Compact archive December 27, 2007

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.’

Theme:

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

Theme:

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.