JEWISH HERITAGE TOURS IN PRAGUE REGION, CZECH REPUBLIC

ACTIVE CUSTOM MADE TRIPS BY BUS, TRAIN, BOAT, BIKE OR FOOT

FLIGHT TERMS            July 5 to 12                 July 12 to 19              July 19 to 26

1 WEEK accommodation $350, plus guide $350, airfare not included

NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT $350 upon registration, balance due June 27 latest

Are you eager for ACTIVE forms of RELAXATION?  Would you like to discover ancient JEWISH CULTURAL monuments and FOLKLORE? Are you looking for a THEME for your next holiday?  Endowed with a wealth of marvelous SYNAGOGUES, MUSEUMS and TOWN HALLS of all architectural styles, famous SPAS and healing SPRINGS, renowned VINEYARDS and BREWERIES, magical CAVES, and mysterious MINES, Czechia offers you unforgettable 1 – 2  WEEK TOURS, based in Prague.  

WEEK 1

DAY 1 : Flight from Vancouver (Calgary or Toronto) to Prague
DAY 2 : Arrival, Boat cruise on Vltava,stroll down Charles Bridge to St.Nicholas Church
DAY 3 : the Old Jewish cemetery, Gothic Old-New Synagogue and Jewish Town Hall
DAY 4 : Jewish State Museum in Maisel, Klaus and Pinkas Synagogue, Ceremonial Hall
DAY 5 : Prague Castle, National Gallery, Toy Museum,Loreta, Strahov Library
DAY 6 : Art and Industry Museum,Spanish Synagogue, the Old Town Square and Ungelt
DAY 7 : Boat cruise on Moldau, Kafka’s Gallery, Jubilee Synagogue, High Synagogue
DAY 8:  Shop for antiques, crystal and garnet.  Departure

WEEK 2

DAY 1 : Trip to Konopiste Castle,Art Gallery,collection of animals and weapons by bus
DAY 2 : Trip to Cesky Krumlov Castle, royal Garden and Theatre by bus
DAY 3 : Trip to the Concentration Camp in Terezin by bus or train
DAY 4 : Trip to the Karlstein Castle and museum,  Konepruske Caves by train or bus
DAY 5 : Trip to Plzen’s Pilsner Urquel Brewery and Synagogue by bus or train
DAY 6 : Trip to Kutna Hora’s silver mine, museum and St. Barbara cathedral by bus
DAY 7 : Trip to the spa Karlovy Vary by bus,taste the springs,waffles and Becher Liquor               
DAY 8 : Shop for porzelain, ruby, handmade ornaments, wooden carvings.   Departure

*TRAVEL WITH EXPERTS*                             LANI  JEFFREY

*DISCOVER ANCIENT LANDS*                      604-637-2544

*MEET NEW FRIENDS*                                    lani.jeffrey@shaw.ca

*GET IN GOOD SHAPE*                                   www.digitalschool.net/lani

ACCOMMODATION

Stay in the beautifully furnished 1 Bedroom apartments(with Jacuzzi bathtub and quiet balcony) in central Prague near river, shopping and Stromovka Amusement Park.

FLIGHT INFO

Safe trip for a reasonable price could be arranged with Lydia Schulz from Viking Crown Travel Centre at 604-521-1112. Her office is located at 201-624,  6^th Street in New Westminster.

ABOUT  PRAGUE

The capital of Prague, otherwise known as the Golden City or the City of a Hundred Spires, is an enigmatic city.  Thanks to the fact that Prague is presently one of the only Middle cities still preserved, the city was proclaimed a World Heritage City by UNESCO.  In 895 AD, the first account of Prague as a city of mortar and stone “made richer by commerce than all others” was written by a Jewish trader, Ibrahim ibn Ya’qub from Spain. From the 10^th century onwards, Jews have lived here in symbiosis with Czechs and Germans.  Jewish settlements were scattered in various locations, but in the 13^th century, they were consolidated within the eventually independent Jewish town Josefov on the Moldau River.  The Jewish communities grew according to the whims of rulers and moods of the Christian populace. The most sympathetic periods were experienced by Jews during the reign of the Premysl family, Rudolph II and Joseph II. Today, the old Jewish cemetery, several synagogues and the Jewish Town Hall form the best preserved complex of Jewish historical monuments in all of Europe. A famous scholar and rabbi, Jehuda Low ben Bezdel, the creator of the legendary Golem lived here along with many other famous Jews such as Albert Einstein, Gustav Mahler, Richard Wagner, Gustav Klimt, Alphonse Mucha, Rainer Maria Rilke, E.E.Kisch and Franz Kafka. Cafés Montmartre, Concordia, Continental, Louvre and Arco became their meeting places where they wrote their master pieces. The Velvet Revolution of 1989 ended the reign of communism and opened the door to democracy, during which Jews won recognition from the Czech populace for their diligence, thrift and purposefulness. Jews managed to preserve their magnificent heritage that attracts an increasing number of tourists from all over the world.

ABOUT YOUR GUIDE

Born in Prague, Lani Jeffrey studied the Theory of Culture at the Charles University and graduated as an Engineer of Economics.  Following her graduation, she worked as a freelance photographer in Europe and Asia.  Lani was also trained as a Travel Guide and spent ten years exploring Europe and sharing its beauties with visitors from all over the world.  In 1990, she moved to Vancouver, Canada, where she received Bachelor of Education and Teaching Certificate from the University of British Columbia.  She continued to study photography with Mark Habdas until she developed her unique mixed media style by blending photography with painting, poetry and natural materials.  Lani’s work is continually displayed and privately collected throughout North America, Asia and Europe.  Last year, Lani presented her work in the “Cultural Crossroads” exhibit in The Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery of the Jewish Community Centre in Vancouver. Lani’s work was exhibited in numerous galleries in Vancouver, and can be viewed at www.laniportfolio.com.  She was interviewed by CBC and CBUF Radio and featured on CBUF and CTV. Her writing on art and travel destinations has been published in numerous publications.  Currently, Lani is employed as a Fine Art Teacher in Surrey School District.  In addition, she conducts Photography Workshops in Prague and Cultural Tours throughout Europe.