66 Tanks Crossing the Nusle Valley

Nuselský most (Nusle Bridge) is a massive concrete construction that spans over the entire neighborhood and hovers an incredible 140 feet over the streets below. Today we share 66 tanks crossing the Nusle Valley. First, let’s look across Nusle Valley several decades before the construction of the bridge… The photo above was taken in 1927....

LIFESTYLE

January 15, 2016

Bacon and Potato Quiche

I don’t know if Czechs eat quiche. Frankly, I don’t care because we are Czech and we do. Today I made a light, fluffy and divine quiche with bacon, potatoes, sour cream and smoked gouda cheese. I used store bought pie crusts which made it super fast and easy. Heaven on earth I tell you…...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

January 15, 2016

When I Grow Up…

What are you going to be when you grow up? Well, in 1960 in Czechoslovakia, you had some interesting choices as we can see by these lovely illustrations from the very talented illustrator Luděk Vimr ( July 5, 1921 – 9 November 2005 ). Ludek was a Czech painter , graphic artist and illustrator . He...

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT

January 8, 2016

Fairy Tales from the Mushroom Forest

Fairy Tales from the Mushroom Forest is a small pamphlet style book that was sent to me when it came out on 1978. In Czech, the title is Pohádky z houbového lesa written by Ljuba Štíplováand illustrated by Zdeňka Krejčová (b. 1944), who also illustrated Three White Roses. It is a sweet story about forest folk and their...

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT

December 13, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Cookies – Day Two

Old Czech Claws (Staročeské pracny or medvědí tlapky) I remember eating this wonderful cookie as a little girl and loving them so much. They have that classic Czech Christmas cookie taste that once you taste it, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Ingredients 1 1/4 cups ground walnuts 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 cup granulated sugar...

Food, Holidays, Recipes

December 12, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Cookies – Day One

Masaryk Cookies (Masarykovo cukroví) These classic cookies are named after President Masaryk. They are a favorite in Czech households and some people make them without the cocoa, adding some vanilla powder instead. Because the hazelnuts are kept whole, they tend to break off at the edges when cutting them and that makes them appear that...

Food, Holidays, Recipes

December 7, 2015

Little Amerika & Big Amerika – The Czech Grand Canyons

Watching Limonadovy Joe a few months ago I found myself wondering where those canyons were. It looked like the Czech Grand Canyon! Little Amerika? Could it really have been filmed in the Czech Republic? I know that Barrandov studios did a great job building a town from the old American Wild West, but what about those...

Tramping, Wanderlust

December 1, 2015

Winter by Karel Svolinský in 1948

Karel Svolinský (January 14, 1896 – September 16, 1986) was a significant Czech painter, printmaker, illustrator, typographer, stage designer and university lecturer. Today’s post is Winter by Karel Svolinský in 1948, in honor of the weather getting cooler and December’s 1st day. Look at this precious set of 10 original lithographed postcards printed in 4 simple colors....

LIFESTYLE

November 29, 2015

As You Wish

Co pán poroučí translates to “What Lord Commands”, but I would translate this Czech story to As You Wish. The story is written by Josef Štefan Kubin (October 7, 1864 – Nov. 25, 1965). He was a high school teacher, folklorist, collector of folk stories and fairy tales, ethnographer, dialectician, literary journalist and writer. The story...

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT

November 23, 2015

Prague’s Coolest Music Video with INXS

There are few cities in the world that have been immortalised in a music video to the extent of Prague in Never Tear Us Apart, the 1988 hit from Australian rock band INXS. Yes… We do agree that it is Prague’s Coolest Music Video. In the video, a very sexy and brooding Michael Hutchence takes a...

CULTURE, Music

November 13, 2015

Bohemian Jewelry Fashion Show 1964

On February 7th in 1964, a chic fashion luncheon was held showing off the latest styles in bijouterie. Modern jewelry, brooches, bangles, beads and other ladies ornamentation was shown, both on trays, displays and on models at this Bohemian Jewelry Fashion Show. Bohemia has always played a very important role in the history of costume jewelry. It was in...

LIFESTYLE

November 10, 2015

Jiri Trnka’s Masterpiece – Ruka – The Hand

Ruka or The Hand (in English) was Jiří Trnka’s last film in 1965. Jiří Trnka was born in the city of Plzeň in 1912. His mother was a dressmaker, so he had access to fabrics and other such materials and he taught himself to sew. He was also a very skilled self-taught wood carver and basically taught...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, Time Warp

November 9, 2015

Authors You Can Stay in John Steinbeck’s Cottage

Authors, you can stay in John Steinbeck’s cottage. Yes. You read that correctly. Who hasn’t read John Steinbeck? Remember In Dubious Battle, Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, The Pearl, The Grapes of Wrath, and Travels with Charley, to name only a few. Now you have a chance to get some of your own inspiration by spending the night...

Wanderlust

November 8, 2015

Czech Puppets from the 1960s

Remember the wonder of puppets? Hand puppets or marionettes, Czech children have a long history of loving to watch puppet shows. Below are several various photographs of Czech puppets from the 1960s of all types and shapes at an exhibition which took place in Prague on April 16, 1964. There are sweet little townspeople puppets. Lovely...

LIFESTYLE

November 6, 2015

Southern Bohemian Potato Mushroom Soup aka Kulajda

A very traditional Czech dish that has many varieties is called Jihočeská Kulajda or Southern Bohemian Kulajda. I call it Southern Bohemian Potato Mushroom Soup. It is basically a potato cream soup as the base and mushrooms or pork and dill or caraway seeds as the filler. Researching this soup, there are as many versions of...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

November 6, 2015

Limonadovy Joe – The Czech Western Experience

Lemonade Joe, or The Horse Opera (Czech: Limonádový Joe or Koňská opera) is a 1964 Czechoslovak musical comedy film, directed by Oldřich Lipský and written by Jiří Brdečka, based on his novel and stage play. This is a brilliant Czechoslovakian parody filmed in an avant garde style and a terrific example of Czech New Wave. It is positively...

CULTURE, Movies