Archive for July, 2008
Photos: Yummy Czech Dishes
Written by cd on July 27, 2008 – 7:20 pm -A friend visited Prague and took the nicest food pictures. Too nice I behold them at one instance and pinch my butt out of jealousy for not being able to do the same

Czech Chicken at Hotel Czech Pepa Cheese at Hotel
restaurant “U Divadlo” restaurant “U Divadlo”

Ham and Potatao Pancakes Beef Goulash
with sauerkraut

Ham and flour dumpling with Potato dumpling with Sauerkraut
spinach

Boar steak and bacon Grilled meat
dumpling

Risotto Black Squid with rice

Bread goulash
[Source]
Posted in Food & Drink, Multimedia, Photos & Graphics, Pleasures | No Comments »
Canoeing, Kayaking and Rafting at Týnec nad Sázavou River
Written by cd on July 20, 2008 – 9:29 pm -To
the South of Prague hidden a wonderful summer recreational center where you can rent a boat, drifting along the Sazava river and camping outside on the river bank. The place has not been overrun by tourists and remains unknown to many local Czechs; an expat friend of mine accidentally discovered the spot during a car trip outside of Prague.
The basic one-day, 16-km, six-hour trip from Tyznec nad Sazavou to Petrov carrying you through various scenic routes where you can catch glimpses of Czechs’ summer pastime. Canoeing has been very popular activity for the Czechs, from avid sport-lovers who exersise religiously to couch potatoes who go on canoe trip because of school requirement. Honza told me that almost every Czech had gone on a canoe trip at least once.
Czech rivers might not fulfil a hard-core adventurer’s adrenaline dream but they do
statisfy every average Joe’s weekend escape. The still current will surely indulge a lazy person who fancies nothing than to sip on a beer can. But by the time you finish that
beer, you will find yourself struggling in rippling water fully of rocks and have to paddle hard to avoid cap-side. The water level can be low at some parts that your ass will bump against one rock after another, sharp, round and irregular-shaped. Sometimes you find yourself and your boat sitting on top of stubborn rocks and continue staying there no
matter how rhythmic and synchronized your and fellow riders’ butt-movement are to slide the boat down. When the water is high enough, it’s fun sliding down flat bedded rock slope, dropping two-meters or so and getting soaking wet.
Then you can relax again beholding serene landscape along the way: old men fishing, wooden cottages dotted along the river bank, inhabitants sitting outside their cottages having picnics or simply watching people watching them. Made-shift sausage and refreshment stands offering typical Czech greesy, oil-dripping sausages and cold beers await you at a couple of spots the river bank. Eat and drink the unhealthy food as much as your heart desires because your boat trip probably sheds a few decagrams off your body fat. Besides, those sausages and foamed beer make your Czech experience more Czech.
Hurry up while the summer is young and the sky is dry even though it has been pissing baby rain shower for the last month.
Tips
- Saturdays are packed, so you should book one week in advanced.
- Reservation:You don’t pay for reservation, but please do cancel one day before. You
will have to pay for all reserved boats if canceling on the spot. Even if this happens, try to sweet talk the cashier for a discount. - Late fee: you must reach the final destination by 6 p.m. to avoid late fee. I don’t know if they charge by boats or by the hours. We paid 300 czk for 2 canoes and 2 rafts one hour and a half late.
- Pickup time is from 9 to 12 am.
- Raft or canoe: The minimum required water level is 45 cm. It’s really no fun to row and row on shallow water. Do not rent a raft unless you have your own or want to ruin your boating experience. Rafts are not made for Czech rivers, especially on low water. You will spend most of your energy and time to push the raft of rocks.Canoeing is very safe even forbeginners.
Website: http://www.bisport.cz/?lg=en
How to get there
By car: Takes only 50 minutes. [See map]
By train: Train departs from either Hlavni Nadrazi or Nadrazi Vrovice to Tynec
nad Sazavou and takes from 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 45 minutes. [Sample train schedule @ idos.cz]. On your way home, you can either returing to where you started, Tynec nad Sazavou, to pick up your car or can take the train back to Prague. The trains for both directions will start at the same station, Petrov u Prahy, on the same track heading opposite directions.
Posted in Travel & Tourism, Trips | No Comments »
Where to Buy Guitars in Prague and Czech
Written by cd on July 4, 2008 – 8:17 am -Most of you probably want to shop at stores where you can choose, play and feel your guitar. Also, it’s easier to return the guitar to the shop for repair. Three weeks ago, I started hunting for my first guitar and indeed had a hard time locate shops and online stores. Maybe you did and will too. But worry no more, I have compiled a list of stores and sites.
Stores
* Muziker.cz: You can buy online or at the store too. They have hundreds of guitars for sale together with other instruments and gears. In deed, I bought my SX acoustic guitar there. The guys who work there are very helpful too. Take tram number 5 and get off at “U horou”, 3 stops after Vlatava. Turn left at the street and you will see Meca Club, the store is located in building 5/827. There is no sign, just a name on the building door, so you might miss it.
* Kytary.cz: This is another store where you can buy either online or at the store. They have stores at Nusle and in Chodov Centrum.
* www.harfa.com : Have a small collection of used guitars. I almost bought used guitar there before opted for a new one.
* Liskapiana.cz
Online
* www.aukro.cz : This is similar to Ebay; however, you don’t have to link your bank, credit card because you can pay upon delivery or in person in which you and the seller meet up. But remember, Aukro takes 14 days to verify your account and address, so if you consider this route, please register before hand. You can try to contact the seller and agree on the price without going through the bidding process.
* www.muzikant.cz
* vyhledavani.hyperinzerce.cz : Sold directly by the seller (Czech only).
* www.eorchestr.cz
* www.a-znastroje.cz
* www.music-city.cz
* www.hudebni-dum.cz
* hudba.inzertal.cz (2nd hand)
* www.bachmusik.com : Out of Prague. It’s a guitar maker and distributor. But I think you can get a guitar from them too.
* www.super-bazar.cz : Not a guitar shop, but you can find a few used guitars.
* www.humlmusic.cz
* www.vecerekinstrwuments.com
Bazaar
It’s not easy to find a cheap (money-wise) guitar. I notice that guitars are more expensive sold from Bazaar sites. Additionally, pawn shops are other options.
If you want a guitar lesson, you can try cool American Rob at 420 775 566389
Posted in Film & Music, Pleasures, Reference, Shops & Bargains, Yellow Pages | No Comments »




