It didn’t seem real.

Even after five years of living in Prague, I could still turn a corner, catch the right light and get that feeling. Prague is a Bucket List and “Top 10 Romantic Cities” favorite — for good reason. But frankly, there’s also a lot of crap that can leave a casual visitor tourist-worn.

During my last visit to Prague, I played tourist for a day and forced myself to walk through through its main tourist artery — from the Prague Castle, over the Charles Bridge, down Karlova Street, through Old Town, up to the top of Wenceslas Square. Maybe it had improved since we lived there?

Nope.

But all is not lost. Here are some ideas on how to minimize the tourist schlock, what to replace it with, and what to eat at the end of the day.

1. Karlova Street
In tourist hell, right next door to Fisherman’s Wharf and Khao San Road is Prague’s souvenir-engorged Karlova Street. If you only retain one piece of information from this post, it should be this: avoid this street like the plague. Don’t ask why, don’t be tempted. Just avoid it. Your visit will be all the better for it.

Alternative: But how am I going to get from Charles Bridge to Old Town Square? Easy. When you come off the Charles Bridge (on the opposite side of the river from Prague Castle), cut through the Karolinum (look for the doorway across the street to the left of Karlova street) and enjoy a peaceful stroll through a 14th century courtyard.

2. Concerts — or anything for that matter – sold by people in period costumes
If classical music’s greatest hits served up in machine-gun style is your thing, by all means head right for the guys in period outfits. If, however, you have a taste for a full symphony and the real, high-quality, accessible classical music Prague is known for, go elsewhere.

Alternative: See #2 below for where to find high quality shows.

3. Wenceslas Square at Night
Where protesters once stood up to Soviet tanks during Prague Spring in 1968, hawkers now stand up for your opportunity to patronize their strip clubs. After dark, Wenceslas Square becomes a central place for strip club touts, prostitutes, their pimps and all manner of the shady and unpleasant. Although it’s not unsafe per se, it’s best avoided.

Alternative: After dark, walk any of the streets parallel to Wenceslas Square or take the metro to avoid the area altogether.

4. Astronomical Clock Show on the Hour
I know I’m going to get crap for this one. Don’t get me wrong, the medieval astronomical clock on the side of Old Town City Hall is beautiful and worth a look. But really, don’t worry about fighting with the tourist hordes that gather on the hour to see the “show.” The hourly spectacle features some figures moving around, a rooster call (my personal favorite) and a dancing skeleton (Dan’s personal favorite). However, it’s really not worth the elbowing and unpleasant crowds you have to deal with to watch it.

Alternative: Have the clock to yourself to admire at any time outside the top-of-the-hour. If you find yourself tiring of the crowds on Old Town Square, pop up to the rooftop terrace at U Prince hotel, order a cocktail, and enjoy the view from above. It’s particularly nice at sunset.

5. Prague’s Scams and Overcharging at Tourist Restaurants
Unfortunately, some touristy restaurants and taxis still hold a narrowly opportunistic view of tourism and tourists (i.e., they scam anyone who looks like fresh meat).

What to do: Don’t let these places get away with it: be vigilant, mind your bill, count your change, and question or complain if you are being cheated. If you don’t, you’ll be doing yourself — and all other tourists who follow in your footsteps — a disservice. If your restaurant bill arrives with extra service charges or “taxes” that are not specifically called out on the menu, refuse to pay them.

If you need a taxi, have the hotel or restaurant call one in advance. I would never pick up a taxi outside the front door of the train station or hotel (these are usually reserved for suckers). If you pick up a taxi on the street, use a company like AAA or ProfiTaxi. Finally, if you’ve been grossly overcharged, pay what you believe is fair and walk away. We’ve done it.

With the unpleasant stuff out of the way, let’s focus on what to visit besides the Prague tourist triad (Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square). The aim: to give you a feel for a living city whose history goes long beyond just a few pretty buildings.

You might be thinking as you read, “But that’s outside the city center.” In some cases, our recommendations are outside of the Old Town City center, but they are not so far. Within a few minutes, you are a tram, metro or a few footsteps away.

1) Vyšehrad: An Alternative Castle
Just down the Vlatava River from Prague Castle is the lesser-known 10th century castle of Vyšehrad. In addition to offering great views of the Vltava River and the city, Vyšehrad features grassy grounds stocked full of locals having picnics with family and friends. The cemetery at Vyšehrad is also home to many of Czech greats of art and music, including Alphonse Mucha and Antonín Dvořák. The Peter and Paul church is also worth a look – neo-gothic on the outside, but Mucha-inspired art nouveau murals on the inside.

