Anděl

Anděl: leden 2007

2009-11-06T12:21:00.000+01:00

My HERO

2009-06-05T09:21:00.001+02:00

Overheard:

College girl from England: Hey, whoa, are you drunk?
College girl from Prague: No! I'm Czech!

Czechs taking it out on the French

2009-02-10T09:35:00.001+01:00

Tensions between Prague and Paris rose on Monday after the Czech republic called an emergency European summit in protest at "protectionist" plans to bail out France’s car industry.

Mirek Topolanek, prime minister of the Czech republic, was still fuming on Monday after Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, urged his country’s carmakers to close down plants in eastern Europe in return for state aid.

Mr Sarkozy did not repeat his weekend call on Renault and Peugeot-Citroën to "relocate where possible" their production when he unveiled a €6.5bn ($8.5bn, £5.7bn) package of loans for the two carmakers on Monday. But his comments continued to draw strong protests in central Europe.

Relations between Prague and Paris, which held the EU presidency in the second half of last year, have been strained since Mr Sarkozy made it clear that he did not feel his Czech successors would be up to the job. Mr Sarkozy floated the idea of his chairing a council of eurozone leaders – the Czech republic is not in the single currency – to lead the bloc’s response to the crisis.

A Czech-led mission to the Middle East at the start of the year was overshadowed by Mr Sarkozy’s own peace initiative – prompting criticism from other member-states, such as Italy.

Mr Sarkozy, when asked in a television interview on Thursday whether the Czechs needed to do more try to co-ordinate stimulus policies, replied: "You should not take it out on them especially. They are doing what they can." (more)

What else did we miss here?

2009-02-06T12:23:00.001+01:00

The Czech Republic's practice of surgically castrating convicted sex offenders is "invasive, irreversible and mutilating" and should stop immediately, the Council of Europe's Anti-Torture Committee said in a report made public Thursday.

The central European country castrated at least 94 prisoners in the 10 years up to April 2008, when investigators from the Council of Europe, a human-rights forum, visited the Czech Republic.

The procedure is being performed even on first-time, non-violent offenders, such as exhibitionists, its investigation revealed. (CNN)

Ježuš Maria! First time I've ever heard of it! WTF?!

Czech court to rule on fairy-tale kingdom

2008-10-08T16:04:00.003+02:00

Comic actor Bolek Polivka is suing former business partner Tomas Harabis over the rights to the fictitious Wallachian Kingdom.

The court must decide whether Mr Polivka is the true "king" of the fairy-tale realm. (more)

Gosh, is that what alcohol does to a country? Smart idea though! Why don't we start a pivo kingdom, say the United Kingdom of Pivoland?

Shattered into Pieces

2008-10-03T14:52:00.001+02:00

In perhaps the first, and largest, fallout from the financial crisis, glass-making group Bohemia Crystalex and Porcela Plus entered bankruptcy proceedings Sept. 22.

Crystalex’s troubles became apparent to outsiders when electric company ČEZ shut off power in Crystalex plants for one hour Sept. 18 as a warning for hundreds of millions of crowns in unpaid electric bills. (The Prague Post)

No Country for Old Beer

2008-06-05T11:18:00.001+02:00

At this year’s World Beer Cup in San Diego, California, the largest competition of its kind, the gold medal for “Bohemian-style lager” did not go to a Czech brewery for the first time since 2000, when the competition was smaller by nearly half and dominated by North American brewers.

Rather, the world’s best pilsner beers can be found in two unlikely places: Portland and Sydney. (more)

Czechs no longer brew top pilsner! WTF is going on out there?

What about beer price?

2008-06-03T14:34:00.002+02:00

Average salaries in Prague are now 28,600 Kč ($1,800), driven in part by a growing labor shortage across the country.

But at the same times wages are rising, expenses are, too.

Housing, transportation and food prices have all gone up in recent months, forcing a majority of Czech families to revise their spending habits. (more)

Examples: Tram ticket price gone from 20/14 to 26/18; Podoli swimming pool one-time entrance from 85 to 95; Movie ticket in Village Cinemas from 159 to 169, etc.

