The big question at the airport was whether our arranged-for airport shuttle service would be there to meet us. No problem! The friendly driver very quickly helped us load our luggage and chugged off in the snowy night to 22 Trziste Street, the House of the Red Cross.

Built in 1541, this house underwent a major rehab just a few years ago. The "penthouse" apartment had 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths, with a thoroughly modern kitchen and very comfortable beds. Best of all, it had HEAT! Lots of it, and reliably!

It also had a washing machine, dish washer, CNN and BBC, and was located in the heart of a remarkable neighborhood, the very lovely part of Prague known as Mala Strana.

The view from the kitchen window was fantastic. Immediately across the street (the yellow building) was our favorite restaurant and beer hall. Down the narrow street were more restaurants, some great bars, a terrific vegetable store, and (if you look closely) in the far distance you'll see the American flag on the grounds of the U.S. embassy.

We were amused/disturbed by the fact that every car that drove down our street was required to stop at the American embassy. The driver had to get out and open the hood and trunk to have the car searched by police for bombs, before it could continue driving down the street.