People talk about the Czech Republic, when they really mean Prague. Prague is like most major cities in Europe, its big, beautiful, and has its own certain cultures to attract tourists, it is however, too commercial for my liking (read my other reviews about what I do, and where I go)
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Advantages: Varied Culture, Warm people Disadvantages: Spoilt by joining the EU
People talk about the Czech Republic, when they really mean Prague. Prague is like most major cities in Europe, its big, beautiful, and has its own certain cultures to attract tourists, it is however, too commercial for my liking (read my other reviews about what I do, and where I go)
I favour the other side of the coin, and my journey\'s reflect that.
Flying to the Czech Republic is easy, and many do it using it at ... ...for me, the only way to experience the world, is by road.
Entering at the German border from Annaberg Buchholz, south ish of Germany, I crossed over to Bozi dar, the same entry point Adolf Hitler used.
The border is as sureal as it gets, on the one side are the German Polizei with their new Police cars, surrounded by oppulence and large old cold war observation points, the check points are concrete and air conditioned ... more
People talk about the Czech Republic, when they really mean Prague. Prague is like most major cities in Europe, its big, beautiful, and has its own certain cultures to attract tourists, it is however, too commercial for my liking (read my other reviews about what I do, and where I go)
I favour the other side of the coin, and my journey\'s reflect that.
Flying to the Czech Republic is easy, and many do it using it at as a lilly pad to hop to another country, but for me, the only way to experience the world, is by road.
Entering at the German border from Annaberg Buchholz, south ish of Germany, I crossed over to Bozi dar, the same entry point Adolf Hitler used.
The border is as sureal as it gets, on the one side are the German Polizei with their new Police cars, surrounded by oppulence and large old cold war observation points, the check points are concrete and air conditioned and they just wave you through, as you go through 200 meters of no mans land, you find the Czech check points (I should have just called them Czech points!)
These are wooden huts usually with some bedraggled old had with warts and facial hair, sitting inside in some soviet style uniform, I missed the window, and had this very lady scream and run after me, I soon stopped and showed my passport.
The drive down to Bozi dar is not long, but before we go there, there is a small village, with a new tourist shop, which is nice, but no cash machine, they did take dollars and euros though.
The road from here is a winding one, with small stall holders all trying to sell their wares. I diddnt stop. A few mushroom pickers later, and Im back into 1945.
The first thing that strikes you is that this probably used to be a mining town, to your left is a glorius orthadox church, the rest is extremely run down, but as with my other travels, the people cope and manage, it is only run down to a westerners standards, and still serves a purpose.
Here you will find your cash machines, and development in the town is making it more prosperous. I stayed in a hotel here, which was nice, yet my car got broken into, causing my first real involvement with the Czech people.
The hotel night watchman told me about it, he banged on my door all night, when I opened, this 70 yr old man was apologetic, (it would seem most Czechs speak German, as do I). My window had been smashed in, and he just hid, I reasured him, that it was better than him getting \"smashed in\" all my cds, and centre console would you believe it of my New Toyota Avensis, had gone.
The next day I was interviewed by the Police, they used the last of the milk for my coffee, and the last of the sugar too - this is a symbol of the real Czechs, they would give you the last of what little they have.
My car had been broken in undoubtedly to feed someones alchohol addiction, or, what I would prefer to believe, to feed someones family, as poverty is in the extreme in this country.
Window and Stereo less I drove on, to the industrial town of Most. There is nothing to do, or see there, its just oil pipe lines - dissapointing, but neccesary.
I went to Prague, but anyone else can give an account of this place, its the same as Vienna for me, so I decided to pick a point on the map, and drive there. I picked Potcatky in the south.
Most major roads werent built on my visit (2003), well from the south of Prague down, but I finally found my reason of travel after leaving prague, I was back in1945.
The small towns and villages I travelled through still had signs of wear and tare from the last war, occasionally I would come upon an upturned tank, with inhabitant (Some of these are used as homes) .
The people, and their culture were most inviting, I did not dare to speak German to them, and just pressed on with sign language, but before I knew it, I was being wined and dined, and the night flew away.
In the morning, instead of waking up in a bath of ice, with my liver removed, I woke up in some family home, with a lady, I would like to call Oma, giving me the foulest tasting tea in the world, but its the thought that counts. A round trip later, and I was in Austria.
The Czech republic has built a poor reputation for itself, with Fat Germans using it as a cheap brothel, there is a huge proportion of child prostitution in certain parts of the country, which the Czech republic ignores (my third experience of such things, the others being Iraq and Kenya).
But on being offered these things, the children are often shocked, yet relieved when I say no, and give them some candy, telling them to go home. Sad, Aweful, but should not be ignored.
Those travelling to this country for the reasons of exploitation should be aware, the police take a dim view of these activities, and I wouldnt be supprised if you dissapear at some point, but who cares about you, not I !