What I know is that most Chinese restaurants haven't raised their prices, meaning you can still get an oily saulty heavy big Kung-Pao kuřeci s ryze for 69 kc.

But what about beer price?

Driving lessons in Prague

2008-04-28T18:08:00.001+02:00

http://www.autoskola-amos.cz/index.php?id_str=18

Price 13 680 kc (7000 kc must be paid on first class) => 9480 kc in Czech
Discount 1000kc if there are 3 or more people attending Theory classes
Documents required:

Passport+visa (confirming that you are in CR for over 6 months)
Form from Practical Doctor
Statement – Crime (Vypis z rejstriku trestu)

What is included?

28 Practical lessons (5 simulator, 23 in the car)
20-28 Theory lessons

700 is a state fee for a test exam (+ around 3 000kc for translator, who has a state stamp)
50 kc for Driving License in Magistrat

New Intern Tips – Prague Annual Event Calendar (Amateur Version)

2008-03-31T12:48:00.015+02:00

Reading guide:

* Of course there are loads of websites of event lists. I’m not known for being creative. However most of the lists out there specialize on certain fields, for example, film festivals, wine festivals, music festivals, etc. And there aren’t many good and complete lists about Prague or Czech Republic in general. Sure this list is biased too – it’s mostly culture and fun related, meaning movies, music and parties. But as the title of this posting hinted, it’s for new comers whoever has a slight wonder what we do while we are not drinking pivo (or what we can also do at the same time while drinking). I’ve screened out some television related festivals, because they are not relevant, and that’s because the majority of us don’t watch TV in the Czech Republic, and that’s because most of the programmes are in Czech, a language we don’t master. Sport seasons are excluded too, and I’m not even sporty enough to explain why. Also this is intended to be a yearly event list, so I did not include some one-off festivals – or at least festivals that only happened in 2007 and we are not sure if they are coming back to become regular. We’ll update the list with the new events shall they return to our already eventful life. Don’t hold your breath yet.

* I have been wanting to do this list for a long time but it took me 2.5 years to figure out the regularity and timeline of these events, and even with that observation period there are some flakey events that just can’t make up their mind when in a year they want to take place. Gosh. Therefore for those that are more or less regular for the past three years, the time indicated may remain valid for the future. Otherwise it’ll only mean 2008 as specified.

* The location of these events are in Prague by default unless otherwise specified.

* If you know other good events that should be included in this list and shared in the community, please leave a comment to this posting.

* You might wonder what's going on in January and February every year. Well oddly enough I can't find any, haven't been to any, and don't think there is any. If you know anything I'm all ears. Otherwise just go to a hockey game or get a cottage and ski instead.

January
	"Eiga-Sai" Festival of Contemporary Japanese Film
	Almost always in the end of January. Good collection of Japanese films if you need a dose of Asian culture after a while.