View of Vyšehrad Castle from the Vltava River

2. Classical Music Concerts and Operas
Prague’s music scene is one of the things that kept us there so long. Even if you’re not a huge classical music aficionado, it’s still worth trying to see a concert just to experience the venue.

Go directly to ticket offices or a venue’s box office for real performances. Basically, if the concert is associated with a national ensemble, you’re more likely to see a high quality concert at a lower price.

If your visit coincides with Prague Spring, try to book tickets in advance or, for last minute tickets, visit the box office. Prague Spring often features top performers, conductors and orchestras from around the world. I cannot begin to count the $1000s of dollars we would have spent on all the performances we took in had we seen the performers on their home turf. Prices continue to go up, but are still reasonable compared with Western Europe and the United States.

Suggested concert venues: Rudolfinum (our favorite venue and home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra), National Theatre, State Opera

3. Exploring Prague’s Neighborhoods
Although Prague’s Old Town (Staré Město) and Lesser Town (Malá Strana) often steal the Prague tourist show (for good reason), it’s worth it to spend time poking around some of the surrounding neighborhoods. The architectural stock in Prague’s residential neighborhoods is impressive. Walk, look up and soak it up. Architectural period melange, details, mosaics, statues, paintings, are all standard fare. Not to mention, this is the way you’ll really begin to understand what modern-day living in Prague is all about.

Suggested neighborhoods: Vinohrady, Vrsovice (our old neighborhood), Holesovice

4. Beer gardens
When the weather is warm (or at least un-cold), Prague’s beer gardens are the place to while away an afternoon, evening, or possibly even both. Beer gardens are casual affairs with long, simple picnic tables, a food stand or two serving greasy sausages, and — most importantly — an endless supply of freshly pulled Czech beer. Relax with locals of all ages, from the stodgy business guy in a suit to grandpa with his dog to the young punk kids.

Suggested beer gardens: Letna Park (Prague 7) with views of the city or Riegrovy Sady (Prague 2) for a more grungy, local flavor.

5. Glass of Wine at Grebovka Vineyard
There’s actually a small vineyard within Prague’s city limits. And, there just happens to be a little café (called Altan) with a great gazebo sitting right above it. These are the makings of a perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese plate. For quality, we actually suggest trying the Austrian wine over the local Grebovka wine.

Address: Grebovka park is in Prague 10. Closest tram stop is Krymska on 22, 16, or 4 tram lines. Finding your way here through the windy residential streets is part of the fun; this is not a touristy area at all.

1. Grosseto Marina
This is the place you come for a view of the Prague castle, Vltava river and Malá strana – it would be hard to find a better one in the city. The food here is basic Italian pizzas and pasta, but the view from and the atmosphere in this boat-restaurant make it all a perfectly good value.

View from Grosseto Marina at night. Not bad, huh?

Address: Alšovo nábřeží in Old Town. Our suggestion is to call ahead to reserve a table on the deck or by a window so you can enjoy the view (+420 605 454 020).

2. Osteria Da Clara
This little Italian restaurant combines high quality Italian food (the chef once lived in Tuscany) with a friendly ambience in a great local neighborhood. We know because we used to live around the corner. The menu changes regularly and features daily and weekly specials. Prices are reasonable.
Address: Mexicka 7, Vrsovice (Prague 10), tel: +420 271726548

3. Masala
It might sound odd to come to Prague and eat at an Indian restaurant, but the food here is really exceptional. The lunch thalis – meat (120 CZK/$6) or vegetarian (100 CZK/$5) – are authentic and flavorful. The menu also features some unusual dishes like idly, vada and chaats.

Address: Pod Karlovem 12/1574, Prague 2 (the Manesova location doesn’t have lunch thalis)

4. Mozaika
Long one of our favorite restaurants, Mozaika features a list of continental and fusion regulars plus fresh weekly specials. Relaxed atmosphere and reasonably priced for the quality.
Address: Nitranska 13, Prague 3 (right near Jiriho z Podebrad Metro and square)

5. Czech Pubs
You’re probably asking by now, “That’s all great, but what about Czech food?” There is definitely no shortage of hospodas (pubs) serving Czech fare throughout the city with varying levels of quality and grease content.

