Compact archive August 2007

The Hunters of Mammots only till Sunday

Friday 31 August 2007 16:23

The Hunters of Mammoths exhibition Visitors who would like to see one of the most visited exhibition of the National Museum, the Hunters of Mammoths, have the last change to visit it. The exhibition showing the life of people and animals in prehistorical time will be open until the end of this week.

“One of the most valuable items of the exhibition, the statue of Venus of Dolni Vestonice, will return back to the safe of the Moravian Museum in Brno. It will be transported in vehicles with smoked glass windows and armed men.

The exhibition was visited by more than half a million visitors. It is accompanied with audiovisual effects, such as roars of mammoths or the smell of untanned animal skin. The museum will try to beat its own record by a new exhibition starting in this November for which several exhibits were borrowed from NASA.

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Kolbaba's exhibition at Prague Airport prolonged

Friday 31 August 2007 15:06

The large exhibition of large-format photographs from various corners of the world has been shown for already 4 months in the halls of Prague Airport Ruzyne. The author of the photographs is famous Czech traveller and photographer Jiri Kolbaba. Due to big success the exhibition has been prolonged until 31st October 2007.

The photographs are placed almost on every step there. You can find them in departure and arrival halls, corridors and transit areas of terminals Sever 1 and Sever 2.

Kolbaba’s exhibition will be accompanied with an itinerant exhibition of photographs made by reporters and corespondents of Koktejl magazine. This exhibition will be shown in the departure hall of Terminal Sever 2 from 1st September until 13th October 2007.

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Footballer Petr Cech awarded as the best European goal keeper

Friday 31 August 2007 13:20

Czech goal keeper Petr Cech and his award [photo www.petr-cech.cz] Successful Czech footballer playing for football club Chelsea was awarded as the best football goal keeper in Europe. He received this trophy from the hands of former Soviet goal keeper Rinat Dasajev in Monaco last night. 16 coaches from the best European clubs decided about this award.

In the interview for MF DNES Petr Cech says that it has been a big honour for him and also a big responsibility for future performance as a goal keeper. He thinks that he was awarded thanks to his successful comeback after his serious injury last year.

Petr Cech’s ambitions climb even more. He would like to get more awards which would mean that he is not stagnating. In January he and his wife Martina are expecting their first child.

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Road tax stickers will be more expensive

Friday 31 August 2007 11:39

Road tax sticker for 1 month Drivers in the Czech Republic will have to pay more for using Czech highways. Road tax stickers that must be stuck on the front window, will be more expensive next year again.

New tax road stickers for 2008 valid from December 2007 will rise in price for each vehicle group. The tax road sticker for one year will cost 1,000 CZK (instead of present 900 CZK) for cars under 3.5 tons and 8,000 CZK (instead of present 7,000 CZK) for small vans under 12 tons. Small goods van will use stickers for the last year in 2008. From 1st January 2009 they should pay electronic road-toll like trucks and buses nowadays.

More expensive will be also stickers with shorter validity. Stickers for 7 days will cost 220 CZK (from 200 CZK) and for 1 month 330 CZK (from 300 CZK). According to the Ministry of Transportation, the revenues from the road tax should reach 2.3 billion CZK. The money will be used for building new highways or new cycle-ways.

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Alpe Adria Cup 2007 in Prague

Friday 31 August 2007 09:59

Alpe Adria Cup The Czech Republic will host for the first time in history the Championship of Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and the Czech Republic in water scooter riding.

The prestigious race called Alpe Adria Cup 2007 starts today in the afternoon on the Vltava river near O2 Zlute Lazne in Prague-Podoli. The main race, which will crown the 3rd race series, will be held on Sunday 2nd September 2007.

The visitors can look forward to hydrocross (slalom on a circle track) as well as acrobatic performances in freestyle. The entrance is free. For more information about the races click here.

