Compact archive April 2006

I used this quotation from Monty Python’s as an introduction of an old Czech tradition. It is Burning of witches and it is an old tradition on 30th April, which in middle ages was made as a protection against witches, sorcerers or demons.

Night of 30th April is also named Philip-Jacob’s night and it was believed that magic is very strong in this time. That is why ordinary people light large fires as a protection against witches, which were flying on brooms. Later people made large dolls of witches and they burnt it in this fire. In addition is now Burning of witches connected with roasting of knackwursts.

On 30 April, also commonly named Carodejnice (“Witches”... literally it is A woman, who makes magic), Carodky or Cary Prague has a lot to offer.

Miss Wich at Prague 6-Ladronka, Troja vineyard will offer a theater fairy tale, garden club Klamovka has a progrem for kids – competition for the best mask. You can visit Cisarska louka, where will be music and competition in computer games.

B films will have it’s own festival. First year of this fess is 13th May in Svetozor cinema – an art house in the center of Prague. It is in Vodickova street, few meters from Wenceslas square.

B-movies are becoming a new part of cultural life and so called B-culture can be shown now. Organisers want to present almost unknown movies for a wide audience and offer them a trip to the world of B movies.

B-films can be for someone waste matter, but for the others – like authors of this project – are for example B-movies films, that don’t pretend something and their actors are more believable. Conveners want to show us, that B-movies can be interesting and impressive as well as typical blockbuster films.

The memorial at Vitkov hill looks more like a tomb than a memorial. And in fact is was. There embalmed body of communistic president Klement Gottwald was kept there as an reflection of Lenin corpse in Moscow Mausoleum. Unfortunately (or luckily) the corpse had to be buried, because embalming was made wrongly.

And this place, this crypt, where is even in hottest days cold as in the winter, this place will for some days from 16th May will be transformed into the theater. Each play will be at a different place, and even visitors can get to places which are not normally accessible.

A group of young artists named “Depressive Kids Deserving for Money” will use this space of memorial as a part of play.
You can see a performance by the German author Deya Loher Third Sector, Edgar Allan Poe’s game The Fall of the House of Usher, third will be a performance by Thomas Bernhard and last bu not least will be Caligula by Albert Camus.

Members of the Parliament suggested to the president 31 personalities for medals. Other important persons could be nominated by citizens through the Senate.

Members agreed on well known names. Jaroslava Moserova, a politician, a translator, a doctor and an unsuccessful candidate for president seat was suggested for Decoration of T.G.Masaryk (first president and founder of Czechoslovakia) in memoriam as well as other nine people, one of them in memoriam too.

Skier and winner of 30 kilometers run at Olympic games 2006 Katerina Neumannova with Vladimir Korner, scenarist and writer (for example the book about the life of doctor and humanist Jan Jesenius – Doctor of Dying Time) are suggested for Distinguished Service Medal.

However, the president Vaclav Klaus need not abide with their suggestions.

Municipal house is one of the greatest examples of Art Nouveau in architecture. From April 26 to September 3, 2006 you can visit the exhibition called Art Nouveau in Croatia which is showing more than 1 000 exhibits.

They illustrate themes from architecture, painting, sculpture, graphic art, graphic design and artist crafts, which include furniture, metal, ceramics and glass design and the fashion of the time.

Admission is 100 CZK for adults, reduced (for students, seniors atc.) is 50 CZK. It is opened daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You can to find out more about this exhibition at official pages.

Parliamentarian Jiri Dolejs was attacked yesterday night. Vice chairman of Communistic Party Bohemia and Moravia was ambushed by three men when he was returning home.

Dolejs was knocked down and attackers were kicking him. Whole attack was about ten minutes long. Most injured is his right eye, which is swollen so much, that can’t be examined yet.

This attack was probably politically motivated, because attackers shouted things like “communistic pig”, and even worse. Dolejs was not robbed. Probably attackers waited for him.

