hotspot, I spent the morning updating my blog. I have used this capability on a number of trips over the last four years. I am always amazed at well this works and how much I can get done.

The bus made a twenty minute stop after two hours. Leaving the Czech Republic, we traveled through Slovakia and along the edige of the capital of Bratislava. As we were leaving Slovakia, you could see windmills in nearby Austria.
We stopped at just across the broder into Hungray for lunch. Sharon had beef stew, while I had chicken soup.

The bus finally pulled up the InterContinental Hotel in Budapest about 3:10 pm. A seven and a half hour trip! Thankfully, both of us thought that the trip went very fast.

Checking in and getting settled in the room, we did a thirty minute Viking orientation walking tour. Afterwards, we found a cafe along the Danube for a glass of Rose.

We had an early dinner at Retek Bisztro. It is a highly regarded restaurant in the heart of Budapest’s District V, near St. Stephen’s Basilica. It is known for its focus on "grandma’s kitchen" style Hungarian cuisine, blending traditional flavors with modern presentation.

For a starter, we split the Hortobágyi pancake filled with minced chicken and paprika sauce. For entrees, Sharon Chicken paprikash with noodles “royal” style, while I had Slowly roasted duck leg with red cabbage cream and ewe cheese pancake.

After dinner, we wandered District V. We crashed early; we were in bed before 9:30 pm.

Sharon is very happy with the view from the room!

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #6 - Kutná Hora, Czech Republic

Kutná Hora
A Bohemian Enclave with a Rich Past
Discover the impressive architecture and historic treasures of one of the Czech Republic’s most important towns.

Built on silver mining from the 13th century, Kutná Hora became a thriving crossroads of trade. Drive with your guide into the scenic Czech countryside, passing farmland and gently rolling hills. En route, you will briefly pause at the Sedlec Ossuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This curious Roman Catholic chapel is artistically adorned with human skeletal bones. After, continue to Kutná Hora and the vast St. Barbara Cathedral, also a UNESCO Site, one of Central Europe’s most impressive Gothic structures. Dedicated to the patron saint of miners, it took more than 500 years to build because of the town’s waxing and waning economy. After viewing the interior, enjoy a walking tour of the town, followed by lunch at a local restaurant and free time to explore.

I haven't been sleeping very well on this trip; I have been very restless and waking up a lot at night. My Oura sleep score for last night was decent only because I napped for 40 minutes before we went to dinner on Tuesday night. Finally getting up about 6:15 am, I went to the fitness center and did a 10 minute arms and light weights Peloton workout.

For the scond day in a row, we took advantage of the buffet at the Marriot for breakfast. The plan for the day was a long Viking "Kutná Hora" excursion. A small group walked from the Marriott Hotel to the Palace Hotel to join the excursion. Talking to people waiting to board the van, I realized that there are people from multiple Viking tours joining the excursions, not just from our tour. Someone said that in high season that Viking has 10,000 people in Prague!?!

Rolling from the Palace Hotel about 9:15 am, we headed east. Kutná Hora is a fascinating medieval city located about an hour from Prague. Once the second most important city in the Kingdom of Bohemia, it rivaled Prague in wealth and prestige thanks to its incredibly productive silver mines. Today, the entire historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its unique architecture and somewhat macabre history.

The first stop was the Sedlec Ossuary. It is world-famous for being decorated with the skeletal remains of an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 people. The massive bone chandelier is said to contain at least one of every bone in the human body. The bones were artistically arranged in 1870 by woodcarver František Rint to give order to the unearthed remains.

The second stop was St. Barbara's Church. The church is a spectacular Gothic cathedral-esque church and is the primary symbol of the city. Funded by the wealthy silver miners, it features striking flying buttresses and three distinct tent-like spires. The interior houses rare late-Gothic frescoes that depict secular scenes of medieval mining life. It took over 500 years to fully complete, with construction starting in 1388 and finishing only in 1905.

Heading into the city, we walked past the former Jesuit College. It is one of Kutná Hora's most significant Baroque landmarks. Constructed between 1667 and 1750, it was designed by the renowned Italian architect Giovanni Domenico Orsi to serve as a center for the Jesuit order.

