I visited the Czech Republic with my nephew Charles Peck and his old boss and friend Steve Nickol. 

Our entry was Prague, a glorious city with amazing architecture.  My room at the Four Seasons had a stunning view of the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle.  If you want to realize the genesis of Disneyland, visit the Prague Castle.  It is quintessential story book.  It fascinates me that so many of our cultural icons and myths have a historical basis.   Immediately inside the walls of the Prague Castle is the Golden Lane, a picturesque street of small residences once inhabited by alchemists and Kafka.  In Kafka’s old house that he shared with his sister is a book seller where I found a collection of Jewish Fairy Tales, which seemed so appropriate for this house on this lane.  While in town, visit the old Jewish Cemetery.

We also visited the historical town of Czechy Krumlov; the town of České Budějovice  which is the home of the Budvar, the original brewer of Budweiser Beer; and a very strange, yet fascinating, Bone Church in the town of Sedlec.

The countryside throughout the Czech Republic is beautiful.

On my way back to the states, I stopped for 24 hours in Brussels, a glorious town for chocolate, beer, and art nouveau architecture.  The next to last photograph is a great example of the art nouveau style and the only photo posted of Brussels.  Alas, my camera died.