Blogs from Josefov, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

We took the Metro from Malostranska to Staromestska, and had ice cream on the Old Town Square. It was very hot – it was a job for us to find empty benches on the shadow area of the Old Town Square. Afterwards, we walked to Josefov, the former Jewish town. We firstly arrived at Maisel Synagogue. By showing our Prague Cards, we were given the free entry to several synagogues including Maisel Synagogue. This synagogue was founded by Mardecai Markus Maisel, Primate of Prague’s Jewish Town under Emperor Rudolf II, and had Jewish Museum showing the history of the Jew’s in Bohemia and Moravia from the 10th to the 18th century. Next we walked to Pinkas Synagogue. In terms of their architecture, the Pinkas Synagogue and the Old-New Synagogue are the oldest and the most important ... read more

So what makes something survive, revive and create? What is in the DNA of a city that vibrancy is so strong that it is almost as if you can feel the spirits of past generations pouring energies from above. Prague ! The 3 hour drive from the Vienna airport to the Czech Republic was actually rather boring, we drove through a non defined geographical area that didn't impress and what i would describe as nothing. You couldn't be prepared for the sudden change, the oasis of buildings with beautiful designs and unique colors, the cobble stones or the red roofs decorated with gold shining in the sun. We landed on Thursday morning only to arrive in Prague at 5 pm planning to put our baggage down in the room and then walk the streets for a ... read more

Prague used to have the third-highest Jewish population in Europe, concentrated in the district called Josefov since the city was founded. Famous Jewish people from the Czech Republic include Franz Kafka and Sigmund Freud. The Zidovské Museum v Praze (Prague Jewish Museum) was established in the beginning of the 20th century. During WWII, the Nazis decided to preserve it to make a "museum of an extinct race". It's a sickening thought, but it does mean that the Jewish Museum was left almost completely intact, so it could re-open after the war even though the vast majority of Prague's Jewish citizens had been wiped out. Zidovské Museum v Praze has six sites that you can access under one ticket: four synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Ceremonial Hall, all within a few blocks of each other ... read more

Hi all, A tip for future travelors.... frommers online has AMAZING "walking tours" that the cheapo travelors can take advantage of and see the sights while learning some history and culture. :) Today we did a walking tour of the Charles Bridge and Mala Strana (Lesser Town). Fantastic. We walked along the Vitava River to the 14th Century bridge known as Charles Bridge. It has over 21 statues on it and we learned about them all. My favorite was the St. John of Nepomuk because we could touch it for good luck! :) After we got done walking we had lunch in JJ Murpheys Irish Pub (go figure) and ate wings with Guiness! Yum! We also go to see the Church of Our Lady Victorious (for all you Catholics), which has the famed wax statue of ... read more