The New Europe: Prague now one of EU’s richest regions

by Iva Skoch on

If you visited Prague fifteen years ago, you probably didn’t think it was on its way to becoming one of the richest regions of the entire EU. Prague now ranks No 12 among all EU regions. Tourism, of course, is partially responsible for the vast influx of cash.

The development of Prague has been fast and steady. Unfortunately, the development hasn’t really affected other areas of the country. Prague is becoming, much like London, its own state. Per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in the Czech capital is 60 percentage points higher than the European average (EU=100), however, other Czech regions are below 75 percent of the EU average and are therefore regarded as developing, which entitles them to subsidies from European funds, Prague Daily Monitor reports.

To sample the “real” Czech culture–not the one diluted by excessive tourism–it is becoming necessary to venture out of Prague.

Wealthiest regions of the European Union per capita GDP in pct
Inner London (UK) 303
Luxembourg (Luxembourg) 264
Bruxelles-Cap. / Brussels Hfdst. (Belgium) 241
Hamburg (Germany) 202
Wien (Austria) 178
Ile de France (France) 173
Stockholm (Sweden) 172
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire (UK) 168
Oberbayern (Germany) 166
Groningen (Netherlands) 164
Hovedstaden (Denmark) 161
Praha (Czech Republic) 160
Utrecht (Netherlands) 158
Southern & Eastern (Ireland) 158
Darmstadt (Germany) 158

First Starbucks in Prague is a hit

by Iva Skoch on

It’s been a couple of months since Starbucks opened their first Czech Republic location. And, you guessed it, it is smashing success, and not only with tourists.

I remember just a few years ago the idea of a $4 cup of coffee was a science fiction concept in this country. Not today, with the Czech koruna hitting all time highs against the dollar day after day, $4 for a cup of coffee is no longer as much money as it used to be. Just a few years ago, the dollar was traded 1:35 against the Czech koruna. Now, it is 1:16. Ouch.

For those of you, who know Prague, Starbucks picked a great location right next to the Malostranske namesti tram stop (below the castle), where the restaurant Square and Malostranska kavarna used to be. (See photo; it is the building on the left). Don’t get me wrong, I am not a big fan of Starbucks. At the same time, I applaud them for giving Prague what they have been waiting for. Early morning coffee and breakfast is still hard to find around Malostranske namesti. I have heard this complain from several people who visited me here. Of course, small locally-owned coffee shop could never afford the rent that Starbucks can pay.

When I was at the Prague airport earlier this week, I noticed that Starbucks is opening an airport location, too. Yes, Prague is gentrifying rapidly. And, it is certainly not “the cheap place” to visit any longer.

What were your biggest traveling mistakes? Here are mine.

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Every traveler makes mistakes. They are rites of passage that even seasoned travelers can never entirely avoid– whether it’s missing a flight or eating a regrettable roadside meal or wandering around lost for hours. If you have the right attitude though, mistakes are part of what keeps traveling interesting and exciting. As Thomas Edison, ever the optimist, once observed: “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 things that will not work.”

That’s why I feel no shame in recalling my greatest travel mistakes, culled from an impressive and ever-growing list. First place goes to the time I was in Ecuador and lost my passport– the veritable cardinal sin of traveling. Thankfully, despite some bureacratic hassle, I got a new one after spending a few weeks in Quito, where I earned about a thousand dollars playing poker at the casino. That’s money I never would have made if I wouldn’t have lost my passport. Thanks, my stupidity!

Some mistakes on the road are more embarrassing than anything else. For instance, after living in Prague for a few months, I thought I had a pretty good idea of the layout of the metro stops. One day I was riding on the the metro with some friends, and we came to the “Muzeum” stop. The doors opened, and an elderly man standing on the platform asked me, in Czech, “Is this Muzeum?” “No,” I told him confidently, in front of dozens of people. “This is M?stek.” He appeared confused, and gave me a look as if to say, “Are you sure?” “Yes,” I said. “To je M?stek.” The doors closed, and the metro sped off, while my fellow passengers looked at me like the idiot I was. I like to assume that old man eventually figured out where he was, but really, who the hell knows.

Of course, these aren’t the only mistakes I’ve made. I’ve missed transatlantic flights, left doors unlocked and had my laptop and mp3 player stolen, been swindled out of money by street husslers, and done scores of other stupid and otherwise inexcusable things that probably should have ruined my trip.

But they never have. It’s a testament to the power of travel that no matter what happens on the road, I’d still rather be there than anywhere else.

Okay, I’ve shared my biggest traveling blunders; now it’s your turn. Got a good story? Feel free to share it in the comments.

Czech Republic celebrates an Academy Award. Beer flows for Once

by Iva Skoch on

I was getting teary-eyed last night when Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard received an Academy Award for their song “Falling Slowly,” which they performed in the indie hit “Once.”

Irglova is a 19-year old Czech girl from Valasske Mezirici in Moravia. Needless to say, that town is about ready to call today a national holiday, because the odds of someone from there–and someone so young–receiving an Oscar are slim to none.

I really liked the film, which is set in Dublin and featured a story of him (a struggling guitar player) and her (a struggling immigrant and a piano player). It just happens that they fall in love, which is exactly what happened to Glen and Marketa in real life.

It looks like they are having the time of their lives in LA, as reported by the NY Times today. I couldn’t be happier for them. (Toasting with a glass of Pilsner Urquell, of course)

Hard alcohol banned from Wenceslas Square stands. Kielbasas saved!

by Iva Skoch on

The sausage stands on Prague’s Wenceslas Square are probably familiar to anyone who stumbled its cobble-stoned streets after midnight, looking (unsuccessfully) for a more civilized place to eat. The after-dark scene around these stands is not what most people have in mind when they picture the fairy-tale city of Prague: homeless people, prostitutes, and people of various stages of drunkenness.

Prague has been trying to figure out how to clean up Wenceslas Square and some people argued that these stands should be the first to go. But Praguers don’t want to give up that easily. They signed a petition against the elimination of kielbasas from Wenceslas Square, citing “tradition.” It is peculiar because there are hundreds of legends about the ingredients of these things (urine being one of them). A lot of people call the kielbasas “cancerbasas” because of the burned oil used to fry them up. Consequently, the Czech Republic has the highest colon cancer rate in the world. Traditions, it seems, are hard to kill.

The city has decided to ignore the sausages for now. Starting this summer though, stands won’t be able to sell hard alcohol. As for cancerbasas, it is only a matter of time.