What's there to do in Prague?

The first stop of your Europe Trip will be in Prague! 

You've heard that it is so beautiful that it was spared from being bombed in WWII.

But, what's there to do in Prague?
On the day of your arrival you will be taken on a city bike tour over cobble stoned streets, it is a smaller city, and it is easy to get around. Everywhere in Prague is walking distance, and it's enchanting, so you will get a work out, without even realizing it. The cobblestoned streets are hard to manuever in heels, so ladies beware. The view from across the river up by the castle is spectacular. So after this bike tour...when you've ridden by and seen everything...now what are you going to do?

Well, on our first day, Saturday June 30, after cleaning up in our hotel, we will walk down Dhoula street and meet with our private tour guide, Davide, (Dah-vi-dah). He will give us the best Bike Tour!

Then we will have the tastiest Czech dinner at Svateho Vaclava in Wenceslas Square. Afterwards there's a night tour that will bring you to four dance clubs, tell you ghost stories on the tour between clubs and end up dancing into the morning at the infamous 3 floored dance club on the river.
So much fun JUST the first day!!!!

On Sunday, after you sleep in just a little. You can walk around the corner to the pancake house, and then saunter through the streets of Old Town on your way to the 3 must sees:

There are three must sees in Prague: Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and an Organ Concert.

Walking across the Charles Bridge (Karlov Most) and visiting the local artist's work is so fun. There are musicians, tons of tourists and lovely artwork. Think Venice Beach boardwalk.

You can take a Prague Castle Tour 350kc (about $17), with guided earphones, or just walk around on your own, either way, the view of the city is outrageously beautiful. There is also St. Vitus' Cathedral which is attached to the castle, to walk through.

An Organ Concert is another must in Prague. Like Vienna, Prague is a musical city, and to spend an hour listening to classic which there are about 10 to choose from every hour from 4:30 - 8 pm at every church in Old Town its about 15-25 euro, but it's memorable.

The rest of Sunday is on your own. I know where the best skatepark is, up at Letna Park, where there are also great views of the city. You can rent a bike and ride through Petrin Hill, the city's park. You can visit the Old Jewish Cemetary (or just peek through the gates), walk through the National Gallery Museum (10 euro) and even visit the famous Loreto (house of Virgin Mary) or St. Agnes Convent. Either way, Sunday will be a definite day of walking around and sight seeing.

So Monday? What could you possible do in Prague?
Well, Davide has invited us all on a special river rafting trip he wants to offer us on our 3rd day there to visit the small town of Cesky Krumlov near the castle river bend, on if we want to. (I say hell yah!). but that's a group decision. I have ridden a bike up the Vltava River a few times, and the water is calm and inviting. Might be fun to get outta town and river raft and jump in foreign waters.

PACKING TIPS

TYPES OF BAGS:
Main Bag: You will all be given a rolling duffel bag for your Europe trip.
Travel Bag: It is suggested that you also bring a travel bag (such as a back pack or larger shoulder bag) for quick access when on plane and trains.
Day Bags: Fanny packs are convenient for boys, but so are deep pockets on shorts. Girls should have cross body purses for daily use.
Night purse: Girls should have a small cross body purse that never needs to be set down for dance clubs.
Purchases: BE ECO FRIENDLY, carry a small lightweight cloth shopping bag instead of carrying 10 plastic bags when making purchases. They can fold up into your pocket until needed. Then all of your souvenirs are together and you save the earth just a little bit more!

PACKING:
Packing your duffel bag is going to be the main focus for your pre-departure responsibilities.
You will be given a list at the next meeting June 7th of important items to pack, but this is a little blog about how to pack for 3 weeks!

Firstly, you will be in each city 3 days. You will be able to wash clothes in your third city, Amsterdam. It is best to think about packing 3 daytime outfits and 3 night time outfits ONLY because THAT IS ALL YOU NEED. You have to really get past the idea that you want to have 21 daytime outfits and 20 nighttime outfits. There is just no room for this type of closet on a whirlwind Euro trip.

Using the 3 outfit idea should be your goal, and if the 3 tops and 3 bottoms can be mixed and matched you will have 9 options, for the first 9 days, then wash and have the same 9 outfits for the second half of the trip. ALSO, you WILL be buying souvenirs, and it would be beneficial to buy t-shirts or clothes that you can wear on the trip, to add to your 3 outfits, so remember to leave room in the suitcase for purchases.

You should have 9 undergarments, wash them in Amsterdam then use them for the second 9 days. Socks are stinky so bring a ziplocked plastic bag to put used socks in until you wash them.
Boys: tennis shoes get stinky and you need to let them air out, so two or three pairs are best.
Girls: sandals don't take up much room, but 3 pairs should be your max because you will want 1 or 2 heels for going out as well, which take up room.
EVERYONE should pack flip flops as they should be worn in the showers, and on trains.
A pair of traveling socks are nice and comfy on planes and trains.
BOYS: DO NOT wear your stinky tennis shoes onto the night train, as they smell up the couchette rooms quickly. SO GROSS. You should keep all tennis shoes in plastic bags to separate dirty shoes and smells from clothes.

