Living Prague

Book Shops
Laundry
Internet Access
Fresh Bread
Fresh Fruit
Wine Shop
Ticket Office
Toilets
Flights
Cinema
Photo Development
Fitness
Mobile/Fixed Phones
Passport Photos
Radio Stations
Business and Etiquette
Sport
Language lessons
Names Day info
Translation Services
Wedding Services
Residency Services
Thai Massage

Bookshops

www.globebookstore.cz. Globe Bookstore is the most recognised name even though it has moved location from it's original Janovskeho address. It has both new and used books in hardback and paperback. There is a nice cafe at the back as well, very popular with Americans. Store is for sale.

www.anagram.cz. Anagram bookshop has a smaller used book section but, has much more Czech, biographical and historical literature. It has a small childrens section but, expensive. If you are exchanging used books for a credit to buy a new one etc, best to do it here than the Globe.

www.shakes.cz. The Shakespeare bookshop in U Luzickeho Seminare in Mala Strana is largely a "used" bookshop with a small "new" section. Recently I've bought books from here more often than the Globe or Anagram.

www.bigbenbookshop.com. Big Ben bookshop in Mala Stupartska is the smallest of the bookshops. It has NO used section but makes up for it with a varied selection of titles and categories.

www.kanzelsberger.cz. Kanzelsberger is at the base of Wenceslas Square are four floors of books, magazines, maps etc and a nice coffee shop on the first floor where you can try the book before you buy it.

www.neoluxor.cz. Palac Knih (page in Czech only) is the latest "megastore" addition to the Prague book scene. Located half way up Wenceslas Square on the left it has two basement floors and two upper floors all stuffed with bookstore merchandise. The foreign language section is in the 1st basement and is really "paperback only" with a few hardback "bestseller" exceptions. This shop has the best children section with original English stories and Czech Stories translated into English.


Laundry

Almost all the laundries open Mon-Fri but, Laundryland is 7 days. The two most popular serve different parts of the city;

www.laundryland.cz. Laundryland has assorted places around Prague (my recommendation). Some are collection points and others are self service. At present the Vinohradsky Pavilion, Zlaty Andel and Agora Flora are collection points only. Price is based on weight or item and large items like ski suits, duvets and curtains etc are priced individually. Offers services 24 hours or 7 days (for patient people I guess!!). It now does clothes alterations.

www.cistirna.cz. Cistirna is now open in three locations (Narodni, Seifertova and Namesti Jiriho z Lobkovic). It has all the options for cleaning/ironing for items and overall weight.

Prague Laundromat is at Korunni 14 (Prague 2) just up from Namesti Miru (I used this when I first came here).

Laundry Kings is at Dejvicka 16 (Prague 6) down the tram tracks.


Internet Access

You'll find many places offering 1kc per minute. Alternatively, look out for places where if you buy lunch you get 30 mins free internet time (like Le Chateau in Jakubska). There are other options like those below:

www.britishcouncil.cz. The British Council has two terminals for FREE. Located at Politickych Veznu (one street over from Wenceslas Square on the other side of the main post office). Take the lift to the first floor.

www.globebookstore.cz. Globe bookstore has four fixed terminals but, also has other sockets located around the shop and cafe for people with their own laptops (with LAN ports). 50kc deposit, 1kc per minute.

Kotva 3rd floor (rear entrance escalator) coffee bar charges 20kc for 15 mins but, it's got nice screens.

If you want to surf and print details then go to the 2nd basement of the "Palac Knih" bookshop on Wenceslas Square. They have terminals hooked up to printers for 5kc per A4 sheet.

www.kava-coffee.cz. Kava Kava Kava in the Platyz courtyard (just off Narodni) has 15 mins free internet before 10am if you buy a coffee but, as the coffee is quite expensive then a 1kc for 1min would still be cheaper.


Fresh Bread

Most shops will receive fresh stock everyday although there are exceptions. Odkolek are a firm of bakers and the Odkolek shop in Rytirska is where we go if we are in the centrum. If you are driving, the Hypernova at D1 junction 6 and at the Chodov centre also do baking on the premesis.


Fresh Fruit

There are two good fruit and veg markets in Prague. The bigger one is in Havelska (when walking from the tourist office to the Old Town Square, it's the next but one road on the left) The market also has many tourist souvenir stalls. The other market is behind Narodni Metro station next to the rear entrance of Tesco.


