Picturing Prague
September 9 to September 16, 2011
Rene Jakl
T his magical city with its renowned magnificent cathedral, splendid bridges,
gold-tipped towers and church domes has been mirrored in the surface of the
swan-filled Vltava River for more than ten centuries. Almost undamaged by
WWII, Prague's compact medieval center remains a wonderful mixture of
cobbled lanes, walled courtyards and countless church spires all in the shadow
of a majestic castle that looks eastward as the sun sets. Prague ~ a modern
and vibrant city full of energy, music, culture, art and fine dining, all of which
we will savor.
Join me as we discover the history and explore the grand architecture of the
hilltop Castle District, the beautiful squares in the Old Town and the
atmospheric backstreets in Lesser Town. Marvel at the bizarre bone church in
Kutna Hora, a city on the UNESCO world heritage list and experience Terezin,
a concentration camp--which is certainly not an enjoyable experience, but an
intensely valuable one. It will provide you with a focal point for everything
you've seen in films and have read in books about the Holocaust and, in turn,
will enlighten you to view events in your own life with a new perspective. No
matter how you live your life, you will never look at your time on this planet in
the same way again.
Through the expert guidance of our photography professional and
experienced private guide, each of us will capture our own individual feel of
this city and its environs through the combination of moment, light and
composition. Get ready to tap into your creative spirit and tell a story through
your images.
Itinerary
September 8, Thursday: Depart from USA.
September 9, Friday: Arrive Prague airport
where a private transfer will take care of your luggage and drive you to our
accommodations for the week at the Savic Hotel, located in the heart of
the city, but on a quiet side street. Housed in a gothic and renaissance
building still showing parts of its origin back to 1319, the 27-room Savic Hotel
blends old-world warmth and comfort with the finest modern amenities. Buffet
breakfast is served daily. Enjoy free Wi-Fi connection in the public areas. A
rarity even in Prague, the hotel maintains14th century hand painted ceilings
which can be found in many rooms. Original paintings, wooden beams and
flooring have been meticulously restored.
Start our journey together at a Welcoming authentic Czech Dinner at
Hotel Restaurant, U Dominikána. *(D)
Sample Bedroom
Sample Bedroom
Sample Bathroom
Lobby
September 10, Saturday: After breakfast, we meet
OUR PRIVATE GUIDE, MILOS CURIK, who will narrate as we approach each
location and our instructor, PHOTOGRAPHER, RENE JAKL, who will show us
the best vantage points of this romantic city. Among the sites we will see
through their discerning eyes are the Strahov Monastery, Petrin Hill
Gardens and Loreta, a beautiful cloister that surpasses many others in
Europe. We will visit the picturesque houses of Novy Svet (New World)
and Prague’s most architecturally stunning streets: Thunovska as well as
Zamecke Schody - which lie under the castle. From Hradcany and
Mala Strana, our perspective offers a unique view of the rooftops of Prague
looking down towards the river. Rene will show us various ways to capture the
magic and beauty of these famed attractions. Our morning ends at the
Dancing House, an architectural wonder affectionately referred to as “Fred
and Ginger” and designed by Frank Gehry. We will have lunch at the rooftop
restaurant, Celeste, which is situated on the top two floors of the building and
boasts breathtaking views of Prague castle and Prague's Little Quarter. After
lunch, MILOS will round out the day by introducing us to other historical and
architectural sites including controversial art in public spaces, cubist
architecture, and his “music corner” encompassing Mozart, Beethoven and
Lennon. Dinner on your own. *(B,L)
September 11, Sunday: After breakfast, on
this momentous date, we journey to Terezin with both Rene and Milos.
Seemingly frozen in time, this village is a glorified ghost town with echoes of
clicking boots and fleeting souls. Though efforts are being made to renovate
and inhabit its vacant buildings (barracks), progress is slow and the past is
fresh in the minds of the Czech people. As Milos recounts the historical facts,
Rene will guide us into the world of documentary picture-taking where~ no
doubt~ the images will be worth a thousand words.
Lunch in the nearby town of
Litomerice
Litomerice,
rice with its pretty square etched in pastel shades and the
baroque structures of local 18th-century architect Ottavio Broggio-- a perfect
counterpoint after leaving the concentration camp. Litoměřice’s town square
seems like another world, even though the horrors of Terezín are only a few
miles south. We arrive back in Prague in the late afternoon giving us time to
reflect and rest after the day’s events. Later, at twilight, Rene will take us on a
sunset to sundown photo excursion to enrich our impressions of Prague at night.
