Good Chemistry

The 233rd National Meeting and Expo of the American Chemical Society has taken over downtown Chicago. Over 13 000 chemists are roaming the streets, wearing conference badges and talking about organic synthesis and the like...

Prague Winter

It seems hard to believe, but walking back and forth through the cobblestone streets of old-town Prague day after day is starting to feel... tedious.

Jan Hus

I'd be quite accustomed to living in this part of town by now, and not giving the deep history behind it all a second thought, if not for the persistent language barrier. Although you can easily forget about even that in the Bohemia Bagel, an enclave for expats, serving American style burgers and fries.

After lunch and a quick Internet/e-mail fix, it's time to branch out from the most popular sights, and onto some slightly less beaten paths. Some choose to see the museum of the artist Mucha, or the Museum of Communism.

National Museum

There are also more modern and off-beat attractions.

Jaromir's Place

At the Christmas market you can get a sweet cinnamon pastry called a trdlo (Czech for silly). Despite the adjective staročeské (old-Czech), apparently they are not that old a tradition.

Crazy Bread?

One final photo from the Old Town Square:

Christmas Tree

Castle on a Hill

The President is out of the country, but his castle remains open, and under guard.

Castle Hill

Only recently did this become a presidential residence, but there is a long history in this place, including a noted defenestration.

Presidential Palace

There is an hourly changing of the guard.

Palace Guard

Prague was once called the city of a hundred spires, and several are found on this hill.

St. Vitas Cathedral

Golden Gate

Hradčany

At Night