Mark Baker
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  • On the road
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Mark Baker

Author Archives: Mark Baker

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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

Část 2: „Tady je vaše složka“

Posted on 8 November 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Články v češtině | Tagged 1980s, StB, arno, Praha, Arnold, INTER, spion

Část 1: Seznamte se s „INTERem“

Posted on 6 November 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Články v češtině | Tagged 1980s, StB, Praha, Arnold, Business International, Verdery

‘Čas proměn’ Two Years On

Posted on 17 July 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Czech, book, Cas Promen, Albatros, Bratislava, Ina, Devin

Back on the Danube

Posted on 5 July 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, On The Road | Tagged Vienna, Danube, Budapest, National Geographic, AMA Waterways, Linz, Passau

Part 2: When Prague Was the Center of the World

Posted on 24 May 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1990s, Expats, 90s

Part 1: When Prague Was the Center of the World

Posted on 16 May 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, communism, Czechoslovakia, 1990s, Left Bank, nostalgia

Part 5: My Life as a ‘Spy’

Posted on 16 March 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Czechoslovakia, StB, file, Bratislava, INTER, Ina, Pariz

Part 4: My Life as a ‘Spy’

Posted on 13 March 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, communism, StB, Bratislava, INTER, files, Eastern bloc

Part 3: My Life as a ‘Spy’

Posted on 10 March 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, communism, Czechoslovakia, Vienna, StB, secret police, Bratislava

Part 2: My Life as a ‘Spy’

Posted on 6 March 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, spy, Czechoslovakia, espionage, StB, arno, Arnold

Part 1: My Life as a ‘Spy’

Posted on 27 February 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, communism, Vienna, 1980s, StB, Arnold, Business International, Verdery, file

Coming Soon: My Life as a ‘Spy’

Posted on 22 February 2023 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, communism, Czechoslovakia, Vienna, espionage, StB

2022: Look Back at a Challenging Year

Posted on 13 December 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Travel, Lonely Planet, travel writing, covid, 2022, yearend, HBOT, Wanderlust

Slovenia’s Beautiful Lake Bohinj

Posted on 7 September 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, On The Road | Tagged Slovenia, Lake Bohinj, cycling, hiking, Julian Alps, Juliana, horseback riding

Slovenia’s Oft-Overlooked East

Posted on 30 August 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, On The Road | Tagged Slovenia, biking, wine, hiking, Maribor, Ptuj, Drava, skiing

Biking & Boating at the Bottom of a Lead Mine

Posted on 23 August 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, On The Road | Tagged Lonely Planet, Slovenia, biking, Mezica, mine, kayaking

The Prague Flood Twenty Years On

Posted on 9 August 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Czech, Praha, 2002, Floods, Vltava, August 2002, disaster

Happy Birthday To My Book!

Posted on 28 July 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, birthday, Czech, book, Cas Promen, Time of Changes

Tips for Enjoying a European River Cruise

Posted on 5 July 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, On The Road | Tagged Vienna, Danube, Budapest, National Geographic, Amsterdam, river cruise, Europe, cruises, summer cruise

Finding Positives in the Pandemic

Posted on 21 June 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions | Tagged travel writing, TBEX, blogging, Marbella, TBEX Europe, Spain

The Early Years of Putin’s Russia

Posted on 23 May 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Russia, Radio Free Europe, Ukraine, RFE/RL, Putin, Yeltsin

Russia’s War Highlights RFE/RL’s Ongoing Role

Posted on 13 May 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, Tales From The Past | Tagged Prague, Russia, Radio Free Europe, Ukraine, RFE/RL, Putin

Moldova On My Mind

Posted on 2 May 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Diversions, On The Road | Tagged Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, FAM, Transdniester, wine, USAID

My Omicron ‘Month’

Posted on 23 April 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, covid, 2022, omicron

How Can I Help Ukraine?

Posted on 10 March 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Prague, Czech, Poland, Russia, war, Ukraine, aid, donation, charity

Speaking Out for Ukraine

Posted on 27 February 2022 by Mark Baker
Posted in Life In Prague, Diversions | Tagged Czech, Czechoslovakia, history, Russia, Ukraine, 1968, Putin
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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
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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