The most striking feature is the elevated promenade in front of the college. It is lined with 12 Baroque statues of Jesuit saints, created by František Baugut, designed to mimic the feel of Prague's famous Charles Bridge.

We walked down into the city for lunch. Sharon had chicken, while I had a pork loin.

After lunch, we continued the walking tour of the old city for about 40 minutes. Boarding the bus, we headed back to Prague. We were back at the Marriott Hotel just beforer 4 pm.

I ran back into the Old Town to shop for a coffee mug and some Christmas ornaments. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Old Town Square empty of the Easter Market buildings. Since we got to Prague, the square has been full of temporary buildings for an Easter Market.

Getting cleaned up, Sharon and I finished the day with dinner at the one-Michelin-starred restaurant FIELD. This is the same chef that operates Restaurant 420 where we had dinner on Tuesday night. We had the five course tasting menu. It was leisuely three hour and fifteen minute meal. While the meal was good, I think that I enjoyed the meal at La Degustation Boheme Bourgeoise on Sunday night more.

By the time we walked back to the hotel, it was almost after 10:30 pm. With a long day with an early start planned for tomorrw, we crashed just after 11 pm.

One footnote. I am writing this entry on the bus from Prague to Budapest using my iPhone as a hotspot for my iPad.

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #5 - Prague, Czech Republic

Panoramic Prague
City of One Hundred Spires
Step back in time in Prague, an incredible tapestry of remarkably preserved medieval brilliance.

Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main square was a major crossroads on 12th-century trade routes, and so it was the focal point of the city’s early development. Today, it is a repository of Romanesque, baroque and Gothic splendor. Among the buildings you will see are the Týn Church and the 15th-century Astronomical Clock, which comes alive every hour with its “Walk of the Apostles.” Continue to Prague Castle. Within this massive complex, see the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral in which the good St. Wenceslas is entombed behind polished emeralds and stones. You will also see the grand castle itself, residence of the Czech president and the powerful seat of Bohemian kings and Holy Roman emperors of old.

Privileged Access: Lobkowicz Palace
Tour a Resplendent Home and Attend a Private Concert
See the stately residence of one of the region’s most avid patrons of the arts, and admire priceless artifacts.

The 700-year Lobkowicz family history is rich with tales of political and military leadership, inlaid with the art of great masters and bejeweled with musical masterpieces. Tour their resplendent palace with an audio guide narrated by members of the Lobkowicz family, who will regale you with intimate family stories, including the loss of the palace to both the Nazis and the Communists and its restitution to the family. Survey grand portraits, weaponry, tableware and personal love letters from the family archives. As a special treat, trace Mozart’s annotations to Handel’s Messiah and study Beethoven’s Third (Eroica), Fourth and Fifth Symphony manuscripts. Your visit includes lunch in the family’s original living quarters and a private concert in the baroque concert hall.

The pace of the trip is going to start to pick up. We will be moving beyond Prague tomorrow.

Neither Sharon or I slept well. We were up and moving around just after 5 am. I did a 10 minute Peloton core workout in the room.

After a nice buffett breakfast in the hotel, we joined the Viknig "Panoramic Prague" walking tour at 8:20 am. It was a fairly large group (20ish?). Walking from the hotel, we explored Old Town, the Charles Bridge and Lesser Town. The guide was very good; she talked a lot about history and architecture.


After a stop in Lesser Town at a cafe, Viking bussed the group up to the Strahov Monastery. We walked down to the Prague Castle. Sharon and I were both disappointed that we didn't get to see the inside of Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral.

At the end of the castle tour, Sharon and I plus one other couple (Marty and Sandy) split off for the Viking "Privileged Access: Lobkowicz Palace" tour. This included lunch, a concert and a guided tour of the art gallery.


After the tour of the art gallery, they bussed us back to the hotel.

I ended up taking a 45 minute nap.

Eventually, we headed back to the Old Town Square. Sharon wanted to watch the Astronomical Clock at the top of the hour. We stopped at the Black Angel Bar for a drink; the bar is featured in Dan Brown's Secret of Secrets.