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Average salary in Prague has risen to 26,429 CZK

Thursday 30 August 2007 15:32

The average salary in the Czech capital in the second quarter of this year has risen to more than 26 thousand Czech crowns. The average salary in Prague is now 26,429 CZK (brutto), which is by 1,541 CZK more than last year. Current exchange rate is approximately 27 CZK per 1 EUR.

The average salary in the whole Czech Republic now is 21,462 CZK. Besides Prague’s inhabitants more than an average salary is given in the central Bohemia, other regions of the Czech republic have salaries below the average.

Besides the highest average salary Prague has also, together with Prague-West and Prague-East, the lowest unemployment rate. In July this year it was 2.5%.

The National Museum will show Czech icons of the 1980's

Thursday 30 August 2007 13:47

Popular in the 1980's - Cecka The National Museum in Prague prepares an exhibition showing one of the icons of the 1980’s in the former Czechoslovakia – cecka, which were small plastic letters, most commonly in the shape of letter C. Cecka were very difficult to obtain and collecting them became a great passion at that time.

The idea to show cecka in the National Museum came with the question: What influenced children in the 1980’s? Cecka were used as a exchange article, they were suitable for many games and children used to boast how many of them they had.

The museum is trying to obtain other things that have almost no material value but tell a lot about the time, society and the life style. Besides cecka visitors will see also Rubik’s Cube or Soviet electronic game with a wolf collection eggs. The exhbition should be open by the end of this year.

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Adopt your cinema seat in Prague

Thursday 30 August 2007 13:06

Prague’s cinema Svetozor, that shows mainly art movies, is going to be reconstructed. Even though a big part of the cost should be covered by the State Fund of the Czech Republic for the support of cinematography, the keepers want to get some money from private sponsors and donors.

They have prepared a new action where everybody can be involved. For 5,000 CZK you can adopt a seat in the cinema for five years. The new seat will bear your name. What’s more, you’ll become a member of Foster Parents Club. This includes also 10 visits of the cinema shows for free.

The reconstruction Svetozor cinema will probably start at the beginning of December. The popular cinema will be closed for several weeks after then. The architect of the reconstruction, Marcela Steinbachova, designed the new interior in honour of several film hits, such as Twin Peaks or Dogville.

Slavia Praha for the first time in Champions League

Thursday 30 August 2007 11:39

Stanislav Vlcek from Slavia Praha [photo www.slavia.cz] It was their sixth trial, but finally successful. Slavia Praha, one of the Prague’s football teams, managed to enter the prestigious Champions League when Slavia won yesterday’s match over Ajax Amsterdam in Prague’s stadium Strahov.

The match ended with the result 2-1 for Slavian players. Two goals were scored by Stanislav Vlcek from Slavia Praha, one by Luis Suarez from Ajax Amsterdam. The victory was also caused by excellent performance of Czech goal keeper Martin Vaniak.

So far it was only Sparta Prague who had some success in Champion League. The groups of the Champions League will be drawn in Monaco today.

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Chess exhibition in Kampa

Thursday 30 August 2007 10:02

British chess player Nigel Short will challenge Czech best Czech male player David Navara for an exhibition match in Kampa island in Prague today. Besides them the best Czech female player Jana Jackova will play against the Dutch legend Jan Timman.

The players will play rapid chess on Thursday and Friday, on Saturday they will have a chance to pit their wits against each other in Fisher’s chess. On Sunday Nigel Short will play a simultaneous game against 30 VIP players.

The exhibition match is played within the CEZ CHESS TROPHY 2007 festival and it will take place inside the hotel Best Western Kampa in Vsehrdova street. Tickets for 40 CZK can be obtained at the reception of the hotel, in HSH Computers in shopping centre Kotva or reserved at prazska.sachova@gmail.com.

Festival of indie rock music in Prague

Wednesday 29 August 2007 18:01

Indie Summer Fest 2007 Festival of Czech indie rock bands will take place in the Parukarka park in Prague on 1 st September. You can spend the whole afternoon there – the bands will play from 1 pm to 10 pm and the admission is free.

