Journey to Bohemia

Wise advice and practical information that every travelling "gentleman" should know. Bořivoj Navrátil reads selected chapters from the travelogue of 16th-century English author Fynes Moryson. "The Czechs dress similarly to the Germans, having a fondness for green, yellow, and generally light colours, but they wear silk and velvet more often than the Germans, and adorn themselves with their own imitation gemstones. Because ambassadors from all over the world gather in Prague and Italian merchants reside here, the Czechs are more corrupted by foreign fashions than the Germans." The author of this "observation", Fynes Moryson, was born in 1566. He studied at the University of Cambridge, obtained his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees, and dedicated himself to the study of civil law. On 1 May 1591, with the financial assistance of his college, he set off on a "grand tour", which was then a traditional part of completing a young man's studies. Over two years, he travelled through Germany, the Low Countries, Denmark, Poland, Bohemia and Moravia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France, returning to London on 13 May 1595. He compiled his travel notes and observations into his Itinerary, published in 1617. In it, he combines wise advice for travellers with practical information that any travelling "gentleman" should know. Moryson has a talent for capturing the colourful aspects of foreign nations' lives, offering many excellent insights. Although he is usually sensible and sober, his curiosity occasionally leads him into adventurous situations. Performed by: Bořivoj Navrátil. Directed by: Dimitrij Dudík. Recorded: 2007