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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. To be updated

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By Bill and Nancy
May 2nd 2005

Walk before it rains Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

Trams are great

Today was a summer day, bright sunshine with the temperature in the mid to high 80's. The Internet says it will rain, beginning tomorrow and continuing until the weekend. About mid-afternoon I walked to where Nancy was working and said, "Let's grab a sandwich at Crococillies and then go back to the park with the great view of Prague. We can eat and then walk. The guidebook shows another spot that is supposed to give a good view." Nancy groaned as she was TIRED, but decided maybe it was not really a terrible idea. We closed the library at five. This [View Full Entry]

By Bill and Nancy
May 1st 2005

What a view Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

What a view

As we walked through the Royal Gardens enjoying the plants and spring flowers, occasionally we were greeted with great views, each building on the other until we stumbled onto the best view of the Charles Bridge and Old Town Prague that we have seen. We were walking along when Nancy said, "The only bad thing is there's no place to eat in this part of the park and I am HUNGRY. " Looking ahead I saw a small, but very fancy building. At first I thought it was just that, a fancy building, but then I saw they had a menu [View Full Entry]

The Little Quarter with Petrin Hill in he background

By Bill and Nancy
May 1st 2005

Well, I've never heard of him Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

The Julius Zeyer Memorial

All you have to do to feel really ignorant is to travel to a country where you know a little of their history and almost nothing about their artists, musicians and writers. Today another incident happened that gave me that familiar feeling of ignorance. As we walked through the Royal Gardens today we suddenly found ourself in front of a memorial to Julius Zeyer. I do not know about any of you who are reading this travelblog, but I had never heard of this man. I assumed from the statue that he was a writer. I must confess this was merely [View Full Entry]

By Bill and Nancy
April 29th 2005

Spring and flowers Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

Wild flowers

Now that spring is here the wildflowers are out and blooming. I can take pictures of them, but there are not many here that I can identify. [View Full Entry]

By Bill and Nancy
April 29th 2005

Karlstein -- WOW, what a castle Europe » Czech Republic » Central Bohemian Region » Karlstejn

Karlstein Castle

Last year, before we flew to Prague to be part of a hiking Elderhostel group, we saw a picture of the Karlstein Castle. "If we do nothing else I want to go to this castle," Nancy said. It wasn't because I had seen a picture of the castle either. It was because I had been reading a book written right after World War II by a young British woman who was a frequent visitor to Prague. She had talked about the short pleasant train ride and how easy it was to get out to the castle. Last summer I had supposed [View Full Entry]

Bill with the Karlstein Castle in the background.

By Bill and Nancy
April 28th 2005

Planning a trip Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

It is a long way up

A week or so before we left home to come to Prague we saw a program on public TV about the Plitvice region of Croatia. The scenery was absolutely stunning. We had never heard of the area. Rather than use the word over Platvice over and over the narrator called this region the area of the falling lakes. As we watched the program we said to each other, "We have just got to go there while we are in Prague." Rather than my trying to describe this area do a search on Plitvice, Croatia and look at some of the pictures. [View Full Entry]

By Bill and Nancy
April 27th 2005

Volunteers from Scotland Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

Mariam and Bob at breakfast

One of the real pleasures we have had during our stay here is meeting volunteer workers from all over Europe. Recently three volunteers, Mariam, Bob and Don, arrived from Scotland. Their job, to paint windows and rooms. Bob and Don agree, Mariam is a great painter and has taught them some new tricks. Who ways old dogs can't learn new tricks? At breakfast one morning they said, "Mariam's father runs a bicycle shop. He can do everything and do it well. As Mariam grew up she followed him around and he taught her. She is a very talented young woman. Mariam [View Full Entry]

By Bill and Nancy
April 23rd 2005

When you gotta go ............... Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

These fellows just go and go and go and ...........

In our wandering around Prague today we ran across this statue. About ten minutes after I took this picture, we passed the statue again. A pigeon was taking a bath below the man on the right. [View Full Entry]

By Bill and Nancy
April 23rd 2005

Knights of Malta Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

Ironwork in Malta Square

I suppose most of the capitals of Europe are like Prague, history meets you at ever turn. Most, however, do not contain so much history within a comfortable walking distance. Several weeks ago we were walking through a part of the Little Quarter and saw several buildings. On one was a brass plate. The only word we could make out was Malta. A flag hung over the doorway giving it the appearance of an embassy. Later, while reading a guidebook, I discovered that several centuries ago this section of Prague was owned by the Knights of Malta. They were a powerful [View Full Entry]

By Bill and Nancy
April 16th 2005

Church of St. Michael Europe » Czech Republic » Prague

Church of St. Michael

One of our goals today was to see the Church of St. Michael. We have seen pictures of the church, but had not actually seen the church.This small 18th century wooden church was moved to Prague from a village in the Ukraine. I was fascinated with the roofing shingles. They are small wooden shingles that are about two inches across, about five inches long and perhaps half an inch thick. To me they make a beautiful pattern on the church. The church is in Kinsky Garden which is right beside Petrin Park. In fact it is hard to know when you [View Full Entry]

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