Compact archive December 2007

The greatest, biggest annual fireworks in Prague

Friday 28 December 2007 17:01

The traditional, most massive fireworks take place in Prague not in the night 2007/2008, but in the evening of the first day of the new year.

Thousands of rockets are going fly from Letna on 1st of January 2008, 6pm. It usually takes about 15 minutes to 1000 seconds to be precise. The authors always promise new effects. The traditional spectacle, that costs about 54 thousands €, can be best seen from Cechuv Most (Cech’s bridge), and close riverside.

The show can be as great for kids, as it is scary for dogs. Anyway It is watched by tens of thousands of locals and foreigners alike every year, and it belongs to great attractions Prague offers.

Kylie Minogue concert Prague

Friday 28 December 2007 16:24

Kylie-Minogue Kylie Minogue (b. 1968) is an Australian, Grammy award-winning pop singer. Minogue rose to prominence in the late 1980s through her role in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, before she commenced her career as a pop artist in the late ’80s.

Even when she had to overcame large difficulties; in Australia, she was dismissed early in her career by some critics. She, however, came out of her problems as a pop-star and a new sex-symbol.

According to Warner Music Australia, Minogue has sold over 40 million records worldwide.

12th May 2008, Sazka ARENA, Ocelarska 2, Prague 9. Starts 21:00. We highly reccomend to book the tickets in advance.

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Snow for Prague Castle - preparations for Tour de Ski

Friday 28 December 2007 13:53

Like the last year, there are going to be ski competitions in Prague. The square closest to Prague Castle, Hradcanske namesti, will be hidden under snow cover. Today the organizers started to transport the most necessary thing for it – 2 000 cubic meters of snow, as there is no snow in Prague, as usual.

The race takes place on 30th December. The snow was brought from four am from Sumava to Prague. The unusual transportation can be seen from now to 30th Dec, when the competition starts.

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The War on Smoking: Second Act

Friday 28 December 2007 12:03

Who is going to win in the Czech Republic, the well-known liberal country? There are new proposals of the law that should bring some fresh air to non-smokers in restaurants.

1st variation – total ban on smoking in restaurants
2nd variation – smoking only in a smoking room, build specially in enterprises
3rd variation – so called Spanish model – under 100m2 the owner decides, whether the hospitality enterprise is going to be smoking or not, over 100m2 he/she must build a wall between both sides
4th variation – The owner chooses, regardless of acreage.

smoking no-smoking The first wave of war on smoking brought the law, that can be interpreted like this: Smoking in the Czech Republic is prohibited in these places : theatres, cinemas, sport halls, railway stations, waiting rooms and bus or tram stops, in offices of state administration, in schools, hospitals and other medical institutions. People can smoke in restaurants provided the restaurant does not have any extra places for smokers.

The law has been valid for a year now. It is not only ambiguous, but it is also not extorted enough by the police. Policemen usually inflict only a symbolic fine. Another problem is, that owners of the restaurants usually understand the law in different ways.

Which of the new proposals is going to win? We will inform you in January.

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  • The War on Smoking: Second Act [December 28 2007, 12:03 PM]

New Year's Eve in Prague, outdoor, fireworks

Friday 28 December 2007 09:48

fireworks in prague If you plan to spend the New Year’s Eve in Prague, and you plan to spend it outdoors, there are going to be many fireworks. I’ll skip the part where we warn you how dangerous it is bla bla and give you the numbers of injured, bla bla, and get to the part where I tell you – the place where you will definitely see many people shooting fireworks, that often fall back to the crowd to explode, is Old Town Square.

Wenceslas Square will be full of people, as there will be the free show broadcasted live on Czech TV station Nova. A big stage will be built near the statue of St. Wenceslas. The place will be full of fireworks, too.

If you want to enjoy a view of fireworks, take some drink with you and find some perch. I remember Vysehrad worked quite well for us. Of course, not all of us want to be outdoors; for you we have some New Year’s Eve tips. And PS: Karlovy Lazne is the place where it may be the best to spend the night, if you like disco music. Happy new year!

