Mark Baker
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  • On the road
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Mark Baker

Author Archives: Mark Baker

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Prague Through the Lens of Robert Carrithers

Posted on 14 April 2026 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, art, Expats, 90s, Carrithers, photography, Radost

Part 3: The Lost World of Prague’s Expat Press

Posted on 6 April 2026 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, retro, 90s, zines, literary, Pozor, Velvet, reviews, Yazzyk, Think, Optimism

Part 2: The Lost World of Prague’s Expat Press

Posted on 29 March 2026 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Expats, media, 90s, business, publications, Prague Business Journal

Part 1: The Lost World of Prague’s Expat Press

Posted on 23 March 2026 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Expats, Prague Post, 90s, Prognosis, business, news, Transitions

Part 4: A Travel Guide for Post-Velvet Czechoslovakia

Posted on 25 November 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, On The Road, Tales From The Past | Tagged Czechoslovakia, Karlovy Vary, Slovakia, cesky krumlov, Fodors, Bohemia, Kosice

Part 3: A Travel Guide for Post-Velvet Czechoslovakia

Posted on 18 November 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, On The Road, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Czechoslovakia, guidebook, Fodors, 1991, Terezin, Theresienstadt

Part 2: A Travel Guide for Post-Velvet Czechoslovakia

Posted on 11 November 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, On The Road, Tales From The Past | Tagged Czechoslovakia, Moravia, Travel, guidebook, travel writing, Fodors, 1991

Part 1: A Travel Guide for Post-Velvet Czechoslovakia

Posted on 3 November 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, On The Road, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Czechoslovakia, Travel, guidebook, Fodors, 1991

Brutalist Icon Gets a Fresh Look

Posted on 1 July 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, Czech, Architecture, Intercontinental, brutalism, hotel, Fairmont

Ten Great Hotels in Prague

Posted on 21 June 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, hotels, National Geographic, magazine, article, Traveller

Part 2: When the Miners Came onto the Streets in Bucharest

Posted on 16 June 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in On The Road, Tales From The Past | Tagged Bucharest, Romania, communist, Travel, mineriada, 1990

Part 1: When the Miners Came onto the Streets in Bucharest

Posted on 14 June 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in On The Road, Tales From The Past | Tagged Bucharest, Travel, mineriada, travel writing, 1990, Iliescu, democracy

Touring the Vila Volman

Posted on 13 March 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, Czech, Architecture, functionalism, volman, vila, celakovice

A Peek Inside the New Hotel Evropa

Posted on 28 January 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, On The Road | Tagged Prague, Wenceslas Square, Art Nouveau, hotel, W, luxury, Evropa

Best Places to Visit in Czechia

Posted on 15 January 2025 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, On The Road | Tagged Prague, Czech, Brno, Lonely Planet, Karlovy Vary, Olomouc, Best Places, Kutna Hora

Beethoven and Me

Posted on 3 December 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, On The Road | Tagged Czech, Teplice, Beethoven, spa, health, myopathy, cure

The History of the Trdelník*

Posted on 29 April 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, Czech, Food, tourism, history, Street food, trdelnik, chimney cake, parody

Best Music Videos Shot in Prague

Posted on 18 April 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, 1968, music videos, INXS, LinkinPark, REM, Patti Smith, Moody Blues

Alan Levy Twenty Years On

Posted on 6 April 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Prague Post, Levy, Alan Levy, Rowboat to Prague, writer, memorial

Czechoslovakia’s Sham Show Trial

Posted on 18 March 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged communism, Czechoslovakia, history, Slansky, show trial, 1952

Travel Writing, AI, ‘Czechia’ & Me

Posted on 6 March 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions | Tagged travel writer, Q&A, interview, about me, central europe

Best Prague Bars & Clubs in the ‘90s

Posted on 27 February 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, retro, 1990s, bars, clubs, nightlife

Best Prague Restaurants in the ’90s

Posted on 14 February 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Czech, 1990s, Expats, restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs

Remembering Glen Emery

Posted on 6 February 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Czech, Czechoslovakia, 1990s, Glen Emery, Jo's Bar, tribute, Bukowski's

Why I Love Romanian Movies

Posted on 29 January 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions | Tagged Romania, New Wave, essay, films, Mungiu, Jude, Judith State, Ioana Flora

The Battle Over Communist Buildings

Posted on 22 January 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Architecture, communist, Lonely Planet, brutalism, essay, preservation

A Penchant for the Absurd

Posted on 13 January 2024 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, Czech, Lonely Planet, humor, essay

Část 5: Dostaveníčko v hotelu Devín

Posted on 15 November 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Články v češtině | Tagged Prague, Czechoslovakia, StB, file, Bratislava, INTER, Ina, Pariz

Část 4: Den, na který nikdy nezapomenu

Posted on 13 November 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Články v češtině | Tagged Prague, communism, StB, Bratislava, INTER, files, Eastern bloc

Část 3: Náš člověk ve Vídni

Posted on 10 November 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Články v češtině | Tagged Prague, communism, Czechoslovakia, Vienna, StB, secret police, Bratislava
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About the author

Mark Baker

I’m an independent journalist, travel writer and author who’s lived in Central Europe for nearly three decades. I love the history, literature, culture and mystery of this often-overlooked corner of Europe, and I make my living writing articles and guidebooks about the region. Much of what I write eventually finds its way into commercial print or digital outlets, but a lot of it does not.

And that’s my aim with this website: to find a space for stories and experiences that fall outside the publishing mainstream.

My Book: ‘Čas Proměn’

In 2021, I published “Čas Proměn” (“Time of Changes”), my first book of historical nonfiction. The book, written in Czech, is a collection of stories about Central and Eastern Europe in the 1980s and early ‘90s, including memories of the thrilling anti-communist revolutions of 1989. The idea for the book and many of the tales I tell there were directly inspired by this blog. Czech readers, find a link to purchase the book here. I hope you enjoy.

Buy now
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  • On the road
  • Inspiration
  • Tales from the past
  • Life in Prague
  • Diversions
  • Články v češtině
  • Čas proměn
  • About Mark
Twitter
Instagram

Contact

I am always open to new projects. If you'd like to hire me as a writer or editor, or simply wish to find out more, please contact me directly.
Email me
© 2026 Mark Baker
Site by Tom Brickman
  • On the road
  • Inspiration
  • Tales from the past
  • Life in Prague
  • Diversions
  • Články v češtině
  • Čas proměn
  • About Mark
Twitter
Instagram

Contact

I am always open to new projects. If you'd like to hire me as a writer or editor, or simply wish to find out more, please contact me directly.
Email me
© 2026 Mark Baker
Site by Tom Brickman
Tales of Travel & Adventure in Central Europe
Mark Baker
Mark Baker