FOR THE LOVE OF PRAGUE is Gene Deitch's story - part national history, part memoir, part love story, part a record of national lunacy. However unlikely his account may seem to some outsiders, it is all true, with real names, real people, real incidents....and real insight!

It is his personal account of how it came to be, how the unpredictable events of his new life played themselves out, and how life in a hard-line communist country truly was. Gene had a "fly's eye" view, as he puts it, of what was happening on the ground: sad, funny serious, ironic, absurd. He was here during the dismal Stalinist period, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, during the euphoria of the 1968's Prague Spring and its heartbreaking destruction at Soviet hands, during the 20 years of renewed darkness that followed and finally he was a joyous witness to the "Velvet Revolution" of 1989. He came with a contract assuring he need not stay more than ten days...and he has been here more than 40 years thus far!

Love and work made him stay, as he saw, heard, and personally experienced the life in these then-sealed-off Czech lands; a long-time bird's-eye view. No reporter, who flew in, contacted a few dissidents, and flew out again, could ever match his experience, insight, or personal adventures. Those who have read it have greeted it with great critical acclaim!

Gene's story, like the story of the Czechs and Slovaks themselves, is one of courage, hope and perseverance in the face of an adversity most of us from the West can never know. It is also a story of love, and how the human heart, no matter what our mind tells us, can take us places we've never dreamed of......

The mother of cities reads the motto on the coat-of-arms of the Capital of the Czech Republic. It was topical in the Middle Ages and the Early New Age, when Prague was the political head and until 1547 also the supreme court instance of the burgher estate, the counterpart of the nobility and the sovereign in the system of political power and self-government. The motto of the coat-of-arms, however, can be interpreted also in another meaning: Prague is the primal city, not derived, not founded. It has been here from the very beginning, from the first written reports on Czech state. Prague Castle has dominated the valley along the Vltava rapids and fords since the end of the 9th century, when the foundations for the fort and the seat of the Princes and later on the Kings of Bohemia were laid on the promontory above the left bank of the Vltava. Under the protection of the Premyslid castle a merchant settlement flourished from the 10th century. In 968 an Arab delegation visited Prague whose interpreter, Ibrahim Ibn Jacob, described the city built of stone and lime and provided with an amply supplied market place. Only a few years later Princess Mlada founded the first Bohemian convent in Prague Castle and in 973 also the first Bishop of the Bohemian diocese settled in Prague and Prague started to play its historical role of the HEAD OF THE KINGDOM OF BOHEMIA, a mighty and rich urbancentre. From the 13th century it was a powerful, self-reliant and strong urban agglomeration with fast growing commercial, manufacturing, cultural and above all political influences on the whole country. In historical writings the history of the country often merges with the history of Prague, as if it were impossible to separate the events of Czech history from the history of the city on the Vltava. However, Prague has also a dramatic and interesting history of its own, while playing its historical and today again topical role transcending the boundaries of the state. Under CHARLES IV it became the centre of the supranational medieval Roman Empire in which the ruler of Bohemia occupied the key position. In the shadow of Prague towers Charles founded also the first UNIVERSITY in Central Europe in 1348 the spiritual and political activities of which influenced the neighbour countries with equal intensity as the activities radiating from the Prague court of Rudolph 11 250 year later. The lights and shadows of twelve centuries have passed over Prague, but the city, thirty times as large as in Charles' time, still ranks among the most inviting cultural and artistic points on the map of Europe.

Prague is a well- known old city of Europe that is a host to many tourists all round the year. The aura of the place speaks for itself. Prague is the capital of Czech Republic whose traditional and archaic European ambience is too appealing than ever imagined. Czech is deemed to be the heart of Europe and has a population of more than ten million people out of which 1.3 million are nestled peacefully in the city of Prague.

The Sites Worth Gazing
The Charles Bridge at Prague is a host to many visitors all round the year. This bridge was completed and made public in 1400. It displays grotesque architecture and river views that keep the visitors engaged especially during the summer season. There is also the eminent Wenceslas Square hat is deemed to be the heart of Prague and that grounds some of the most wonderful restaurants, shops and pubs in Prague. The Old Town center is also a place worth visiting in Prague. The center has on a parade some of the marvelous historical sites like the Old town Hall and the Astronomical clock where the visitors get to see the land from the 60 meter elevated tower.
Getting around in Prague is quite simple and convenient. Besides the natural beauty that the place is blessed with, the human technology does not score less. There are trams, metros and buses to explore the charismatic place.

Prague is the land of wonderful museums. There is the National Technical Museum, which puts to display old cars, bikes, planes, trains, cameras, watches and so forth. The best part is the museum itself that is a historical building of 1930’s. The Mozart Museum is worth appreciating. The music lovers can have a gala time here for the place offers historical music scores, letters and musical instruments that are exclusive and great to enjoy. Specifically for the artists is meant the Museum of Decorative Arts that presents Czech porcelain, crystal and wood -carvings. Not to overlook is the Wax Museum that has proven its worth across the globe. Apart from these there are many good museums and art galleries that are evenly spread across the city.
Pargue also has some of the magnificent castles like the Karlstejn Castle that was redesigned in 19th century and which is one of the most photogenic castles known so far. Close to the castle place, are sold exotic Bohemia crystals that the tourists often love to take back home. The Konopiste Castle is known for its French style architecture from 13th century. It is located about 44 kilometers a southeast of Prague and is thrown open for visitors from May to August. The Krivolat is a 13th century castle that boasts a prison, torture chambers and one of the biggest non-church Gothic Halls in the Czech Republic. Prague is an ideal place for all the music devotees for they can relish the classical concerts at the Sate Opera and at the Rudolfinum or the Municipal House. The Prague Autumn Festival is a big music event that offers lots of classical concerts and music. The Prague Spring festival is famous all over Europe. It is a liked cultural event that goes on from 12th May to 3rd of June every year.

The nightlife of Prague is thrilling and active with music in the air and loads of pubs, discos and bars cuddled in the city. Besides these there are many other attractions that make Prague a perfect holiday destination.