Jackie...my husband and I have reservations in Prague for 5 days in early December. We would be interested in setting up Jana as our tour guide. Can you provide her contact info? Thanks, Deb P.S. We love your dad's books and have used them on everyone of our previous 8 trips to Europe.

Posted by: Debbie Mohler Bloom - Aug 01, 2008 10:54 AM

Hello, Jackie! My name is Courtnay and I am writing you from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I was doing some research and was consulting your dad's site for some useful information when I stumbled upon your blog! I, too, am planning a European adventure for the month of September. I am envious you are able to share such a wonderful experience with your girlfriends. Several of my gf's finished their degrees this year & are just settling into their new positions & are unable to come w/ me! I am finishing my own degree in Nursing at the end of August, & am looking forward to returning to Europe for a much-needed break from post-secondary education! I did Dubrovnik, Malta, Rhodes, Corinth, Heraklion, Santorini, Venice, Rome, Naples, & Pompeii in 2005 on a vacation with my parents and two little brothers much like you described with your family. It was fantastic and positively irritating all at the same time :) Anyways, this time I am backpacking Europe on my own and hope to fly into London, then tour my way over to Germany hopefully starting in Hamburg and working my way down towards the Rhine, through some key cities in Switzerland and then down the Mediterranean side of France, over to Spain, & then back up through France to fly home through Paris. I am incredibly excited about this adventure, as I have never done anything like this on my own before. I am 23, and being a female I have my own set of apprehensions about this trip. I would love it if you could offer me any advice of what you've discovered during your own travels! I think u have a narrative style just like me in your descriptions & passions for Europe, its people, their unequivocal zeal for life, food, history and art, and sense of timeless familial tradition. I thought I would drop you a line and commend you for seeing Europe (without your parents!!)on my night shift here. Thanks for reading this letter, and good luck to you & your girlfriend for the rest of your journey. You guys won't forget it!

Posted by: Courtnay Curry - Aug 02, 2008 12:50 AM

Hello Debbie, I'll throw in a comment here since I bet Jackie is having fun in Prague or whereever she is now! I would bet that Jana is a tour guide who works for Šárka Kačabová at Prague Guides (They are in the Rick Steves book). On my first visit to Prague on the Best of Eastern Europe tour, Šárka was our group guide. When I returned a few months ago with a friend, we used Jana. Basically, anyone you use through Prague Guides will be great! Their web site is http://www.prague-guide.info/. If you haven't booked a place to stay, the Guest House Lida is great. (A little far from the center, but easy transit connections) Have a great trip. Prague is a magical place. It will be chilly in December but fewer tourists! :-) Regards, Ross

Posted by: Ross Jacobsmeyer - Aug 02, 2008 9:19 AM

I remember my first trip when I was 19. Back in those dark ages you could drink at age 18 in Wisconsin (if you're old enough to vote or get drafted you ought to be able to buy a drink was the thinking.) But I still remember so well my parents coming to get me at O'Hare on my return from Europe and we stopped at the Seven Continents restaurant, which was a very fancy place. My dad wanted me to have a welcome back drink, and of course, it being Illinois, I couldn't. Certainly, the new laws have driven down drunk driving deaths, but other laws might have had similar results. Pam

Posted by: Pam - Aug 05, 2008 10:08 AM

Jackie and Courtnay! I commend you guys for traveling! I wish more young women would set out on their own (Courtnay your classmates will regret not traveling in a few years when they realize that money isn't everything-like so many of my classmates did but then its too late!) It is something that will change your life forever and make you a more facinating person (in my opinion obviously!). I set out on my first trip throughout Europe when I was just bearly 20 and have traveled the world since. Traveling has changed my life in so many ways and has taught me what is really important in life!! I wish you all the best of luck!!

Posted by: Tara - Aug 05, 2008 11:39 AM

Canada, where I live , with its 19 yr old age limit( except 18 in Alberta and Quebec I believe) does not have a higher ratio of youth related drinking crimes or deaths then America. I think a glass of wine with your family ,, instead of sneaking it on a college campus ,, is a much better introduction to alcohol. I have enjoyed your blog very much,and I also enjoyed the one you posted last year on your school trip to Africa, I laughed and cried,, it was so honest( I don't know many 17 yr olds who would post about suffering from diarreha ,, LOL

Posted by: Pat - Aug 28, 2008 11:25 PM

Debbie, Jana and Michal Plevkova own ScandiTours in Prague. I have used them for years. They are wonderful guides. jana@scanditour.cz Gigi Phillips Aladdin Travel & Meeting Planners Winston-Salem, NC

Posted by: Gigi Phillips - Sep 08, 2008 11:18 AM

Be glad you didn't meet a Czech guy. They smell.

Posted by: Jim - Jun 13, 2009 12:49 AM