Concert of Red Hots on 16th June is sold out.

After ten years of waiting Czech fans will see and most importantly hear this renowned band. Their most famous arrangement with guitar player John Fruiscante, singer Anthony Kiedis, bass-guitarist Flea and drummer Chad Smith will come with albs Californication, By The Way and newest Stadium Arcadium.

Only hope how to get a ticket is to wait for some cancelled or uncollected reservation. But there is almost no chance.

Gas lamps once were in Prague streets. And now lamps are returning. Light in old style is different from modern electric lamps and with old design of standards it gives more romance to Prague. Especially by night.

First gas lamps after 20 years appeared again in 2002. Now you can find them in Michalska, Vejvodova, Melantrichova and Uhelny trh streets. Big lamp-post will be functional in some days at Hradcanske square. It has to be repaired and restored. This one and another two-at Loretan street and Drazickeho square- look more like sculptural group than lamp-standard.

A light from gas lamps was possible after the restoration of gas pipelines at Celetna street and it is planned that whole King road will be under light of gas.

Czech Football league decorated with corruption of referees, has a new scandal. Yesterday was the match between Slavia Prague and Slovan Liberec was an unbelievable process. THe whole team of Slavia abandoned the football pitch during standard playing time in the 69th minute. This happened for the last time in Czech football league history 86 years ago.

Their leave from the pitch was made as protest against referee Jaroslav Jara, who disqualified in 60th minute one Slavia player and in 68th another plus he ordered to kick a penalty. Liberec scored. After few moments the leading of Slavia sent it’s players to dressing-room.

Referee Jara didn’t know how to solve this situation, because there is no rule what to do, when whole the team exits the football pitch. Liberec players were ready to give thanks to audience and went home, but Slavia players returned after 20 minutes. Match was finished, Liberec won 3:1.

Slavia’s protest will be investigated, as well as punishment for Slavia and it’s behavior. Slavia accepted defeat, but they can’t accept referee Jara’s directing .

Rowdies on sport matches, mostly football or ice hockey, will have to calm down. The new law is much harder than former one. Standard disorderliness is punished by condition. But rowdyism on sport matches will be now punished much harder.

Czech rowdies become more and more aggressive. Vandalism and violence is unforunately more frequent. On April 2004 fans of Banik Ostrava pulverized Zlin stadium for total cost 250 000 CZK. In year 2003 a fan of Bohemians got to football pitch and hit a referee with his fist.

Now hooligans can even have prohibited entrance to all matches to the rest of theis lifes or they can be imprisoned for two years. Camera systems on stadiums are more frequent and this will help to identify rioters, when they break the law and recognize them when they wants to get to stadium and it is prohibited for them.

Samples of DNA can be taken from convicted offenders, people under protective treatment, accused or suspected people without their permission. The House of Parliament accepted this proposal with agreement of all parties.

There will be some limitations. DNA can be taken from suspected only with agreement of a public prosecutor. Minister of the interior says that DNA tests will be used only in case of relevant crimes.
It is not planned to make a database of all citizens of the Czech Republic.

This change will make investigation faster and more effective. Other changes are for example preventive using of handcuffs or forced taking of fingerprints.

Each of twelve dead swans had H5N1 type of virus, which is dangerous and also deadly for humans. Swans were found between 27th March and 14th April in southern Bohemia in the area of the Vltava river.

Tests are known once only now, because have to be done in more steps. Firstly, a bird has to be found and transported into a specialised veterinary. Secondly, veterinary identifies if the dead bird could be killed by bird flu. Thirdly, laboratory identifies, that the bird was killed by a bird flu of specific type like H5. And finally fourth, lab identifies the virus precisely – H5N1.

2288 dead birds were examined in the Czech Republic at the beginning of April. Only swans were infected. So there is no fear that Czech poultry, even from controlled zones can be contaminated.

