Prague Blog

Christmas is coming and as you’ve probably noticed, cities around the world are being covered in glamour. That includes Prague of course, which is getting its load of artificial lights, souvenirs and markets on key squares.

On one hand we all know those shiny things on buildings, lamps and trees are fake. They are supposed to express an outburst of joy, the overall happiness, a result of the fact that Christmas will be here soon. But I doubt many people would overlook the somber calculation behind the strategy. It’s a labored hunt for the customer, with a different convention, a different face. I believe this is good to keep in mind, though I’m not sure it’s wrong.

We could definitely call it pretension from both sides. The money-makers are pretending they wish to spread comfort by having the city decorated, they pretend they want to give Prague a special atmosphere. We are pretending we believe it. We should definitely keep this fact in mind, but still we can enjoy the game. It’s still fairly positive. No matter what the motives are, it does give the city a special feeling, the centre feels alive and healthy.

There’s the traditional Christmas tree on the Old Town Square, for example. Some 20 meters high, the tree from Krkonose mountains may not be a marvel for a passer-by. It does have some power though, it’s part of the illusion of unity, maybe sharing some similarities with the primitive societies’ gathering points- the main gathering point of Christmas lies in the circle around it. The number of light bulbs on its body is irrelevant.

Commerce is of course behind all this. It works well because we have a special situation here: the customers are not only willing to buy, they’re also less sensitive to the prices than they are during the year. If you’re buying a gift for someone close, you can’t look for the cheapest things possible, you’re more likely to express your affection by the opposite: buying things that are far more expensive than those you’d ever acquire for yourself.

I really don’t thing there’s anything wrong with all this. I have only three points. First we should be aware of it. Second, the aesthetic aspect should be considered, the decorations being quite well-fitting for the more commercial parts of the city, but it’s a difficult question whether historical parts should be involved. Third, the blood on the sidewalk is not a part of modern Christmas. I am referring to the needless slaughter of carps- I mean what is the point of choosing the live fish and having it killed in front of you? Some illusion of being “closer to the nature”?

That aside, it’s mostly nice to see the end of the year approaching in the city center.

This article is here to balance articles like this one

Tournaments Heaven or Hell have more than a six-year tradition and since the first year they are totaly sold out. At the past events a lot of stars performed, they belong to the world top and are monitored by experts and supporters at their each step. It is common knowledge that the second biggest group of world population is interested in the group of sports called “Martial arts” right after the football. At the last tournament, 46 journalists and 7 TV reporters, including 3 online, were acredited. Thanks to broadcasting on national channels, cable televisions and satellite channels Eurosport 1 and 2, the spectacle was watched by more than 65 mld viewers. According to daily Sport, this sport is the most popular and the final tournament K-1 was the most watched programme of the year 2005.

K-1 is a combat sport that combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San shou, Kickboxing and traditional Boxing to determine the single best stand-up fighter in the world (the “1”). K-1 origined due to unceasing disputes and comparing single combat sports, and reasoning which style is more effective and better. “K” as a king and “1” as a king of kings. This is the main idea formed by Master Kazuyoshi Ishii in 1993. Ingenious is that the rules are simple and understandable for laymen as well. Fighters with different weights and styles meet at a boxing ring and try to manage that their martial art is the best.

The sport is very popular in Japan, Brazil, and most of Europe, but enjoys only limited popularity in the United States. In most US states K-1 fight rules are banned. Cities as Tokio, Las Vegas, Sapporo or Stockholm take for honour that they can organize these tournaments. In Europe only some cities had this honour – Amsterdam, Stockholm and Paris. On 16th December 2006 in Prague Sazka Arena, the debut of K-1 took place.

Now you can see this unique spectacle for the second time in the Czech Republic. You can feel the adrenalin and the tense atmosphere. When? On 15th December at 18.30 in Prague Sazka Arena. You can see champions as Max Albert Kraus, Gago Drago, Sam Semtex Braan, Arslan Magomedov and the top fighters from the Czech Republic. Tickets are available at www.sazkaticket.cz and the price is from 490 – 3.490 CZK (16,3 – 116,3 €).