Wine Shop

www.cellarius.cz. The Cellarius wine shop in the Lucerna Passage (next to the cinema) has a very good selection of wines from all over the world. If you are only interested in drinking wine then look out for the sign "Vinny Bar" as this indicates a wine bar.


Ticket Offices

Usually I collect tickets at the office on the corner of Rytirska and Melantrichova. Online service for all types of gigs and concerts for modern music are available at Ticketpro (www.ticketpro.cz). For a cultural event ticket office try Bohemia Tickets International (www.ticketsbti.cz). The page here walks you through the Ticketpro ordering process.


Flights

I usually make all travel arrangements direct with www.csa.cz (Czech Airlines) but, remember if you book a flight from Prague, the fare must be paid in Czech Korun. If you pay by credit card, only the holder of the card can collect the tickets from the airport CSA ticket office. Beware booking an internet ticket for a future route i.e. you want a CSA flight from Amsterdam to New York. These kind of tickets must be picked up from the main office in Namesti Republiky. If you try and pick them up from the airport it can be a problem. For all other flights I use www.globalexpress.cz as they have an office close to the Old Town Square (Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm) and they have an office at the airport open everyday (6am to 8pm).


Public Toilets

There are various facilities available. Where I mention "attended" there will be a person looking after the facility and a plate on the table. You may have to pay before or after and change is given. I would advise you carry your own paper and a small plastic doorstop (not all doors are lockable). Here is what you will need to know;
Some shops have toilets with a coin operated lock, this lock takes a 5kc coin.
There are automated toilets in some locations, these take a 10kc coin.

Department Stores

Tesco - Toilets on stairs side of store. max 5kc. attended, pay before.
Myslbek - 1st Floor, Free (discretionary tip).
Cerna Ruze - Basement, max 5kc, attended, pay after.
Kotva - Main entrance escalators, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and restaurant. Free.

Other convenient locations;

Templova - passage off Celetna. Attended, 5kc pay before.
Malostranske Namesti - Opposite tram stop under the arches. Basement. Attended, 10kc pay before.
Restaurace Zofin - Public toilet under the bandstand. Attended, 5kc pay after.
Narodni - Le patio shop, downstairs on the right. Free.
McDonalds - The usual stop for most freeloaders hence, bring the doorstop.
Petrin Tower - Basement. 5kc pay after.


Photo Development

There are many Kodak shops offering normal processing requirements, next day collection, 1 hour quick service and 5 hour services etc. For photo equipment, film, batteries and a large selection of professional standard cameras I would pay a visit to the Langhans building in Vodickova where you'll find Foto Milan Skoda (www.fotoskoda.cz) photographic shop. Here you will also find options for burning digital media onto CD's and printing done by the staff. For only enlargements, paper/colour variations and other options for the discerning photographer I would go for Milan Skoda or the Fuji film professional lab at the junction of Vladislavova and Lazarska. On the Old Town Square in the direction of Celetna there is a shop called AZ Foto (www.azfoto.cz). You can do your own burning and printing and all media formats are supported.


Passport Photos

There are automatic booths at the main railway stations and the airport (4 pics for 80-100kc). Most people here will go to the video booth at Tesco. You sit down as usual but, someone will point a video camera at you and freeze a frame. This will be done twice to give you a choice of picture. In Tesco it is located at the base of the stairs and it will be @100-120kc for 4 pics.


Fitness

The YMCA provides a large range of sports services. It is located at Na Porici 12 close to Namesti Republiky. The YMCA (www.scymca.cz) webpage is only in Czech language but you'll get the basic info. Another option is the Hotel Axa (www.hotelaxa.com) further down the same street. It's gym facilities are more expensive and it does not have the overall services of the YMCA Sport Centrum. If you are more inclined to Martial Arts try Delroys Gym (www.delroys-gym.cz) for Taekwondo, Muay Thai, yoga etc. Personal trainers available.


