Two years ago I graduated college and wanted something more out of life than an office job.  I didn’t have many “things” accumulated yet so I packed what I owned into two duffle bags and set off to Prague to live and work.  I wanted an adventure, but I also picked Prague specifically because that is where my family roots on my mother’s side are from.  My mother was the first generation to be born in America and during my childhood I learned much about my family’s homeland and history which is actually quite impressive. - - My grandfather was a strong, honest and moral politician who, unfortunately for me, died before I was born.  But his memory has lived on in my family.  My mother has spoken so much about him that I feel as if I knew him myself.  I can even imagine what it would have felt like to be hugged in his safe, strong arms, to smell the pipe tobacco on his clothes and to hear his loud, booming laugh.  I have always imagined him looking out for me and always wished to make him proud.  I returned to the Czech Republic to walk in his footsteps, up the castle gates, around the gardens, and to the overlook of the city.  While I stood there I wondered if he had stood in the very same spot years ago, in sadness, as the Nazis or the Communists took over this precious city. During my cold December in Prague I visited his village of Pochvalov, where his house still stands today with a plaque of remembrance on the exterior wall.  I also visited the nearby town of Louny, for which he was the representative in Congress. The largest street in that town is named after him.  I was very proud and full of emotions to stand under that sign and hoped my grandfather was looking down on me and was happy that I had come to remember him and everything he had fought for. Return to Prague: Following in my family’s footsteps - By Dana Newman

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Real Estate In In The Czech Republic Properties In The Czech Republic - Current Listings - Prices are up, but what you get for what you pay is still pretty fine. There are plenty of bargains outside of Prague and in any case, the low cost of living in Czechloslovakia makes up for any increases in real estate price that have occurred. - Advertise Your Property - Also see Real Estate in in Europe - Castles for Sale Worldwide - See Real Estate By Type - Islands, B&B's, Plantations - Vineyards For Sale Worldwide - International Real Estate Index

Articles On Living In The Czech Republic Found in Translation: A Beginner’s Guide to TEFL Training in Prague -  For many years, Prague has been a Mecca for TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training but how is the industry evolving and what should you know before committing to a TEFL course? The financial crisis has undeniably had an adverse effect on the whole spectrum of language learning in Europe recently and language schools in the Czech Republic have also been hit by the recession. The Czech Republic (and Prague in particular), has in the past picked up the reputation of being a sort of lush grazing ground for certified and uncertified English teachers and at one time all the credentials needed for standing in front of a classroom of paying language students was a passport from an English-speaking country. Sad to say that the days of enormous demand for teachers are over but Prague still remains one of the hubs in Europe where Aussies, Brits, Kiwis and North Americans rub shoulders with local Czechs, while teaching English and soaking up the local flavor of the city’s well-deserved international reputation as a city of culture and general jovial frolics. “FOR SALE”: Old Castles in Europe -  This large and splendid 350 year old baroque castle (a so-called Rittergut or Knight´s castle) is an impressive sight as one enters the village of Klingenberg from the east, some 25 Kms SW of Dresden in Saxony, as it lords over the a beautiful stream, valley and forests beyond. Once the focus of the community this castle is now a sorry sight, waiting for an enlightened investor to breathe life again into its ancient stones…most windows have been damaged, the rendering is falling off in many places, even a small tree is growing out of the beautiful staircase tower…complete restoration and modernisation is necessary. Used as a municipal building up until about 1990 the basic structure and foundations seem to be in sound condition. The main baroque roof structure is solid and rot free… apart from a nasty localised attack of wet rot on the west side of the building. Not pretty but entirely repairable. What is pretty is the magnificent stone spiral staircase at the front of the building facing the sleepy village square, combined with rural views over a valley at the rear and a truly wonderful vaulted cellar. The annex was built originally as a distillery and could easily return to a similar function revising the distillery plus a brewery