Planning your European nightlife

by Anna Brones on

Despite the low dollar, some of us still have European summer adventures on the horizon. And just because the economy is in a rut, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t focus on fabulous things to do across the Atlantic. This weekend, the New York Times put together a set of 10 articles on things to do after midnight in various European cities. I tend to like the New York Times Travel section, but I really enjoyed this compilation of articles which takes us from hip billiards in Paris to 24 hour bookstores in Moscow to a tram-based nightclub in Prague.

The ten cities covered are:
Athens
Barcelona
Berlin
Copenhagen
Lisbon
London
Moscow
Paris
Prague
Venice

Go here to discover more of Europe’s after-midnight adventures, and then start scrounging for euros.

From the New Europe: Mr Gay Europe final returns to Hungary

by Iva Skoch on

Before the fall of communism, back 19 years ago (jeez, has it really been that long?) there were no gay people in Eastern Europe. No really. None. At least according to the Soviet propaganda.

Look at good old Eastern Europe now. Prague is the new capital of gay pornography and Budapest proudly announces that Mr Gay Hungary competition has has joined forces with Budapest Pride to organize the finals of the Mr Gay Europe contest in July 2-6, Budapest Sun reports.

According to a statement put out by the organizers, “Mr Gay Europe celebrates the gay European man and pays tribute to the diversity, as well as what gay men have in common in Europe.” This year, any gay man throughout Europe can register to take part in the Mr Gay Europe competition. Last year, 23 delegates competed for the title, with Jackson Netto (see photo), from Germany, winning. This year’s theme is “Unity and Solidarity.”

That’s the New Europe for ya.

From the New Europe: The Unbearable Appeal of Being in Prague

by Iva Skoch on

It is still a fairly common cliche in Prague: a backpacker with a beat up copy of Milan Kundera’s 1984 novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being, trying to discover the Prague Kundera once described.

That Prague–desperate amidst the Russian invasion–does not exist anymore. The locals don’t want it to exist. I always sense a little disappointment when tourists find out that Prague is not at all the exotic, gloomy city that Kundera wrote about. It has–like it or not–become free and commerce-driven. No Russian soldiers, no interrogation, just free market capitalism. The literary scene is not great, despite foreign media and guidebooks’ keeping on “selling it” as the city of uber-intellectuals, such as Kundera, Kafka and Havel. Understandably, it is a much more appealing brand than “just another up and coming Eastern European city.”

With that in mind, I found it amusing to read today’s article in the travel section of The New York Times entitled “Milan Kundera’s Prague: Trumping the Unbearable Darkness of History.” Oh no, here we go again, longing for the way Prague felt under communism. Kundera has actually had a very troubled relationship to the post-communist country. He has lived in France for the last few decades and hasn’t even wanted his books to be published in Czech. The idea that his is the Prague being sold to tourists wouldn’t be particularly appealing to him, I don’t think.

As the author of the article pointed out, The Unbearable Lightness of Being is no love letter to Prague. That is an accurate observation. It is a great book, don’t get me wrong. One of my all time favorites. However, to think that it will make you understand the Prague you are seeing today is silly.

There is a lot more to Prague than its communist past. Try looking back longer than 20, 40 years. Prague has a great Gothic and Baroque past that–in the grand scheme of things–is a lot more relevant that its 40 years under communism (20 years ago).

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.