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Matějská pouť in Prague has a centuries old tradition. (ČTK) Music floats lazily from the inside of the confines of the Prague Exhibition Grounds. American songs, mixed with classical pieces, combined with the tinkling of bells and the clank of machinery drift threw the air. Neon signs from attractions peek over the ledge of the surrounding fence. From the first steps off the tram at the Výstaviště stop in Holešovice, even before you pay the CZK 25 for admission, you know you’re at St Matthew’s Fair. St Matthew’s Fair, known as Matějská pouť to the locals, is a time-honored Czech tradition: The earliest recorded festival began over 410 years ago. And though times have changed, the rides have only gottenContinue Reading

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I learned how to knit when I was visiting my husband’s family in the States. We spent long hours on the road driving from town to town to see family and friends for Christmas. Knitting seemed like a good activity to keep myself entertained during the long ride. A few years later, I met Joanna Stewart who said she knew more young Czechs who had learned to knit in the US. It is true that knitting, crocheting and other crafty exploits are typically done by our grandmothers, while the people of my generation prefer to buy the finished product. Why is this? It takes less time and there are many brands and colours and patterns to choose from. But knittingContinue Reading

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The historical centre of Olomouc is a UNESCO World Heritage site. (ALYSSA PRY) Winter is coming to a close, and it might be difficult to pull yourself away from the overwhelming beauty of Prague in the spring. But for a weekend escape, Olomouc, a university town and the old capital of Moravia, provides a weekend of history and stunning architecture that could rival that of Prague. Only a three hour train ride from Prague, Olomouc offers a different view of the Czech Republic, and its lesser-traveled charm makes this a nice destination for a weekend away. Olomouc has similar parallels to Prague for those who are hesitant to leave. In the main square, Olomouc’s astronomical clock signals the hour withContinue Reading

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My first memory of a Czech Masopust is not a happy one. I was a well-behaved eight-year-old minding my own business, visiting family friends in a north Bohemian village, when a horde of costumed revellers descended upon the farmhouse where we were staying. They sprayed confetti everywhere, pasting play-doh hearts on the walls, singing, dancing and shouting. One hooked a cane around my neck and invited me to join in. I was outraged. They were loud! They were drunk! They weren’t even invited! The Roztoky to Únětice parade includes many stops along the way for theatre and music performances. (ROZTOČ)Masopust, the Czech equivalent to Mardi Gras, was something strange and bewildering for a socialist-era city kid. The last two decadesContinue Reading

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The Human Jukebox brings more than a thousand songs. (COURTESY) When onetime opera singer Gail Whitmore moved to Prague, she wanted to find a way to continue singing. She was looking for something that would be fun both for her and the audience, and preferably combine her love of classical pieces with her penchant for quirky 80s songs or rap. Since her friends often took advantage of her voice in combination with her photographic memory for lyrics and asked her to sing a variety of songs that came to their minds at parties, Gail realised this might be the way to go. She started performing at the café/bookshop Globe about five years ago and last year decided to take herContinue Reading

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Although it’s the Asian states like China, South Korea and Indonesia that dominate international badminton competitions, this sport has been recently gaining popularity as a recreational activity in the Czech Republic as well. There are several reasons why more and more Czechs are becoming addicted to this sport – you get a great workout for a reasonable price and basically anyone can play it. What’s more, badminton can be a lot of fun. The roots of badminton What may surprise you is that the origins of badminton go back as far as ancient Greece, where an early form of the sport was played. Soldiers of the British Army stationed in India in the 19th century adapted an originally children’s gameContinue Reading

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Šumava is the Czech Republic’s tradtional cross-country skiing area. (ČTK) The Czech Republic is a nation of skiers. This might seem surprising given the country’s geography of rolling hills and pastoral meadows. There are some excellent skiing opportunities, however, in Krkonoše (the Giant Mountains), the Czech Republic’s tallest mountains in the north, near the Polish border. Then there are the smaller Jizerské hory and Jeseníky. Dozens of small ski centres dot the northern part of the country. But Krkonoše is the proper thing, with mountain chalets, wind-swept mountain tops, stunted spruce trees and even the occasional avalanche. To downhill ski in this area, though, you must be prepared to handle crowded slopes, long line-ups at the lifts and what CzechsContinue Reading

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You can go as fast as 67km/h on these go-karts. (KARTING ARENA LETŇANY) Despite the government’s best efforts to increase the speed limit for selected motorway sections and the police decision to cut down trees alongside roads for safety, Czech roads will never meet the criteria of high-level racing tracks. So forget about these roads and find a kart circuit if you want to measure your driving skills. There are several indoor kart racing centres in Prague. Waltrovka was the one I visited. The kart centre found its home inside the premises of Czech engineering firm Walter Engines in Jinonice. It took me a while to find my friends as I entered the industrial complex. The door keepers, two oldContinue Reading

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Koliba is one of the coziest restaurants around. (KOLIBA)Prague in mid-winter certainly has its moments: On sunny days, pale smog-filtered light casts a strange silver glow over everything, and the city’s crooked cobbled alleys never look better than around 4pm when dusk falls. But then there are the crowded trams, the chugging traffic, the all-permeating damp cold – it can get a bit dreary. Fortunately, you don’t need to travel far to experience Czech winter in a more bucolic setting. Roztoky is a tiny town just a 15-minute train ride from Prague, nestled in the appropriately named Tiché údolí – the quiet valley. It’s got cozy pubs, a network of hiking trails – which are cross-country skiable in winter –Continue Reading

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Iron Curtain fashion show in Budapest (courtesy) The non-governmental and non-profit organisation Opona (The Curtain) was established last year by a group of various people who came together through the strong urge to commemorate the approaching 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain. The people involved include David Gaydečka, founder of the United Islands of Prague music festival, Marek Vocel, film producer and event organiser and Martin Kotas, a coffee house owner and a well-known activist. The majority of the people involved are in their 30s and therefore remember the events and the atmosphere. Nevertheless, they have also come to notice that the younger generation, people who are coming of age now and were therefore born around theContinue Reading