Jaunted - Tag: Prague

Prague: When the Clock Strikes...Scorpio?

amandak — 2006-10-25T09:35:01-05:00

If you've ever wandered through the streets of Prague (with your eyes open), at one point you probably looked up and spied the Old Town Hall's Astronomical Clock. Chances are, you then looked down in the confusion of not being able to tell what time the clock displayed and walked on.

We'd like to say that we will clear up all the mysteries of Prague's Astronomical Clock, but we aren't sure we can. We have quizzed local Czechs, asked Wikipedia and Googled it to death, only to come up more bewildered than before.

There's a zodiac ring, a 24-hour clock, sun and moon indicators, and even a part showing "Old Czech Time," which starts at 1 every time the sun sets. There are also plenty of arrows that we think are secret pointers to the best pubs in town, so we recommend only studying the Astronomical Clock long enough to decide which direction to go for the next beer.

Send us your thoughts on the Astronomical Clock if you got 'em.

[Photo: Helen & Simon]

119 08 Prague 1: What You Can't See in Prague

amandak — 2006-10-23T09:51:25-05:00

There's nothing we like more than a record-breaking tourist attraction, and Prague Castle makes it into Guinness as the largest castle complex in the world. That's reason enough to stop by, but not only is it huge, it's also impressive in other ways. The president still sits there, but the Bohemian crown jewels do too, and every hour there's a changing of the guard to rival London's, with a musical addition at midday when band members stand in various windows of the castle and peform.

The official castle visiting information site can give you more details on what there is to see, but it also includes a disturbingly long list under the headline "What you cannot visit." Some rooms only open for concert performances, some manage to open up on two random days a year, and some parts are just plain closed. Just think positive and be sure that the friendly Czechs have opened the good bits, at least, for the world to see.

[Photo: Psycho Crow]

Czechs Plus in Language Students

AVB — 2006-09-21T12:08:28-05:00

Who knew that learning hard languages could be so popular? Sure, the US government can't find anyone who speaks Arabic, but according to the Prague Post, record numbers of students are learning the Czech language. As one of those students (ages ago) we can relate to their pain and suffering: Czech is the hardest of the Slavic languages to learn. Only Hungarian is more difficult, because it's from an even harder linguistic tree.

As the Prague Post notes, it's not just the grammar that's hard; idioms are confusing too:

Czech is also rich in idioms that are virtually untranslatable and can throw off even the most determined language student. Take sbal si svých pět švestek a běž, a way of saying "get lost" that, translated verbatim, means, "Take your five plums and run."

Didn't Biff say that in Back to the Future?

[Image via cuellar/Flickr]

Related Stories:
· Record Numbers Studying Czech [Prague Post]

Prague: Defending the Honor System

AVB — 2006-09-07T09:30:01-05:00

Does using the honor system for public transportation actually work? Setting aside debates on the relative morality of different cultures, it would appear that it's not the best for catching people in the act, in Prague at least. The city uses the honor system for its network of subways, trains, and buses, but according to the Czech media, only .3 percent of those who "ride black" each year are caught.

There are several problems; inspectors--of which there are only 150 in number for the whole system--are paid based on the count of tickets they hand out. Many riders feel these folks pocket the fines instead of reporting them, and the shambolic look of the inspectors doesn't add much credibility in their defense. Still, it's too expensive to add turnstiles or gates to every station, so it looks like things will stay as they are for the time being. Our solution? Bring in the MTA--if they run the Prague metro like they run the L train, no one will ride black, or at all, before the year is out.

[Image via mrphillip/Flickr]

Related Stories:
· Free Riders [Prague Post]

Prague: Luxury Hotel Cage Match

AVB — 2006-08-31T10:25:03-05:00

Cute story in the Telegraph this week on the best hotels for a-stayin' in Prague. We always thought of the Four Seasons there as last-resort luxury (i.e., it's the only option for people who are discerning about their toilet paper). It's not as impressive compared to the more laudable Budapest site, but it's still considered number one in Prague. We doubt that will last much longer.

Why? The Mandarin Oriental is opening in Prague next month, that's why. The Four Seasons was pretty untroubled by the Aria, which never had the quality of staff to compete with them, but the Mandarin--located in pleasant part of Mala Strana--will likely knock the Four Seasons off the top of the heap. Suites have three LCD TVs, and all rooms have high-speed internets plus the Mandarin goodies you'd expect. It certainly will be interesting to see what develops.

[Image via elle rigby/Flickr]

Related Stories:
· Where to Stay in Prague [Telegraph]

Prague: The Search for Gastronomical Punishment

AVB — 2006-08-17T10:15:01-05:00

We missed it when it came out last week, but this article by Dave Faries in the Prague Post contains some sane advice for visitors to the city who crave Czech cuisine--for whatever reason--in the center of town but don't want to get stuck at a tourist trap or visit the increasingly shoddy Kolkovna. At some of these places, beer is up to $4 a half-liter, which is obscene.

According to Faries, the answer is the few authentic Czech pubs that have survived in Nove Mesto and Vinohrady without turning into tourist bilking-establishments, including XXX and Hloupy Honza. Remember, though, that you're in for an authentic experience, not necessarily a delicious one:

Don't be put off by tacky dumplings or overcooked meat. Depending on which pub you happen upon, the same dish can be dry, greasy, heavy, bland or weighed down with heart-stopping amounts of salt. Rarely does any of it approach sublime. Whether you dine in a tourist trap or a neighborhood joint, this adage holds true: Traditional Czech food may not be great, but at least they give you a lot of it.

Our advice? It's hard to mess up fried cheese--think of it as the equivalent of ordering a burger at a diner. And besides, at least the beer is cheap.

[Image via NO-HA/Flickr]

Related Stories:
· Get Out of Old Town [Prague Post]
· Prague [Jaunted]

Prague: Golden Years for the Globe

AVB — 2006-06-08T10:05:02-05:00

It's not just newspapers that are suffering at the hands of the internet; it's bookstores, as well, especially landmark ex-pat bookstores. OK, that might be a bit of a stretch, but the changing times have certainly had an effect on the recent troubles of Prague's most famous (and first) ex-pat bookstore, the Globe.

The current owner, a German who bought the place in 2003, is looking to sell. He blames himself for many of the Globe's problems, which amount to a loss of $120 a day. But he also blames the Prague Post for outing him as a gay man in a profile when he bought the bookstore, which he says led to a drop in clientele shortly thereafter.

While that's a possibility, it's more likely a combination of smaller factors. One, as the Post notes, ex-pats don't need to leave the house to search for apartments; they can do it from home, even before they leave, instead of meeting each other at a bookstore. And they can order English-language books online, too. What's more, the café in the Globe was never great, and it steadily got worse in recent years--we were served spoiled food the last time we were there. So it was hardly a "destination".

Ultimately, though, let's blame the internet for this--it makes sure all those potential ex-pats never leave the U.S., instead finding cushy apartments in Williamsburg and Echo Park. They won't be missed abroad, we can guarantee that.

[Image via ruffnex/Flickr]

Related Stories:
· Final Chapter [Prague Post]