Pexeso A Czech Memory Game

Czech children love to play pexeso. Pexeso is a memory game and it really is a great family card game because you can play it with a regular pack of cards, or with picture cards that your child might like. The best part of this game is that younger players are often able to compete...

ENTERTAINMENT, Prague

June 29, 2022

Šumava in 1929 – The Enchanted Forest

Do you enjoy going back in time as much as I do? What if I could take you back to Šumava in 1929? You’d stay in the towns, see the Chod people, experience the marketplace, explore the forest, and learn about the mythology and folk tales. The Šumava mountain range stretches across south and west...

Books, Czech Republic, History, NOSTALGIA

June 28, 2022

Remembering Summertime in Czechoslovakia

Today I am taking everyone on a nostalgic trip to a Czechoslovakia of the late 1960’s. The images come from a book entitled, Children of Czechoslovakia by Marcela Andrlova. It was published in 1969. On the back cover it reads: “Living at the crossroads of Europe, the children of Czechoslovakia and their parents are much...

History, LIFESTYLE, NOSTALGIA

June 27, 2022

Legend of the Prague Bell that Announced Death

There is a house in Prague which was said t have announced death. How? Because legend says the Prague bell rang on its own… At first glance, it looks like an ordinary house on Mostecká Street, which leads to Charles Bridge. It houses the U Tří zvonů pub, which got its name because it sat...

Czech Republic, History, NOSTALGIA

June 26, 2022

Czechoslovakia The Land of An Unconquerable Ideal

Today I wanted to share some illustrations by Jessie Mothersole from her book, Czechoslovakia The Land of An Unconquerable Ideal. This work of hers was inspired by a trip she took to the Czech Republic (then called First Czechoslovak Republic) in 1923 for a book she was asked to write by her London publishers. She...

Art and Design, History

June 24, 2022

Czech Illustrator Marie Fischerová-Kvěchová

Today’s post is about Czech illustrator Marie Fischerová-Kvěchová. The images below are from an old book of songs from 1925. The book is entitled, Folk Songs of Bohemia, published in 1925. A delightfully-produced collection of ten Czech love songs set to music with lyrics in English, including “Much Love”; “I Love You”; “Mariana”; “Frank”; “Johnny...

Art and Design, CULTURE

June 15, 2022

Book Review – From Prague to Jerusalem

This is an excellent book review of Milan J. Kubic’s book From Prague to Jerusalem. An Uncommon Journey of a Journalist by my friend Miloslav Rechcígl, Jr. BUY ON AMAZON NOW Mila writes: I have always considered memoir publications important sources of history, particularly after I published my memoir, Czechmate. From Bohemian Paradise to American...

Books

June 10, 2022

The Silent Village & The Second Life of Lidice

On June 10, 1942 the Nazis wiped Lidice off the face of the earth. This June 10th marks the 80th anniversary of the horrific massacre of the men, women and children of Lidice – a little village west of Prague that was literally wiped off the map by the Nazis during WWII. The men were...

History, Movies

May 10, 2022

Forgotten History of Elias Palme Glassworks

Today we are learning about the forgotten history of Elias Palme Glassworks. It used to be a famous factory, now it is a famous ruin, but the aesthetics of ruin also attract people and currently, this old historic property is for sale. So who was Elias Palme (1827–1893)? Back in the times of luster and...

Bohemian Glass, History, NOSTALGIA

March 22, 2022

A Drop Too Much – O Skleničku Víc

In the enchanting realm of puppet animation, where strings dance to narratives both whimsical and profound, Jirí Trnka’s “A Drop Too Much” (1954) emerges as a poignant cautionary tale, transcending its strings to deliver a sobering message. Clocking in at a mere 14 minutes, this short film delicately balances artistry, storytelling, and a socially conscious...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

January 26, 2022

Easy Czech Liver Dumplings in Beef Broth

How many of you remember eating clear beef broth with delicious liver dumplings growing up? This easy Czech liver dumplings in beef broth recipe for soup is a staple in most Czech households. When the weather is cold, there’s nothing like a big pot of broth simmering on the stove for hours, warming up the...

LIFESTYLE, Recipes

SS Eastland Disaster Kills 100’s of Czechs

January 25, 2022

SS Eastland Disaster Killed 100’s of Czechs

Chicago’s working class were expecting a day in luxury and instead many of them experienced a terrifying and tragic calamity on the Chicago River. While most people are familiar with the Titanic (1) and Lusitania (2) disasters, many people have never heard of the Eastland Disaster (3). Counting passengers only, 832 perished on the Titanic....

History, NOSTALGIA

October 11, 2021

Czech Animation – The Cybernetic Grandma

In Jirí Trnka’s visionary 1962 Czechoslovakian stop-motion puppet cartoon, “The Cybernetic Grandma” (Kybernetická babička), a compelling sci-fi narrative unfolds, offering a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of machines and robots attempting to replace the irreplaceable bonds of human relationships. Trnka’s artistic vision delicately balances poetic fragility with dramatic warnings as it explores a dystopian...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

September 7, 2021

The Mašín Gang: Defiance and Valor in the Face of Oppression

The significant event of October 3, 1953, witnessed the daring border crossing of five determined young men known as the Mašín Gang, equipped with four pistols, as they ventured from Czechoslovakia into East Germany. Driven by a crucial mission, their purpose was to securely convey a classified message from a Czechoslovak general to the U.S....

Bohemians, History

September 1, 2021

Miroslava – The Mexican (Czech) Marilyn Monroe

The beautiful Miroslava Šternová, better known simply as Miroslava, was a Czechoslovak-born Mexican film actress who appeared in a total of thirty two films. She was born on February 26, 1926, and died on March 9, 1955 at the young age of 29. Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Miroslava Stern moved to Mexico as a child...

Bohemians, PEOPLE, Women

August 27, 2021

Timeless Czech Villages in the Banat Region of Romania

In the southern part of Romania and along the River Danube, you will find six timeless Czech villages with an estimated 2,000 Czech inhabitants. These ‘Banat Czechs’ as they are called have been in the area for approximately 200 years, since between 1823-1828. They live in very ethnic and timeless Czech villages in the Banat...

History, PEOPLE