We finished the night with dinner at the Restaurant 420. The guide had mentioned it in the morning when we were walking through the Old Town Square. It is listed in the Michelin Guide.

We split Roasted mushrooms [Cumin, pickled chanterelles, egg, brioche] as a starter. For entrees, I had Veal schnitzel [Viennese potato salad, lamb’s lettuce], while Sharon had Confit rabbit leg [Semolina dumplings, carrots, cream sauce].

By the time we walked back to the room and crashed it was after 10 pm.

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #4 - Prague, Czech Republic

Prague by Night
A Medieval City at Its Most Magical
Experience the medieval treasures of Prague after dark during an illuminating walking tour.

You will transfer from your hotel to Lesser Town, then set out on foot with your guide. You will see the famous baroque-style Church of St. Nicholas, as well as other baroque-style buildings. Stroll down Lázeňská Street, passing the 14th-century Church of Our Lady before Týn, and the John Lennon Wall, a symbol of nonviolent resistance. Continue walking under the medieval stonework of the Charles Bridge, adorned with more than 30 statues, and view Prague’s charming Little Venice, a manmade canal built by the Knights Hospitaller. See the Vojan Garden, one of Prague’s oldest gardens, before stopping to enjoy a refreshing glass of beer at a local pub. Cap your tour with striking views of the city from Letna Hill, then return to your hotel.

After a late dinner and watching some of the Masters back in the room, we slept later. I went to the fitness center and did a 20 minute Peloton Upper Body workout.

We had a late breakfast at the Bistro Monk; it was listed in the DK Eyewitness Top 10 Prague book. Sharon had Avocado Toast, while I had their Blueberry Pancakes. The breakfast was solid; I recommend the restaurant.

The plan for the day was to explore Petrin Hill. Walking over the St. Charles Bridge and towards the Funicular, we realized that the Funicular was temporarily closed. We ended up hiking up the rest of the hill to the Petřín Lookout Tower.

The Petřín Lookout Tower was built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition and was famously inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Standing atop a lush hill, the structure offers panoramic views of Prague's red-tiled roofs, the Vltava River, and the historic castle district. We paid a small extra fee to ride a small elevator to the top.

The view from the top was amazing. Although I am not a fan of heights, I enjoyed the views!

From there, we headed to the Strahov Monastery. We toured the library, the art gallery and the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, the Strahov Monastery was founded in 1143 and remains one of the oldest Premonstratensian abbeys in the world. It is most famous for its breathtaking Baroque library, which houses thousands of rare volumes within the ornately frescoed Theological and Philosophical Halls.


The next stop was the Loreta Church. The tradition of the Loreta is centered on the "Santa Casa," or Holy House, which is a replica of the legendary home in Nazareth where the Annunciation is said to have occurred. According to the tradition that emerged in the 13th century, the original stone house was miraculously transported by angels from Palestine to Loreto, Italy, to protect it during the Crusades. The Prague Loreta was established in the 17th century as part of a movement to create these "copies" across Europe, intended to provide pilgrims with a local place to venerate the life of Mary and the mystery of the Incarnation.

Walking back to the Old Town Square, Sharon did some shopping. I ran back to the hotel to check in with the Viking staff. It was a good thing I did because they seemed very confused about where we were...

We had an early dinner at the Terasa U Prince rooftop restaurant. It had a nice view of the city. We split Parma ham with Parmesan cheese, olives and grissinia as a starter. We both Tagliatelle with duck leg as an entree.

Heading back to the hotel, we stopped briefly at the room and then joined our first Viking excursion of the trip. We did the "Prague by Night" excursion. A group of 13 took a bus from the hotel to Lesser Town. We did a walking tour of the area that included the Lenon Wall. Getting back on the bus, we headed up to the Strahov Monastery a beer and a view of the city at night.

By the time we got back to the time and crashed, it was after 10:30 pm. A long day. I had almost 28,000 steps and covered 10 miles.

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #3 - Prague, Czech Republic

Up and moving fairly early, we walked to breakfast at the Bella Vida Cafe in Lessor Town. We both had scrambled eggs. It was raining lightly as we walked to breakfast.