Cinema


Don't expect your regular "popcorn and coke" cinema here. Although the Multi-screen cinemas are like this, the majority cater to vastly differing tastes. The small cinemas around Wenceslas Square (i.e. Jalta) do not have fixed seating. You will find tables and chairs in the viewing room and a bar just outside. In Kino MAT next to Karlovo Namesti, they have fixed seating but only 40 seats. Different cinemas suit different people depending on what you want to see and how you want to see it but there are some things that stay the same. All films are shown in their original language and Czech subtitles are added. When you buy your ticket, you are allocated a specific seat and it is usual to select your location when you pay. In the larger cinemas, the ticket seller will show you a screen with what is available). The smaller cinemas may only show one film on one day. Currently, our favourite place is Palac Flora which contains Cinema City (www.cinemacity.cz). This has regular multi-screens and a special IMAX 3D screen. It also allows us to park in the basement and use one of the restaurant/cafes as well.


Mobile/Fixed Phones

Mobile Phones. There are three digital cellular providers here, T-Mobile, Eurotel and Vodafone (formerly Oskar). All three are GSM providers with additional DCS frequencies and all support GPRS. From 2006, Eurotel and Vodafone will offer roaming 3G whilst T-Mobile will offer an internal 3G data service (without roaming). Eurotel also offers a "data only" hi-speed solution. It is possible to hire a phone at the airport. It is NOT possible to buy only a SIM card here. Each company operates a pay-as-you-go scheme. You must buy the pack which consists of a SIM (which will work in your own phone) and a phone which will only accept a SIM from that specific company. It is possible to hire a phone at the airport and at the larger Prague shops. You pay a deposit and pay for the number of days you wish to rent the phone. Eurotel offers 3 day rental for 950kc rising to a monthly rental of 4995kc. Phone number changes in 2002 mean you do not prefix any CZ phone number with a 0 i.e. if you phone a Prague number you start with 2 (2 24217777). Likewise for mobiles, dial 603 not 0603

Fixed Phones. You can buy normal phone cards for use with payphones. The use of coin operated phones in Prague is rare but if you do use them there are a couple of basic rules. 1) you put the money in first and 2) don't expect the money to be rejected if you are not successful. You can buy a pre-paid card called "Karta-X" which allows you to use payphones and private phones to make your calls (the owner of the private phone will not be billed, only your Karta-X will be debited). You simply dial a freephone number first then the card number and then the actual number. English language is on 800 161 161. Other types of card are available but, look for one with a Prague access telephone number. 800 freephone access means you don't pay for that part of the call but, overall you will have less minutes if you access it this way. For international calling cards, a few services have started since 2005 called DITEL (www.ditel.cz), SMARTCALL (www.smartcall.cz), TELECARD (www.telecard.cz) and T-KARTA (www.tkarta.cz). Smartcall cards can be bought from "Relay" newsagents which are at all the railway stations and airport as well as any "Chequepoint" exchange offices. For calling offices I normally direct people to a small passage (Rathova Pasaz) just before the TGI Friday restaurant (Na Prikope) which has a couple of combined internet/call places.


Radio Stations

The stations I use in Prague are: Evropa2 (88.2FM and 105.5FM), Radio City (93.7FM), Radio Bonton (99.7FM), Kiss98 (98.0FM) and finally the good old BBC World Service on 101.1FM. The worldwide frequencies and schedules are available at www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/worldservice/psims/ScheduleSDT.cgiThe Beeb.


Business Etiquette

There are three English sites available with excellent coverage of business issues in the Czech Republic and especially Prague. They are the Prague Monitor (www.praguemonitor.com), the Prague Tribune (www.prague-tribune.cz) and the Prague Report (www.praguereport.com).

Etiquette

In a restaurant - If you are unsure of the food, let your host order for you.
In a bar - You may top up your guest's beer with his bottle and he will reciprocate by filling your glass with your bottle.
In a house - Invited guests would be expected to remove their footwear when entering the living area and many people (me included) will offer slippers for the guest to wear if he or she chooses. You are not required to bring a gift if you have not met with the family before. If you buy a gift, check with the person who invited you for what to buy and for whom (buying a gift for a child is favourable and does not require a return gift). A diplomatic way of ensuring that you can eat the food is to inform your host of your favourite.
In a meeting - Czech has a formal side to it's language and this must be used unless you are addressed informally first. Similar to Germany, if a person has a title you must use it correctly i.e ing, ing.Arch and Dipl.ing are all addressed as ing (inzenyr or engineer). It is a great insult to be addressed without your title or possibly even worse to attribute title to somebody in error.


