Thursday, December 5, 2013

Dream Destination & Celebrate Blog Hop

Thanks to Lexa Cain and her new release Soul Cutter & Julie Flanders and her new release Ghosts of Aquinnah for this Dream Destination Blog Hop. Please head over to their blogs and enter the Rafflecopter for plenty of remarkable prizes.

My Dream Destination is Prague, Czech Republic: 
Nearly 25 years ago, demonstrators in Prague staged the "velvet revolution," a series of peaceful protests that helped bring down the communist regime. Since emerging from the somber shadows of one-party rule, the City of a Thousand Spires has become one of Europe's hippest travel destinations — a cosmopolitan city where culture buffs and pleasure seekers mingle happily in chic cafés and Gothic cathedrals. Whether you're sleeping at a former monastery turned five-star hotel or dancing in a onetime nuclear bunker, you'll quickly realize that in Prague, the unconventional is conventional: after all, this is Bohemia. Here's how to make the most of your stay.




Charles Bridge
Commissioned by King Charles IV in 1357, Prague's most stunning bridge spans 16 arches and is lined with 30 Baroque statues of religious figures. The bridge's 1,700 ft. (520 m) of cobblestone are used for wholly temporal purposes, however. Each afternoon, painters and hot-dog vendors fight for space with — and custom from — the hordes of tourists who are themselves elbowing one another for the best views of the Vltava River. If you arrive at dawn, you'll beat the crowds and enjoy a glorious sunrise.


Serious beer drinkers should head straight to this 550-year-old institution to sample its infamous X-Beer 33. The dark, bittersweet lager ferments for six months in an oak barrel and has an alcohol content of 11.8%, making it the strongest brew in the Czech Republic. Be sure to line the stomach with hearty specialties like larded roast beef in sour cream with white bread dumplings — and remember to pace yourself.



 Zizkov Prague, Czech Republic
When the sun sets, venture east to Zizkov, a former industrial suburb and the epicenter of Prague's rough-and-tumble nightlife. More than 300 bars dot the neighborhood's 2 square miles (5 sq km), which almost certainly represents the highest per capita concentration of drinking venues in any district in Europe. Leave your fancy dress at home. Zizkov is a place of convivial dives, replete with beer served in plastic cups.

Prague Castle, Hradcany, Prague, Czech Republic
Roughly the size of seven football fields, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. Built and renovated during 13 centuries, the complex includes churches, gardens, alleyways and royal residences that would take days to appreciate. Don't miss the St. Vitus Cathedral. In addition to Art Nouveau stained-glass windows and a wooden depiction of the crucifixion, it houses treasures like the tomb of St. John of Nepomuk — a blinding two-metric-ton vault that is held up by an army of silver angels.



Old Town Square

Despite a number of foreign invaders, Prague's Old Town Square has remained virtually untouched since the 10th century. Today's marauders consist largely of tourists who congregate to eat alfresco while admiring a hodgepodge of architecture — including the Rococo Kinsky Palace, the Gothic Tyn Cathedral and the Baroque St. Nicholas Church, to name a few. An ever-changing cast of musicians, protesters, dance troupes, punks and vendors make the square as colorful as the buildings that surround it.


Well what do you think? The City of Prague was spared the blitzkrieg of World War II. I love the Old World and would dearly love to travel to the Czech Republic one day.




Today is also Celebrate the Small Things Hop thanks to Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author. Join in the fun!

I'm keeping this short: I'm Celebrating Life, My Family, and My Online Friends!!








87 comments:

  1. The buildings look just amazing. Could wander for days.

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  2. HI, Cathrina,

    LOVE YOUR CHOICE. You and LEXA both chose two of my absolute favorite destinations to visit. I had the pleasure of traveling through most of Europe, but I never made it to PRAGUE,,,, I SOOOOOO want to go. Let's meet and have a drink at one of the charming tavernas on a cobblestone street. Can you imagine..Someday…

    Hope you have a wonderful holiday season! Any special plans?

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  3. Hi, Catharina,

    Those awesome picture make me want to take a trip to Prague as well.

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  4. Yup, Prague would be a wonderful place to visit!

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    1. Thank you JL and Bish for stopping by and dreaming with me.

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  5. Wow I never imagined going to Prague!
    Great location!

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  6. I was in Prague last December, but didn't try the X-beer. Must go back!

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    1. My daughter studied abroad for college and had a few beers...

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  7. I almost picked Prague for my destination! Thank you, thank you for the pictures. I WILL get there one day.

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  8. I bet I'd pass out from just a few sips of that X-Beer LOL. This was a fun virtual tour of Prague! Now you've made me want to go there too.

    Thanks so much for taking part in our Hop!