Dinner on your own. *(B,L)
September 12, Monday: After breakfast,
we explore the Castle District with Milos navigating the way. The seat of Czech
rulers and the largest ancient castle in the world, Prague Castle was first
constructed in the 9th Century. The picture gallery, created in 1965, houses
paintings from the 16th – 18th centuries. The highlights include works by Titian,
Rubens and Guido Reni. We will also visit St. Vitus Cathedral which has the
most beautiful of numerous side chapels, Parler's Chapel of St Wenceslas. This
chapel houses the crown jewels and the tomb of “Good King” Wenceslas. Dating
from 1135 and named after the goldsmiths who lived here in the 17th century,
Golden Lane is popular with its tiny colorful houses built right into the arches
of the Castle walls. We’ll pass the former home of the writer Franz Kafka and the
Nobel-laureate poet Jaroslaf Seifert. Lobkowicz Palace shines as one of the
most significant cultural sites in Europe. Confiscated by the Nazis in WWII, and
again by the communists in 1948, it was finally returned in 2002 to the
Lobkowicz family, now Americans, and descendants of Maximilian, the 10th
Prince Lobkowicz, who fled to the USA in 1939. It was opened to the public as
a private museum in 2007. Highlights include paintings by Cranach, Breughel
the Elder, Canaletto and Piranesi and original musical scores annotated by
Mozart and Beethoven. Lunch at U Zlaté Studně , whose history dates back to
1528. A rumor has it that the building was a gift from the Emperor Rudolf II to
the astronomer Tycho de Brahe, who apparently saw a vision of the Virgin Mary
here. After lunch, we are off to the Estates Theater to see where Mozart’s
masterpiece, Don Giovanni, had its memorable world premiere in 1787. Dinner
on your own. *(B,L)
September 13, Tuesday: After
breakfast, Milos will lead us as we take a 7 minute walk to the Jewish Quarter.
(Josefov) Its torrid history dates back to the 13th century when the Jewish
community in Prague was ordered to vacate their disparate homes and settle
in one area. It is the best preserved complex of Jewish historical monuments in
Europe. The still-functioning Old-New Synagogue is the oldest preserved
synagogue in Central Europe, built in early gothic style in the late 13th century
and is richly adorned by intricate stonework. All interior furnishings are original.
We then stroll to the Kafka Museum, opened in 2005. This museum differs from
most museums that feature Kafka in that instead of the aim being to just present
his relevant documents; this museum uses the documents as a starting point to
call up a metaphoric reflection of Kafka’s life and work. We will learn about
Kafka through emotions and senses. Surely, we will derive a deeper meaning of
the term, “Kafkaesque”! Lunch and the rest of the afternoon are on your own.
In the evening, from the Hotel, we will go to the elegant
gallery of Antonin Manto-Mrnka, a glass artist whose works sit on the border
between functional and fine art. He is one of the Czech Republic’s foremost
glass and iron artists His work is exhibited in numerous galleries and private
collections around the world. We will meet Antonin--- and after creating your
very own work of art, we will savor an authentic Czech Dinner right next
door to this inspiring space! Use your artistic flair to paint a piece of glass
that will then be fired in their kiln at 800° C. This unique memento of your stay
in Prague will be delivered to our hotel the following day, already packed for
travel!*(B,D)
September 14, Wednesday: Morning free.
In the afternoon, accompanied by Milos, we travel for 80 minutes to Kutna
Hora, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the silver heart of Medieval Europe.
One of the most important royal towns in the world from the 13th to 16th
century, it competed with Prague economically, politically and culturally.
Among the sites we will visit will be: The Church of the Assumption of Our
Lady and Saint John the Baptist, Saint Barbara Cathedral ~ one of
the most famous Gothic churches in central Europe. Saint Barbara, being the
patron saint of miners (among others), is highly appropriate for a town whose
wealth was based entirely upon its silver mines. In a venture into the macabre,
we will explore The Sedlec Ossuary ~ a small Roman Catholic chapel
estimated to contain the skeletons of 40,000 to 70,000 people. It’s decorated
entirely with human bones that were arranged into pyramids by a half-blind
monk in 1511. For a needed change of pace, we will then visit nearby GASK.
This new museum opened in May 2010 in a renovated former Jesuit college. Its
exhibits include an interesting presentation of work collected during and after
the communist regime. It is the second largest gallery in the Czech Republic~
the largest being the National Museum in Prague.
We end our day with an exceptionally special visit
to the nearby Chateau Trebesice, a Renaissance castle (complete with
moat) lovingly restored by Italian artist Eugenio Percossi and his partner,
architect Alberto Di Stefano. Every summer the creative duo who also own an
artists' residency space in New York, invite internationally-known artists for
month-long castle residencies. In return for room and board, each of the five
artists creates a permanent installation. So far, more than 80 pieces of
contemporary art are scattered throughout the castle and its ooh-la-la
grounds. To add to this unique experience, we will stay for Dinner, meticulously
prepared by our Italian foodies with dozens of organic fruits and veggies from
the castle's French-inspired ornamental kitchen garden. Lunch on your own
(before leaving for Kutna Hora.) * (B,D)
September 15, Thursday: Morning
and afternoon free to pack, do optional sightseeing…last minute
shopping…perhaps a treatment in a salt cave spa? (I’ll provide a list of
options.) At the end of the day, we have a farewell Dinner at Coda Restaurant
on their rooftop terrace that will give us one last look at the unforgettable
fairytale beauty of Prague Castle, the Palace Gardens, Little Town Square, St.
