Compact archive January 16, 2007

Prague will host the international synchronised skating competition called Prague Cup 2007. Competitors will try their luck in Novice, Junior and Senior categories according to the current International Skating Rules.

The competition is organized by Figure Skating Club USK Prague and hosted by the Czech Figure Skating Association. 41 teams consisting of 16 members from 10 countries (the USA, Canada, Russia, Belarus, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Hungary and the Czech Republic) will show their best in the two-day competition.

The event will take place in T-mobile arena (Za Elekrarnou 419) on 27th and 28th January 2007. It is possible to buy one ticket for both days or just a ticket for each day. Tickets can be bought via Ticketpro, in Metro Theatre (Narodni tr. 25) and in the ticket office of T-mobile arena before the start.

We already wrote about the bad experience of foreign tourists with Prague taxi drivers who damage the reputation of the city. Many taxi drivers, especially in the centre, charge much more than they should or they give you a receipt that does not have all the essentials. Czech newspaper MF Dnes brings advice what to do when taking a taxi in Prague.

• Instead of taking a taxi on the street, use the marked taxi station or order a taxi by phone and ask the name and number of the driver.
• When getting in the car, you can write down the registration number and the number on the door. If the drivers reacts negatively, leave the car.
• The maximum rate in Prague in 28 CZK/km. Be also careful at the chancing rate of some taxi drivers – you pay more in Euros then in Czech currency. Current exchange rate is about 28 CZK per EUR. After getting in the car, ask the driver about the approximate cost.
• Check the taximeter whether it is working. If you think that you have to pay too much, check the receipt, whether the driver charged you the standard tariff.
• Make sure that the receipt contains personal details of the driver. If the driver refuses to give you the receipt, make sure you know the registration number and the number on the door.

International show of film, television and video Febiofest starts this year on 22nd March. Already for 14th times Prague and other cities in the Czech and Slovak Republic will see more than 300 films of many film genres and many experiments.

One of the experiments is a 24-hour show of slow-motion picture of Hitchcock’s Psycho. Among one of the special guests of the festival will be French director Bruno Dumont, awarded last year in Cannes. More then 50 singers and bands from more then 10 countries in the world will perform during the festival. One of them will be French singer Rona Hartner.

The festival in Prague will take place mainly in multiplex cinema Village Cinemas in Andel (near Andel metro station). It will start there on 22nd March and finish on 30th March. A morning show called Febiofest Junior will be devoted to children. Than the festival will go from Prague to other ten Czech and eight Slovak cities.

Prague Zoo wants to attract more visitors, even though last year it was visited by more than one million people. Its popularity is enhanced by the good location near Botanical Garden and Troja chateau.

Prague Zoo expects two new baby gorillas. At the turn of January and February and in May two gorillas are expecting their young. Zoo owns a new couple of tapirs coming from New Orleans. Soo new caracal will arrive to Zoo. Also a new refreshment with outside tables will be open together with a cafe, a confectionery, new public toilets and a gift shop.

Botanical Garden in Prague promises better information boards, new pathways and better sanitary facilities. There might be a new garden house soon. Botanical garden plans several new exhibitions: Palm Days (16/1 – 4/2), Orchids (10/2 – 25/2), Haptic Exhibition: Magical Flowers and Animals (21/4 – 29/4), Exhibition of Butterflies CR (1/6 – 30/6) and Carnivorous Flowers (4/9 – 16/9).

Czech Technical University (CTU) in Prague celebrates this week a special anniversary. 300 years ago, on 14th January 1707, the emperor Joseph I asked Czech estates to finance the education of technical engineering in Prague.

The biggest celebrations will culminate this week. Today the university gives a concert of classical music in Rudolfinum, tomorrow the President Vaclav Klaus and other significant personalities will be honoured honoris causa at the CTU Scientific Board Meeting in Betlehem Chapel. On the day of the anniversary, there will be a ceremonial meeting of the CTU Academic Senate and Scientific Board.

The public can visit an exhibition in Lapidary of Bethlehem Chapel called Engineering through the Eyes of an Engineer. The exhibition will introduce changes in the technical education during three centuries – from the establishment of CTU up to these days. The vernissage of the exhibition starts on 19th January at 10:00.