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News From Prague, CZ - Feb. 22th

This update must begin on a sad note. Our vigil beside the bed of Marie’s father ended two minutes before midnight on Tues. Feb. 16 (the day before Lent), as Stanislav Prochazka surrendered his life gracefully, after more than 5 months in a comma. Marie’s mom was with him at the time, and she said only that he died peacefully.

Not only was Standa a loving husband, father and grandfather, he was also the best friend and loyal supporter a couple of struggling entrepreneurs could have. He will be remembered by the many associates and clients of P.A.T.H. FINDERS for his joyful disposition and the compassionate eye of his photographs. Since his return to the Czech Republic in 2002, he traveled to dozens of towns and villages, not only taking pictures, but enriching us with the stories he brought back from each trip. Indeed, he was the truest Pathfinder of us all… For those who knew and loved him, there is a slide show posted at youtube.com (Standa 1945 – 2010).

Upon writing the most recent installment of “What’s News” from Prague, it seems as though it has been ages since Thanksgiving. This Winter really been one for the books. Not only have we seen more snow than usual, but also the mercury remained in negative territory for almost 6 weeks, and there have been a few clear days since the beginning of 2010. The daily routine revolved around keeping warm, keeping the snow and ice off  the steps that lead to our house, and managing to get around as though each day was just another day. Thus, we rejoiced at the first sign of Spring this past weekend, when sněženky (small white flowers) broke through the barely thawed earth.

While it has been a season of thoughtful contemplation, weather notwithstanding, a time to examine what direction the winds of change now blow, 2009 was not as dreadful as events might have led us to believe. In terms of requests for research and travel services, it did signal a shift in the way people travel, how they shop for services, and the value family history still has in these uncertain times. Concerning technology, we didn’t achieve what we had hoped for, but projects remain in process. One of these is the expanded capability of our reports to link to pictures of records and charts. With this a simple click on a chart will lead to both report entry and the digital copy of the actual record. Thus, we hope 2010 will still see some exciting developments.

A more ambitious project is the growing database of names, dates and places. While the content alone from 15 years of reports is by itself useful in localizing unusual family names, the larger goal of combining the contents of Elench (requests for permission to emigrate), Berni Rula (tax roles from 17th century), Stable Cadastre (land holders from 19th century), and Lists of Fallen Soldiers (from World War I) will provide us with a far greater capacity to locate the place of origin for those who still do not have this necessary data. For this project, however, it is not a lack of technology, but time and resources. Nevertheless, we remain confident and dedicated to the great work of our associates (Tomas Biskup & Tomas Fidler).

Finally, we are placing a renewed emphasis on Travel Logs, as many people come to the realization that travel in the 21st century is a multi platform experience. We are preparing podcasts as guides for would be travelers and family historians. We will include interviews with our guides and clients, concerning places to stay, places to eat, and what to look out for during your travels. By intent these will be neither advertisement driven, nor ranting complaints, but instead moderated for their storytelling and anecdotal value. Sadly, to accomplish this, these podcasts will be subscription based, and should be available as regular downloads for mobile phones and iPods through iTunes. There will be more details soon about this added connectivity via FaceBook, Gmail, Skype and Twitter. Thus, Marie and I, along with our associates at P.A.T.H. FINDERS Intl. and PATHWAYS sr.o. are entering the second decade of the 21st century.

...and so the prince asked the young archer, "how is that every target you hit exactly in the center? And the child replied, "first, I take careful aim, then I let the arrow fly, and where it lands, I paint a target around it..." Something I heard, once upon a time... 

News From Prague - Thanksgiving 2009

It has been such a beautiful Nov. here in Prague. Indeed, it is a good time to take stock of the season that is now drawing to a close, as well as the completion of yet another project on our little fixer upper in Prague. Oh the joys of making a 100 year old, partially subterranean, brick and mortar house into a home!

These labors, both pleasant and unpleasant, were a fortunate distraction, however, since both our parents health have taken serious turns for the worse during the year. Some CGSI members may recall Marie's dad, Stanislav as the photographer who took pictures during the Gala Evening at Nelhazoves in 2005. In early Sept. he suddenly fell into a comma, from which he has not yet reawaken. We visit him regularly, and continue to pray for his full recovery.

In the case of Tom's mother, her condition is less critical, but the distance between us makes it equally as difficult. Tom visited Arizona in January 2009, and the girls were there in Aug.. While both visits helped to cheer her up, they made us aware just how frail she has become. There will certainly be another visit to Arizona in the year to come.

In retrospect, 2009 has been one of the more difficult we have had to endure. The year was also beset with sad news of several other friends who have passed away. In every case, our most sincere sympathies go out to the families, especially now. Still, we take strength from the love of our family and friends. We are bolstered by the privilege to have known so many remarkable people, and furthermore, that our small firm should still thrive, even in the midst of these hard times. We are comforted to know that this vocation would continue to sustain us, while bringing happiness to others.

Thus, as always at this time of year, we wish to give thanks. But unlike previous seasons, the emphasis today is for the strength to carry on in the midst of personal crisis, for the courage to persist in attending vigil and caring for one another, and for the good luck and joy from sharing so many precious memories. These best define the true virtues of family. The love that now sustains us is the wellspring and the glue that makes each family so enduring.

