Czech Republic:
Visit the Heart of Beadmaking
with Doris Coghill, Tour Leader
April 18 - 28, 2012
Prague • Jablonec
Trip Full - Waitlist only!
Come join Beadventures as we travel to the Czech Republic to experience its long history of beadmaking. During this 11 day Beadventure, led by Doris Coghill, you will see and experience Prague and Jablonec, the heart of the world’s beadmaking district.
Itinerary
Day 1. Wednesday, April 18 – Arrive in Prague
With some 600 years of architecture virtually untouched by natural disaster or war, few other cities anywhere in Europe look as good as Prague. The tour will start with three days in this great city. You will leave the USA on April 17th in order to arrive in Prague on April 18th. After collecting your bags you will take a taxi to your hotel in the Old Town District. Depending on your time of arrival, you can relax or enjoy the architecture, shopping, and markets located down the many cobblestone streets near our hotel.
Day 2. Thursday, April 19 - Tour Prague
Today you will enjoy a guided tour of the city’s highlights, including the Hradcany castle district and the magnificent gothic St Vitus cathedral; the Queen’s palace and gardens; Old Town Square and its fascinating World Clock; the Opera House; and much more. Later we can walk down to the famous Charles Bridge and enjoy the view of the city from the Vltava River.
Day 3. Friday, April 20 - More Exploration of Prague
We will continue to explore more of the shops and architecture of Old Town and St. Wenceslas Square, just blocks from our hotel. The shops are filled with everything from amber jewelry to designer fashions, with even a few antiques and of course, two or three bead stores! If the weather cooperates, we will have lunch on a cruise on the river.
Day 4. Saturday, April 21 – Travel to Jablonec
Today we travel north to Jablonec in the mountainous area that is the heart of the bead-making district. There will be stops on the way to visit the Garnet Museum and shops in Turnov with lunch at a local pub.
This week will be about discovering where and how beads are made and who makes them. We will learn about the local people, their customs, and their love for beads by visiting several museums to see the history of beadmaking and how it was done 100 years ago as compared to today and how the industry affects the local culture.
There will be ample opportunity to buy both new and antique beads to add to your collection as well as finished jewelry made with the locally made beads. As always on a Beadventure, the creative urge to design 
with beads will be given an opportunity when Doris teaches techniques for making beaded jewelry with those special beads found during the week. Also, our guide Christa promises several special not to be missed surprises along with a peak at her personal collection of beads.
Days 5 – 10. Sunday, April 22 – Friday, April 27 - Explore Jalonec
Upon arrival we will settle into the comfortable Hotel Zlaty Lev for the week, which is in walking distance to the local downtown shopping area for this city of about 50,000. During the week spent 
in Jablonec, a private bus will take us to various factories and/or factory stores. We will:
- See the entire pressed glass beadmaking process from beginning to end, both at a large modern factory and at one of the more common cottage industry factories;
- Meet lampwork bead artists and see their studios;
- See how glass Christmas decorations are blown and painted and learn the legend of the mountain ghost;
- Visit the glass school of Zelezny Brod and see the students at work in their various disciplines;
- Visit a button factory, a seed bead factory store, and a seed bead jewelry factory where we will see a demonstration on how all those tiny beads are strung into the hanks that are the way we usually buy them at home; and
- Visit the Glass Museum.
Day 10. Saturday, April 28 - Depart from Prague
On the final day we will take the two-hour bus ride back to Prague. You will be delivered to the airport by mid-morning for flights back home leaving after 12 noon.
About Your Tour Leader: Doris Coghill . . .
Doris is a beader, pattern designer and teacher who lives in the country on the far south west side of Minneapolis. She owns Dee's Place (and yes she will answer to Dee!). Doris has been doing some type of crafts all of her life, in fact she did craft fairs for more than 25 years, but has been doing seed bead work for about nine years.
Several years ago she was laid off after 25 years in the corporate world. This was the opportunity of a lifetime to see if she could make a living with beads! The corporate world gave her the accounting and computer skills needed to run her own business, but she has found it is much nicer to be working from home!
Every other year Doris leads another Beadventure to the vintage crystal and bead warehouses in Providence Rhode Island--it's a beader's paradise! The 2011 trip to vintage paradise is in April!
To learn more about Doris and her work, visit her web site.
Trip Cost
US $2975; single supplement additional US $450, based on availability.
Includes: hotel accommodations, 60% of meals, land transport, site visits
Does not include: Airfare, 40% of meals, tips
Payment Terms: $300 deposit to hold spot; balance due 90 days prior to departure
Trip Notes . . .
What to Pack: April Czech weather usually is fair and in the 60s to 70s, but it is a good idea to bring a raincoat or jacket in case the weather turns cold. Also bring good walking shoes because we will be walking on many uneven cobblestone streets and hills.
Activity Level: There will be a lot of walking on uneven cobblestone streets and up and down hills.