Winter swimming in Prague Vltava river

Thursday 27 December 2007 14:58

winter swimming in freezing water The traditional winter swimming in Vltava river, at the National Theatre, joined 114 swimmers from the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Germany and Belgium. There were 29 women among them.

The fastest swimmer at the longest, 750 metres long route, which swum 37 winner swimmers, was Jan Vane with his time 8:58. The water had 3,7 Celsius that day, the air was -1 Celsius. Hundreds of Prague citizens watched them swim in water, which is deadly for inexperienced.

The most agile swimmers present were those, who have overcome the English Channel – Petr Mihola and Richard Haan, a solo singer of the State Opera Prague. Yvetta Hlavacova, who swum across the English Channel for the third time this year, swum at the 100m race.

This year, Czech Hlavacova managed to get the best women time across the English Channel – 7 hours 54 minutes, by which she is the best in women category, she was beaten by three men only.

Prague Public Notice: Prostitutes, out from streets!

Thursday 27 December 2007 13:47

The new public notice, delivered by Prague City Hall, wants to change the practice, that knows everyone who tried to walk through the tourist centre of Prague at night; prostitutes. The new public notice shouldn’t be overestimated – the ‘tradition’ can’t be abandoned that easily.

Prague Police should only get a tool for giving a prostitute, that ‘stands in the way’, a fine up to thirty thousands CZK (1 t. €). According to the deputy of the Prague Mayor Rudolf Blazek they usually don’t pay the fine, but at least the police has a tool to show them out from the streets.

The order is not concerned about Prague brothels, there is about 60 of them in Prague, they continue in ‘business as usual.’

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Communist Party and Presidential Candidates in Czech Republic

Thursday 27 December 2007 09:59

“It’s good we didn’t prohibit them” said Klaus in a talk show this Sunday. He spoke about the KSCM; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia. The presidential elections are getting near, as they are planned to February. Votes of the Communist Party are going to be the decisive ones, the president is voted by the parliament, and the last Czech municipal and senate elections ended almost by a draw.

Jan Svejnar, who emigrated from the Czechoslovak communism years ago, labeled the communists as ‘different than before’ a week ago. He said in a radio talk show that he would like to help them with their reformation, so they would, by their ‘active political participation’ stop the trend of weak governments.

The past regime did harm both of the candidates. However, now they become advocates of the new communist party, as they proclaim it has changed a lot, and they need their votes.

AVRIL LAVIGNE The Best Damn Tour concert Prague

Thursday 27 December 2007 08:57

Avril-Lavigne Avril Lavigne (b. 1984) is a Canadian rock/punk-pop singer. In 2006, Canadian Business Magazine ranked her the seventh most powerful Canadian in Hollywood, and in 2007 she won ninth place in the Jabra Music Contest for the Best Band in the World, based on fan votes from around the world.

Lavigne’s debut album, Let Go, was released in 2002, and over 16 million copies were sold worldwide and was certified six times platinum in the United States. Her second and third albums, Under My Skin (2004) and The Best Damn Thing (2007), respectively, reached number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. Lavigne has scored six number one songs worldwide to date and a total of eleven top ten hits, including “Complicated”, “Sk8er Boi”, “I’m with You”, “My Happy Ending”, and “Girlfriend”. She has currently sold 33 million albums worldwide.

She has already made her performace in Prague in 2005. At the time it was criticized by many. Anyway, we all hope this concert will be as we wish it to be. Concert of a young legend. on-line booking

AVRIL LAVIGNE – Prague 20:00, July 8, 2008,
Sazka ARENA Ocelarska 2, Prague 9

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Living Christmas crib performance in Prague

Thursday 27 December 2007 07:08

living nativity scene Biblical figures came to life during the annual weekend action on the third courtyard of the Prague Castle, and formed a live nativity scene, or as the Czechs say, Betlém.

Twenty-minute performance is made of Christmas folk games and known and not-so-known noels. The acting company is from theatre Apropo. During the last years they managed to collect almost 30 000 CZK (1 thousand €), as the performance is connected to ‘Help the Kids’ charity.

