The D8 (Adriatic Highway) at Podimoć, Croatia: One of Europe's Most Beautiful Roads

Iceland & South-Central Europe Road Journey

This 12-episode travel series follows a sweeping journey from Washington, DC to Iceland’s volcanic wilderness and onward into the imperial heart of Central Europe. What begins as a full circumnavigation of Iceland’s Ring Road evolves into a cross-border road loop through Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia.

Along the way, the series moves from glaciers and geysers to Habsburg palaces, medieval old towns, Alpine fortresses, film locations, Tesla’s birthplace, and the dramatic Adriatic coast. It is a geographically continuous, historically layered, self-drive journey linking raw landscapes with Europe’s cultural and architectural backbone.

Little Square (Malé náměstí) - the quieter, more intimate sibling to Old Town Square. While tourists pack the main square, this hidden gem offers a glimpse of everyday Prague life amid equally stunning architecture.

Border Crossing and First Impressions

We rolled across the Austrian-Czech border feeling like proper continental drifters. We were done with our hunt for secret Julie's Meadow and Sound of Music filming locations in Salzburg and Bavaria. We wanted something grittier and more authentic.

The Czech Republic - or Czechia if you're feeling modern - doesn't do pomp and circumstance. It does cobblestones, pilsner and a beautiful, weathered authenticity. It feels earned, not staged.

We drove straight into Prague Old Town (Staré Město) and parked near the Náměstí Republiky subway station, the perfect launching pad for exploring the historic core. From there, we began a walking tour. It was a masterclass in medieval urban planning. Our route took us past the imposing Prašná brána (Powder Tower). We walked beneath the soaring spires of the Church of Our Lady before Týn. We stepped into the bustling Old Town Square.

"Prague does not let go. This little mother has claws."

We continued along Jilská, Karlova and Husova streets. They were narrow, winding thoroughfares that felt more like medieval passageways than modern roads. Each turn revealed another architectural gem. We found hidden courtyards and fragments of Prague's thousand-year story.

By lunchtime, we'd circled back to Old Town Square to join the global gathering at the foot of the Astronomical Clock. Few in the crowd realize they are standing on a giant timepiece. A long brass strip embedded in the cobblestones marks the Prague Meridian. Until 1918, Prague time was determined by the shadow of the Marian Column falling across this precise line at noon, proving that before smartphones, citizens relied on what was essentially a massive urban sundial.