Today, as in the months and years to come, we will take strength from our good fortune to work in the field of Family History. We thank those families who have invited us to partake in the exploration and discovery of their family ties, as we take care to nurture our own family and community relations. And finally, we give thanks to God, that we should still make ends meet in these troubled times. Surely, something with such a pure and simple purpose is a gift divine. We wish to express our love and gratitude to those who have joined us on this path.

Tom & Marie Zahn
and Family      

Great News! - February 22, 2009

The New Year has arrived... and along with a change of calendar, my first trip to the US in 3 years. It was indeed great to visit family, consult with friends and colleagues, and share the experience of inaugurating the first new President in quite some time. Despite the bleak picture broadcast almost daily, I was surprised by just how upbeat the mood was.

Otherwise, the first month of 2009 was just as slow here as any previous January.  As a bulwark against a turn for the worse, I borrowed a copy of Studs Terkel's " Hard Times". Indeed, this is a must read for anyone who is beset by anxiety. It may help to bring the current circumstances into the proper perspective.

We choose hope by virtue of our work, helping others. Whether as a social worker in Olympia, or together with Marie and our associates, as P.A.T.H. FINDERS Intl.. Herein lies a universal truth, one too often overlooked…, that by helping others we ourselves are fulfilled. To this end, while we wish to continue doing what we are accustomed to, as we move forward, it is necessary to find new paths, so that everyone can afford to visit this place we call home.

Here then is the great news, along with some tips for alternative travel. We hope this will help convince any of you who wish to visit, but are not sure if it is within your means. There is really no time like the present, tourism is off and it is now a buyer’s market…

• New Tours
  
  
• Two new Lodging entries
  
  
  
• On line booking offers little protection against unexpected travel delays, however, considering that prices come down during off season, and multiple stop routing, it is possible to use season and multiple destinations to your advantage, by taking a day or more in the lay over cities.
  
  
• Book from hub to hub (New York to Frankfurt for example), then use low cost transport from there. Also, do not limit yourself to rail as the only option. Local airlines and bus lines offer economic alternatives. Rail travel is often beset by disruptions, and can be more expensive when factoring in seat reservations.
  
  
  
• B & B's in the country cannot be overstated as a cost saving option to city centers. In the Czech Republic, as well as throughout the region, it is possible to save as much as 50% on the cost of lodging. Indeed such arrangements provide a nice retreat from the din of tourists that compete for what still amounts to be too few good restaurants and quiet places.
  
  
• Travel light & leave room for changes in your itinerary. Only book services in advance that allow you to adjust your dates as need be.
  
  
• And Most Important of All - Enjoy the strongest Dollar to Euro or Czech currency exchange rate in 3 years! (see chart)

Autumn 2008 - November 22, 2008

As the last leaves have found a final resting place upon the earth, and the sky has turned dark, a carpet of fresh snow covers the ground. Thus, the 2008 Season comes to a close.

It is with guarded enthusiasm that Marie and I now take a moment to reflect. While family and friends are mostly well, prosperity seems more fleeting than ever. Nonetheless, we carry on, relying on the sun a little more to warm our house, and using the lights with a bit more care.

We rest assured that after Autumn, solace and renewal will follow. Hopefully, there will be time to dream. We haven't had much of this lately, but as the nights grow longer, and the din of traffic and industry slow, we are reassured by the certainty of nature. Our faith is restored

As we take this moment to reflect on the season that was, we are filled with gratitude. This is an especially heartfelt thanks, as we realize the current econonomic uncertainty, has taken its toll on us all. At times it wasn't so clear how we would get by, but each dream that we helped another to realize brought us renewed hope.

And so Winter is dear to us as a time of catharsis. So much depends on this down time. Reflective moods such as this remind us, in particular, just how much our life has been blessed by the many different people that we have met. We take stock that by helping others who dream of pioneer ancestors and seek their places of origin far away, our mission to make these ends meet, continues to have purpose.

To those of you who we have had the good fortune to serve, we send our best wishes. We would also pass along the good news that due to recent diplomatic changes, it is far less complicated for Czechs to travel to the US. With the currency still relatively strong here, it should come as no surprise that your relations here may now wish to visit you in the New World...

May is almost ended, and with it the beginning of another busy season.
We are happy to welcome travelers, make new friends, and return to the business of reuniting families.

Although this season has its share of challenges, there are several new prospects for us to be excited about.

• For the first time we are able to offer our guests a fully equipped apartment for their stay in Prague, or a traditional south Bohemian farm house, for an overnight in the country. These are both remarkably nice facilities, and we are delighted to have this new arrangement with the owners, to provide privacy and comfort at a reasonable rate.
  
  
• We are glad to announce the purchase of a new 7 passenger Mercedes Vito, with lots of room for luggage. This is in response to the growing demand for City to City Transfers. A group of 4 to 7 can now save time and money on transfers from Prague to almost any destination with us. We also expect this will add significantly to our ability to provide Small Group Day Trips into the Czech countryside.