I built this site with the intention to take you back in time and show you the Czech Republic the way it was first shown to me in the 90s. I want you to experience all of the events and festivals the way Czech people do, visit breathtaking sites, and build unforgettable memories with new friends.
When I first came to Prague in the late 90s I was captivated by its beauty. After exploring every corner of the city, tasting delicious Czech meals at different restaurants and drinking a lot of "PIVO" (back then you could get a half-litre of Pilsner for 25 koruna, and 15 koruna outside of Prague) I knew I had to see more of the country.
My girlfriend at the time introduced me to the Czech way of travel “rohlik (bread rolls), pastika (pâté) and šťávu (water mixed with home-made flavored syrup)”, She showed me small towns, villages, castles, forests, lakes, and mountains. We went cycling, hiking, mushrooming, camping and experienced many traditional festivals in the countryside, where I met friendly locals.
The trips, the adventures, the amazing people I met along the way, together with the beautiful nature, the traditions and the history of the country piqued my curiosity.
One day, armed with a map, a phrasebook, rohlik s pastika, I made my way to Prague’s main train station alone and jumped on a random train. I didn't know where I wanted to go, I didn't know where the train was heading, but I was determined to better explore the Czech Republic.
Sometime during the maiden voyage a ticket inspector asked me for my ticket. I promptly handed him 100 koruna and, with phrasebook in hand, asked him where I should get off (you can imagine the look on his face). After 5 minutes of looking at me like a mad man, and asking me repeatedly where I am going, he finally gave me pointed to a stop on my map where I should get off. Since I couldn't understand Czech, I had to read the name of the stops to make sure I wouldn't miss mine.
Upon arrival, I flipped a coin and decided to walk to the right (not left) and follow the signs. I walked through fields, forest and numerous villages, where some people used to stop to stare, while others tried to talk to me in German or Russian. Their interest grew bigger when they found out that I spoke English, and that I came from Florida. Their faces lit up with big smiles and, together with their few english words (mainly the name of movies, songs and/or actors), they asked me if I wanted a beer - "PIVO"?
We went straight to a pub where I shocked the bartender by ordering in Czech, "jedno pivo, prosim". There were no foreigners in many places of Czech Republic back then, especially in the countryside and trying to speak Czech). Borrowing my phrasebook , the bartender introduced himself. Petr and I became fast friends and he invited me to come back for a visit.
