Compact archive January 23, 2007

Palm Days in Prague's Botanical Garden

Tuesday 23 January 2007 14:50

Prague’s Botanical Garden offers these days a unique European collection of palm and cycads. About 70 kinds of palms and 20 kinds of cycads are exhibited on the terrace of the greenhouse Fata Morgana.

Visitors may learn the main difference between these two plants, watch pictures of many other palms on the walls of the greenhouse of buy seeds to plant their own palms and cycads.

The Botanical Garden also holds an exhibition of bags, handbags and bins made of plant materials. More then 80 exhibits are displayed in the exhibition hall of open air exposition.

Both exhibitions are open until 4th February. The greenhouse Fata Morgana is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. The open air exposition is open daily from 9:00 to 16:00.

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German band Tokio Hotel in Prague

Tuesday 23 January 2007 13:58

Tokio Hotel, a popular German teenage band, have been busy recently on recording their second album Zimmer 483 that will be issued on 23rd February 2007. Together with this album, this four-member band will tour through Europe. Prague is on their list on 3rd April 2007.

The pop/rock band consists of twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz, Gustav Schafer and Georg Listing. They all come from Magdeburg where they created a band called Devilish. In 2003 they signed a contract with Universal Music Domestic Division in Hamburg and changed the name to Tokio Hotel. They have already won many awards in their short music carrier.

Prague’s concert of Tokio Hotel will take place in large Sazka Arena, their show will start already at 18:00. Tickets can be bought from 500 CZK to 790 CZK.

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Prague's airport Ruzyne is breaking records

Tuesday 23 January 2007 12:43

According to Hana Cernochova, the Chief Executive Officer of the Prague’s international airport Ruzyne, record-breaking 10,5 million travellers passed through the airport in the year 2006, which is 700 000 more then in 2005. Travellers now more and more use the offers of low-budget airlines.

The most popular destination for people travelling from Prague was London (about 1 million travellers), then Paris (670 000), Frankfurt am Main (450 000) and Amsterdam (400 000). Most people travelled in August (1,3 million).

Prague’s airport Ruzyne is the largest airport in the new EU member states. The airport is designed to accommodate up to 20 million passengers a year. According to prognoses, this number might be reached in 2020.

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Protests against U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic

Tuesday 23 January 2007 11:54

There are lively debates these days concerning placing U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic. The public opinion divides people into two groups; to those who support the U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic and to those who refuse it for the fear that it would put the country in a great danger.

Two days ago tens of activist from the association NE zakladnem (No to the bases) protested in Wenceslas Square to show their disapproval. The government, according to these activists, deceive people by claiming that the U.S. radar base means no risk for the Czech Republic.

A difference of opinion can be seen also in the government. While the Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek says that there is no need for referendum and that this matter should be decided by experts in the field, the opposition parties ask for the referendum.

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Meteorologists expect heavy snowfalls

Tuesday 23 January 2007 11:24

The gale that swept Europe took lives of many people and caused bad damages of properties. The association of insurance companies in the Czech Republic announced that the customers of Czech insurance companies reported 28 000 damage claims for 485 million CZK. Meteorologists now warn against another calamity – this time caused by snow.

From today to Thursday there will be about 25 to 50 cm (9,8” to 19”) of new snow. The situation may be more critical at the mountains when 80 cm (31”) of snow layer is expected. Meteorologist warn against icy roads and snowdrifts.

Also temperatures will change radically these days. From high temperatures that broke records, the temperatures will fall low below zero these days. The coldest night will be from Thursday to Friday when temperatures will drop to minus 15˚C (+5 ˚F). For up-to-date weather forecast click here.