Parukarka park is situated in Prague 3, Zizkov district. The closest metro station is Flora, the closest tram stop is “Olsanske namesti” (trams 5, 9, 26).

Line-up:
13:00 – 13:40 STP
14:00 – 14:40 Loves Of A Blonde
15:00 – 15:40 The Roads
16:00 – 16:40 LakesideX
17:00 – 17:40 No Heroes
18:00 – 18:40 Road Side Mary
19:00 – 19:40 Living Room
20:00 – 20.40 Sweeper
21:00 – 21:40 The Slots

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No smoking in Czech trains since December

Wednesday 29 August 2007 16:04

Smoking will be absolutely forbidden in Czech trains since December 2007. Last smokers´ compartments, which are still in some express trains, will be abolished. Czech Railways (Ceske drahy, CD) wish to follow the European trend of restricting smoking in public spaces.

The fine for smoking in trains will be 100,- CZK. The ban will apply also for the international trains, running from Hungary or Poland, where smoking is still permitted. The passengers will be allowed to smoke only till they arrive to the Czech borders.

A similar ban on smoking in trains will be in Germany and Austria since 1st September.

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Main Runway of Prague Ruzyne Airport is open again

Wednesday 29 August 2007 14:03

Prague Ruzyne Airport Planes can use the main runway on the Prague Ruzyne Airport again. It was closed for necessary modifications since the 7 th August and the planes had to use the side runway. That´s why they flew over Prague districts Repy and Bila Hora and disturbed the inhabitants with noise.

The side runway is also used in cases of a strong crosswind, for example 8% of flights used it last year. Another runway is planned to be built for the Ruzyne Airport in 2013, which should solve the problems with noise once for all.

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Theaters in Prague are threatened with bankruptcy

Wednesday 29 August 2007 11:57

Some theaters in Prague may have serious problems at the end of the year. The city council stopped providing grants to them, because of the prosecution for reportedly discriminating system of grants. This situation may cause, that some theaters in Prague won´t be able to function.

The prosecution was brought to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg by Petr Kratochvil, co-owner of the Ta Fantastika Theater in Prague. Because of the threat of arbitration, the city council doesn´t continue in providing grants as it did so far.

Some theaters in Prague have therefore only grants to the end of the year. It is the case of, for example, Archa Theater, Semafor Theater or Divadlo Bez zabradli.

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Precious painting returns to the Prague Castle after centuries

Wednesday 29 August 2007 09:59

The valuable painting The Allegory of Turkish Wars, made by Bartholomeus Spranger in 1610, has returned to the Prague Castle Picture Gallery after 360 years. Visitors can see it in the permanent exhibition there.

Spranger worked at the court of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. in Prague. Emperor himself ordered the painting, so it was made especially for the collections of Rudolph II. at the Prague Castle.

During the Thirty Years´ Wars, Swedish troops have taken many works of art from Prague as a war booty, including this one. The picture was then lost for several centuries. It was finally discovered in Europe in the 20 th century. Now it belongs to a private collection and it was lent to the Prague Castle Picture Gallery for two years. It has an incalculable value at the present time.

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Privatization of major Czech state companies

Tuesday 28 August 2007 18:05

Czech government plans to privatize important companies such as Budvar, Prague Airport, Czech Airlines (CSA) and a part of the Czech Post. Also privatization of CEZ, the big power company, is considered.

7% of CEZ shares will be sold already this year, to gain 31 milliards CZK for building motorways and repairing roads. Privatization of the other companies is now prepared by the Ministry of Finance.

In case of Budvar company, producing the famous beer, there will be some special conditions, such as using the traditional technology. In privatization of the Prague Airport Ruzyne, there will be probably a minimum price set by the government.

Poor information system of Prague public transport

Tuesday 28 August 2007 16:10

Prague trams Compared to public transport in London or Paris, passengers in Prague don´t get enough information about the public transport system. There are no leaflets with maps of metro, for instance, or with tariff rates. Prague Public Transit plans to improve this.