Everyone should put undergarments in a ziplock bag to keep them organized in duffel bag, then bring a dirty laundry bag to keep dirty clothes in.

All clothes,  after being worn,  should be hung up for the night to air out before stuffing back into duffel bag, especially since you will be wearing it again.  Bring ONE coat hanger for hanging. (I also use window knobs and door knobs as well).

We all know to roll our clothes for creating the best room in bags, but i find putting like clothes, or outfits, in plastic bags helps me to keep organized.

BATH SUPPLIES are a pain. They leak and you need to be able to leave them in the bathroom. When sharing a European sized bathroom with 4 people it really is best to share products. This is why we create room mates who share the rooms for the duration of the trip. If the same 4 girls share a room the whole trip, it is a much easier trip to share bath items. The four girls should meet up prior to Europe and decide on the products you plan to share.

Example: If there are 4 different travel shampoos, conditioners, gels, creams, lotions etc in the bathroom it is a MESS of over 16 bottles laying around.
However, if one person carries the large Shampoo bottle, one carries the Conditioner, one carries the  blow dryer, one carries the lotion and toothpaste. It keeps the bathroom manageable and it lightens everyone's duffel bags. PLEASE follow these directions as it allows you to learn to share, and get ready for roommates in college.

It is also a possibility to have a "shower bag" that can be carried between cities in a smaller tote which can be brought straight to the bathroom, and each roommate take turns carrying this tote bag between cities on the train, then when arriving in room, set the tote in the bathroom.

Personally, each girl should carry one makeup bag and one smaller shower bag with toothbrush, razor and smaller personal items.

I have never needed a bath towel, but I bring a quick drying one, as I use the hotels towel to dry my body, and mine for my hair. I keep my bath towel in a bag during travel.

 As we will be walking in a group from train station to hotel, we will be using the wheels on the duffel bags to walk through the city, on cobblestone. There are NO elevators really in Europe, so the wheels will be going up and down stairs and over lots of bumps. Please be very aware that each bounce of each stair hurts the handle of the duffel bag and be cautious with treating the bag as if it is gold, as it is carrying all of your personal items. I've seen kids throw their bags down the stairs, as it seems easier, but they do break. It is prefered you carry your bags, rather than bounce them,  down stairs.

Plan on buying a beach towel in Barcelona, for Bar and Ibiza. Plan on one sweater or hoodie to wear during travel for warmth on trains, as train blankets aren't guaranteed.
Girls will be sharing clothes, so plan to be respectful of others items.

PLEASE do not overpack. DO NOT pack an item you might just wear once. It's not worth it. Plan to wear everything twice, at least! Plan on the weather being hot and humid!

REMEMBER: Please talk with roommates as it is ridiculous to bring 4 hair dryers to each room.

Cameras and Computers: BRING the camera as you will be taking the most amazing pictures of your life. MAKE SURE there is a lock you can put on your suitcase. You can hang the key on your id tag necklace, otherwise get a numbered lock. Computers, not so much. You will have access to my mac air and you will have access to computers at all hotels and its fun to go to internet cafes in Europe. It costs about 1 euro an hour. Do NOT bring computers.
Phones are a must, but if you choose not to you may use mine whenever you need to.Try to upload all apps prior to going. ALSO, make sure you know your phone plan prior to going so you don't answer every text, as it is about 25 cents to read each one.
IPods: it's nice to have them for the train rides as they are 2-5 hour trips, yet, please leave them in your suitcase at the hotel and enjoy your European soundtrack of life!

OH, bring a small spritz spray bottle and fill it with water. It is the BEST way to iron out wrinkles!

Ibiza link for you

Hey everyone!
So Bridgette is helping me create the itinerary book that you all shall receive, with a preview and update of daily activities, hotel addresses and exciting information about each city, along with key phrases you will need to know in each country.
I was googling some information about Ibiza, like bus fares and found out there is a "disco bus" that travels from each club from midnight until 6 am. And I found this webpage that gave me some awesome Ibiza information. It looks like its best to buy clubbing passes prior to arriving in town.

Here's the link:
http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/night/tips_i.htm

Czech Czech one two one two

Hello everyone! I'm sitting in a cafe in Hollywood California thinking about how I need to get familiar with blogging on my iPhone because I'm taking 17 kids to Europe in less than 60 days!!!
I haven't been updating the travelers with weekly reports, but in the last month I have had the UPS truck bring me all of our rolling duffel bags, I.D tags, euro rail train tickets and water bottles. I've confirmed all of our hotels with final wire transfers.
And I've alerted the bike tour companies of our reservations for our bike tours.
I've been mentally making my packing list and realize that I can pack less a there is a day in Amsterdam where I can clean my clothes at a laundry mat.

Now that I can blog from my phone. I will be updating more often with other Jong to fill up your minds with to inspire you to take an AP mental break and research sites in Europe you will be visiting instead!

Now I'm going to try to post a picture too.