In future, tourists and Prague inhabitants could get from the centre to Ruzyne airport in 22 minutes. This will be possible thanks to the new modern railway called AirCon, which will continue from the airport to Kladno. First passengers will be able to use it use it in 2013. Deputy Transport Secretary, City Hall, Prague 6 and Central Bohemian territory agreed on a term of construction.

“ Transport between Kladno and Prague airport is the main priority of Department of Transport in the following years,” said the Minister of Transport Ales Rebicek who initiated the meeting. Nevertheless, it is not clear, which way railway tracks will go, on which Prague station it will start, even how much it will cost. But some time ago it was spoken about the costs in amount of 20 billion CZK.

The planned up-to-date trains are going to reach the speed of 80 km/h. Railcars will have modified space for more luggages. In advance we take account of about nine stations, for example Bubny, Vystaviste, Dejvice, Veleslavin, Liboc or Dlouha Mile.

A study, which will be done until a half of December by Faculty of Transport CVUT will show the exact train path. According to the speaker of department Karel Hanzelka, all stations except for the Main Station come into question. The likeliest candidates are Masaryk’s, Smichov or Holesovice stations.

About how the AirCon will be financed has not been decided yet. Ministry considers the possibility to use the private capital within the frame of so-called PPP project, that means partnership of private and public sector.

Czechoslovakia as a state unit was in many aspects uneven. The centre was always in Prague, the power concentrated in the Czech part. In the communist regime, the Czechoslovak unity was very much proclaimed, but, on the other hand there were terms like “Slovakian nationalism” without any such Czech equivalent. It was even used in a large trial which resulted into harsh sentences for the Slovaks who opposed the new regime’s wrongdoings. It is sort of an irony that one of those sentenced was Gustáv Husák, who became the main figure of the normalization period nearly thirty years later.

While the majority of both ethnicities have been in favor of the federation, there were strong radical groups in its opposition, mainly in Slovakia. It might have been unfair to remind of Josef Tiso’s pro- facist Slovak State during the WWII years, weren’t this the moment in our history that the Slovakian nationalists always hailed as the finest moment of their nation. The anti- Czech sentiments were strong after the Communist regime collapsed. Husák was Slovak all right, but the system itself was widely identified with the Czechs. Not without logic: the first decades of the regime were not even federative, the Czech part clearly dominated. The well- known 1946 election, which helped the Party to get close to power, was a victory in the Czech part, but not the Slovakian. This fact was overlooked by the Czech Party leaders, as if Slovakia didn’t count. And this attitude prevailed for quite some time. It was somewhat logical that both countries’ politicians decided to get rid of the burden and start the new road to market economy and liberal democracy as two separate states. But was it political wisdom or cowardice?

When Czechoslovakia was founded the shared view was that our cultures and our history made us so close, bound together, that it would be irrational to be separated. No matter how great the tensions were at the beginning of the 1990s, there is something irresponsible about the split. It may be that the Czech idea of Czechoslovakia was too patronizing, too unbalanced, but that doesn’t mean a sharp and probably irreversible division was the answer. Many of those who spent most of their life in the previous state say, that it was the split that resulted more differences, though the envy is gone. Everyone used to know both languages, the cultural sphere was very much interlinked etc. Czechoslovakia was an artificial product of years of policy making, that connection of two nations, it sure was. But is it better now that my generation has problems with Slovakian language and a trip to Tatry is often seen as a voyage to a foreign country?

Outlet Center is at a place where branded fashion manufacturers or their agents sell exess stocks or collections of previous seasons.

These are genuine brand products sold by people who manufacture them so the level of guarantees is the same. To sale are the products which have not been sold in the full-price downtown stores so they are put in manufacturers’ shops in Outlet Center where you can buy them cheaper. Lower prices are found in the Outlet Center every day, not just during ‘Sale’ periods.

Originaly Outlet Centers started in US where, thanks to their popularity, spread to UK and then to Western Europe. And now they are coming to us, to Central Europe. Fashion Arena is the first Outlet Center in Prague and there is nowhere in the Czech Republic anything of that kind.

What you can find in Fashion Arena Outlet Center? Brands known on the Czech market, but also new brands which are in the Czech Republic for the first time. There are fashion for men and for women, leisure and sports cloths, luxury underwear, shoes and accessoires. They guarantee top quality brand name products at 30-70% off normal prices every day.

If you are tired while shopping you can eat in a food court or let the kids have a break in childrens play area.

