2023 Adventure #2: Czechia – Cultural Jewel of Europe

Adventures in Mind is an educational travel program for the community. It will appeal to life-long learners who are inquisitive, open-minded and looking beyond the usual tourist experience. It is open to free spirits of all ages: a level of physical and mental fitness is highly advisable; curiosity and a sense of community are essential!

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Location:

Prague, with day-trips to other towns

Dates (to be confirmed):

September 10 - October 3, 2023 (including travel days)

Group Leaders:

Prof. John Black and Constance Kovalenka

Join us in Prague to discover one among the most fascinating national cultures of Central Europe. The city and the Czech lands around it witnessed tremendous changes from the religious wars of the late Renaissance, through the domination of the Hapsburg Empire and the emergence of a nationalist movement in the 19th century, to 20th-century periods of occupation and independence.

Prague today is a cosmopolitan city whose historic buildings and streets echo with the voices of astronomers Brahe and Kepler, composers Dusík, Mozart, Smetana, Dvorák and Janácek, writers Kafka, Rilke, Capek and Kundera, painters Mucha, Schiele and Kokoschka, and playwright and political icon Vaclav Havel.

Our Adventure, involving 10-15 participants, will appeal to those who want an educational component to their travel, but are not interested in university credit. Activities will include visits to buildings, galleries, concerts and other sites of cultural interest, as well as informal seminars in which participants, group leaders and local academics share their understanding of and responses to Czech history and culture.

Group Leaders

Dr. John Black taught in and co-ordinated VIU’s Liberal Studies Abroad credit program from its inception in 1997 until his retirement in 2017. He has Master's degrees from Cambridge and Simon Fraser, and a PhD from UBC, all in Philosophy. He has travelled extensively in Europe, and has led many study groups to Italy, England and the Czech Republic. He values Prague in particular because of the encounters possible there with art, architecture, literature and music across seven centuries of history.

Constance Kovalenka is a graduate of the Liberal Studies BA program at VIU, and an equally experienced European traveller. Aside from her strong connection with visual art, she will bring to the Adventure an unerring eye for interesting places to eat, drink, shop, meet cats and hang out.

Tentative Itinerary

Day 0

Leave Canada

Day 1

Arrive Prague; settle into accommodation

Day 2

Orientation; Lecture on Czech History; Group Lunch; Vysehrad - St. Martin's Rotunda

Day 3

Prague Castle - St. George's Basilica, St. Vitus'  Cathedral

Day 4

Belvedere; Wallenstein Palace and Gardens; Free Afternoon

Day 5

Free Day

Day 6

Lecture on Czech Religious History; Walk in the Historic Centre

Day 7

St. Agnes' Convent; Jewish Quarter; Klementinum

Day 8

Mozart Museum; Church of St. Mikulase

Day 9

Day Trip to Hluboka

Day 10

TBA  

Day 11

Free Day

Day 12

Free Day

Day 13

Mucha Museum; Municipal House

Day 14

Lecture/Seminar on Franz Kafka; Kafka Museum\

Day 15

Trade Fair Palace (Gallery of Modern Art)

Day 16

Seminar on Karel Capek; Kampa Island, Park and Gallery

Day 17

Day Trip TBD

Day 18

Free Day

Day 19

Free Day

Day 20

Seminar on Czech Music; Dvorák Museum, Opera

Day 21

River Trip; Final Dinner

Day 22

Free Day

Day 23

Leave Prague


The Adventure will begin with a number of optional preparatory sessions in Nanaimo before departure. These will provide background on the themes of the program and an opportunity to get to know your colleagues.

Inclusive Packages

Package costs include tuition fees, accommodation, all program-related travel within Czechia, tourist guides, educational materials, and admissions to cultural sites and events. Participants must arrange their own air travel to Prague and have adequate travel insurance, including medical. Food is not included, but accommodation is in apartments which have kitchens, so that food costs are minimal.

Program Fee: $4,995 CAD

Shared Accommodation

Apartment for 3-4 people, with living room, kitchen and bathroom(s); share a bedroom with one other person: included in program fee.

Single Supplement: Up to $1500, TBD

Private One-Bedroom Apartments (for one or two) may possibly be available: Cost TBD