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Location
Banks of the Vltava, Bohemia, Czech Republic, Central Europe.

Dialling code
420.

Population
1.21 million (2007).



Time zone
GMT + 1.

Electricity
220-230 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard; converters are hard to find.

Average January temperatures
- 1ºC (30ºF).

Average July temperatures
19ºC (62.6ºF).

Annual rainfall
67mm (2.64 inches).

Language
Introduction
Czech is one of the Western Slavonic languages, distinguished from its neighbors (like Polish) by a series of diacritical marks introduced by the religious reformer Jan Hus in about 1410, including háceks (little hooks), which change the pronunciation of letters. Under Hapsburg rule (1620-1918), Czech was firmly suppressed; the language was revived as part of the nationalist movement in the nineteenth century.

Slightly less daunting than it looks, almost all Czech words are stressed on the first syllable. The most difficult sound is the ‘r’ with the hácek above it (pronounced ‘rzh’) – which even Czech children have to be taught to pronounce correctly.

English is rapidly becoming the second language, especially among the younger generation, and the majority of tourist services will have at least one English speaker on the staff. The older generation will be more likely to speak German. Moments of communication breakdown will arise from time to time but they will always be good-humored. Problems can arise in Prague with the shortening of ‘ano’ (yes) to ‘no’.

Phrases

Yes - Ano (often shortened to ‘No’)
No - Ne
Hello - Dobrý den
Goodbye - Na shledanou
Please - Prosím
Thank you - Dekuji
My name is … - Mé jméno je …
How are you? - Jak se máte?
I’m quite well - Jde to
I feel ill - Je mi spatne
How much does it cost? - Kolik to stojí?
Do you speak English? - Mluvíte anglicky?
I don’t understand - Nerozumím
Where is … ? - Kde je … ?
Entrance - Vchod
Exit - Vychod
Danger / Warning! - Nebezpeci / Pozor!
Open - Otevreno
Closed - Zavreno
Toilets - Záchod / WC
Doctor - Lékar
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restaurace
Beer - Pivo
Wine - Víno
Menu - Listek
Today - Dnes
Tomorrow - Vcera
Monday - Pondelí
Tuesday - Úterý
Wednesday - Streda
Thursday - Ctvrtek
Friday - Pátek
Saturday - Sibita
Sunday - Nedele
One - Jeden
Two - Dva
Three - Tri
Four - Ctyri
Five - Pet
Six - Sest
Seven - Sedm
Eight - Osm
Nine - Devet
Ten - Deset
Twenty - Dvacet
Thirty - Tricet
Forty - Ctyricet
Fifty - Padesát
Sixty - Sedesát
Seventy - Sedmdesát
Eighty - Osmdesát
Ninety - Devadesát
One Hundred - Sto
One Thousand - Tisíc


Cost of Living:

10 Czech Koruna (Kc 10) = £0.34; US$0.52; C$0.62; A$0.73; €0.38
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

Ball (Ples) Season
January-March/April
The beginning of Lent.
Various venues

Witches' Night
April
Celebrates the death of winter with bonfires.
Various venues

Prague Spring
May-June
Various venues
Website: www.festival.cz

Khamoro
May
Festival of Roma (gypsy) culture, with music, films, theater, dance, art.
Various venues
Website: www.khamoro.cz

Dance Prague
June
Various venues
Website: www.tanecpha.cz

Prague Autumn
September
Various venues
Website: www.pragueautumn.cz

Burcák Season
September-October
Sampling the half-fermented new season wines directly from the barrels.
Various venues

International Jazz Festival Prague
October
Lucerna Music Bar
Website: www.jazzfestivalpraha.cz

Musica Ludaica
November
Festival celebrating Jewish composers.
Various venues

Prague German-Language Theater Festival
November
Various venues
Website: www.theater.cz

International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music
November-December
Various venues, with a final concert of all choirs in the Old Town Square.
Website: www.orfea.cz

St Nicholas's Eve
December
Men dress as St Nicholas, an angel and a devil, giving out sweets to good children.
Charles Bridge, Staromìstské námìstí and Karlovo námìstí

Bohuslav Martinu Festival
December
Music festival featuring the music of this 20th-century Czech composer, including a violin and violoncello competition, as well as concerts of chamber, symphonic and dramatic music.
Lichtenstein Palace and the Ruldophinum
Website: www.martinu.cz

Prague Christmas
December
Festival of carols and customs.
Various venues including concerts in the Old Town Square

St Sylvester's Eve
December
Wild revelry complete with fireworks.
Around Václavské námìstí and the Old Town Square

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Czech Republic Airport Guides: Prague Ruzyne	Czech Republic City Guides: Prague City Guide
Czech Republic Attraction Guides:
Charles Bridge (Karluv most) Kutna Hora	Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti) Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral (Prazsky Hrad and Katedrala sv Vita)