If you want something with a little better meat quality and less grease, give one of the following places a try. In addition to good Czech food, they usually serve tank beer (unpasteurized), making the Czech beer drinking experience all the more enjoyable.

• Lokál: One of the newer additions to the Ambiante Restaurant empire. This place serves up quality Czech food at reasonable prices. Address: Dlouhá 33, Prague 1.
• Bredovsky Dvur: Just a block away from popular Wenceslas Square, but with a different feel from the high-traffic tourist areas. Try to go during lunch as there are inexpensive lunch menus and you’ll be enjoying your meal with locals on their lunch break. Address: Politických vězňů 13 (parallel street to Wenceslas Square), Prague 1
• Na Verandach: This restaurant is right at the Staropramen brewery, so you know the beer is fresh. Hearty food, too. Address: Nadrazni 84, Prague 5 (Smichov)
• Olympia: Nice Czech pub serving both Czech and continental specialties. Address: Vítězná 7, Praha 1 (Ujezd)

Honorable mentions of the Czech beer variety:

Prague Beer Museum: It’s not a restaurant and it’s really not a museum, but it does serve close to 30 different beers on tap from small to medium breweries across Czech Republic. This is the place to learn about Czech beer the old fashion way — by drinking it. The owner is meticulous about buying only small kegs, keeping the keg lines clean and changing the beer menu every three months. Just be careful and pace yourself — mixing heavy beers can have a devastating effect the next day.
Address: Dlouha 46, Prague 1

Pivovarsky Klub: Features hundreds of beers (Czech and international) on the menu. Ask the waiter for advice if you get paralyzed on what to order. This place also has good and reasonably priced Czech food, too.
Address: Krizikova 17, Praha 8 – Karlin

For more Prague restaurant recommendations, check out: Eating Ethnic in Prague

A Different Kind of Prague Guidebook: If you’re looking for a quirky and personal guidebook for Prague, check out Karen Feldman’s Prague: Artel Style. In full disclosure, Karen is one of our friends. Regardless, her book is nothing short of a work of art, collector’s item. She knows the city very well. It’s hard to beat her eye for design, quirk and the finer pleasures that Prague has to offer.

A Different Kind of Prague Vacation: If you’d like to use your time in Prague to explore your creative side while digging deeper into Prague’s art and cultural scene, check out Artbreak. Their programs combine hands-on art classes with visits to art exhibitions and music concerts. In full disclosure, we have not availed ourselves of Artbreak’s programs, but we know one of its founders. It’s because of his integrity that we recommend it here.

More advice on Prague, podcast-style: If you’re still curious about what else we recommend to see, do and eat in Prague, listen to this podcast interview on Prague we did with Chris Christensen of Amateur Traveler.

Originally posted on the Uncornered Market travel blog. Find beautiful travel photos from around the world. | 50 comments

Although we can’t succinctly recreate online the atmosphere of a Pilsner beer-driven discussion in a Czech pub, we can attempt to answer these questions with astounding brevity in case you’re also curious. [Twitter’s limit is 140 characters.]

1a. How do you stay sane while being together 24 hours a day? (Politically Correct Version)
Patience. Communication. Our hotel rooms were often barely larger than our beds; carve out separate mental space while sharing a small physical space.

1b. How do you stay sane while being together 24 hours a day? (Honestly)
Who said we were sane? While we wave divorce papers at one another every so often, we expect to write at length on this topic.

2. Most difficult or frightening experience?
Kazakhstan bears witness to both of these nightmares – one at the Uzbek border and the another in the Tian Shan mountains. Kazakh comic relief here.

3. What’s it like being an American abroad these days?
The diplomatic response: our travels indicate that America’s image abroad is in need of some repair. Fortunately, most people respond to us as individuals.

4. Worst hotel?
Pestilential stink-hole with indentured servant boy in Ismaili, Azerbaijan. Honorable mention: Sikkimese village hut where a rat fell on Audrey’s shoulder in bed.

5. Which countries were your favorite(s)?
We had an enlightening time everywhere, really. Off-track surprises included: Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan (Pamirs), Laos, Cambodia, and Burma.

6. Were you sick a lot? (Translation: were you always praying to the porcelain god?)
Despite being street food junkies & eating a slaughtered goat, no. Exceptions: Vietnam-Sapa (D&A), Uzbekistan (Dan), Kazakhstan (Audrey).

