66 Feature eye on travel

GOLDEN WARMTH Journal Watch Romantic capital of at Vitamin D and AMD its best in winter Potential protective by Maryalicia Post effect in older women Women with lower vitamin D levels may be at increased risk of developing early AMD, a large-scale inter visitors to are the museum is open daily from 10:00 until study suggests. The findings come lucky; they see the city at its 20:00 in summer and to 18:00 in winter. For from the Carotenoids in Age-Related best. Cafés and restaurants details, visit, www.charlesbridgemuseum.com. Eye Disease Study (AREDS), an are warm and welcoming, ancillary study within the Women's Wfree of the crowds that invade them in Don’t miss Prague Health Initiative Observational summer. Theatres and concert halls come Castle. Not a single castle, but more of a Study. An analysis of serum 25(OH) alive. And a stroll across the Charles Bridge small town, which includes the home of the D levels, a biomarker for vitamin is a walk into a fairy tale landscape that is Czech president and St Vitus Cathedral. D status, showed that in women for the moment all your own. There are courtyards and streets, among younger than 75 years, higher levels them the charming “,” built of serum 25(OH)D were associated Charles Bridge This majestic stone in the 15th century to house the King's with a significant decreased risk span over the Vltava River has connected marksmen. The writer once Saint Vitus Cathedral and the castle complex overlooking the of early AMD. The study included Vltava river Prague’s Old and Lesser Towns since 1402. lived in No 22. A changing of the guard measures of vitamin D intake from Building began in 1357 under Emperor takes place at the castle's main gate on the sunlight, foods and nutritional Charles IV, who had a flair for the dramatic. hour, with a fanfare at noon. The only Jewish Quarter Prague's 12th supplements. While higher oral He even had the roof of the city's defensive privately owned building in the complex century Jewish Quarter, Josefov, houses intake of the vitamin was associated towers gilded, contributing to Prague's is the Lobkowicz Palace, home to one of five synagogues including the “New-Old with reduced AMD risk, duration renown as the “Golden City.” the most influential ancient families of Synagogue,” the oldest in use in . of sun exposure was not. Lutein In the 17th century the bridge was . Their fabulous art collection was According to legend, the remains of the and zeaxanthin intake appeared lined with 30 statues. Though some of the twice stolen – first by the Nazis, then by Golem are in the attic. Rabbi Judah Loew to add to the benefit. Vitamin D is originals are in Prague's Lapidary Museum the Communists. The recorded guided tour ben Bezalel, the 16th century scholar believed to have anti-inflammatory for safekeeping, the copies ensure that the brings the story to life. Classical recitals who created the Golem fable, is buried in and immune modulation properties. enchantment of this unique bridge lives on. begin at noon in the Lobkowicz Palace the nearby cemetery. Ironically, Josefov The researchers hypothesise that Today, the Charles Bridge is a magnet for Concert Hall. survived World War II because Hitler vitamin D may suppress the cascade every tourist, busker and souvenir seller in The attractions of the castle complex planned to turn its Jewish Museum into a of destructive inflammation that Prague. To see it at its best, visit early or late are open from 9:00 to 18:00 April through “Museum of an Extinct Race.” occurs at the level of the retinal in the day. October and until 16:00 November through The Jewish Museum is open every day pigment epithelium–choroid The Charles Bridge museum opened in March. The Lobkowicz Palace museum is except Saturday and Jewish Holidays 09:00 interface in early stages of AMD. A 2007. The highpoint of the exhibition is a open daily 10:00 to 18:00 year round. The - 16.30 in winter and until 18:00 in summer. possible role of vitamin D in ocular model of the bridge in the 14th century, café is a picturesque setting for coffee or Buy a single admission for the New-Old functioning is supported by evidence depicting its construction. Located at the foot lunch. For details, visit: Synagogue or a combination to include five that the vitamin D receptor is located of the bridge, near the Lesser Town Square www.lobkowicz-collections.org. synagogues and the cemetery. in vertebrate retinal tissue and is expressed in human cultured retinal For a visit to the world famous Every day except Monday, the endothelial cells. ESCRS Meets at Hilton Prague n A Millen et al., Archives of attractions of the “Golden City,” Hilton Monastery Library, the museum’s The hotel in which the ESCRS will Ophthalmology, ‘Vitamin D Status cars wait at the door. A walk to the city neighbour, is open from 9:00 to 12:00 meet in Prague from 3-5 February – the and Early Age-Related Macular centre takes only about 15 minutes. and from 13:00 to 17:00. Borrow a Hilton Prague – is one of the city’s most Degeneration in Postmenopausal printed guide from the library custodian. prestigious hotels. Guests will enjoy five Women’, 2011;129(4):481-489. Go to: www.360cities.net/gigapixel/ in-house restaurants and bars, a fitness Micro-surgery to micro-art strahov-library for a preview. centre, pool and spa, shops and a casino. Many of the micro-instruments used in The monastery’s website is at: For the past three winters there’s been Svatoslav Fyodorov’s eye microsurgery www.strahovskyklaster.cz. an added attraction; each February an ice centre in the 1980s were devised by bar has been constructed on the rooftop a Siberian craftsman named Anatoly terrace of the Cloud 9 bar. A fantasy Konenko. He later turned his skills to grotto, the Cloud 9 is a magical place to producing micro-miniature art works. chill out’ while overlooking the lights of Prague’s Museum of Miniatures is the city. If the weather isn’t cold enough devoted exclusively to his works. for an ice bar, Cloud 9 is still a glamorous Even if you’ve never felt the urge to see setting in which to sip a cocktail and enjoy a flea that’s been fitted with golden shoes, Amy Millen the view. Weather permitting, the ice bar you might be surprised at how long is open daily from 18:00 to 24:00. Closed you linger over the exhibits in this new on Sunday. The entrance fee of 590 czk museum. They are set out side by side includes a glass of champagne, welcome on shelves, each with its accompanying refreshments and unlimited vodka shots. magnifying glass or microscope. Library of Strahov Monastery

EUROTIMES | Volume 16 | Issue 9