Writing Journeys: Prague | St. John | Australia

A Writer’s Journey to Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, the golden city of a thousand spires, lies at the epicenter of Bohemia and has emerged from its years behind the Iron Curtain as an international center for poetry and the arts. The city is amazingly well preserved (having escaped most of the bombing of World War II) making visitors feel as if they have wandered into a medieval city in its prime. We journey to the city in the spring, by far the most beautiful time of the year to visit, when the city and gardens explode with green after the long winter season. The Vltava river runs through the city and cobblestone streets have “felt the hooves of king’s horses, the jackboots of Hitler’s armies, the heaving wheels of soviet tanks and the feet of students in passive revolt.” Home to Mozart, Kafka, baroque and renaissance architecture, winding alleys and hundreds of beautiful churches, Prague holds over a thousand years of history in its skyline.

For these two weeks, the city itself is our classroom. We will meet each morning over breakfast to plan writing exercises and discuss the day’s events. Days will be spent writing and exploring the city, both together and on our own. In the evenings we will read to one another and plan forays into the many poetry readings, literary, musical and theatre events the city has to offer. We will write in churches, train stations, ancient cemeteries, modern art museums, cafés and parks. We will investigate the history and culture of Prague, as well as learning about the contemporary art scene and the new generation of political activism. We will visit the famous Ebel and Slavia cafés, write portraits under the stained glass windows in the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral, explore hidden passages inside the alleys of Prague Castle and discover the infamous history of the Charles Bridge. (For an insight into one writer's experience participating in this Journey, see A Prague Journal.[PDF])

We will also spend a day in the fortress town of Terezin, where 80,000 Jews, resistance fighters and dissidents were transported to extermination camps in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe during World War II. Our on-site Czech coordinator will be with us during the trip to conduct tours, translate, show us the best places to eat, orient us to the local culture and customs, teach us a bit of the language and show us around.

Students will be housed in private apartments or in a small pension. Accommodations are in the center of the city, just a short stroll away from churches, shops, restaurants, Prague Castle, St.Vitus cathedral, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, open-air markets and all of Prague’s major attractions. Accommodations are fully furnished with linens, bathrooms, showers and kitchenettes. A limited number of private rooms may be available for an additional charge.

The writing faculty for this Journey will be Max Regan, MFA. For more information, please see Max’s faculty bio.

Tuition for this Journey is $2800. It includes housing in Prague for two weeks, transportation to and from the airport, all trams, metros and transportation around the city, orientation materials about the history of Prague and Eastern Europe, a sourcebook of readings and ideas and the daily writing class. A deposit of $800 is due upon registration and is non- refundable. Payments can be made by cash, money order or check made out to Hollowdeck Press, LLC. Sorry, we are not able to accept credit cards at this time.

Students are responsible for round trip airfare, optional cultural events and meals. As Prague is still one of the most affordable cities in Europe, daily costs can be kept to a minimum. This Journey fills quickly, so please give us a call as soon as possible.

For more information, view or print our current flyer (PDF).