Prague – City of 100 Spires

Prague is known as “The city of a hundred spires” or “The city of one hundred spires” (Stovezata Praha in Czech language). and lately, we seem to be coming across 100 older books which highlight the architecture of what we believe to be the most beautiful city in the world. The Prague – City of 100...

Architecture, CULTURE

September 13, 2016

Public Transport at České Budějovice

České Budějovice is the provincial capital of southern Bohemia. Today we are not going to focus on the place, but rather the public transport at České Budějovice and it’s history. We have friends visiting from Prague so we’re keeping short and sweet, but we’re sure you will enjoy it. In fact, we were delighted when we...

LIFESTYLE

September 8, 2016

Vintage Czech Porcelain Tea Set

Today we came across a lovely vintage Czech porcelain luncheon set for sale on eBay. It looks to be a fantastic pearlescent luncheon set which includes a tea pot with lid, creamer, sugar bowl with lid and 4 tea cups with saucers. Also included are 4 salad or dessert plates. The set comes from an estate and...

LIFESTYLE, Shopping

September 8, 2016

Jaroslav Ježek and the Brussels Style

Jaroslav Ježek was a leading Czech designer who gained fame for his practical and figural porcelain items. He was one of the founders of the Brussels style, an important development in Czech design in 1950s and 60s. Featured at the World Expo in 1958, he represented Czechoslovakia very successfully, taking away two major awards. Jaroslav Ježek (1923...

Art and Design, CULTURE

September 1, 2016

Beauty Under Foot or Pod Nohama – Manhole Covers

Sometimes you see something so simple, so beautiful, so unique and wonder to yourself, “now why didn’t I think of that?”. Well, Štěpán Rambousek did and we are happy to share some beauty under foot, or pod nohama, from Prague and the rest of the Czech Republic. You have to understand that many of these places are...

LIFESTYLE

August 29, 2016

Watch This: The Vengeance of She with Olinka Berova

The Vengeance of She is a 1968 British fantasy film directed by Cliff Owen and made by 20th Century Fox. It stars Czech actress Olinka Berova (aka Olga Schoberová) and John Richardson. It was made by Hammer Films as a loose sequel to the 1965 hit film She which starred Ursula Andress. The character Kallikrates, played by John Richardson, is the...

CULTURE, Movies

August 28, 2016

The Photographs of Karel Plicka

Karel Plicka (1894 – 1987) was a Czechoslovak photographer, film director, cinematographer, folklorist, and pedagogue. He is considered a founder of Slovak film education and filmmaking. He helped establish the genre of ethnographic film in Czechoslovakia. In 1938 Karel founded photography and cinematography courses at the Škola umeleckých remesiel (School of Applied Arts) in Bratislava....

CULTURE, Photography

August 8, 2016

Buying Gifts at the Farmer’s Market in Prague

A great place to by authentic handmade Czech gifts are at the street markets throughout the city. Buying Gifts at the Farmer’s Market in Prague is something that’s looked forward to by everyone, not just the tourists who come to visit the city. Today’s virtual window shopping for gifts excursion features photographs from the Farmer’s...

LIFESTYLE

August 6, 2016

The Father of Modern Education

The title, father of modern education, is attributed to Jan Amos Komensky, also known as John Amos Comenius. He was born on March 28, 1592 in Nivnice, Moravia (which is now part of the Czech Republic) and he died on November 15, 1670. From the persecution and hardships he suffered in his life, he came...

Men, PEOPLE

July 27, 2016

Rabštejn nad Střelou Today (Ravenstone in Czech Republic)

Yesterday’s post received many requests asking what the area is like today, so today we’ve decided to continue the post on Rabštejn nad Střelou and share the following information we’ve discovered about this place today. On September 10, 1992, it was officially declared an urban conservation area because of the historic relics and structures which...

LIFESTYLE

July 26, 2016

Camping at Rabštejn nad Střelou in 1966 aka Ravenstone

Rabštejn nad Střelou (Raven stone over bullet or missile in English or Rabenstein in German) is a part of the city of Manětín, located in the Plzeň (Pilsen) district. It is an old historic town on the river Střela about 30 kilometers north of Pilsen. Today, I am sharing some memories of camping at Rabštejn nad...

LIFESTYLE, Tramping

July 25, 2016

Traditional Handwork at the Farmer’s Market in Prague

When it’s summertime and the sun is out, you’ll have the honor of seeing traditional handwork at the Farmer’s Market in Prague. Weaving, pottery, leatherwork, glass blowing, blacksmithing – these are just some of the “forgotten arts” that are alive and well in the Czech Republic. And not only can you walk through the market...

LIFESTYLE

July 23, 2016

Vyšehrad – The Upper Castle & Cemetery of Prague

In Czech, the word for “upper castle” is Vyšehrad. Vyšehrad was built around the 10th Century, high on a hill overlooking the Vltava River. It is a historical fort / stronghold / castle structure. Within the grounds is the Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, a neo-Gothic church. Originally founded in 1070-1080 by the Czech King Vratislav II, the Romanesque...

Architecture, CULTURE

July 22, 2016

Hotel Růže in Český Krumlov

Hotel Růže is also known as the Pearl of Southern Bohemia. Located in Český Krumlov, it has a long and rich history going back as early as 1584. In that year, William of Rosenberg, Knight of the Golden Fleece and the highest burgrave of Prague brought the Jesuits to his headquarters in Český Krumlov and built them a community. Looking from...

Wanderlust

July 21, 2016

Delicious Czech Cheesecake (Tvarohový koláč)

We’re always on the lookout for a delicious Czech cheesecake (Czech: Tvarohový koláč) recipe so imagine my surprise when I found it in one of my own cookbooks (entitled My Cookbook) from 1973. Last weekend, we were unpacking some boxes which had been sitting in storage for many years – decades – I found old volunteering awards, penmanship...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

July 21, 2016

Prague 1 Municipality Offers Free Gala for Senior Residents

Browsing the internet I came across something I found very interesting. Did you know that the Prague 1 Municipality offers a free gala for senior residents? It does. The public service announcement on the culture page of Prague 1 begins with the words “Dear Neighbors…” and continues in the form of a formal invitation: “Please...

LIFESTYLE