Czech Update

Amazing images of Czech countryside on Flickr

Dominik Lukeš — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:21:58 -0500

A photographer calling himself 'svedek' (wittness) has an a set of absolutely astonishing snapshots of the 'Czech lands' on Flickr. A must-see for anybody nostalgic after their visit or looking for motivation to go have a look. It's a collection of the new and the old, city and country, sacred and mundane.

Czech autumn full of jazz (festivals)

Dominik Lukeš — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 05:26:14 -0400

Czech jazz has long and proud tradition. This article on Travel Video Television News has the scoop on where to travel for jazz in the Czech lands. Watch the two YouTube videos below to see what's in store (two foremost Czech jazzmen Viklický and Stivín each play a variation on a folk tune).

Travel Video Television News Prague, August 2007 The summer with its open-air concerts has gone, but that doesn’t mean that you should stay at home. You can drive away the melancholy autumnal mood at jazz festivals in the Czech Republic. World famous jazz musicians and musicians who are just starting out will be attempting to overcome the borders of genres, countries and generations here.

1968 Invasion Remembered

Dominik Lukeš — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:00:00 -0400

Thirty-nine years ago, the Prague Spring's efforts for "Socialism with a human face" culminated in an invasion by the Warsaw Pact armies during the night of 20-21st of August. Wikipedia has useful information and you can see some moving pictures on YouTube:

Shopping center to become a historic monument

Dominik Lukeš — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 06:26:09 -0500

Stane se Kotva památkou? - www.lidovky.cz Obchodní dům Kotva na náměstí Republiky bude možná následovat Máj na seznam kulturních památek.

Two Prague department stores (1970s shopping malls) Kotva a Máj (which is now owned by TESCO) are about to become listed as historic buildings. They are certainly part of history and the public consciousness. Supposedly, they are also quite important achievements Czech architectural design of the period. Judge for yourself:

Carp carnage confounds tourists

Dominik Lukeš — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 15:29:14 -0500

Turisté nechápou zabíjení kaprů - www.lidovky.cz Turisty lákají především předvánoční trhy. „Teď jsem byl na Staromáku a viděl jsem turisty, jak obléhají stánky, cpou se klobásami a nechápavě koukají na hromadné zabíjení kaprů,“ dodává Beránek.

Other than the headline the other interesting tidbit in this article is the numbers of tourists who even during Christmas number in 50 thousand and spend over 10 billion crowns in the process.

Christmas Trees in Public Spaces: Images

Dominik Lukeš — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 13:40:03 -0500

OBRAZEM: Vánoční stromy z Čech, Moravy a Slezska - iDNES.cz Na mnoha náměstích v Česku už řadu dní stojí vánoční stromy, tradiční symbol křesťanských oslav narození Ježíše Krista.

MF Dnes published an interesting gallery of images of Christmas trees in public spaces. Here's one: