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Why I Love Athens Part 1

  Athens has an allure all its own. And its not just archaeology and history.  The ancient capital feels vibrant and alive.  With equal measures of grunge and grace, it is a heady mix of edginess and antiquity.     The city may be known for the Acropolis, but driving…

Prague Castle Dating from the Ninth Century

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. It may be huge but it is the most visited tourist attraction in Prague and the day we visited I was in awe and anguish over the hordes of tourists roaming the castle…

House of the Black Madonna

The first Cubist building in Europe, the House of the Black Madonna, was designed by Josef Gočár in 1912 and was built as a department store.  A copy of a Baroque statuette of the Black Madonna adorns the corner of the building, giving it its name. Following an extensive…

She Looks Like a Model

We were on the outside patio of the Grand Cafe Orient Cafe on the second floor of the House of the Black Madonna when I looked down and saw a young woman and thought to myself:  She looks like a model.  I should take a picture.   All my years…

Come, Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

Tavern U Krale Brabantskeho is the oldest pub in Prague and dates back to 1375.  It’s dusty and dingy with that dark ages atmosphere, candle lit inside, beers slammed on your rickety old table, creaky chairs, and cheeky bar maids.     Our bill was brought out in…

Prague City of a Hundred Spires

The ancient splendor and beauty of Prague, a city beyond compare, left an impression on my imagination that will never fade. Richard Wagner   Prague is the equal of Paris in terms of beauty. Its history goes back a millennium. And the beer? The best in Europe. The Lonely Planet…

Poetry and Architecture Talk to Each Other

The event preceded the architecture and the poem was the mediator. The story is clearly delineated; poetry and architecture are talking to each other forever. —Carlos Brillembourg   The event was the heroic political protest by Jan Palach on January 16, 1969.  On this day Palach set himself on fire…

Prague Foodie Tour

Sure, we know you came to Prague to see the sights. But we offer a different angle. An opportunity to stop in the tracks for a few hours, get off the beaten path, and just be. Be among the locals. Get a better understanding of who the Czechs are. What…

Is Coffee Brewing an Art or a Science?

The headline’s question is a good one. My answer is brewing is a science to make a cup of coffee – which I consider a work of art. Brewing is chemistry. We are attempting to use water as a solvent, which the heat enhances, which is why we heat the…

Venice the Famous Write about It

Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go. Truman Capote It is the city of mirrors, the city of mirages, at once solid and liquid, at once air and stone. Erica Jong I have spoken to you of Pompeii,” said the Moon, “that corpse of…