7. How do you distribute the work?
D=Dan, A=Audrey: Writing=D&A, Videos=D, Photo Editing=A, Photo Captions=D&A, Format=A, Website/technology=D, PR=D&A

8. What’s it like to be back in Prague, once your home of five years?
A bit strange, sort of like we aren’t here. Everything is eerily familiar. And in dollar terms…too expensive!

9. Which cuisine was your favorite?
Difficult choice. Thai and Indian, with the edge to Indian. The diversity of food is incredible. Georgian cuisine is also terrific.

10. Any epiphanies yet on this journey?
Greatest epiphany to date: Epiphanies take time.

Got a question for us that’s not here? Feel free to ask in the comments below or send us an email (dna – at – uncorneredmarket.com).

Originally posted on the Uncornered Market travel blog. Find beautiful travel photos from around the world. | 2 comments

Asia has been our home for almost 18 months. Now that we’ve become accustomed to dumplings, noodle soup and Nescafe with condensed milk for breakfast, we depart with mixed emotions (well, our emotions towards Nescafe are clear: we are very happy to leave it behind). We also leave behind the richness of Asia’s chaotic streets for a different European pace punctuated with cafes and medieval stone architecture.

When Audrey let it leak on Facebook last week that we were leaving Asia soon, some relevant questions streamed in:

“What’s going on?”
“Are you OK?”
“Are you stopping?”
“What about the other continents?”

Don’t worry, we are not stopping. We are also remarkably healthy considering all the street food we’ve enjoyed and arduous bus rides we’ve endured.

The journey continues. We are, however, taking a breather.

A European Interlude
After a stop in Vienna (Austria) to visit some of Audrey’s family, we’ll return to Prague, Czech Republic for a few weeks to renew our Czech business visas and sort some errands. While we don’t relish bureaucracy or visits to the Foreigner’s Police, this in-person visit is required to keep us and our Czech LLC legal and current.

Instead of hopping right back on the road, we’ll friend-hop around Central and Eastern Europe for the summer and fall. We’ll use much of this time to write, reflect and perhaps drink a few bottles of good wine. Between sips, we intend to resume a regular publishing schedule to catch up on our experiences in China, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Nepal. We’ll fill these pages with Asian visions of beauty and culinary surprises as we cast a sharp eye on some of the region’s more dubious politics and curious cultural mores.

Since we’ll be friend-hopping around places like Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania and Bulgaria, we will also include a European adventure from time to time as well. Visit often or add us to your RSS feed.

In addition to working on content for Uncornered Market, we will take advantage of our stillness and reliable internet connections to work on business development. What does this mean?

For us, it means taking the time to explore and secure new projects, freelance writing and photography assignments and partnership deals. If you have any ideas, leads or contacts that might fit, please let us know.

How About Africa?
We expect to hit the road again later this year. Our current plan is to head to the Middle East and Africa, though we’ve recently entertained South America as a next stop. One of the goals of this journey is to visit each of the continents; opportunities, projects and contacts will continue to determine the pace and sequence of how it all fits together. Keep checking the website for updates as our plans fall into place.

A Visual Return to Europe
In the spirit of returning to Europe, we leave you with a photo slideshow from our first sojourn together in Europe eight years ago. From Estonia to Croatia and from Turkey to Portugal – with our wedding in Italy thrown in between – this four-month cross-continent trip served as our first taste of long-term travel and whetted our appetites to travel around the world together one day.

If you have a high-speed internet connection, stick around for the slideshow below. Otherwise, visit the photo set here.

Originally posted on the Uncornered Market travel blog. Find beautiful travel photos from around the world. | 6 comments

If you’re impatient, go straight to the bottom of the post for our Christmas Markets slide show.

1. Hall, Austria – Best Gluhwein and Roasted Chestnuts
If you are looking for a laid back small town market where the locals pour out onto the town square at the end of the day to warm themselves with gluhwein (mulled, spiced wine), this is the place. Think Charlie Brown enjoying a Tyrolian Christmas in the mountains of Austria.

2. Salzburg, Austria – Best Kid Musicians
Some of the best young musicians play their hearts out to earn a little money for their Christmas shopping. Time your visit right with a light dusting of snow and the surrounding landscape will convince you that you are living in a fairy tale.