March
	"One World" International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival
	Started off in May 1999, later changed to April every year until finally to the week starting on the first Wednesday of March in 2006 and has been sticking to this schedule for the past 3 years.
	Prague Half Marathon + Junior Marathon
	Last Saturday of March in 2008. A warm-up for the full Marathon weekend in May.
	Febiofest
	Last week of March (Thursday – Friday). Previously Prague International Film, Television and Video Festival until 2007, now changed to Prague International Film Festival in 2008. Febiofest always has a movie festival programme accompanied by a small music festival too. Busy schedule.
April
	Days of European Films
	Second half of April in 2008. A European film promoting festival for 14 days.
	International Book Fair and Literary Festival "Book World" Prague
	Last weekend of April in 2008.
May
	Marathon Weekend
	Second Sunday of May in 2008.
	Khamoro World Roma Festival
	Last week of May. A festival of traditional Roma music, Gypsy jazz by the best Roma artists who’ve been performing in the Czech Republic for the past 10 years.
	"Prague Spring" International Music Festival
	Always starts from the second week of May and lasts for a month until mid June. A festival for classical music lovers. Most certainly the oldest music festival in the Czech Republic, Prague Spring started its first note back on May 11th, 1946 and has never been suspended ever since, even in some of the most turbulent times in the country’s history. 2008 will be its 63rd anniversary.
	Prague Fringe Festival
	Last week of May till beginning of June. Theatre galore!
June
	"Tanec Praha" International Festival of Contemporary Dance and Movement Theatre
	First week of June
	Summer Fest Strelak
	Starts in the first week of June and goes on for 3 months altogether. If you’ve never heard of the place or programme, well Strelak is this little Vltavian island under the bridge between Ujezd and Narodni Divadlo. Sounds familiar now, uh? Every summer the island opens up an open air cinema and bar and shows 100 movies, one each day. Sometimes the programme is mixed with small film festivals, foosball games, and concerts. See 2007’s programme here. So basically there is something fun going on every day there and all you need to do is to stop by on your everyday route.
	Summer Shakespeare Festival
	From late June all the way to September. The biggest and oldest open-air theatre festival in the Czech Republic. The venue in Prague is under the open sky with the ancient backdrops of Prague Castle. A tip for you is make reservation as early as possible. If you been to the little yard next to the toy museum down the Castle, you'll know that it's a small open-air theatre with not many seats.
July
	Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
	Ironically the biggest and best-known international film festival that Czech Republic has with a global fame is not based in the capital city. Well the little spa town definitely has its charm despite the tendency of being taken over by rich Russian vacationers and property purchasers. Festival always starts in the first week of July which always coincides with the public holiday Saints Cyril and Methodius' Day (Jul 5) and Jan Hus Day (Jul 6) so it works out perfectly for a long weekend or week off work indulged in the movie world. The festival is also famous for the young people camping and partying outdoor, some by choice, some by the fast-sold-out affordable accommodation.
	New Prague Dance Festival
	First week of July
September
	Burcak (young wine) Festival
	Throughout September. The festival in Prague normally takes places in several parks in Prague, but the main site remain in Vinohrady area. However the biggest wine harvest festival in the Czech Republic actually happens in Znojmo, the Moravian town that’s one of the biggest wine producers of the country. This is 2007’s account of "Znojemske vinobrani" for a big picture. Always a perfect combination of good weather, seasonal young wine, concerts and parties in the open air.
	Manhattan short film fest
	Last weekend of September. The Manhattan Short is not a new festival (becoming the 11th in 2008) but definitely new to the Czech Republic. The one in 2007 was cool but the trick is that they don’t have fixed countries and venues every year. You can nominate a venue online and if it gets enough interest the screeners will come. Hope it can make its way to Prague again in 2008!
October
	Bollywood Film Festival
	Mid October for a week. Need I say more? It’s Bollywood!
	"Music on Film, Film on Music Festival (MOFFOM)" International Festival of Music Films
	5 days throughout the third weekend of October (Thursday – Monday).
November
	"Mezipatra" GLBT Film Festival
	First week of November (some years starting from the last weekend of October).
	Prague Short Film Festival
	A 5 day short festival for short films (ok that was cheesy) in mid November.
	International Jazz Festival Prague
	Last week of November.
December
	"Film Asia" Asian Film Festival in Prague
	First weekend of December.

(Probably) the Biggest Snow in Prague This Winter comes...

2008-03-18T12:13:00.002+01:00

... in March, today.

And 5 minutes later, clear blue sky.

Prague pushes Paris for the hearts of the world

2008-02-28T12:17:00.001+01:00

In a survey launched by the world’s largest travel and lifestyle social network WAYN.com (Where Are You Now?), Prague has proven a strongly favoured alternative to the traditional ‘most-romantic’ cities. This year’s survey suggests the world’s lovers could soon be popping the question in Bohemia on the banks of the River Vlatva rather than the famous Seine.

WAYN.com polled its 10.8 million members to find out the world’s opinion on the most romantic place to spend Valentine’s Day, and Prague came in fourth.

It was the City of a Hundred Spires which takes the crown for being most impressive new comer in the category of Romance Tourism. (more on WAYN founder's blog)

The Best Thieves in Europe

2008-02-22T10:42:00.004+01:00

A survey on stealing in stores by the Nottingham Center for Retail Research, covering 32 countries, placed the Czechs well ahead of its neighbors in terms of numbers of thieves and the damage they do. Last year, Czech thieves cheated retailers of 1.4 percent of their turnover. This makes thieves responsible for 40 percent of overall retail losses.

