I'm off to Europe. But FlynnFiles won't be taking a vacation. I recently spoke for more than an hour with Howard Phillips--veteran of the Nixon administration, founder of the Conservative Caucus, and three-time presidential candidate. Starting Monday, that interview will appear on FlynnFiles in four parts. When the opportunity arises, I'll post from far-off lands--provided the natives have access to the computer technology we enjoy here in the United States. Speaking of far-off lands, my travels bring me to London, Prague, Krakow, and Wroclaw. If you've been to any of these cities, and have suggestions about where to go, speak up in the comments section.
Have fun.
Dan,
your itinerary reminds me of hearing Dan Rather reporting in the early '80s on Solidarity in Poland. He pronounced Wroclaw as "Rock Law." Our Polish class could not stop laughing. Do yourself a favor and say Vrootswaff. And roll that letter r.
Check out the Shakespearre's Head on Carnaby Street in London. Bar has the best jukebox in the world. Literally.
Prague is possibly my favorite city on earth (that I have been to so far). There is a bar in the city center that has been a bar continuously for over 600 years, check it out. When there it is pretty clear what to visit and see actually. I don't think I discovered any hidden away must-sees in my weekend there.
What blew me away was the age and history of the city. I remember when taking a short bus tour of the city the guide mentioned how we had just left "Old Town" which had been established in the 13th century and entered "New Town" Prague which was established in something like 1350, still almost a century and a half before Columbus sailed this way.
As for Poland, they are the nicest people on earth, bar none.
Here are my recommendations:
London: Take a taxi from the airport to the parliment building (and make sure to pass Buckingham Palace on the way). Tour the cathedral and the parliment building, see Big Ben, and cross the Thames. Then check out an ancient pub from the 1500's near the square there.
Prague: You need at least a week. Go to old town and see the landmarks, then cross the Charles Bridge and go up to the castle. Tour that whole complex -- the best past is the medieval armory in the castle where you can buy everything a knight could need.
Krakow: You MUST check out the town center/market, the church where Pope John Paul II presided, and the castle where the Hapsburgs ruled the Austro-Hungarian empire from. That castle has a cool exit through a system of caves and a fire-breathing dragon. It's awesome!
Feel free to ask me for more fun places to go.
Dan just be careful of those muslims over there.
You Americans, always trying to squeeze Europe into a week ... running around, London, Prague, Krakow ... it will still be here in a few years.
My recommendation: find a good restaurant or pub, sit back, and drink some good beer and eat some good food. Let the character of the city soak in, and don't try to move so fast.
Ali,
Often the amount of time we have to spend in one or more places is limited and we are subject to schedules that don't allow us to absorb the flavor of our travels.
However, I do agree that your overall point is correct. Americans are ALWAYS in a rush. I don't think we do take (or make) the time to truly enjoy where we are or what we're doing there or to "Let the character of the the city soak in".
Our society and employers have programmed us well.
Ali,
You won't find any good food in London...maybe some decent Thai food. The English aren't exactly known for their culinary charm.