Exhibition Charles IV. – Emperor by The Grace of God is hopelessly sold out. Exhibition was very popular last year in New York Metropolitan museum, where had 170.000 visitors.

Interest about the exhibition in Prague is the same. Precisely, it is so popular that all tickets were sold two months before the end of the exhibition. 67.700 people have seen it and about 32.000 is awaited. The exhibition is from 16th February to 21st May.

Limited number of tickets is because there is a limit of daily visitors, because many of artifacts are fragile and even human heat or vapour from breath can damage them in such big amount.

It is impossible to length the exhibition because of contracts – many exhibits have to be returned or moved to other exhibitions. Exhibits come from many museums and states. Maybe the opening hours will be extended, but it is not certain. Now there is only one small chance how to visit the exhibiton: wait until someone will return their ticket or will lose their reservation. But it is rare.

Charles IV. – Emperor by The Grace of God is showing culture and art in the reign of the last Luxembourgs 1347-1447. Charles IV. was Czech king and one of greatest Emperors of Europe, his work in Bohemia is still astounding: Charles Bridge, New Town, Karlstejn, Charles university and much more was built. He made Bohemia and Prague greatest, modern and prosper places from all Europe in these days. That’s why Charles IV. was voted as Biggest Czech by the Czech people.

Still, there are many following actions, and they can be visited without any problem. You can visit writings about Charles IV. and his family with many precious books from Archives of Czech Crown. It is unique too, because such a big exhibition hasn’t been made since the year 1978. Or you can visit the exhibition about every-day culture of Prague in the 14th century. There are some actions especially for kids. Another option is to visit the Haptic Exhibition. Many actions are also out of the city at castles. Try visiting Karlstejn, Krivokat or Tocnik.

More information about Charles IV. – Emperor by The Grace of God and accompanying events you can find on Official pages.

Symbiosis between Prague police and students will be this summer again. This cooperation will be this year for the sixth time. Students will help with translation and they will supply information to tourist.

Prague uses mobile standpoints, where everybody can use the services of a policeman or a student. More than 14 000 tourists used this service last year. The number of mobile standpoints is increased every year. You can find 32 specially modified wagons in Prague this season.

Students work every weekend until July, during of school holiday every day from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. They have better salary than usual summer job (80 CZK per hour) and they have to be good in English or German and to know Prague very well. Thanks to this policemen have more time to do their job in Prague streets.

This year it is 12th year of Book World, International Book Fair at traditional place – Prague Vystaviste (“Exhibiton grounds”) at Holesovice. It is from 4th to 7th May 2006 and central exposition is Latvia focused on Literatures of the North.

It is for professional as well for ordinary readers. Festival offers

numerous programmes for visitors: professional seminars and conferences, meetings with writers, author readings, presentations by publishers, and awards ceremonies for outstanding publishing and creative achievements. On a humorous note, the Translators Guild presents the annual Rack Anti-award—a prize for the worst translation of a foreign work into Czech.

4th May is reserved for press and for trade professionals. This day is entrance fee for visitors is 120,- CZK. From 5th to 7th standard admission for one day is 90 CZK. Children in age 6-18, seniors and students pays 45 CZK. Friday ans Saurday is opened from 9AM to 7PM, Sunday has opened from 9 AM to 6 PM.

More information you can find at official pages.

Rohan island, island which is not technically island, because is fully connected with a land, will change it’s face. Many years there was rest of old, now unused industrial zone with a batching plant as a most ugly part of unsightly part of inner Prague. Parking lots as an another part aren’t much better.

Now are anti-flooding measures complete for this part of the city and Rohan island may become better place. “Prague quarters Maniny, Karlin and Liben cam become modern parts of city with recreational green,” says director of Development Department of capital city of Prague Svetlana Kubikova.

It is planned to built at Rohan island flats with sports facility like swimming pools and with administrative buildings along waterfront main road.

