August 22, 2005

Dear Sylvie:

We have now returned home and are settled back into somewhat of a normal routine. I wanted to thank you and your staff and tell you how much we enjoyed our visit with you. As you know, I had been to Prague before, but this experience was really special. After so many years of travelling and planning vacations for other people, I really enjoy talking to the people who live in the country that I visit rather than just seeing sights. It's far more meanful at this point in my life. Neil is beginning to agree with me, and Debra and Joel love to talk with the locals (it's what makes their dry cleaning store so unique). ......

Judy K.

Dear Sylvie,

My husband and I returned home a few days ago from our trip to Central  Europe. I wanted you to know how much we enjoyed your tour guides during our visit to Prague.  

Robert led our tour of the Jewish Quarter. In addition to being very  pleasant, he was extremely knowledgable about Judaism, about the sites and about the  history of Jews in the region. He knew so much and was so respectful of  Jewish tradition that my husband and I were truly surprised to learn that he wasn't  Jewish. 

Martina, our guide to Terezin, was very pleasant and well versed in her  subject as well. In the car over to Terezin, she explained the history of the  Czech Jewish community and prepared us for the visit to the camp. She was  attentive, knowledgable and answered all our questions intelligently. She too was  respectful of the Jewish community.

Ziv, with whom I dealt on the phone prior to our visit, was helpful. He  recommended the kosher places to eat and suggested we try the Jewish community  center for Shabbat dinner. We did and had a nice dinner, even though the local  Jews ignored us. We were not seated with them and I tried to speak with  people, but they were not interested. Perhaps you might suggest to the rabbi and  local congregants that they attempt to communicate with the Jewish tourists  visiting from abroad. I think that between English, Yiddish and Hebrew, we  could have communicated. (I did see a sign up asking American Jews for money to  buy a new Torah--maybe that would happen if they talk to us).

Thank you for hiring an excellent staff.

Susan G.

Dear Sylvie, I finally have a moment -- and more critically, a computer -- to sit and write you a note of thanks after my visit in Prague. It was wonderful to meet you and and also to attend services at your shul. I really enjoyed our walk around the park afterwards and only regret that we didn't have more time to continue talking.

Warm regards, Sylvia S.

Dear Sylvie: We were in Prague last summer and were very happy with the tourist services you and your group provided. We will again be in Europe this summer and were wondering if you could provide us with referrals for personal tour guides. ......

Barry R. H.

Please give this note to Martina Štolbová:    Thanks so much for sending "The Power Of Good" to us the next day so that we could purchase it.  We watched the film and all the bonus material here in our hotel room last night and were amazed by the impact and quality of the material.  My sincerest compliments to you and your staff on a spectacular effort and a terrific, powerful, meaningful film.  I had no idea before I actually saw it just how special it was.  Please write me back and thank you as well for a most memorable experience in Terezin.  We also had a great tour the next day with Amalka in the Jewish Quarter.  Wittman Tours is a great outfit to have people like you a part of it.                June and Jerry Spunberg

(Note: supported by Wittmann Tours -> see here, and more info about the film at http://www.wintonfilm.com ..Emmy Award in 2002, )

Dear Silvie, Just a quick note to tell you how much we enjoyed our trip to Terezin this past Tuesday.  Martina was nothing short of fantastic in terms of her knowledge base as well as her warmth and good humor.  She was able to describe the events that transpired there not only in great detail, but with a warm, human touch. In addition, she was able to help us understand the recent past history of your country and some of the political and economic challenges facing the Czech Republic today.

Dear Sylvie, Again, I wanted to thank you for your services last week. It seemed to me that we were with a teacher, not a \"tourist guide\".  The eight hours that we spent with you added a significant amount to my store of knowledge about the history of Central Europe.  As an undergraduate, I majored in history and most of my studies were in European History.  The time that we spent together certainly filled in a number of gaps and tied up some mental loose ends.

Mike S.