The leaflets should be available in the information centres and at the metro stations. They will be probably in Czech, English, German and Russian language.

Another improvement will be the information boards, providing information on the arrival of trams and buses. This information will be also sent to mobile phones in the future: a passenger will send a question to the dispatching centre and he will receive an automatic reply.

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Large golf course will be built in Prague - Vinor

Tuesday 28 August 2007 14:08

Golf course The largest golf course in Prague will be built in the Vinor district (Prague 9) in two years. It will be 100 ha large and there will be 27 holes. The existing four golf courses in Prague have all just 9 holes.

The golf area in Vinor will be planted with trees and there will be artificial lakes. Other attractions are the near castles Ctenice, Vinor and Jenstejn. Vinor district is situated on the north-east outskirt of Prague.

Golf is becoming more and more popular in the Czech Republic. At the present time, you can play golf for example in Hodkovicky district, Kosire, Kbely or on the Rohansky Island under the Libensky bridge in Prague.

Imperial Hotel Prague opens again

Tuesday 28 August 2007 11:53

Imperial Hotel interior Imperial Hotel in the centre of Prague (Na Porici Street), a valuable Art Deco building, has been reconstructed. The hotel, built between 1913 and 1914, was closed to the public for tens of years, now it will open again together with the famous café.

There are Art Nouveau mosaics with Cubist features inside the hotel, especially the café has a splendid decoration. These features were not affected by the reconstruction.

Several old hotels from the beginning of the 20 th century were reconstructed and opened again in Prague in recent years. For example, it is the Alcron Hotel or Adria Hotel. Some reconstructions, however, afflicted the historical value of the buildings – that´s the case of, for example, Palace Hotel or Savoy Hotel. Both these reconstructions were planned during Communism years.

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Prague maps for blind people

Tuesday 28 August 2007 10:02

It will soon be easier for blind people to orientate themselves in Prague. The city council has made special plastic maps with miniatures of important buildings and places. There are also names of streets, parks and metro stations in Braille on the maps.

The whole project should be finished at the end of the year 2007. There will be a map of the whole city, a map of the historical city reserve in Prague and maps of some parts of the reserve. 60 maps will be made altogether and they will be available to the public in the information centres, schools and libraries.

The written commentary will be in English too, so the maps will be useful also for blind tourists. They can also use the book The Royal Route, released in June 2007, which gives information on 19 important buildings in Prague in Braille.

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Lighter penalty for raising marijuana?

Monday 27 August 2007 18:02

A new proposal of the criminal code in the Czech Republic brings a new attitude to soft drugs: it intends to reduce the penalty for those, who raise marijuana or other plants containing psychoactive substances.

At the present time, the Czech criminal code doesn´t make a difference between soft and hard drugs. The new proposal aims to differ between them according to their dangerousness.

Raising hemp in “smaller than large amount” might be even non-punishable. The concrete amount would be stated by a government decree then.

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Stummfest - festival of silent movies in Prague

Monday 27 August 2007 16:04

Erotikon Stummfest is not an ordinary film festival: it presents exclusively black-and-white silent movies, some of them rarely screened, accompanied by music. You can see not just Czech, but also German films from the beginning of cinematography there. It is an open-air festival, taking place in the courtyard of the Klub v Jeleni in Prague.

The theme of this year´s Stummfest is “love and crime”. During 3 days, you can see 12 movies there, for example the oldest film shots of Prague by Jan Krizenecky from 1898 – 1908, one of the oldest German puppet films Die grosse Liebe einer kleinen Tänzerin from 1924, or the classic Czech movie Erotikon from 1929.

Stummfest is a noncommercial event, there is no entrance fee. But you can contribute some money, which will go to the charity Pomozte detem! (“Help the children!”). It helps all the children in the Czech Republic, which are in danger or in a bad situation.

Stummfest lasts from 30 th August to 1 st September. The programme starts at 6 pm. Klub v Jeleni is situated close to the Prague Castle, in Jeleni Street 196 / 15, Prague 1.

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