Two most known attractions at Petrin hill will be closed 26th April. It is Mirror Maze and Petrin lookout tower. These attractions are closed because of closed water supply.

Day after tomorrow both of them will be opened normally – from 10 AM to 9PM.
Third attraction- Stefanik observatory is opened as well as rest of the hill including a funicular.

Here are some photos of Petrin Hill.

There is another review about Prague. This traveler was in Prague for a week, so it is more colourful, I hope.

Prague is also a walking city, as my swollen feet can testify. Just get out of your hotel and walk, walk, walk. As I told Beloved, next time round I’ll bring a foot fetishist along. This was met with much indignation and sulking. We finally compromised – I got a foot rub after washing my feet and promising not to stuff my stinky socks in his face. Ah, love.

Rest of article is traditionally here.

1st May means changes in transport of bikes in metro. Until now bikers had only one place where they can be with a bike – at last decking of last vehicle. There could be only two bikes.

Now two bikes can be transported at last decking of each vehicle. It means that one train can transport up to ten bikes. It is recommended, that bike should be at right side of metro next to the doors. But be warned that three stations – Hlavni nadrazi (Main station), Vysehrad and Rajska Zahrada are opening doors at right side.

Still you can’t ride on bike in metro area, you have to care about your surrounding, especially on stair and in time of aboard and exiting train.

Pearl Jam starts a world tour in May shortly after new album with single World Wide Suicide. Jam starts in Canada and it will visit Europe in time of summer holiday. They will visit Czech Republic 22th September 2006.

Pearl Jam is a legend of grunge style and from their start in year 1991 with album Ten they became one of most known bands with sixty millions sold albums. The new one is eight in a row and fans had to wait four years.

Pearl Jam visit in Prague this September is third one in Prague. First was in year 1996 with album No Code, in year 2000 it was Binaurual.

This time they will play in Sazka Arena. Tickets are not yet available, I will inform you.

It was stolen stolen in total 920 billions CZK in shops in last year In Europe Union. 13 billions was stolen in Czech Republic. Signal indicator is a per cent showing amount of stolen revenue.

Most of it has Czech Republic and Slovakia with 1,4 per cent. On a third place is Great Britain with 1,38. Smallest number of cost of stolen things has Germany with 1,07 and Austria with 0,95.

From Czech 13 billions customers stole 6 billions, employees 4,2 billions and suppliers stole 750 millions CZK. Rest of amount is because of errors inside of companies.

Most stolen is in Czech Republic electronics, alcohol, cosmetics or clothes. Favourite season for stealer is time before Christmas. Stealing is in some cases organised and they even use kids for stealing.

Today it is exactly 125 years when Zizkov was promoted to a town. It became in May 1881 by emperor Franz Joseph I. Zizkov has in that time more than 19 thousands citizens and was one of biggest municipality in Bohemia.

It is because tradition says that municipality can’t become town (city, ham or how could I name it) when it wants. In past, every municipality was just village, until ruler didn’t accept a suggestion to promote village to town. Town had many advantages and privileges what village hadn’t. It was honour to become a town. Even now, village has to fulfil a lot of conditions if it wants to be a town.

Celebrations of Zizkov starts on 22nd May and ends at the end of a week. As a part of celebrations you can get trough Zizkov in historical tram, to see ride of vintage cars, special football (soccer) match or lighting a Zizkov television broadcaster. It is also planned reconstruction of historical moment in 1881 and discussion about history of Zizkov with screen of historical materials.

There is some blog of a traveller, greatly describing his way through Prague. There are some nice photos too. His way attracts at Palacky bridge he continues at Parizska street and ends on old Town Square.

At the top of “Paris Street” is the entrance into the magnificent Old Town Square, and I cannot describe how much I loved this part of Prague – as you walked into the entrance on the right hand side you were dwarfed by the stunning St. Nicolas Church, further to the right you could see the small market which gave away the smell of malted wine, candles and hot dogs – next to the market are two small stalls that sold food and hot malted wine, which was perfect if you needed to warm yourself up.

