Day1: Karlovy Vary is a border town just inside the border of Czech Republic. It’s just south of Berlin Germany. Karlovy Vary is a quaint little river town that offers much the same shopping as Prague. But at far lower prices. I went there in search of crystal chandeliers which to date had been far too expensive for my budget. As it turned out I found several Bavarian Crystal dealers in Karlovy Vary offering the same pieces at a fraction the price. Better yet, I went to the customs office at the Czech Republic - Germany border and got a refund on the taxes (VAT) paid at the time of sale. So, for a total of less than $600 I purchased a small and a medium chandelier and two sconces. The total on these would have likely been $5,000 or more had I purchased them in Germany, France or Italy. And who knows what it would have been back in the states.

Aside from the great scores on crystal I got to watch a river boat race and mingled with the other market goers. If you need crystal, don’t go to Prague, go to Karlovy Vary. It’s but 60 miles west of Prague and offers far better prices on just about everything.