From there, we walked along the Vltava River to the Charles Bridge. The Charles Bridge is a historic stone arch bridge that has crossed the Vltava River since its construction began in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV. It is famous for the avenue of 30 predominantly baroque statues that line its balustrades, depicting various saints and patron figures. Guarded by three impressive gothic towers, the bridge serves as a vital pedestrian link between Prague's Old Town and the Lesser Town.


Rick Steves' book on Prague describes the Jewish Quarter as the finest selection of Jewish sites in Europe, featuring various synagogues and an evocative cemetery. Given that the Viking excursions don't included any of the sites, we focused on this area in the morning.

We visited the Maisel Synagogue, the Pinkas Syngogue, the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Old-New Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogue. Surprised by the scale, I was moved and impressed by the Old Jewish Cemetery.


From the Jewish Quarter, we headed to the Old Town Square. The main square of Old World Prague includes the Astronomical Clock and the Jan Hus Memorial.


With a nice dinner planned, we looked for somewhere to have a snack. We ended up in the Ugelt (the couryard behind the Tyn Church) at the Bella Pausa Restaurant. We split a Tagliere di Salumi e Formaggi: a mixed board of cold cuts (salumi) and cheeses (formaggi).

One of the advantages of coming in early and being on our own is that Sharon can shop as we wander along. After the light lunch, Sharon spent some time shopping for crystal and garnets, two Czech specialities. While she shopped, I walked back to watch the Astronomical Clock ring in the hour.

Eventually, we headed back to the room to get cleaned up for dinner. We finished the day with dinner at La Degustation Boheme Bourgeoise. The restaurant is a one-Michelin-starred restaurant in Prague's Old Town that offers a sophisticated exploration of Czech culinary heritage. Led by Executive Chef Oldřich Sahajdák, the restaurant is famous for revitalizing 19th-century recipes—specifically those from Marie B. Svobodová's The Art of Bohemian Cuisine—and reimagining them with modern techniques. The experience is centered around a seasonal tasting menu that emphasizes local ingredients sourced from Czech farmers, gatherers, and hunters.

Wandering back to the hotel, we started to watch the final round of the Masters on SkyTV Sports. Sharon has been obsessed with this year's Masters. By the time, we crashed it was after 11 pm.

2026 Passage to Eastern Europe - Day #2 - Prague, Czech Republic

I usually can't sleep much on international flights; I typically read a book. After they served dinner on the flight leaving Dallas, I actually tried to sleep. According to Oura, I slept 4 hours over a period of 5 hours on the 9 hour flight. As a result, the flight went fast. Sharon thought that she slept, but Oura gave her zero time sleeping!

It was after 3:45 pm when we got off the plane from Dallas to Madrid. By the time, we took a bus from the plane to the terminal, made our way through passport control (which was having technical problems), took a train to the main terminal, went back through security twice (we left our iPads in our bags) and found our way to the gate, they had loaded half of the plane to Prague.

This is probably one of the most hectic trips that we have ever had. Both of the first two flights were behind schedule. As a result, we only had about an hour to change planes in both Dallas and Madrid. To add to the confusion, when we checked our bags at SFO, the gate agent said that we would have to get our bags in Madrid and recheck them; we didn't.

We had a middle and a window on a full, two and a half hour flight to Prague. I sat in the middle. Ugh!

We spent the flight working on a plan of attack for the next two days. Like we have done on our last two trips, we are going in two days early. The Viking tour doesn't start until Monday night.

We were on the ground in Prague a little ahead of schedule about 6:40 pm. Getting our luggage, we took an Airport Uber to the Prague Marriott. We are spending five nights here. It was about a 30 minute drive from the airport to the hotel.

After getting settled in the room, we worked with the concierge to find a restaurant nearby. We ended up having dinner at Kolkovna Celnice. We both had Czech specialities. Sharon had Svičková [pot roasted beef in cream-vegetable sauce, served with bread dumplings and Carlsbad dumplings], while I had Pilsen goulash [made from tender beef shin with onion and fresh chilli peppers, served with bread-roll dumplings and potato pancakes].

Getting some waters in a market, we wandered back to the hotel. I am excited to explore the city over the next two days. We crashed hard at 10 pm.