3. Munich, Germany – Best Mandeln
The best sugar-coated almonds (mandeln) in all of Central Europe. And if our memory serves, you can find leagues of smoking men from across the professional spectrum, from gardener to banker.

Munich was our first real European Christmas Market experience (1998), so it holds a special place in our hearts. We thank our friends, Thorsten and Christiane, for introducing us to gluhwein and mandeln.

4. Vienna, Austria – Widest Selection of Christmas Markets
Vienna is the city where every neighborhood gets its own Christmas market. There are so many Christmas markets here that you’ll need a map to find them all.

5. Nuremberg, Germany – Best Children’s Market
OK, Best Sausages, too. Nuremberg is the classic German Christmas Market. When you tire of gluhwein, sausages, and other tourists, escape to the Children’s Christmas Market and watch the kids make cookies. Better yet, join them.

6. Barcelona, Spain – Most Curious Nativity Scene Statuettes: El Caganer
Winner, hands down. Er, bottoms up. If you can’t make it to Barcelona and feel that your nativity scene can’t do without one, buy it here.

7. Malaga, Spain – Most Unique All Around
Which other Christmas market can boast fresh grilled octopus and a guy who will write your name in Arabic? If that isn’t enticing enough, Malaga also sports some the best post-holiday (Three Kings Day) shoe sales.

8. Dresden, Germany – Most Tasteful Medieval Christmas Market
Better expressed as “best ability to pull off a tasteful medieval Christmas market.” The Advent Spektakel taps a nostalgic chord while the more traditional Streizelmarkt offers the typical German Christmas market fare. Dresden’s biggest plusses: fewer tourists and the Neustadt neighborhood which features its own Christmas market and the Kunsthof Passage (artists’ market).

9. Prague, Czech Republic – Best Market at Night
Though the Namesti Miru market in Prague’s Vinohrady neighborhood sports a village feel, the best nighttime setting goes to Prague’s main Christmas market on Old Town Square (Staromestske Namesti).

10. Cadiz, Spain – Best Cabalgata (de los Reyes Magos)
Although technically not a Christmas Market, the Festival of the Three Kings is a frenzied, colorful Christmas surprise. Celebrated throughout Spain on the eve of Three Kings Day (January 6), the festival is worth a detour, especially in Cadiz, Andalusia’s and Europe’s oldest inhabited city. The Cabalgata de Reyes (Three Kings Day parade) takes over the entire town.

Honorable Mention
11. Marjamaa, Estonia – Smallest Christmas Market
Audrey’s love of Christmas markets spurred her to organize one in the 3,000 person town of Marjamaa, Estonia when she was a Peace Corps Volunteer there in 1999. Local artists and students sold their handmade products to raise money for themselves and their classes. The Christmas market still continues today.

European Christmas Markets Photo Slideshow

If you don’t have a high-speed connection or you would like to read the captions, you can view our European Christmas Markets photo essay.

Originally posted on the Uncornered Market travel blog. Find beautiful travel photos from around the world. | 7 comments

Our approach to dining out places emphasis on good food served in relaxed, informal environments for reasonable amounts of money. Below is a Google MyMap of our favorite ethnic (and a few continental) restaurants in Prague.

This list will eventually become outdated (if it hasn’t already), as restaurants seem to open and close by the day. Please comment and we’ll try to keep the list and map current.

If you are looking for hotel and accommodation information in Prague, check out this site.

Update, August 27, 2008: To make it easier to find the places we’ve marked in the Google MyMap below we’ve included the details in a chart, including a few new additions. Enjoy!

The following is a Google MyMap. At first, you will see a link. In a few seconds, the link will be replaced by the map. If the loading process tests your patience, you can click on the link to open the map in a new window.

Prague Ethnic Restaurant Map

Originally posted on the Uncornered Market travel blog. Find beautiful travel photos from around the world. | 2 comments

In the last five years, however, the landscape for finding fruits, non-root vegetables, spices, herbs and imported goods in Prague has evolved rapidly. Prague still doesn’t have a good central food market or a “fresh market” culture like Vienna or Munich, but the Vietnamese community has managed to fill some of the void by opening endless fruit and vegetable shops. Although it’s still difficult to assemble a sophisticated, full-course meal with one stop, if you know where to look you can find almost anything you need.

