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Are you wondering who is leading the Czech cinema scene these days???

1. Numero Uno is “The Simpsons”
2. New “Harry Potter”
3. Action movie the “Transformers”

In the lead is also “Shrek The Third” (no. 6). The leader in the domestic movies has been Sverak’s “Bottles” which rates as no. 15 Anyhow, I am not surprised the Simpsons are breaking the box office records because they truly are THE BEST!

Anyhow, it looks like the Americans are still the leaders in the movie making industry…

Source: www.ceskenoviny/magazin

A magazine Radio Prague came out with a new statistics revealing that this summer has brought death to already 52 Czechs while vacationing abroad. The Czech travelers are well known for their adventurous spirit and sometimes a very reckless behavior. The two destination countries that are afraid of their visits the most are Croatia and Slovakia (!!) which state that “the Czechs come here only to kill themselves!”. The causes of death range anywhere from heart attacks to drownings to mountain expeditions. The article also mentions a group of 4 Czechs that were one of the lucky ones and actually managed to escape death this time. (more…)

So, why did Czechoslovakia really split up?

• The arguments had started already back in 1989, right after the Velvet revolution in early November. Both sides were bickering about what should the future federation look like: “What it’s going to be called?” “Who is going to get “burned” on this whole deal? The Czechs or the Slovaks?”
• The very decisive moment came during the elections in 1992; the Czechs elected ODS as their major leading political party, where as majority of Slovaks voted for the HZDS. Both leaders of the party, Mr. Klaus (ODS) and Mr. Meciar (HZDS) just didn’t seem to agree on anything regarding the future federation.
• The negative atmosphere was also thickened by the fact that during the presidential elections in 1992 the Slovakian parliament decided not to support Vaclav Havel as a future president. (more…)
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I was born in Prague where I worked the potato fields until I was almost 19 years old. Then I moved to the US where I live now. The End.

Just kidding! Let me be a little more specific about my life. The trouble with me is that I have both sides of my brain working so that means that I have always liked math as well as drawing (see some of my doodlings here) and music. So, when someone would ask me:”What do you want to be when you grow up?” I wouldn’t know what to say! Well, first I wanted to be - as the 98% of all the other girls - an actress. I did try out for the University of Acting in Prague but didn’t make it to the last round. So, after some soul searching, I decided to try out for the University of Business. After all, my mother always wanted me to be a diplomat (!!), so why not? As I was waiting for the exam results my father’s American friend (let’s call him Mac) came to visit us. The summer before Mac’s visit I worked as an Au pair in England to improve my English skills for the upcoming high school final exams (I guess here the equivalent of that would be the SATs). Because of this nannying experience I was able to communicate with Mac very well. One day all of us were went for a walk around town and Mac made me an offer. He said if I tried out for a scholarship at their local college I could live with his family for free. The thought of me going to AMERICA was just insane! First of all, my dream was to go to Italy (!) and second, America was so far! But I did apply for the scholarship and low-and-behold - I got it! By that time I also found out I was accepted to the University of Business as well.What to do?? After some time of thinking everything over I decided I would go to the US just for a year - to master my English skills. (more…)

The last time Charles Bridge got its face-lift was about 50 years ago; now the time has come again. The constant pedestrian traffic, floods and too much usage of salt to melt the snow during winter months have left quite the damage on the poor guy. The repair crew is determined to save as many original stones laid by Peter Parler as possible. Those that cannot be salvaged will be replaced by new sandstones which are almost identical to those used in the 14th century. How is that possible? After digging through the entire Czech Republic the historians/archaeologists found sandstone of the best quality in two places in the Czech republic: Kamena Zehrovice and Brezin. (more…)

Summer in the Czech Republic is traditionally overflowing with various kinds of music festivals. One of the major ones just started last Thursday in Trutnov. This year’s round was accompanied by some drama, however. Among the invited stars was a singer Vaclav Neckar and a conductor of children’s singing choir Banbini di Praga, Vladimir Kulinsky. Both - let’s say - “couldn’t make it” for various reasons. Neckar was recently accused of working with the government secret police, the StB, during the communist times; Kulinsky, on the other hand, was accused of sexually harassing some of his pupils. Even without those two, by the end of the festival (which is tonight) the Trutnov stage will be visited by over a hundred bands. (more…)

New York has two friendly rivals: the Bohemian Hall of Astonia and the National building belonging to the Czech center. Both are very active in promoting the Czech culture. So, what is the difference between these two “sisters”? (more…)

A former president and a writer Vaclav Havel wrote a new play! It is called “Odchazeni” (Leaving) and it is going to be premiered at the Prague National Theater early next season. There is a little problem, however: Havel wants his wife, former actress Dagmar Havel, to be casted into one of the leading roles. The National Theater crew does not like that idea at all. Why? The speaker of the theater explains: ” The play was offered to the National Theater which means that it was also offered to the National Theater acting crew. That is why it is naturally understood that the play should be casted by the actors from the National Theater crew, not by some hosting actors (i.e. Dagmar Havel)”. (more…)

County Bouzov has been one of the most visited touristic places in Czech. The reason why it attracts so many visitors is the fairytale castle called Bouzov. The resort lies on the top of a forested hill, overflowing with draw bridges and magnificent towers. You simply feel like you just entered the land of the “Lord of the Rings”! Although its construction began already in the 14th century, the today’s romantic look was “faked” in 1895 when the reconstruction began. (more…)

Cedar Rapids, Iowa is definitely one of the main centers of Czech happenings in the US (i.e. see the monthly calendar of Czech activities and Cedar Rapids has always something going on). If you wold like to see a proof just take a walk through the district of Czech Village or visit the church of St. Ludmila or the church of St. Wenceslav (Czech Saints). And if you are still not persuaded go visit the the Czech and Slovak National Heritage museum - the only professional Czech/Slovak museum in the USA. The rich Czech history of the city has been building up since the 19th century Czech immigration wave. This influx of Czechs is the main cause why every 3rd person in Cedar Rapids was a full-blooded Czech. Today the number has decreased to about 10% where only few of these Czech descendants speak the language of their forefathers. (more…)