Not a lot of time has passed since the dramatic price increase of Prague public transport tickets in July 2005 when transfer tickets went up from 12 Kč to 20 Kč and single-use tickets from 8 Kč to 14 Kč. According to Hospodářské noviny, Prague public transit fares are already higher than those in Vienna or Paris when compared to the average salaries in those countries.
The Prague Public Transit Company has now approved yet another fare hike, which should take place next year. The cost of a transfer ticket is supposed to jump from 20 Kč to 30 Kč and a yearly pass should cost 5,200 Kč instead of the current 4,150 Kč. The price increase is supposedly necessary and will help in the construction of new tram and metro lines. That’s a fine reason in itself. I just hope that we’re not headed the wrong way and that those who are now taking public transport are not going to get in their cars and start contributing to the already bad congestion and pollution on the streets of Prague.
Hospodářské noviny article (in Czech):
Pražská MHD zdraží. Aby bylo na metro
We went to Petřín on Sunday and as we were walking down the steps toward the Castle, we passed by a sign informing visitors that the Large Garden Tunnel (one of the underground passages beneath Petřín) was having a special open day. I thought the English translation on the sign was priceless!
I think it is safe to say that mushroom picking is a Czech national leisure activity. The mushroom season usually lasts from June/July through October. Last year’s harvests were especially generous thanks to the rains and cool temperatures. On our weekend trips from Prague, we would see people returning from forests with baskets full of gorgeous suchohřiby, křemenáče, bedly and other mouthwatering varieties. As we sat in our train compartment, we went by people’s yards and caught glimpses of piles of fresh mushrooms being cleaned in preparation for dinner or to be sliced up and dried. From the bus windows, we watched rows of colorful holubinky line the road.