And now where you can find Fashion Arena. It is situated at Prumyslova ulice – on the crossroad Sterboholska radiala, Prumyslova ulice and Jizni spojka. If you don‘t go by a car you can use free shuttle traffic from Depo Hostivar – the end of metro line A.

The adress of Fashion Arena is: Prumyslova ulice, Prague 10 – Sterboholy.

Everybody knows that the typical Czech dish is pork with dumplings and sauerkraut. Other traditional dishes include meat again: usually pork or beef, with dumplings or potatoes, served with heavy but delicious cream sauces. Yes, this is the typical Czech cuisine that goes so well with the famous Czech beer. So the question is, is there any traditional vegetarian food in the Czech Republic at all?

The answer is yes, of course. Nevertheless, a food which is vegetarian, does not necessary have to be dietary, does it? This is the case of the traditional vegetarian food in the Czech Republic. There are at least two meatless dishes about which Czechs have been mad about for centuries. The first is “smazeny syr” and the second is “ovocne knedliky”. And yes, you should definitely try it.

“Smazeny syr”, in English fried cheese, is really popular among Czechs. Actually, it is so popular that many Czechs claim now the Czech Republic needs a trademark on it. Typical pubs as well as good restaurants have “smazeny syr” on their menus. It is served mostly with potatoes or fries. Czechs like to add Tartar sauce or ketchup. I would recommend it even to hearty eaters since this food is really filling.

“Ovocne knedliky”, in English fruit dumplings, are not the same dumplings as those you know from the dish: pork, dumplings and sauerkraut. Oh no! Those fruit dumplings are sweet! They are all round, and filled with fruit – most favorite are strawberry, apricot or plum dumplings. Sweet dumplings are served with chocolate or sweet cottage. Hmm, yummy! It is really great!

I do recommend those dishes although I admit that they are not really low-caloric. But once in a while it is harmless, moreover, it is delicious.

In the Czech Republic there is a very nice tradition of celebrating Saint Nicholas eve. Nicholas was a pious man, a bishop of Myra (in today’s Turkey) who lived in 3rd and 4th century. In those times, when Christians were persecuted, he did a lot in order to help them and was very popular for his charitable activities.

There are a few legends about him, the most known is probably that one, which says how he saved there poor young sisters. Their father had no money, so the girls were about to become prostitutes to make their living. Nicholas heard of it, and at night, when no one could have seen him, threw three purses filled with golden coins into the house, so the sisters were saved. Nicholas inherited a lot of money from his rich parents and thus he gave many other anonymous gifts to the poorest people. Later it was found, that the benefactor was he, and after his death, rich people were anonymously gifting the poor ones in his honor.

Saint Nicholas day is on 6th of December. In the Czech Republic, it is celebrated the evening before it, on 5th. Saint Nicholas goes to homes where they have little children. He is accompanied with an angel and a devil, sometimes there can be even more angels and devils. Nicholas usually has a thick book, where he has written what the kids did through out the year. The devil threads them for their little sins, and angel with Nicholas give them gifts for being nice. They often have to promise to behave better the next year and can sing a song, tell a short poem or a prayer; sometimes they even draw a picture in advance for Saint Nicholas and his companions.

The feast has a very long tradition in Czech. In the past, Nicholas was often accompanied not only with devils and angels, but also by other allegorical figures, especially in the country. Here, naughty children were often chased by devils on the village’s main square.

So if you are in Prague on 5th of December, it is worth it to take a walk in the city after the sunset. You can admire wonderful masks of Nicholases, beautiful angels and scary devils. Traditionally, the biggest meeting of them takes place on Old Town Square every year.

Dutch gothic metal band Within Temptation will visit Prague Club Roxy after the New Year. They released a new single CD on 5th October, although they have released album “The Heart Of Everything” this year.

The band was formed in 1996 by the guitarist Robert Westerholt and the vocalist Sharon den Adel, Within Tempatation released their debut album “Enter” through Dutch indie label DSFA the following April. After the album was released the band played gigs across the continent and firmly cemented their reputation. It may seem unbelievable but while attracting critical and commercial acclaim, they were actually all still in college. So in 1999 the band went on hiatus to finish their studies.