perhaps. Quality of Life When you Live Overseas vs. Living on Faith in the USA -  As the numbers of expats continues to increase in the “less developed” countries of the world, those who have made this life changing decision are expressing their reasons for leaving their respective countries in different ways than before. In years past, people expressed a desire to live in a different climate, or an interest in experiencing other cultures and learning a new language. Of course, there are many who wanted to make their dollars go farther in a country where living expenses were much lower than in North America or Europe. All these are valid reasons for setting up shop in a new location, but the world climate has changed drastically in the past decade and has presented several more important reasons that some people now find it necessary to leave their home countries. One of the main reasons is that many feel they have lost their faith in the hope that things will get better. A Villa B&B in the Czech Republic - As with any real estate market, there are fixed principles and widely swinging trends. The Czech Republic is no exception.  My intention is to briefly address these principles and trends with a slant toward the future. My experience comes from living in the Czech Republic from three to six months a year for the last ten years.  After looking for real estate for the first three years, my wife and I finally made the big plunge in October of 1993.  During the intervening three year period, we watched prices explode, particularly in Prague and Karlsbad. When we started looking, you could buy an ambassador's residence in Prague for $25,000. Our delay cost us dearly, but my wife and I couldn't agree on what to buy. We were at opposite ends of the spectrum with my wife wanting a single family home or cottage and me looking at palaces and villas.  We compromised on a 5000 sq. ft., 12-room villa built n 1864 by an Austrian industrialist.  Living In Marseille - The Hippest Spot - by Tanja Bulatovic -  If you’ve ever dreamt of living in France, and you don’t want to live in the middle of nowhere where the sun never shines, (north-west & central France) then this could very well be your last opportunity. I’m so certain of this fact; I’m trying to convince my own mother of retiring here. She currently lives in Australia and I know what you’re thinking, but we’re talking about affordability and quality of life here. With that in mind, I have to admit that France comes out on top. Now, that’s a big statement coming from an Australian girl, but I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.  There’s only one catch. If you (and my mum) wish to claim your little piece of French paradise, you need to do it before 2013, which is when the rest of the world will catch on. By then it’ll be too late. Whether you’re looking for a home or simply a good investment, here’s the scoop. Marseille is the current hot spot and there’s never been a better time than the present. The Above Article Was Written By Tanja Bulatovic Who Has A Excellent  Expat Blog - See The Food Lifestyle Photography From France & The World - The Blog Of Tanja Bulatovic - "Every Wednesday is organic market day in Cours Julien - a trendy little suburb in Marseille packed with second hand book stores, cafés, kiddy playgrounds, gorgeous fountains, street art and gypsy's playing well-worn tunes for some spare coin. I like hanging out there because the people seem somehow different - less polished, more rough around the edges, interesting, bohemian, relaxed. Going to the Bio Market feels like belonging to a secret club. People brush past you and smile with that ethereal glint in their eye. You know...the kind that emanates from behind the eyes. As if to say...  "Hi. I see you. I know you. We're the same." - Tanja Bulatovic is also the author of Living in France Made Simple which is available online. EscapeArtist Expat Taxes Newsletter - Individuals have been leaving their own land to seek opportunities elsewhere since the dawn of mankind  -   But it has only been since the development of the modern nation-state, and its taxation of the worldwide income of its citizen-residents, that expatriation has taken on significant tax consequences. One of the first tax advisors to appreciate the potential tax savings of expatriation was my friend and colleague, Marshall Langer J.D., a valued member of The Sovereign Society Council of Experts. Langer is an international tax attorney and the respected author of several major international tax treatises. He is also the daring creator of a now out-of-print book, The Tax Exile Report. This title gained international notoriety when the late U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.), red-faced and angry, waived a copy of the book at a televised Senate hearing, denouncing it as “a legal income tax avoidance plan.” - Escapeartist has hatched a new partnership with Global Wealth Protection that will set the standard for authoritative information on Asset Protection, International Banking and Wealth Management and with a number of accountants, lawyers and bookkeepers that know the laws regarding expat taxes, how to do your income tax, which form to use, and which services understand the complexity of expat concerns. Simply put, the EscapeArtist Expat Taxes Newsletter portal will provide a wealth of information that will show you ways to save on taxes . . .  