Prague does not have its name for no reason – in truth,

Prague is a threshold between the life on Earth

and Heaven, a threshold much thinner and narrower then in any other places…

— Gustav Meyrink

Praha (Prague) was likely based on the word práh which represents “ford” or “river rapids.” However, an alternative theory is described on praguesummer.com:

“The word práh also exists in the Czech language, where it means threshold. Alongside the commonly accepted etymology, there exists an explanation that ties this meaning to princess Libuše, the legendary ancestor of the Czech people as a whole, who was said to have ordered the city ‘to be built where a man hews a threshold of his house.‘”

As we wait to travel to the Czech Republic, we are on a threshold between the comfort of home and a new place where we don’t know the language or have access to our beds, familiar streets, and typical surroundings. We are on the threshold of growth and learning about the Czech people, the history of marginalized populations in Europe, and awareness of the some of the worst atrocities in human history. We also seek to explore the threshholds of change that have marked the last 100 years of Czech history and the people who have navigated them.

If you are not traveling with us, please continue to visit this site for daily updates on our travels. We look forward to sharing our experiences with you all.