Simply the Best Tour of Prague, Czech Republic

Fun and Misadventures on a Visit to Magical Prague

The Czech Airlines flight arrived at Prague's Ruzyne airport at around 530am, even earlier than the advertised 620am. Minutes before, I had eagerly taken my pen out in anticipation of the handing out of the landing cards and customs declaration forms. However, mystifyingly enough, none came. The flight attendants merrily went about handing out drinks, but no paperwork. The immigration dude just looked at my passport and stamped it forcefully without asking any questions. Weird. First country this has happened to me. Must be an experimental anti-terrorist screening system based on no screening at all.

Instead of spending 650CZK (Czech korunas, or crowns; US$1=20CZK) on a taxicab to the center of Prague, I decided to take the public Bus #119 and then the free transfer to the metro at Dejvicka. Total cost: $1 (20CZk). I obviously wasn't the only cheapskate tourist, as there were 20 or so of us lined up at the stop, almost all clutching 500CZK and 1000CZK bills dispensed by the ATMs inside the terminal. As my turn came in boarding the bus, I sheepishly handed my 500CZK bill to the driver and greeted him a bright and happy "Dobry den". I couldn't quite understand what the phrases he grunted meant, but genius that I am, I inferred that he said "Gee, thanks for not having exact change, you dumb tourist. Go take a seat, ride's on me", so I took a seat beside the other sheepish-looking tourists, and we all got off at Dejvicka after a 20-minute ride along the colorless suburbs of Prague.