Background: Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.
May 30th 2008Europe » Czech Republic » North » Karlstejn First of all, the birthday was good. Thanks to all of you who called/emailed/shipped packages/flowers etc!! Just a few notes on the day..my boss (without knowing of the b-day at the time) took me out ... 11 photos[full story]
May 8th 2008Europe » Czech Republic » North » Karlstejn Karlstejn castle—they say this castle looks like it is from Disneyland, and it does. Turrets and walls and ramparts, high above a village. We had to walk up to the castle first thing in the morn ... [full story]
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