Sarah goes touring, this time in English !

Prague, handy informations...

The trip starts in Czech Republic. Or really, in Prague, first destination for a few reasons. First of all, the direction is eastbound, and a first step in Europe seems to be a nice way to build a travelling momentum. But, mostly, my dear friend Oli lives and works there, in a chemistry lab, is ready to become my host for a few days and show me around.

Local specifics

Season : Arrived on 12^th december 2008, left on the 17^th. I got there at the same time as the snow on the city. And did this little piece of true winter made Prague a delight for the eyes ! And considering the food, nice, rich and filling, it is certainly a good thing the weather was that cold !

Capital : Prague (50°05' N, 14°28' E)

Surface and Population, 78 870 km2 for 10,674,947 inhabitants

Communication : The language there is the Czech, coming along with an alphabet full of strange letters.

Good day is said « Dobrý den », « Ano et Ne » for Yes and No, « D?kuji », is Thanks, and « Prosím », goes for Please, moonlighting as You're Welcome. To order beer or coffee, make sure to smile, before you ask for « Pivo / kávu, prosím. », and then « Na zdraví! » to cheer !

Currency at the time of travel : The Czech Crown, or Czech Koruna, between 25 and 26Kc for 1€

Is it expensive ? The ticket for the Geneva-Prague train trip costed about 200 Swiss Francs so around 125€ at the time.

Restaurants are CHEAP ! We always ate like happy emperors, usually between 100 and 250Kc, beer included.

Your penny for my thoughts : As you visit pubs and restaurants, you'll see the waiters ninja-handling fresh beer onto your table, usually around the moment when the previous beer is about to become empty. Oh, and it's single-sized pints, nothing smaller. The beverage provider will then leave the full glass in front of you, and go back to his other duties. This is not a drink on the house ! If you do not wish to drink or pay it (or both !) , let your waiter know as he brings it. Keep in mind that the country usually makes it #1 in World Beer Consumption rankings...

Keep your tummy happy : Beer ! To me, the best and cheapest one in Europe, well pourred, and served along with the local delicacies. Porc, potatoes and cabbage, goulash soups and meat. Just so you know, I had never liked cabbage before Prague. But their way to marinate and cook it makes it soft, slighty sweet and delicious. On another level, Pilsner Urquell won the medal for favourite beer.

Misc corner :

Cars drive on the right hand side of the road.

The word « Robot » comes from Czech.

During the first semester 2009, the country held the presidency of the European Union, despite the eurosceptisism of Václav Klaus, its head of state. The event lead to a communication campaign showing « Faces of the Presidency », along with a sugar cube, a Czech invention.