and then some. Adventures In The Czech Republic - 3 Czech Hooks, 2 Beautiful Gardens, And A Twisted Birch Tree - For many of us, it was another disappointing year of the Academy Awards. Again, the Academy managed to give the worst film-nominated the top honors, at least as far as I’m concerned. The upside to this is that, after I’m finished grumbling, I try to prove to myself, among others, that the Academy Awards still have credibility. One way I do this is to dig through the past winners until I find one deserving of the top prize. I would argue that one such motion picture is Milos Forman’s Amadeus which won best picture at the Awards in 1984. One of the greatest things about this movie is the sets and background, which were filmed in Czechoslovakia. In present times, Prague is one of the most sought after destinations to shoot films with its Barrandov Studios and has been the setting for many genres of films, ranging from Mission Impossible to Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Oliver Twist. But it wasn’t always this way. Forman had to get special permission from the Communist authorities to shoot Amadeus in the early 1980s.  From Yin and Yang to Fred and Ginger: The Dancing Building in Prague - In a quiet green space in the ancient city of Prague, Czech Republic, a stone-faced old man sits idly and watches as a gleaming couple bends and sways in a perpetual dance on the corner of a busy intersection near the banks of the Vltava River. But there is no music to be heard as the couple dances, because in reality “the dancers” are actually a  Frank Gehry creation officially known as the Nationale-Nederlanden building.  The building has been dubbed “Fred and Ginger” by appreciative critics because of its resemblance to the famous dancing pair of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Like-minded Czechs tend to call it The Dancing Building, while less appreciative viewers have names for it like: “terrible“ and “looks like a crushed can of Coke“ to name but a few.  Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech Republic - Number Two vs. Number Three - Don’t be blinded by the hype. Yes, it’s true. Cesky Krumlov is one of, if not the most, beautiful places in the Czech Republic. Never heard of it? Ask any Czech person to tell you about Cesky Krumlov and their face will light up like a child on Christmas morning.  They’re certainly not wrong as Cesky Krumlov has the second-biggest castle in the Czech Republic (behind Prague’s of course), a spectacular garden to go with it, and unique architecture throughout the town on top of that. And that’s just the city limits. If you only have a week or so in the Czech Republic, Cesky Krumlov is a surefire hit. But come on folks, we’ve been down this road before. We go to a country and we go where the guidebook, tourist office and the friendly locals tell us to go. Not this time. Prague, “City of a Hundred Spires” - a quarter the price of Berlin or Paris and equally as charming - Living in the Czech Republica - When you arrive in Prague at the airport, you drive past acres of dilapidated government housing projects and other buildings from the cheap cement era of Communist bad taste and worse ideas. But once in Prague, enchantment.  Here, amid Gothic cathedrals, ancient palaces, and cobblestoned streets, it is easy to believe that Mozart and Einstein were born. As an added bonus, it is easily one of cheapest beautiful cities you will ever visit. I have lived in over a dozen of the world's major cities, and Prague is assuredly one of my favourites.  The Old Town Square is the heart of the city. Sit here and bask in the architectural history of Prague, and have a coffee for a dollar. At night, golden lights flicker on in the black turrets of the Gothic Cathedral. Fire-dancers, jugglers, and musicians entertain you.  