Christmas Cribs are a vital part of the Czech Christmas tradition. This year, we could see a huge nativity scene made of straw in Prague.

Happy Holidays!

Friday 21 December 2007 17:06

Baby Jesus or Santa Claus? BABY SANTA !!! We from ABC PRAGUE would like to wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope you liked the articles we tried to provide for you at our best. We look forward to many great years to come, in Prague, the city with an attitude.

What are the Czech Christmas traditions?

Slitting an apple – you cut and apple, and find out, whether the following year will be successful or not; If there is a star, it’s positive. If a cross, it’s negative.

You can also heat lead or tin, and pour it into cold water – the shape, which it takes, tells you about your future.

Of course we decorate trees, hand gifts and sing Christmas noels. Jingle bells of course exist in Czech language, so if you hum the tune, you should be OK. And if you are in Prague during Christmas, many go to church at midnight time, to ‘pulnocni’.

So again, Merry Xmas to you all!

Last Minute Music Party Tips for the New Year's Eve in Prague

Friday 21 December 2007 16:15

New Year's Eve in Prague Silvestr ve Vezi/The new years’ eve in the Zizkov tower; TV broadcaster, Prague 3 – Special menu, music programme ‘Elvis Presley Memory’ unique view of Prague. Entry 2500 CZK (90€).

Imperialistic Night – for all the alternative people, imperialistic silvestr night, DJ Philip TBC, Baba LN, Stanzim and other, enty: 100 CZK. Cross Club, Plynarni 23, Prague 7

Mecca – The night with Minstry of Sound, Main DJ: DJ Lisa Loud (MTV), start 21:00, Entry: 990-250 CZK Club Mecca, U Pruhonu street 3, Prague 7

Futurum Music Bar – Silvestr for People, DJ Jirka Brezina and his guests. Stsrt: 21:00 Entry: 90 CZK (3€). Futurum Music Bar, Zborovska 7, Prague 5.

Silvestr na Lodi/ The new years’ eve on the Boat – houseboat U Bukanyra, L. Svobody street, music by Pat Heart, start: 20:00, Entry: 200 CZK.

Radost FX – 2 Levels of Entertainment, the main guest DJ Pierre Ravan, start 20:00, Entry: 1500-2000CZK, Radost FX, Prague 2, I.P. Pavlova.

Club Roxy – Golden Eyes 2007, three stages, presents DJ Loutka, Chris Sadler, IM Cyber, Pedro Rodriguez and others. Entry: 600 CZK. Club Roxy Dlouha 33, Prague 1.

Czech Hearse driver caught with 3,58% of Alcohol

Friday 21 December 2007 13:02

According to court doctors, his alcohol load was at the edge of alcohol poisoning. The 46-year old drunken driver was transporting a dead body to post mortem examination in Hospital in Usti nad Orlici, when he got Drunkard caught by the police from the city.

Czech law does not allow drivers to drink at all, so his licence was taken away and he faces court proceedings.

The record holder of drunk driving in the Czech Republic is Milan Curda, who, driving a gulley sucker, had an accident, afer which he was secured with almost 8% of alcohol in blood. He ended in prison, as he didn’t finished the alcohol treatment the court ordered him to.

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Svejnar: CR can adopt Euro in 5 years

Friday 21 December 2007 12:03

The Presidency candidate Jan Svejnar is sure, the Czechia should adopt Euro as soon as possible. The year 2012, which is seen by the Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek as unreal, is o.k. for Svejnar.

euro-notes The Czech economics is, according to Svejnar, ready for Euro adoption. A good experience is, according to him, Slovenia, which entered the Eurozone in January. Slovenian economy is similar to the Czech one. He shares his opinion with the Czech minister of finance.

Svejnar expects the next year to be in token of slowing GDP growth, the country he says, will battle growing inflation. The Czech National Bank can take care of monetary politics, by which it stops the Czech currency from from inflating, but it slows the economy growth. “There is something more; whether the country is willing to except lower inflation and lower growth, or higher inflation and higher growth.” He explained.