During our five years in Prague, we used our searches for ingredients – from Thai basil to brown sugar to pav bhaji spice – as a mechanism to discover the city. To our friends, we became a resource on where to find specific ingredients. Additionally, each time we encountered newcomers to Prague, we found ourselves buttonholed, answering questions on where to find fresh cilantro or Thai curry pastes.

Our original intent was to publish these stores (and restaurants, too) on a hand drawn map. However, planning our trip around the world took priority and we’ve resorted to using Google MyMaps instead. We hope this map helps our friends (newcomers and long-time residents both) find the ingredients they need to create masterpieces in the kitchen.

This list is not extensive and is Prague 2 focused, as we used to live and work nearby, but it enabled us to keep our kitchen well stocked. It will likely become outdated soon as more specialty food shops open to fill the demands of Prague’s changing palate. Please comment and we’ll try to keep the list and map current.

Update, August 25, 2008: To make it easier to find the places we’ve marked in the Google MyMap below we’ve included the details in a chart, including a few new additions. Enjoy!

The following is a Google MyMap. At first, you will see a link. In a few seconds, the link will be replaced by the map. If the loading process tests your patience, you can click on the link to open the map in a new window.

Prague Food Sourcing Map

Originally posted on the Uncornered Market travel blog. Find beautiful travel photos from around the world. | 9 comments

Where did you get those bags of frozen tiger shrimp? Where do you get your fresh Thai basil and long beans? Where did you get all those fresh herbs for your Vietnamese summer rolls?

If we had a nickel (a Czech koruna, perhaps?) for every time we’d been asked these questions, we’d have enough money to buy a vote in the Czech parliament.

We covet the secret no longer. Here’s the scoop…

We’ve been to two Vietnamese market mazes in Prague. One called “Sapa” (named after the hill tribe town in northern Vietnam) in Prague 4, and another unnamed network of Vietnamese shops in the Malesice district in Prague 10. Although the pho and produce are decent in Sapa, we’ve become more familiar with the Malesice outpost.

How to get there:
By car: Take Vinohradska away from the center of town past Strasnice (Vinohradska becomes Cernokostelecka). When you reach Depo Hostivar metro station (where the Esso gas station is), take a left on Sazecska. Head about 600 meters, past the printing press and take a right onto Tiskarska. The turn in for the market is another 500 meters or so. Enjoy navigating the tight parking areas within the market maze.

By public transport: From Zelivskeho or Depo Hostivar, take the 208 bus away from the city in the direction of Dolni Pocernice to stop Tiskarska. From Tiskarska stop, walk up the road about 50 meters to the driveway entrance (marked “Velkoobchod”, or something similar). To return to town, cross over the grassy divider to the street going the opposite direction and pick up the bus.

Getting in: On our first visit with a Thai friend, we were told that access was granted to “Asians, those with dark skin, or zivnostensky list holders for retail businesses.” We’ve walked and driven in dozens of times in the last 2-3 years without a problem, having only to present a zivnostensky list once. Just smile at the guards and walk/drive past.

Once you get in: On the main entrance road are two shops on the left that sell various Asian goods and tea sets; one has a shellfish freezer with shrimp, mollusks, etc.

On the corner where the entrance road turns right are two food shops full of herbs and other Asian foods. We had become regulars for fresh herbs and tiger prawns at the shop on the corner closest to the turn (across from the building pictured with flags). If you show curiosity, you will be rewarded with advice on how to cook Vietnamese food and use the products properly.

After the entrance road turns right, you’ll notice a small parking lot. That parking lot traverses a series of alleys marked A, B, C, D, etc. Walk up alley “A” for arguably the best pho in Prague. Half way up alley A on the left-hand side is a scruffy little soup bar whose windows are lined with fresh greens. Try this one, or continue further up alley A to the end on the left. Caddy corner to the public toilets is the other choice pho kitchen.

Yes, we know, there aren’t many competitors serving pho in Prague. Having been to northern Vietnam, we can vouch that the two places we mention here serve the real deal, boiled from beef bones in giant metal cauldrons. There are other places (in the center of Prague and also out at Malesice) that serve faux pho made from pho bouillon cubes.

The following is a Google MyMap. At first, you will see a link. In a few seconds, the link will be replaced by the map. If the loading process tests your patience, you can click on the link to open the map in a new window.

Originally posted on the Uncornered Market travel blog. Find beautiful travel photos from around the world. | 6 comments