Although India and Thailand placed first overall in terms of sheer numbers, Czech thieves rule in Europe, placing well ahead of Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. Austria, Switzerland, Iceland and Germany, on the other hand, placed lowest on the list. (details)

I bet if they counted stealing in bars and restaurants the result would be significantly different, at least not so in favor of Czechs. Or maybe we just haven't tried hard enough?

Also, on a related note, Chinese thieves are nice too, especially wallet pickers. They would only take out the cash and mail you back the wallet with cards and everything else in it; or tell you on the phone where they left your wallet (sometimes involving the 3rd stoll of the Men's room in a department store)... Of course not all of them but the above are real stories I've witnessed or experienced myself! Besides, if Czech thieves really rule, well bring back my Thinkpad and iPod and camera and everything!!!

I'm looking forward to a stealing competition in Europe... should take place soon given the level of boredom European media reaches now.

One more, you know you've been in the Czech Republic far too long when...

2008-01-31T15:36:00.001+01:00

... you want to pay everything with your Stravenky. Whichever restaurant, shop, supermarket you go, before the menu, you first look for this little colorful sign; you are deciding on an eating out plan and you first decide, the place needs to take stravenky; you get the bill and you first ask if you could pay with stravenky.

Stravenky is simply the magic, or evil, if you ask what it is. These tax deductible meal vouchers have been our best company when eating out and, sometimes, grocery shopping. The Czech Republic is not the only European country that has it, although it'd be perfect if we could use our Czech Koruna stravenkies for a Belgian beer in Antwerp.

How long can its magic last? Well apparently not very long. According to the latest news:
"Efforts to cancel the tax deductions granted for meal tickets are back and stronger than ever. Even politicians who previously intervened to save the stravenky last year, like Deputies Miloš Melčák and Michal Pohanka (ODS), have changed their minds about the program."

Is this the end of a glorious era? So sad...

The Mini-Grand Reunion

2008-01-21T12:08:00.000+01:00

Jan 20, 2008, Brussels. A rehearsal for Hawaii.

It's been too long buddies. But not much seems to have changed...

Lost, one more time

2008-01-09T11:51:00.000+01:00

Starbucks will open its first café in Prague at the end of January, Finanční noviny reports.

Starbucks, which has over 15,000 cafes in over 40 countries, wants to open 20 cafes this year in the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary and also plans to enter the Bulgarian and Polish markets. (news)

CSA Best Central European Airline in 2007

2007-12-28T20:39:00.000+01:00

With Singapore Airlines named Airline of the Year 2007 worldwidely. No doubt.

Full result here.

The Return of the King

2007-12-20T15:45:00.000+01:00

The members of Koruna Česká, a national party that wants to transform the government into a constitutional monarchy, are used to condescendence.

But, with between 400 and 500 members and government representation in four municipalities, Koruna Česká is not just some farcical movement.

“We’re not satirists, and we’re not some virtual party,” says party Chairman Václav Srb. “We’re simply the political embodiment of a movement to reunify the historic territories of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia under the Czech crown.”

Today, the crown jewels of the old Czech kingdom are locked away by seven keys, asleep in a secured chamber within the St. Vitus Cathedral. But if Srb and his fellow party members have their way, the storied St. Václav crown — the very same headpiece conceived by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in the 14th century — would once again adorn the head of a Czech monarch. (details)

Jedno pivo, prosim, Your Majesty!

So, words on the street is that those ginormous Christmas trees do fall on people...

2007-11-29T00:10:00.001+01:00

Prague Town Hall is appealing to the Czech Supreme Court in the case of Malcolm Tuffin, a 57-year-old British man injured in 2003 when a 25-meter-tall Christmas tree fell on him in Old Town Square.

Tuffin was awarded 560,000 Kč ($31,200) in physical and psychological damages after the Prague Municipal Court ruled that the city and Folk Art Productions were responsible for the accident. Folk Art Productions is the agency that put up the tree. (more)

Stay away...

