#2026april

Rome - April 14-16, 2026

Non-stop flight from Prague to Rome was $34!

I was here once 25 years ago for 2 days, but D has never been.

We dislike crowds and we hate lines, so a different plan other than the normal Roma tourist path will be necessary. 🤔

Booked an airBnb in the Monteverde neighborhood and first order of business was go to Bonci Pizzarium and grab a slice (slab) at one up the worlds most famous pizza places. They make dozens of kinds of pizza, all on a crust that has risen for 72 hours. They cut your "slab" with scissors and charge by the weight.  It was very good and you could taste the quality.

Stopped by the Vatican for some happy snaps at St Peter's. Didn't see the Pope so we didn't get to catch up on "da south side. " ☹️

For dinner, we went to a Roman restaurant ... Osteria dal 1931. It had rave reviews. We got one of the 4 Roman pastas ... Cacio e Pepe ... and Fried Artichoke. I live in Florida where almost no restaurant takes pride in fresh ingredients or high quality of cooking.  so Rome is a real treat. I'd stay a week of I could eat as well as I did today!

The 2nd day ....

Spent the last full day in Rome exploring. Visited 2,000 year old Largo di Torre Argentina ruins in the center of Rome. Very interesting, as was only discovered 100 years ago when Mussalini wanted to put up a building complex and they find these while digging. We had a great lunch on Tibor (the only island in Rome). Very good cod and Amatriciana pasta (the 2nd of 4 types of Roman pasta).

Everywhere you walk is 2000 year old ruins.

Saw a bit of the Forum, the Coliseum and the Baths. Got rained on. Took buses and a packed subway. Drinks at an underground bar called the Basement Bar and a fantastic dinner at il Sorpasso in Previ.

The food here is something special!

Prague - April 11-14, 2026

Took the 4 hour train from Berlin to Prague. 1 hour late (I thought everything in Germany was on time but my friend who lives here says that every stereotype about German efficiency is a complete myth).

Prague is a very picturesque place. Great photo opportunities everywhere, everything is half the price of Berlin. $2 pints of fresh Czech beer and hearty food. Ate in a restaurant in a medieval cellar.

We played pickleball with some very nice people (all Czech, no foreigners). Good competition.

Had a walk through the Jewish Quarter and watched tons of tourists wait in line to see gravestones. Saw the astronomical clock without getting pickpocketed . Had lunches (both outstanding) at local cafes with no tourists. Went to see the church with thousands of skulls and bones.

Took a bunch of trains and buses, getting off at the wrong stop a few times (all good).

Saw the John Lennon Freedom Wall and pub

Drank the freshest beer I've ever tasted..

Berlin April 9-11, 2026

We flew from Florida to Berlin via stops in Charlotte and London. We have lounge access everywhere for food and drink. Flights got delayed, rebooked, delayed again then moved earlier. Not AA best day but we landed in Berlin only 1.5 hours late.

We had a great couple of days exploring Berlin. Easy to get around, train, tram and bus system in Berlin are outstanding.

Went to a dive bar, an authentic German bar, a beer hall, and a cool market. Rode a few buses and and a bunch of trains, saw the Berlin Wall, ate currywurst and flammkuchen. At the Topography of Terror, we were told that Nazis were bad. We ate at at 350 year old restaurant and we drank German beer and also East German Coca-Cola (not bad).

We're headed to Europe!

We carved out 12 free days starting April 8 and decided to do:

2 nights - Berlin Germany

3 nights - Prague Czech Republic

2 nights - Rome Italy

2 nights - Chicago

2 nights -New Orleans for French Quarter Music Fest

We have not been to Berlin or Prague and I was in Rome only for Easter weekend about 25 years ago.

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