Harsh Beginnings of Czech Settlers in America

At the time of the mass immigration of Czechs to America, in the midst of the 19th century (1), as Tomáš Čapek wrote, the first immigrants, as a rule, settled near seaside cities, near lakes and waterways and, later, also along the railroad lines. Thus, at the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, they formed colonies...

History, NOSTALGIA

May 7, 2017

Bourgeois Cafés of Prague: Café Louvre

Café Louvre Established in 1902, this is your quintessential Viennese café, located in Prague. The communists closed this popular cafe for many years because it was believed to only attract the most bourgeois clientele. People like Albert Einstein, Franz Kafka and President Thomas G. Masaryk would frequent often. It’s the kind of place and artist...

PLACES, Prague

May 3, 2017

Through the Years – ČSA Airline History

Today we’re looking at ČSA Airline History. We love to fly, almost as much as we love to drive. Okay, here’s the confession – we love traveling and more so, traveling back and forth between the Czech Republic and the United States. That means that somewhere in the mix, we’re likely to step onto Czech Airlines. Why?...

NOSTALGIA, Retro Chic

April 30, 2017

Night of the Witch Burning on April 30th

After the serious record low freezes in Šumava last week, perhaps it’s best to welcome the final end of a much too long winter this year. And if you’re wondering how that’s done – it’s by burning witches. Night of the witch burning occurs on April 30th in the Czech Republic and is called pálení čarodějnic (literally,...

CULTURE, Holidays

April 30, 2017

Bourgeois Cafés of Prague: Café Grand Orient

Café Grand Orient Established in 1911, this lovely café is located in on the first floor of the House of the Black Madonna. This building symbolizes the unique Czech contribution to the cubist movement not only in architecture but in furniture, pottery and glass. The House of the Black Madonna was created by the renowned...

PLACES, Prague

April 25, 2017

Československé Státní Aerolinie or CSA Travel Posters

Today we’re looking at old Czech Airlines CSA travel posters and promotional materials from days gone by. CSA or Československé státní aerolinie (Czechoslovak State Airlines) was founded on October 6, 1923 by the Czechoslovak government. It’s first flight was a transport flight between Prague and Bratislava. We’ve flown them several times and have always been happy....

NOSTALGIA, Time Warp

Old_Photos_of_Czech_Children_Tres_Bohemes

April 24, 2017

Czech Children of the Early 20th Century

A captivating collection of early 20th-century photographs of Czech children, possibly dressed for school or church, offers a glimpse into a bygone era. As one browses through these timeless images, a curiosity arises about the life paths these children embarked on. The presence of props and toys in some of the photographs adds an intriguing...

NOSTALGIA, Time Warp

Top-30-Cafes-In-Prague-Czech-Republic-Cafe-Obecni-Dum-cake

April 23, 2017

Bourgeois Cafés of Prague: Café Obecní dům

Café Obecní dům The Secession-era Kavárna Obecní dům is deservedly considered among the most beautiful cafes in Prague. It is located on the ground floor of the Municipal House and its interior is an unforgettable experience for every visitor. Kavárna Obecní dům is, without a doubt, one of the best examples of a European café. Although the...

PLACES, Prague

April 21, 2017

The Czech Castle Ruins of Boskovice

The beautiful city of Boskovice lies a few dozen kilometers north of Brno. On the hill and the boundary of Malá Haná (Little Haná) and Drahanská vrchovina (Drahanská Highlands), up 460 meters above sea level, rise the romantic Czech castle ruins of Gothic-Renaissance Boskovice castle. The first reference to the castle is from the year 1222....

Czech Republic, PLACES

Pagan_Queen_Libuse_Czech_Legends_Tres_Bohemes

April 18, 2017

The Pagan Queen Libuše and the Founding of Prague

Last night we watched a rare film, The Pagan Queen (2009), a historic romance with fantasy elements set in the dark ages, 700 AD. Rare perhaps, because most films that deal with the Middle Ages are known for Tolkien lore and magic whereas this film deals more with Paganism in the early Medieval period and...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

Olinka_Berova_ Films_Olly Schoberova-Czech-Beauty_TresBohemes

April 17, 2017

Czech Beauty Rivals Brigitte Bardot and Ursula Andress

Czech beauty, Olga Schoberová (also known as Olinka Bérová or Olly Schoberova) was born on March 15, 1943 in Prague, Czech Republic, which was then known as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. She is a Czech-American actress who was actively making movies between 1963 – 1984. During her career, she was often compared with Brigitte Bardot...

PEOPLE, Women

April 16, 2017

Happy Easter from Tres Bohemes!

Today’s post is short because we’re spending Easter with our family. We did however want to share a varied mixture of old vintage Easter greetings from the old country because they’re so, well, nice to look at! You know, over time we’ve posted several different Easter-themed posts. You can see some of what we have...

CULTURE, Holidays

Kazin_Ferry_Czech_Riverboat_Tres_Bohemes

April 14, 2017

Riding the Kazin Ferry through the Berounka Valley

Today we step aboard the Kazin Ferry located in the Berounka Valley, an area rich in old Bohemian history. We set sail below the legendary Kazín settlement on our way to Karlštejn. Aboard we discover the history of mythical Slavs, sailing the same route. In fact, this is the oldest ferry route in all of Bohemia – dating...

LIFESTYLE

April 13, 2017

US Surgeon – Father of Transplantation Has Roots in Bohemia

Thomas Earl Starzl 1926-2017 Thomas Earl Starzl’s grandfather John V. Starzl (1865-1932) was brought in 1878 from Bohemia to the US by his parents Joseph Starzl and Magdalena, nee Rűba. Thomas Earl Starzl (1926-2017), M.D., Ph. D. – was born March 11, 1926 in LeMars, Iowa. He was an American physician, researcher, and expert on...

Men, PEOPLE

Adolf-Hoffmeister-Around-The-World-In-Eighty-Days-Tres_Bohemes

April 12, 2017

Around the World in Eighty Days with Adolf Hoffmeister

Adolf Hoffmeister (1902-1973) was a poet, novelist, translator and editor. He edited one of the main Czech daily newspapers, Lidové noviny (1928-30) and the main literary paper, Literární noviny (1930-32). He was also a talented artist and caricaturist, often illustrating his own work. Hoffmeister set up an anti-fascist magazine, Simplicus, in the 1930s after the...

Art and Design, CULTURE

Karel-Ludwig-Czech-Photographer-TresBohemes

April 10, 2017

Photo Lens: Karel Ludwig

Today, we’re delving into the captivating world of Karel Ludwig, an internationally renowned Czech photographer whose work continues to inspire and mesmerize audiences worldwide. Join us as we explore a selection of photographs from his book, “Fotografie Karla Ludwiga.” Born on September 27, 1919, in Prague, Karel Ludwig’s journey into photography began in 1938 when...

CULTURE, Photography