Miraculously unscathed by two world wars, Prague is an enormous open-air museum of European architecture, with superb examples of Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Art Nouveau styles all crowded into one fairytale space.  But the city’s quirkiest building may be the Modernist, box-like edifice that can be found in the heart of the Old Town, in a laneway called Ovocný trh – the world’s first Cubist building, an avant-garde creation from the early 20th century called the House of the Black Madonna.

Designed by artist Josef Gočár, the House was regarded as shockingly modern, even revolutionary, when it first opened as a department store in 1912 – and it still seems so in Prague today.  For the last 10 years, it has been the home of the Museum of Czech Cubism, which is dedicated to the artistic movement that was embraced by Prague’s intellectuals and extended to all forms of the visual arts – including interior design, architecture, graphic design and photography.

The House itself, of course, is the prime exhibit: Its façade, which looks smooth from a distance, is actually fractured through the inventive use of oblique planes.  Large bay windows protrude in the manner of giant quartz crystals.  (The House’s poetic name comes from a 17th century statue of the Black Madonna and child, which was rescued from the previous house on the site, and is still poised like a figurehead on one corner).  The museum inside is suffused with nostalgia: In its heyday, from 1912 to 1916, Cubism was hailed as a distinctively Czech artistic movement, and it is remembered today as an emblem of a golden age, when Prague was one of the wealthiest cities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its citizens enjoyed a creative renaissance.  After the museum, visit the Cubist gift store (Cubist lounge chairs, anyone?) and the world’s only Cubist eatery, the Grand Café Orient, which was a bohemian artist’s hangout before the First World War.  As you sip your coffee, waiters might quip that it was near Prague in 1843 that a certain Czech genius, Jakub Krystof Rad, invented the sugar cube.  Cubism, it seems, was always in the Czech blood.

When you take a vacation to the Czech Republic, make sure to pause and take a few minutes to take in the sights that surround you in Prague.

Every hour, hundreds of visitors gather in Prague’s classic Old Town Square to witness the tolling of the Astronomical Clock, when a sinister medieval figure of Death emerges to pull the bell cord.  It seems appropriate that the first doorway to the left of this haunted edifice is the Hause Minuta, or House of the Minute, the childhood home of Prague’s most famous literary son, Franz Kafka. In his short life, from 1889-1924, he wrote some of our most gripping tales of paranoia and alienation, including The Trial (where a man is caught up in an mind-boggling legal system for an offense that is never named) and Metamorphosis (where a man wakes up in bed one morning and finds he has turned into a cockroach).

This splendid Renaissance-era house, with its elegant black-and-white painted façade, is where the writer spent the first seven years of his life, and where his nightmarish imagination developed.  The eldest child of a middle class, German-speaking Jewish family, he was tormented, according to his own account, by his father, “a huge, selfish, overbearing businessman,” who became a model for the menacing authority figures that tread through his fiction.  Young Franz moved with his family to several other apartments in Prague (one is now the US Embassy building), and developed a love-hate relationship with his home city: He tried to live in Germany and Vienna, but was always drawn back by the eerie beauty of Prague.  And although Kafka does not name the city’s monuments in any of his fiction, the winding alleyways of the Old Town, its shadowy plazas and looming castle, provide their distinctive atmosphere.

Kafka died here at age 35 or tuberculosis and was buried in the Jewish Cemetery; most of his work was published posthumously, to huge acclaim.  Today, improbably enough, his gaunt portrait is reproduced all over Prague on souvenirs, T-shirts, coffee mugs and key chains.  But maybe he wouldn’t have disapproved entirely.  Kafka also had a highly developed sense of black humor, and a Czech ability to laugh at the ironies of life.

Continuing our post from Friday, here are a few more Prague must-see sights to make your vacation to the Czech Republic more memorable.

Prague Specialties
Local dishes to try include beef sirloin with cream sauce and dumplings, baked pork/duck/goose with red or white cabbage and dumplings, as well as Czech beer and the special herbal liquor Becherovka.

Hussite Sites
A walking route possibility is Hussite Prague—sites relating to the Hussite wars of the 15th century.

World Heritage Site
Prague’s city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ask your Local Host about visiting its many monuments.

When traveling to the Czech Republic here are some of the must-see sights of Prague:

Old Town
One of the best ways to see the palaces and churches of the Old Town is a stroll through the medieval streets. The Old Town Square dates back to the 10th century. Ask about a walking route.

