You’ve done Paris, you’ve seen Rome but when’s the last time you’ve dug for vintage treasures in Budapest? Or shopped off-the-runway furs in Vienna? For true shopaholics looking to welcome 2015 with a (fashion) bang there’s no better place than Eastern Europe. With local Christmas markets popping up across the region, from big cities to small hamlets, it really is the most wonderful time of the ... Read Full Article
Memories of Communist-era Prague
Prague is undeniably a magical city, a beautiful tourist paradise rich in history. But a visitor who was a student there 45 years ago reveals a different city hidden in plain sight, one with a drab, painful, and very recent past. Travelers just need to know where to look. Prague in 1969 My friend Mike spent five months - from January to May of 1969 - studying in Prague and Brno with Portland’s ... Read Full Article
A Fashion Road Trip through Eastern Europe
Americans love road trips. Americans love shopping. So, it seemed only natural that we fashionistas would combine our two favorite pastimes and plan a mini road trip through Eastern Europe, all in the name of shopping.The plan was to start in Prague, travel through the Czech Republic into Austria, then Slovakia and end up in Budapest.As usual, we wanted first class accommodations ... Read Full Article
Treasure Hunting in Praha
Praha (Prague) is arguably the most charming city in Europe. Small, cobblestone streets make way for sprawling renaissance squares and ornately sculpted buildings in creamy hues leading to dramatic bridges that link two sides of the city together. What could make a day strolling on the Charles Bridge followed by a decadent lunch of crispy duck, sweet cabbage and pillowy knedliky better? Well, ... Read Full Article
Tables With a View in Prague
One of Prague’s main attractions is the views of the city itself, panoramas of the red roofs, iconic churches, spires, and leafy parks that comprise the Golden City. And the sightseeing doesn’t have to end come dinnertime, as many restaurants and bars across Prague have terraces and gardens with sweeping views of the cityscape. While soaking in the storied surroundings, one can also delve into the ... Read Full Article
Prague’s Carnevale Takes to the Streets
Celebrated the world over, the tradition of Carnevale gives the pious a break before the start of Lent, when everyone can cut loose and eat, drink and revel in pagan traditions just one last time before giving up fun until after Easter.In the Czech Republic, known as the world’s most atheistic country, there’s little focus on the Catholic aspect and more on Carnevale's tradition that has ... Read Full Article
Café Culture in Prague: Old and New Favorites
Few things are more quintessential of the Prague experience than holing up for an afternoon or evening in a café. The city has a rich tradition of café culture, with its golden era being in the 1920s, when the likes of Egon Kisch and Max Brod would channel Kafka’s spirit at cafes all over town, and through the period of communism, when the likes of a certain playwright (and future ... Read Full Article
Ringing in the New Year, Prague-Style
Few cities can boast as beautiful a backdrop to most any celebration as Prague can, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. On New Year's Eve, the capital comes alive with lights, noisemakers and firecrackers, and there is no shortage of options for ringing in the new year in style, be it at a classical concert, a Michelin-starred restaurant or a raucous, Champagne-fueled street party. ... Read Full Article
Where to Stay in Prague
To help you choose where to stay in Prague, we’ve compiled a fairly comprehensive list of recommended hotels in Prague. While hotel location is always a consideration, getting around Prague is quite manageable and most of these hotels are located in or near the Old Town. The high-end hotels are frequently housed in some of the city’s most important historical buildings, and many of the ... Read Full Article
Prague: Central Europe’s Crown Jewel Destination
“Prague never lets you go. . . this dear little mother has sharp claws”. So wrote Franz Kafka, the Czech Republic’s favorite writing son. And he was right. Within a few hours of arriving in Prague you’ll realize why this ancient Czech city is called the jewel in the crown of central Europe.Prague’s crown jewels include a historic bridge with tall sculptures of saints lining its sides; ... Read Full Article