From the old town square, a labyrinth of tiny lanes and alleys wind through the Old City, swallowing up visitors, confusing even those with the most astute sense of direction. Making your way to the river, you’ll find the Charles Bridge, a medieval structure framed with Gothic statues, which loom above you like frozen ghosts, haunting and black with the soot of centuries. Over the bridge you’ll see the colorfully lit castle sitting on the hill. Real Estate in the Czech Republic  - No matter what part of the globe you call home, making the decision to invest in property can be a challenging, albeit exciting process. Prague is all the more enticing when a slice of history begins at only 50,000 GBP for a romantic apartment in the centre of town. But for foreigners interested in purchasing real estate outside of their own country, the road to home or business ownership can be a bit more difficult to travel. In the Czech Republic, and Prague specifically, a number of factors have combined to lure non-natives to the Golden City. The introduction of the market economy is one such factor, creating substantial spikes in incomes and higher demands for housing. Likewise, numerous foreign businesses have been drawn to Prague (often referred to as “the jewel of Europe”) due to its central location in eastern Europe and cheap labour costs. These elements, coupled with its breathtaking scenery, have also peaked the film industry's interests while making it a prime location for urban expatriates who appreciate Prague's modernity, liberal atmosphere, and low cost of living Rhapsodic Bohemia... where you can become a homeowner for less than $4,000 - Sound cottages for less than $14,000. Substantial family houses often selling for $30,000 or less. As one realtor said, “Land is so cheap, it’s like getting the buildings for free.” Where can you find these housing bargains? In the Czech Republic, in the countryside surrounding Karlovy Vary, Ceske Budejovice, Cesky Krumlov, Trebon, Kutna Hora... Although Prague teems with tourists, few people seem aware of what the rest of the Czech Republic offers. It’s divided into the regions of Bohemia and Moravia—and Bohemia was where I spent 10 days last May. Blessed with hot summers and Christmas-card winters, this part of the country is spellbinding—a mosaic of romantic castles and towns straight from a sword-and-sorcery tale. The Czech Republic - Worth A Look - Living In Czech Republic - Let's start with the fact, that for a lot of readers of this newsletter leaving their home country will mean tremendous tax savings (for Americans living abroad, all income up to 75000 is tax deductible, for many other countries all income is.) Sure, if you are a construction worker, you will not be able to find a job in Prague, that will pay you as much as your current job in LA, but if you are a privacy consultant, Internet entrepreneur or stock-market trader, you might as well do it from here. The communications are about as good as in Germany, and in the small beautiful village in the mountains where I live, I have a phone line with ISDN, cellular coverage and satellite dish for my CNN and CNBC. It is a known fact, that Prague is one of the most beautiful cities on earth. In the last years it has also become a very attractive place to live, do business and invest. Top Tips for Expats - Living in the Czech Republic -  It was only after our airplane touched down at Prague's Ruzyne airport, starting my family's life as expatriates in that far-off and beautiful city, that my wife and I fully grasped the magnitude of what we had begun ... we had rented out our home, put almost everything we owned in storage, and left the U.S.A. And we didn't know a soul in Prague. Sure, millions of U.S. citizens live abroad. However, almost all of them fall into one of two categories. First, there are single people getting a taste of adventure while teaching English abroad. Second, there are career expatriates, such as diplomatic, military, and corporate transfers. We fit neither of these categories. What's more, we had no family ties and no cultural ties to the Czech Republic. In fact, we had never even visited the country. Because for close to a year we had studied, made arrangements, sought job leads, and even learned a bit of the language, we thought we were pretty well prepared. UNESCO As My Guide - More Travels In The Czech Republic - The longer I’m in Europe, the pickier I’ve become as a traveler. In a sense, I’m still like a little child on the way to the candy store because I feel as though as I’ll be satisfied by ANYTHING I see, treasuring every moment of my life abroad. Then there’s another part of me that critiques the town while comparing and contrasting with other places I’ve seen. As you can imagine, my appreciation and amazement by new surroundings have declined over time, much as one would feel eating their favorite meal 5 times in a week. Because of this, I’m finding it harder and harder to rely on people’s recommendations. A new traveler will tell you anything is great, as long as they weren’t the victims of a rip-off. Travelers with too much knowledge don’t help either because the average back-packer or English teacher isn’t going to have a doctorate in Eastern European studies. One thing that I’ve found to be 100% effective thus far is UNESCO sites.  More Articles On The Czech Republic Current Articles On Living & Investing In The Czech Republic In The Escape From America Magazine More Articles On Living & Investing In The Czech Republic