Rest of this article is here.

Jede traktor
je to Zetor
jede do hor
orat brambor

(A tractor rides, it is Zetor, it rides to mountains plough potatoes.) says a song from Czech music band Vysací Zámek.

Zetor company, making tractors has 60th birthday. This specialized part of automobile industry was in former Czechoslovakia at world top level. Even 30 000 tractors were made in one year in best years. Most of them were exported and it is very interesting that in times, where was no freedom of trade with abroad, most of tractors were sold into Western world, not communistic East. It was because Zetors were hi-tech goods in there times and it was profitable to sold them to rich west.

Zetor has great history. Even Che Guevara, most known hero of revolution has a photo, where he sits at Zetor. Pub in Finland has name Zetor and in some Near east states word “zetor” replaced common word “tractor”.

Zetor almost was bankrupt in 1999, but new investor turn it. Now produces 6000 tractors a year, two new models will be built in next months and this year company wants to reach 3 per cent quota at USA market in middle output class. Gap in production of higher class is planned to be removed.

Final Four, match of four best teams of European league starts this Friday at Prague Sazka Arena. Every year is tournament in different country and city. This year it is Czech Republic and Prague. Sazka arena is very well prepared. Year and a half of preparations and fifty millions CZK is cost for organisation Ceska sportovni (Czech sporting), which put together “biggest European basketball holiday”.

Although tournament is in Prague it was impossible to hope that Czech team will get to it. Basketball is not sport no.1 in CZ, so financial support is many times lesser than in another European countries. Best four are MACCABI TEL AVIV (Israel) and TAU CERAMICA (Spain) – first match, CSKA MOSKVA (Russia) and FC BARCELONA (Spain) – second match.

Ceska sportovni had to make a lot for this tournament: Let make and buy special equipment, adjust beds and showers for tall player or be prepared to set optimal temperature in hall and in dressing-rooms. It makes Final Four in Prague best equipped and prepared of all previous FF. It makes fastest sales of all too.

It was expected and now it is clear, that most visitors are abroad, especially from Greek and Israel. From total amount of 15 000 tickets rests 200 classic tickets and 50 top sites. Every tickets are sold in “packs” – tickets for every matches sold together. Price starts at 2 300 CZK and TOP VIP costs 42 000 CZK.

If you want to buy them, then continue to site of Sazkaticket.
Every other information should be at Ceska sportovni pages or at Euroleague sites.

Barrandov studios will expand. 4 000 square meters of new movie studio complex will make Barrandov studios second biggest studios in Europe and first in technical support. New complex will have soundproof premises, which Europe biggest studio – London Pinewood hasn’t.

Foundation-stone was set 20th April. Total cost of complex is more than one hundred thousands Czech crowns. This will be addition to original part from 1933 and three complexes built in time of Protectorate Czech and Moravia, where Czechoslovakia was taken by Hitler’s Germany.

Prague is very popular destination for movie makers, because here is very good technical and personal support with leading of Barrnadov studios, and it is much cheaper to travel from Hollywood to Czech Republic, shoot from movie as much as it gets and travel back, than do the whole movie in USA. In additional, Czech Republic has very much from intact history than other countries, so it is best place to make historical movies like From Hell with Johny Depp or Napoleon with Gerard Depardieu. Now is shoot James Bond in Prague and many other movies were and will be shoot.

Reconstructions are awaited in Prague public transport. Modernization of fifty five trams will cost 412 millions CZK. This extend their lifetime for twenty years. It is much cheaper than buying new ones. Only seven new trams could be bought at same cost. Nevertheless Prague Public Transport Company wants buy new 20 trams to the end of year 2007.

Rest of investment will be used to repair big tram crossroads Ohrada, Palmovka and Vapenka. It is expected that repairs will start in summer, when is traditionally low traffic during holiday.