Border Checks of Czech Republic are History

Friday 21 December 2007 09:36

Starting today, the Czech Republic and eight other states of the EU entered the Schengen space. 2000 km of Czech border zone are, from today, without custom officers. The main celebrations are planned for today, at the Czech-Poland-German border.

The idea of Schengen space is based on countries entering a union, where it is not necessary to go through border checks; free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. As the Czech Rep. is surrounded only by states in the zone, the borders are (at least for the next few years) going to lie out.

The physical borders are going through changes; the crossing barriers are going to disappear, the police is going to almost leave the place, and the ‘line’ will became cross-able almost anywhere. If you are interested in more information, you can continue here.

Dan Perjovschi - genius of clever shortcut in Prague

Thursday 20 December 2007 15:46

Dan Perjovschi Dan Perjovschi is a great artist, writer and cartoonist born in 1961 in Sibiu, Romania. He is blessed with an unique sense for a shortcut. His domain is a primitive caricature painting, which he can be unbelievably fitting.

The drawings present political commentary in response to current events. Another exhibition of Perjovschi’s is within a Portuguese bank consists of several comic strip style drawings which address more European issues such as Romania’s acceptance to the EU.

The comments of his drawings are so clever, you don’t know if you should laugh or cry. After Cold War – Global Warming. Middle class have middle drams.

Jiri Svestka Gallery, until 2th February, Tue – Fri – 12.00 – 6.00 p.m. Sat – 11.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Biskupsky dvur 6, Prague.

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The Narrowest Street in Prague is Equipped With Traffic Lights

Thursday 20 December 2007 14:10

Little Quarter is a special part of Prague it surrounds Prague Castle and it is rich in baroque and renaissance architecture. One of streets there, is the most narrow street in Prague

It is so narrow there must be traffic lights in order people wouldn’t collide – maybe two dogs could sidetrack, but they have to be very small dogs. If you are square-shouldered or well.. fat, you shouldn’t enter the street at all – you can get struck.

It is steep, full of stairs, doesn’t have a name, but have two traffic lights. It goes from U Luzickeho seminare street to the Certovka restaurant, offering spectacular view of Charles Bridge.

Most of the tourists see the street as an attraction, so they push the walk button, take a few pictures and when they go, they don’t take the light seriously, so in the end they push with somebody so close only lovers usually do that.

“One time, one really corpulent German tourist got stuck” remembers the owner of Certovka Restaurant. “She couldn’t go up or down. The personnel tried to push her back to the street , but in vain. In the end we had to soap her, so she would slide more easily. She just had to go somewhere else for her lunch.” He smiles. Source: MF Dnes

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Parking in Prague 1 and 2 paid only

Thursday 20 December 2007 11:02

prague parking machine The parking situation in European city centres is quite similar. The locals cannot park in front of their house, supplies are hard to deliver and the traffic intensity is high.

You want to park? You have to pay.
Prague City Hall solves the packed city centre by installment of zones of paid parking, where those who doesn’t reside around, can put their vehicles. Since yesterday, parking machines (on the picture) are operational.

There are reserved parking zones for locals and local enterprisers in function since November. In Prague 3 paid parking zones start in spring.

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Maté drinking; Argentinian exhibition in Prague

Thursday 20 December 2007 09:41

a cup for maté czechoslovakia ceramics The unusual exhibition of Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague introduces some 140 maté vessels for the traditional south-American drink maté.

Maté drinking has been a cherished tradition among the Argentinian people from pre-Colombian times. Originally, maté cups were made from gourds, later on also from other materials, including silver.

Commissioned by Argentina, ceramic maté-drinking ware was produced from the late 19th century to the beginning of the Second World War in some European countries, particularly Germany and Czechoslovakia. In the 1940s, Argentina established its own production of such containers; however their quality was inferior compared to the European output.

The exhibition has been prepared in partnership with the Embassy of Argentina in Prague

Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, The Glass, Porcelain and Ceramics Hall, 17. listopadu 2 street, December 19th, 2007 -February 24th, 2008

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