Czech Republic - Information.

December 1997 - Day trip to Prague from Newcastle upon Tyne Airport.

Strange Happenings:   The strange thing is...   Nothing strange happened.   Oh, er, not quite, as, er, you can now get anything from a Mac Donalds to a lady of the night.   But I got no offers.   So it doesn't count.   Boo hoo!

Travel Advice and Information: Prague is well worth visiting, with the old town, Hradcany castle and St. Vitus Cathedral well worth a look (Oh, and don't forget to get your photo taken on Charles Bridge).      Try some Czech beer while you're there; the Czechs currently have the reputation of the heaviest drinkers in Europe.

Also worth a visit is the Jewish quarter and if you are into art and architecture, you might want to have a look at the cubism museums, because Prague is the only place in the world to have experimented with the form of architecture known as cubism.

A boat trip on the Vltava river is a good way of seeing the main sights of Prague and is highly recommended.

Prices tend to be largely fixed, however, I have been informed by other travellers that there are some opportunities for haggling.   Apparently, it is possible to negotiate a lower price for art work and souvenirs, sold by street sellers on the Charles Bridge or on the hill overlooking the city.   I have been advised that tourists shouldn't haggle for the sake of haggling and should pay what they consider a fair price for any artwork that may be on offer.

Weather: Temperate conditions, with rain likely at any time of year and snow possible in winter.   Temperatures range from near freezing in winter to upper twenties in summer.   Colder in mountains during winter, with higher likelihood of snow here as a result.

Travel Companies: Many mainstream companies offer city breaks to Prague or even multi-centre breaks to Prague, Budapest and / or Vienna.   The more rough and ready companies offer better value packages, taking you out into the more rural areas of the Czech republic (and into neighbouring companies).

Currency: Czech 'Crown'.

Beer and Beverages: The Czechs are now the biggest drinkers in Europe, with the Germans beginning to become more health conscious.   There are many lager beers available, including the famous Pilsen beer and Budweis(er), the original Czech version.   The Czechs are also very big wine drinkers, with the main regions being the Moravia and Vltava valleys.   Also look out for Czech 'plum' wine, I believe from the Karlovy Vary area.

Language: Czech.   English and less so, German are also understood.

Religion: Many do not actively follow religion, though the main Christian denominations are present.