News

2007-11-10T22:38:00.001+01:00

Police clash with neo-Nazi demonstrators

At least 30 arrested, others taken to the hospital

I passed by Palackeho Namesti at 6pm and found hundreds gathering in the square with equal amount of policemen surrounding them. I've never seen so many policemen and police cars out before.

It just started snowing now. Slowly falling snowflakes look beautiful in the dim street light. Peacefully and elegantly, canopying the City of A Hundred Towers, landing on the black uniform of the demonstrators and policemen, covering the sleepless night, and clearing up the tension in the air... like it's trying to tell us that everything is going to be alright.

Slovak pride

2007-11-01T12:55:00.000+01:00

Slovakia is seeking help to protect what it says is its sausage. The threatened links, called špekáčky, have been a staple of Central European dinner plates for ages but became the subject of a dispute after Slovakia applied this May for a special European Union protected status for the food.

Slovakia’s claim has roiled Czech butchers and meat-product makers, who say špekáčky is also a Czech (and Polish) food and that the Slovaks are being sneaky in their attempts to claim sausage rights. (The Prague Post)

Prosim! Is it just me or are they really that bored? Hang on, I've never even tried the object in dispute... ok maybe it's just me...

ČR ready to join Schengen system

2007-11-01T12:53:00.001+01:00

Border checks likely to be abolished Dec. 21.

Important announcement from Prague Airport for frequent travelers

2007-10-22T16:47:00.000+02:00

ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPERATIONAL CHANGES APPLIED AT PRAGUE AIRPORT

Dear Business Partner,

We would like to inform you in advance about the operational changes that will be applied at Prague Airport with the commencement of the winter timetable, i.e. from 28th October 2007. Please pass the information on to your travelling employees.

On the given date, two major changes connected with the Prague Airport operation will be applied:

change of the terminal names at Prague Airport
shifting operations from/to the new Schengen area countries from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2

1. CHANGE OF NAMES OF TERMINALS USED AT PRAGUE AIRPORT
To simplify the navigation at the airport and communication of the terminal names, namely in relation to the foreign group of travellers, Prague Airport (Letiště Praha, s. p.) has decided to make the terminals’ naming more simple and closer to the European custom practice. As of 28. 10. 2007, the terminal names will change as follows:

Currently used name
Name used from 28/10-07 Indicator
Terminál Sever 1 / Terminal North 1 >>> Terminal 1 T1
Terminál Sever 2 / Terminal North 2 >>> Terminal 2 T2
Terminál Jih 2 / Terminal South 2 >>> Terminal 3 General Aviation T3
Terminál Jih 1 / Terminal South 1 >>> Terminal 4 Military T4

2. SHIFTING OPERATIONS FROM/TO THE NEW MEMBER STATES OF THE SCHENGEN AREA FROM TERMINAL 1 TO TERMINAL 2

In connection with preparations for the Czech Republic’s and other eight states’ accession to the so called Schengen agreement, it is necessary to move flights from and to these countries from Terminal 1 (earlier Terminal North 1) to Terminal 2 (earlier Terminal North 2). Prague Airport (Letiště Praha, s.p.) has decided to move the operations ahead of the scheduled accession and apply the change on the date of commencement of the winter timetable - on 28th October 2007, in order to prevent any complications connected with changes done during the period of validity of the timetable.

Shift of operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 as of 28th October 2007 applies to flights from/to the following countries:

Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

The only exception to this new rule will be the domestic flights (flights from within the Czech Republic) that will still be handled in the current way. These flights will be transferred to Terminal 2 on the day the Czech Republic officially joins the Schengen agreement.

Reason to Leave and Reason to Stay - all for Praha

2007-10-19T11:42:00.000+02:00

LN: Prague has highest concentration of dust in ČR

2007-10-12T11:50:00.000+02:00

Prague's air has a high content of fine dust particles, which are hazardous to human health.

Currently used name		Name used from 28/10-07	Indicator
Terminál Sever 1 / Terminal North 1	>>>	Terminal 1	T1
Terminál Sever 2 / Terminal North 2	>>>	Terminal 2	T2
Terminál Jih 2 / Terminal South 2	>>>	Terminal 3 General Aviation	T3
Terminál Jih 1 / Terminal South 1	>>>	Terminal 4 Military	T4