Sport

By sport, I mean football, golf, swimming, bowling, squash and tennis. There are two hotels which have very good sports facilities. The first is the Club Hotel Praha (www.club-hotel-praha.cz) located at Exit 6 (Pruhonice) of D1 about 10km from the centre of Prague and it is best to drive here but, the hotel runs a shuttle service for guests from Opatov metro. The hotel has inside and outside hard and clay tennis courts, 2 squash courts, 2 bowling lanes, a gym and a small pool. The Hotel Cechie (www.hotelcechie.cz) has tennis indoor hard courts, outdoor clay courts, 4 squash courts, golf driving range, pitch and putt area, swimming pool, gym and 2 bowling lanes. Cechie has the advantage of being accessible by Metro (Palmovka - Prague 8 - Yellow line) and the hotel is located behind the hotel Olympik Garni. The best public swimming pool is at Podoli which has Olympic sized indoor and outdoor pools. Those interested in entering the Prague International Marathon go to www.pim.cz.


Language Lessons

I took my original lessons with Hana Diringerova, a Charles University graduate teaching Czech as a second language since 1996. She teaches organised groups through established companies but, also does small group and one-to-one lessons of her own. I recommend her style of teaching and for further info take a look at her website at www.diri.cz.


Names Day

Names Day is a very popular celebration for many in this country especially women, who will expect a card and flowers. Remember if you give flowers, to give an odd number as opposed to an even number is seen as unlucky. Men will generally celebrate with a beer or two and treat it as an excuse for an evening out and no card or flowers are expected. If you know somebody in the Czech Republic why not find their names day and surprise them with a card. Take a look at the list of names.


Translation Services

If you intend doing anything official then at some stage you will need an "official" translator. This is somebody licenced to perform translation of official documents in both written and oral forms. I recommend a lady called Martina Levey. She was recommended to us by a friend and we used her services when we got married. It's always good to have a contact number of an official translator. Her webpage is at www.academia-levey.cz.

Pocket Interpreter is an instant language assistance service via the mobile phone specifically designed & tailored to the needs of expatriate residents, tourists and visiting business people in the Czech Republic.By subscribing to the service, you will be given the telephone number of an interpreter who will be 'on call' during the time period you chose for the interpreter to cover at application. Currently, we cover the 8am to 6pm, and 6pm to 9pm periods seven days a week.In addition to the Pocket Interpreter service, the Pocket Language Bureau provides quality, value-for-money translation, interpreting, editing and proofreading services.


Wedding Services

www.pragueweddings.com. Prague weddings has been used by at least three different people that I know. I can personally recommend the service. Based in Prague.

www.destination-wedding.cz. Destination Wedding is also known as the White Agency. A specialised wedding planner of destination weddings in one of the most romantic cities, makes Prague, a very unique and attractive wedding destination.


Residency Services

When I was applying for Permanent Resident here in Prague I used Agentura So-ry (agentura.so-ry@iol.cz). They'll do most of the legwork for you including arranging power of attorney and filling out the first application but, you'll need to provide the following:

• Four colour passport photos
• Verified copy of marriage certificate (verified by Notary)
• Original passport
• Original ID card of your spouse.
• Proof of private health insurance.

If approved, the permit is ready in 60 days or less and you have to go to the regional Foreign Police office that covers the area in which you will be living. I found them to be a very reasonably priced option for me to avoid dealing with Czech officialdom.


Thai Massage

This does not have the bad reputation that you find in some European countries. Below are three good places to get a basic massage.

www.thaifit.cz. Thai Fit massage is the oldest parlour I know in Prague. The original shop is in Na Porici in a little side passage. All types of massage. It now has a second parlour next to the Svetozor Cinema in Vodickova (halfway up Wenceslas Square where the tramline crosses). Charges about 10kc/min and duration is normally 30 or 60 minutes.

www.sabai.cz. Sabai started in Slovansky Dum and now has a second (and nicer) location in the basement of the Maximilian Hotel. Best to make a reservation. Charges about 10-20kc/min with durations at 30, 60 and 90 minutes.

Sawasdee has no webpage at present and only does a foot massage. You'll find it opposite the "cafe-cafe" in Rytirska. You can just walk in off the street and get a massage.

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