Nicolas Church and the timeless Charles Bridge. The restaurant was designed
by Italian architects Rocco Magnoli and Lorenzo Carmellini, onetime associates
of Gianni Versace. They have created a warm, art-deco interior adorned by
paintings and statues by Dali, Chagall, Picasso, Kodet, Myslbek and Frank von
Stuck. Linger after dinner and be entertained by live music. Lunch on your own.
*(B,D)
September 16, Friday: Depart by
private transfer from Hotel Savic to airport. *(B)
* NOTE: B=Breakfast ~ L=Lunch ~ D=Dinner (Included)
About us
Ellen Greenberg
Ellen Greenberg began her career in art as a Production and Costume Designer for
projects that ranged from music videos and episodic TV to theater and feature films.
Most recently, Ellen was Production and Costume Designer for an independent film In
the Key of Eli, set for release in the summer of 2011. In addition, she has been an
instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, as well as guest lecturer
at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Ellen has also co-authored an art
book, Inside Chocolate. Presently, she is the co-owner and founder of Quick Culture,
an art appreciation and tour company that provides tours and travel experiences
that focus on art and culture.
Milos Curik
Milos is an independent art consultant, art collector and tour guide. He has studied
theory of culture, art history and aesthetics with the philosophical faculty at the
Charles University in Prague. Originally, a managing director who established the Jazz
and Rock Music Center in Prague in 1974, he also was very influential in the semi-
underground cultural organization, Jazz Society, which organized concerts of foreign
avant garde music bands that were banned by the communist regime. Among his elite
clientele are Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas, (professor from the Julliard School of
Music), the managing director of the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and many
principals of American art museums and galleries (Frick, Whitney, Guggenheim, Albright-
Knox, Metropolitan, Philadelphia Museum of Art) as well as leading American
architects.
He has also worked for many TV journalists including Barbara Noe (National
Geographic Books) and film and TV teams (Discovery Channel’s - Not Your Average
Guide, Samantha Brown´s Passport to Europe- Prague.) Milos’s expertise as a tour
guide has been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Fodors, Concierge.com
and the UK’s Telegraph.
Rene Jakl
Prague based photographer René Jakl works both in award-winning landscape and
reportage work, as well as on commercial assignments for his photo studio ILUMINOR.
Winning the most prestigious photojournalist contest in the Czech Republic twice for
the Czech Press, he has also been published by National Geographic. In addition, Jakl
has worked on assignment for various cities in Europe, but maintains his main field of
focus in Czechia, in both photojournalism and fine art landscapes.
AWARDS
2008 - 3rd Prize Czech Landscape Contest - Vilém Heckel Peaks
2006 - 1st Prize Czech Press Photo, Nature and Environment category
2006 - United Nations Children's Fund Prize
2006 - 2nd Prize Friends of The Earth Photo Competition, Resistance category
2002 - Photo of the Year Czech Press Photo
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T R I P D E T A I L S
LIMITED TO 12 PARTICIPANTS
*PROGRAM PRICES- see special savings on last page
$3650. per person based on double occupancy
$3995. single occupancy
DEPOSIT DUE APRIL 30, 2011-$500. (See Cancellation Policy Below)
BALANCE DUE JUNE 10, 2011
Price Includes:
• Pre-Departure 3-Hour Digital Photo Workshop in Your City.
• Pre-departure materials: Maps, suggestions for restaurants,
sights, shops, etc.
• 18-Hour Photography Tutorial
• Private Guide, Transportation, Lunch and Sightseeing in
Terezin and Litomerice
• Private Guide, Transportation, Dinner and Sightseeing in Kutna
Hora.
• Private Guide for Castle District, Jewish Quarter, City
Monuments
• Kafka Museum
• Glass Art Work and Dinner with Artist, Antonin Manto
• Transfers to/from airport
• Breakfast Daily
• Welcome and Farewell Dinners
• Hotel Accommodations for 7 nights
• Hardbound Book of participants’ photos of Prague
A total of 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
Price does not include:
• Airfare
• Optional Activities and Meals that are not Stipulated
• Tips for Private Guide/Driver
• Camera Equipment
• Trip Cancellation and Medical Insurance (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)
****Look below if paying by Check!
Post-tour extensions to Berlin and Budapest (Call for
Details!)
Call or email for your Reservation Form
310.273.9596
ArtandCulturalJourneys@QuickCulture.com
****Special Savings for payment by check (scroll down)
$3450 per person based on double occupancy
$3795 single occupancy
DEPOSIT DUE APRIL 30, 2011-$500. (See Cancellation Policy Below)
BALANCE DUE JUNE 10, 2011
CANCELLATION POLICY:
All requests for cancellation must be made in writing to:
Picturing Prague
9190 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 125,
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
The following cancellation fees apply:
Before March 30: Deposit Fully Refundable
March 30 – June 10: $100. of Deposit is Refunded
After June 10: No Refund on Deposit and/or Paid Balance