They returned after one year in 2000, it was a very important step for the band. They continued on their strong live performances playing at all the major European festivals. In December they released their second album “Mother Earth” which again garnered critical acclaim. The band’s popularity grew and in 2002 spread across the continent. “Mother Earth” gained Platinum and Gold status in Germany and Belgium respectively, while the Mother Earth Tour DVD received Gold status in their homeland and won the band an Edison Award.

In 2004 Within Temptation returned back to the studio to record their third and most successful record to date “The Silent Force” with producer Daniel Gibson. The album supported by international successful radio hit “Stand My Ground” became Number 1 in the Netherlands and Finland, Number 5 in Germany, Top 10 in Belgium, Portugal and Spain, Top 20 in Austria and Switzerland and Top 30 in Greece, France, Turkey, Sweden and Norway. A lot of Gold and Platinum certifications followed.

The single “Angels” was released in June 2005 to support their annual festival run . In August their received a World Music Award for Best Selling Dutch Artist In The World. A release of “The Silent Force” in Japan, Australia, and the UK followed.

Next Awards followed in 2006, they received the Dutch Export Award. In February 2007 they released the single “What Have You Done”, featuring guest vocals from “Life Of Agony” front man Keith Caputo. In March they released the album “The Heart Of Everything”.

You can see and hear their concert on 17th January 2008 from 19:30 in Prague Club Roxy. Tickets are available in Ticketpro chain outlets and cost 700 CZK (23,3 €).

International Jazz Festival is one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe. It takes place in dates 22nd – 30th November 2007. All last festivals emphasized traditional jazz, but this year the attention is paid to younger public and there will be performed variety of jazz in thematic evenings devoted to other relative styles as jazz rock, acid-jazz, world music, blues, ska, funky, soul etc.

A performance with a project Red Earth of an American singer Dee Dee Bridgewater who has two Grammy Awards will be one of the biggest event. You can also see A Malian Journey in Prague Congress Center on 24.11., a famous Funky saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis with his incredible show on 25.11. in Lucerna Music Bar, a phenomenal cosmopolitan band N.O.H.A. playing mix of drum’n’bass, electronic jazz, pop and dancing rhythms on 26.11. in Rock Café. Ska-Jazz party with New Zealand band Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation you can see on 27.11. in Rock Café as well. A concert of one of the most famous European music legends and “European Jimi Hendrix” Apostolis Anthimos Trio you can see on 28.11. in Reduta Jazz Club and a concert of the best German world music band Äl Jawala with a new album “Lost in Manele” you can see on 23.11. in Reduta Jazz Club.

When you are interested in these concerts look at these websites: www.jazzfestivalpraha.cz and you will find the programme of the single concerts and also where they will take place.

Many of the changes were of course results of wars. At this moment I wish to point out the major changes done decisively and coordinated from the centre of power or those dictated by an immediate need.

Firstly, many changes were politically motivated and ordered by the ruler or his administration. Many churches were abolished during the reign of Joseph II . The king was an enlightened, rational person and his overall record is fairly good. Unfortunately, his radicalism resulted into the fact that many churches and monasteries were closed down, turned into storages etc. About sixty monasteries and chapels were abolished in Prague alone. The fact that a church building lost its status often led to its decline, since problems with its funding and its purpose arose. This became easier over the years, as historicist sentiments gained in strength and old buildings, no matter whether useful or not, were suddenly considered valuable. It is this tendency to keep the old unchanged as a carrier of the place’s history that saved many buildings, which could have been considered useless from a strictly functional point of view.

The other kind comes form the simple fact that Prague was changing as an organism. It was expanding and it needed more facilities. Until this process started there were many parts of the centre which were quite empty and there was no organized shape of the river bank area. Every unused spot was to be occupied by a building, a road, a tower; bridges were built. The houses grew higher, balconies got attached.

It was notably the nineteenth century which brought a major growth of the city, often as a result of speculation and massive interest in building and enlarging. The end of the century was the worst: during some twenty years, the face of the Old town was changed as much as possible. There was the demolition of the Jewish quarter and some streets in the center.

It were actually these several decades that motivated the birth of a number of civil organizations. Supported by architects and other cultural workers, the organizations, which could be, in contemporary language, called NGOs, started an ever going fight with the radical projects in historical Prague. How much was needed and how much was plain stubborn conservatism is always hard to distinguish.