Strahov Monastery and Library
Before the Age of Enlightenment, monasteries carefully guarded their treasures. Now visitors are free to stroll the halls and marvel at the contributions of history’s greatest minds. Catch the breathtaking view of the city from the monastery garden.

U Mecenase
Built in the 16th century, see this lovely old wine cellar.

Check back on Tuesday for Part #2 of our Prague, Czech Republic not-to-be-missed sights. Start planning your European vacation today!

Any vacation to Prague is filled with views of steeples stacked on onion domes.  The architecture of the Czech Republic has earned Prague the name “The City of a Hundred Spires.”

Armed with knowledge from our recent series on travel tips, you are prepared to pack your bags for an Eastern European vacation as we travel to the Czech Republic.

Join us over the next couple weeks as we explore Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.  Over the course of our series we will witness the tolling of the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square, see the world’s first Cubist building and discover some of the city’s hidden gems and must-see-sights. So sit back and enjoy your tour of the 1,000 year old Hradcany Castle, Prague’s Jewish Quarter & Charles Bridge.

Known for its rich collection of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance buildings, as well as a charming Bohemian atmosphere, your vacation in the golden city of Prague is sure to be memorable.

Crossing multiple time zones and traveling at odd hours could flip your body’s natural biorhytms upside down, but don’t let jet lag ruin your vacation.  Here are few tips on making the transition to a new time zone easier so you can make your vacation more memorable and relaxing.

-Before your flight, get plenty of rest and drink a lot of water. Also, try eating light meal before you board so that hunger does not keep you from sleeping.

-As soon as you board your flight, set your watch to the time of your destination. Then act accordingly. If it is nighttime in your arrival city when you take off, try to get a few hours of sleep. If it’s daytime at your final stop, try walking through the cabin to stay alert.

-On arrival, stay awake until an early local bedtime. A brisk walk will not only revive your body, but also serves as an invaluable introduction to your new surroundings. Wake the next day from a full night’s rest, alert and able to get the most from your overseas experience. Enjoy that vacation!

There a few important things to consider to make your vacation more memorable and relaxing.  Consider these few travel tips when planning your next vacation:

- Before you leave, read a book or watch a film that takes place in the country you are about to visit. Your fictional journey through the region will get you excited for the sights and experiences to come.
- Make sure your passport does not expire within six months of your date of travel. Some countries insist that your passport be valid for at least a six-month time period.
- Place an envelope in one of your checked bags containing copies of your passport, birth certificate and a back-up form of photo I.D. in case your passport is lost or stolen.
- Place a copy of the detailed itinerary of your trip inside each piece of luggage.
- If your luggage is lost, this will help the airline find you while you’re traveling.
- If you are on Medicare and traveling outside the United States, be aware that Medicare does not cover any of your medical bills abroad. It’s a good idea to get a travel protection policy that will cover these costs.
- Learn a few essential terms in the native language of the country you’ll be visiting. You’ll find that the locals will appreciate your effort.
- Plan at least a day or two after your return home before scheduling any commitments; you may be tired after your travels.

Knowing what to pack of course depends on your vacation destination, the time of year and the expected weather, however using these general tips will help you prepare for your trip.

Aside from the general clothing and toiletry items, consider packing the following items to make your vacation more enjoyable:

- An inflatable neck cushion is an invaluable item for long flights.
- Wear and carry washable silk clothing whenever possible. It is as cool as cotton for warmer days and surprisingly warm for cooler evenings.
- An extra folded flight bag takes very little room and comes in handy on your way home for the gifts and souvenirs you’ve picked up along the way.
- Check with your doctor to get the appropriate vaccinations. Pack enough medication for your entire trip as some prescriptions are difficult to find in exotic locales.
- Stow away some antibacterial wipes-they’re a convenient way to clean up on the go.
- Bring a voltage converter with you, along with an adapter (to fit electrical plugs into foreign outlets). Note that some adapter kits don’t include converters.
- Pack an extra pair of prescription glasses or contacts in case they are lost or broken.
- Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes are a must. Never pack new shoes.
- Wrap a long strip of duct tape around a pencil and bring it along for the ride. Duct tape is the magic fix for everything from torn suitcases to broken sandal straps.

Remember that many flights now have additional luggage restrictions, such as a general rule of thumb is checked luggage should not exceed 50lbs.  We recommend reviewing the Transportation Sercurity Commission’s (TSA) list on items that are not allowed in carry-ons or in checked baggage.