My Czech Republic Blog

Czech Roundup 04-May-08

Jeff — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:52:27 +0000

Czech wines excel at international wine contest
- Southern Moravian wines are winning medals

TV makers give Central Europe high ratings
- LCD and plasma television manufacturing big in Czech Republic and its neighbors

Vivaldi’s long-lost opera returns to Prague after 278 years
- missing manuscript completed and performed at Prague Castle

Fake blog caught promoting bank
The curious case of the phantom blogger
- fake blogs also an issue in the Czech Republic

May First at Petřín

Dana — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:58:42 +0000

Prague’s Petřín Park is considered by many to be one of the most romantic places in the city. It is especially true on May 1st when Czechs commemorate their own equivalent of Valentine’s Day. We write briefly about May First, the Time of Love on My Czech Republic.

Below are two pictures taken today at Petřín.

Havlíčkovy Sady Restoration Work Continues

Jeff — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:48:52 +0000

Havlíčkovy sady is Prague’s second largest park and a great place for a walk, especially during springtime, which is unfortunately the only time of the year when the park is in bloom. The park has been going through a major restoration. A new children’s playground was installed in its upper part and it is now very popular. The Grébovka Villa was restored last year. Work is now being done on the vineyard below the villa.

You can read more about the park on our Havlíčkovy sady page.

Grébovka Villa

Prague Easter Market - Painted Eggs and Pomlázkas

Jeff — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:41:28 +0000

I visited the Easter Market on Old Town Square today. We had some rain on and off, but the market was still busy.

If you want to read about Easter in the Czech Republic and the tradition of the pomlázka, visit our Czech Easter section on My Czech Republic.

Czech Roundup 27-Feb-08

Jeff — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:43:00 +0000

Oscar dream comes true for young Czech musician Markéta Irglová
Home town of Markéta Irglová celebrates her Oscar success
- Markéto a Glene, gratulujeme!

Czech police seek missing bridge
- How do you hide a four-ton iron bridge? Most likely it has already been recycled.

Lights dimming on gambler’s paradise
- Herna bars are all over our Prague district with two even next door to each other.

Budvar ups exports to record 587,000 hl of beer in 2007
- For those living in South Korea, Brazil or Albania, Budvar is now being distributed to your country.

Czech Roundup 04-Feb-08

Jeff — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:34:44 +0000

Czechs have all the right moves when it comes to ballroom dancing
Taneční - the tradition continues

Domestic films fuel comeback at cinemas
More Czech moviegoers watching Czech films - a record 32 Czech feature films planned for release in 2008

New York Rangers set to open NHL season in Prague
It’s official - the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing each other on October 4 and 5 at the Sazka Arena

Czechs develop vaccine against Lyme disease
A Moravian company worked with Palacký University in Olomouc to develop the vaccine

No Frills Ordering at Bontonland

Dana — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:21:01 +0000

I placed an order on Bontonland.cz this morning. I buy things online quite often, so I’m used to the quick Click - Click - Thank you for your order process. I’m also used to receiving an email confirmation immediately after placing my order. You know, that email you get with your full order summary, your address and shipping information, payment details, sometimes even a link to track the progress of your order. It seems that everyone sends these emails. Even obscure Czech companies from which you would not expect much. Everyone except Bontonland. After placing my order, I waited and waited until finally I got a message titled “Potvrzeni zavazne objednavky 574598 / Firm order confirmation 574598 “, which contained a single line:

“Dekujeme Vam za provedenou objednavku zbozi 574598 v cene: 492 Kc”.
(Thank you for your order 574598 at the price of 492 Kc)

That’s what I call a no-nonsense order confirmation. Now I just have to remember what it was that I ordered.

Frappuccino in Sight?

Dana — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:00:49 +0000

The American coffeeshop chain Starbucks is finally coming to Prague! And I say, it is about time! No, I am not being ironic and I realize there are many of you who don’t get excited about the “stand in line and get your coffee to go in a paper cup” concept. All you Starbucks haters are probably dreading the moment the American monster opens its polished glass doors in the middle of Malá Strana and its sterile counters, plastic spoons and Wi-Fi slowly overtake our old world. To be honest, I don’t really care one way or another about Starbucks. I don’t mind it, I don’t need it. But there is one thing they make that I can’t get enough of: Mocha Frappuccino! If they bring it to Prague, my list of things to indulge in on my trips to the U.S. will be one item shorter. I know this is going to sound dumb and girly, but I am in fact really excited about having Starbucks’ heavenly, chocolatey concoction a tram ride away.

And here’s another piece of news. The first Starbucks location is to open in the space that has been used by Square restaurant on Malostranské náměstí. Looks like Square will have to find another square to move to. Too bad, but at least I won’t have far to go for coffee after I’m finished with my Subway sandwich.

Starbucks uvaří první kávu v Česku na konci ledna
Kavárny Starbucks budou mít v lednu premiéru v Praze
Cukrárna se přemění na první český Starbucks

Here’s an update: Czech Republic’s first Starbucks opened on January 18, 2008

Czech Roundup 11-Jan-08

Jeff — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:50:20 +0000

Czech model enthusiasts get to work for Hollywood filmmakers
Patience and attention to detail pays off for passionate modelers.

‘Pâté vacations’ thing of the past for wealthier Czechs
Fewer Czechs bring their own food when traveling abroad.

Czech Egyptologists uncover intact 4,500 year-old tomb
Very rare find by Indiana Bareš and his team of experts (actually it’s Ladislav)

Model chanteuse sings pop lyrics
French-singing Iva Frühlingová has a new album out which includes two Czech songs.

Vyšehrad Under Snow

Jeff — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:24:16 +0000

I walked around Vyšehrad on Sunday and it was especially beautiful under snow. There were a lot of people there having a relaxing Sunday stroll. Kids were enjoying the fresh snow. Some even brought their saucers and were sliding down some hills in the park.

View toward the Church of Saints Peter & Paul (Chrám sv. Petra a Pavla)

St. Martin’s Rotunda (Rotunda sv. Martina) - the oldest preserved rotunda in Prague, built at the end of the 11th century