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  9. gorgeous! mesmerizing!
    id love to tour europe. so much history, culture, and beauty

    great escape!

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  10. Good choice! I was there in 2003 and it's the most beautiful city.

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  11. That's not a place I would've thought of, but you're right- it's a beautiful city!

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    1. My daughter studied abroad there and that's what made me think about it. She loved it and wants to go back.

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  12. I hadn't even considered Prague before reading your post. The pictures are wonderful, of course, but I'm most intrigued by the description of "where the unconventional is conventional." That appeals to the adventurer within me. (I'm SURE she's still in there somewhere!)

    Nice to meet you. Count me in as your newest groupie.

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  13. Prague looks gorgeous. I never really looked at pictures of it before, but you're right, it sounds like an excellent dream destination!

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  14. You've totally convinced me! Where do I sign up? ;) Beautiful!

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  15. Wow! I had no idea Prague was a such an awesome city. Those bridges spanning the river are so romantic looking. And as someone who loves castles, the idea of seeing the largest in the world is fabulous! If it would take 3 or 4 days to see the place, no problem - in fact, I'd like to never leave. lol Thanks for joining the hop! :-)

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  16. I went to Prague about ten years ago, and I loved it. It's a unique, beautiful city with so much history. When I went, it wasn't that long after the fall of Communism, so the country still had a very different, non-Western feel to it (and it was CHEAP!!!). I bet it's different now, but still well worth a trip!

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  17. Amazing! I had no idea Prague was so interesting. Now I have another place to add to my growing list of places to go before I die. :)

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  18. I always wanted to go to the Charles Bridge. I loved reading your descriptions, thank you!

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  19. Great choice. We visited Prague last year. It such a beautiful city. Now I want to go back just for an x-beer 33 :)

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  20. Wow, Prague is a lot cooler than I realized! (I never knew much about it till this post, I must admit...heh.)

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  21. I had the good fortune to spend a wonderful weekend in Prague with my husband. A beautiful choice!

    http://shahwharton.com

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  22. Prague certainly seems worth a visit.

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  23. Seriously, this sounds positively wonderful! I think I might have to visit Prague too some day.

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  24. Prague sounds dreamy! I'd love to go there. :)
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  25. It looks like a gorgeous place. I didn't care for the masks though. I learned from Aneta that it's also called Praha - I linked it with my last name. Another one of those weird coincidences, Cathy? Hmmmmm.

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  26. I never thought of Prague. Good choice.

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  27. I've been begging my husband for us to visit Prague for years. It's so fascinating. And he's Czech by blood. My last name is Czech. One day I'll get him to agree.Excellent choice!!

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  28. It looks gorgeous! I love the red roofs. I know people who have visited have come back and said how beautiful it was and how friendly.

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  29. I visited Praag when I was 20 and it was a beautiful city.

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  30. Prague is beautiful! I live about 5 hours from there, been there once, and would like to visit again. Great choice!

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  31. Although I live pretty close to the Czech Republic (I'm Austrian), I've never been there :( but one day, one day... :)

    Great post!

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  32. What a great place to choose, Catherine. I'd go with you.

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  33. Prague looks incredibly rich in beauty and history.

    Your blog looks incredibly rich in fun and excitement.

    Glad to find you here.

    xoRobyn

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  34. Oh yes! Nice choice! Prague is supposed to be breathtakingly beautiful! Considering all the strife in Europe over time, it's wonderful to think there exists a little gem that is so perfectly preserved. :)

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  35. what amazing pictures! i never thought of prague, but it's beautiful and definitely on my list of places to go!

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  36. I love the architecture there! It is definitely a place I'd like to visit and photograph. The bridge is stunning.

    The Warrior Muse

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  37. You gave an excellent case for visiting Prague. Thanks for the breath taking pictures.

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  38. Those buildings are really beautiful... lovely hodgepodge... I had no idea... thanks for drawing my attention to the beauty of this place.
    Writer In Transit

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  39. I've been a fan of Prague for a bit. The architecture is just so lovely.

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  40. the Czech Republic was never on my list of places I wanted to visit, but I think you changed that for me!


    Also, I just wanted to share, I am hosting a massive book giveaway (14 authors, 15 books)

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  41. Prague is such a delicious destination... the culture and the history. Yum!

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  42. Prague is a great choice! & online friends are worth celebrating!

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  43. What a wonderful choice!
    I love all you shared-great photos, too!

    Nicely done!
    Congrats to Lexa and Julie

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  44. Prague is one of the places I've always wanted to visit! The pictures are wonderful. Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  45. I knew someone who would rave about Prague. It made me interested in the place and I hope to visit one day. Spectacular pictures here.

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