With a Wealth of culture, just waiting to be explored, this is a place to go to again and again.
Advantages: A whole new experience, very friendly and extremely GREAT FUN!!! NO CHRISTMAS STRESS Disadvantages: It's not happening world wide!!!
Ok, first of all, please accept my apologies for the delay of this review, (Christmas review in March???) Any way, I would like to take this opportunity to explain a little (that I learned) about the Czech Christmas and then how this played a part in my Festive Celebrations....
If you asked an English child what, or more importantly, who they associated with Christmas, I think we would all agree the answer is more than likely to be Santa Claus, ... ...answer will not only be very different, it will also be the one you would expect to hear about the festive season. Jesus Christ or Baby Jesus. (Czech Pronunciation to be added)
In Czech it is believed that Baby Jesus will deliver the presents under a Christmas tree and then the children of the family will distribute these presents. (Not too dis-similar to English so far....) The chain of events leading upto this and the Christmas meal, however, ...
Pugz1 10.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Czech Republic
Advantages: Cheap, friendly, and still very 'foreign' Disadvantages: You need to be able to communicate without English
PLEASE NOTE: Part of this review previously appeared under Czech Trails. Space there did not permit the full op & this section has been extracted and completed. For those who have not read that opinion, it covers the walking aspects of the holiday. Here we look at the towns and villages we encountered.
PRAGUE: Prague is too big a concept for this review. Just know that everything you’ve heard is probably true. We loved it.
LIBEREC: Day One ... ...of Prague to Harrachov. This is where small companies and (very) small groups come into their own, because options become available which are more difficult to accommodate on tight schedules and with large numbers of preferences. We were offered a diversion to Liberec. This was at (modest) extra cost, but did include lunch. As we knew as much about Liberec as we did Harrachov (where we’d otherwise have a free half-day): why not? If I tell you ...
hiker 26.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Czech Republic
Advantages: Cheap prices, wonderful people, not many English! Disadvantages: Difficult language to grasp.
Two days after we get back from Prague, and it's +2C in Ipswich. The previous week we were walking around in -10C in Kutna Hora, and it barely touched us. This island cold soaks through your bones, and you want to be back in that picturesque snowscape again.
This is post-holiday blues, of course. Last time I was in the Czech Republic, I was on a mission to get the girl. This time I was purely on a mission to have a great time, so I carted my mate ... ...too sure - after all, the Czech Republic would hardly feature in most people's top ten destinations for pubbing and clubbing. Well, those people have no idea what they are missing...
Most people will mention the prices, and how ridiculously cheap it all is. Out in the villages, you might pay around 20p a pint. People also moan that Prague is becoming more commercialised and expensive - and they're right. Those fiendish prices on beer have jumped ...
Plissken 06.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Czech Republic
Advantages: everything is rather cheep, people are friendly Disadvantages: mhm.... reads on
First off all I am gonna letting you know that I am a native German speaker, so don't wonder when I am doing a lot of mistakes.
Last July I spent 10 days in Czeck Republik, mainly in Prague with my school, so now I am talling you about it...
In Prague I kept a diary, which I typed in, as I arrived at home. It has now around 32 pages (text part 12 pages), so I hope you understand that. So now I am going to do a brief summary of what I did and felt ... ...you the german original version with fotos, postcards etc. on a cd-rom, so please feel free to ask me.
On Thursday, 3 July we started our bus trip to Prague at 6 a.m., luckily I got, after sitting nearly 2 hours upstairs in our bigplan bus a seat downstairs, which was on a 4-people-desk. Next to us was another 4-people-desk, we played cards together on nearly all rides. It was real fun sitting there, as Yvonne and Zoi (I shared my room with them) ...
Branne 05.10.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Czech Republic
Advantages: Cheap food, beer, lovely scenery in countryside and cities Disadvantages: Hard language to learn, some people not tolerant of non-Czech speakers
I can't understand how I am the first person to recommend the Czech Republic as a travel destination to people. Those of you who have not been don't know what you are missing out on, and those of you who have been should be encouraging others.
It's true that Prague has become incredibly touristy, and quite 'Westernised' in its prices and appearance (countless McDonalds and Dunkin' Donuts), but it is still a magnificant city. The huge buildings and ... ...But there's so much more to the Czech Republic than just Prague anyway. Once you get further south in the country and head to Czesky Krumlov, you'll see the beautiful countryside, and get to appreciate the national dishes at decent prices.
In the Winter, there are great ski resorts. Spindlerov Mlyn in the north is a great location, very popular with locals and German and Dutch tourists, and cheap to boot. A whole week skiing there (including ski ...
Itssteps 05.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Czech Republic
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Czech Trails
Advantages: Fantastic city, plenty to do and see, beer still relatively cheap Disadvantages: City is loosing some of its authencity by becoming Westernised with the likes of McDonalds popping up
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