2011 ly d Up a Ju ted* * PRG 11 2, * * undue challenge, either await the walking party at the meeting point, if such a point is available, or take a short taxi cab back to the hotel. Typical town taxi fare is EUR 10.0015.00. No booking needed for the Prague Highlights tour! Three: Enjoy Music in Prague Your Top Priorities in Prague One: Stay Safe Prague is deemed to be a generally safe, welcoming city with very low rate of violent crime. However, pickpockets and petty thieves do operate with a great degree of success throughout the town, at all the major tourist sites, restaurants, hotel lobbies, public transportation, etc.  1 Please, do remain alert of your surroundings at all the times.  2 Never carry any original Ids (including your Passport) while in Prague. A Xerox copy is a very good substitute.  3 Do not allow con-artists to distract you by asking you questions and giving you small gifts.  4 Never carry more than one credit card or ATM card and a very small amount of cash on you while in Prague. Two: Sightsee the Prague Highlights Prague is a genuine jewel of European cultural, historical and architectural heritage. Akin to Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary, Prague is actually an open-air museum of the best European civilization has to offer to a discerning visitor. Your included fully guided Prague tour features the following sites:  1 Courtyards of the Castle of Prague. Cathedral of St. Vitus, if available for visitors at the time of your visit.  2 Old Town and the Old Town Square with the famous Astrological clock.  3 Short orientation motorcoach drive through Prague and across the Vltava river. Typical Prague sightseeing lasts for three to three and a half hours. Be prepared to walkand-stop for about 50 minutes of guided sightseeing in the Castle courtyards. Your Old Town and Old Town Square tour is conducted in foot and takes approximately an hour to accomplish. Should the walking part pose an Prague is the city of great musical tradition. Prague State Opera offers amazing performances in an opera house designed by Ferdinand Fellner in neo-renaissance style with a rare neo-rococo stage. Great performances and the first-class seats are available at half of the standard ticket price in comparable opera houses in Europe. Please, contact Dragan for details as soon as possible. The ticket availability is always highly limited. Antonin Dvorak is Czech genuine musical genius and the composer of the New World Symphony. His highly versatile and programmatic oeuvre is traditionally celebrated in Prague by numerous concerts held in the splendid setting of Prague numerous city palaces. (Early booking is required.) Four: Discover Splendid Jewish Heritage in Prague Home to the oldest still functioning Synagogue (services have been held here since 1270), Prague’s Josefov district is an amazing repository of Jewish heritage, tradition and bustling communal life. Join our additional guided tour of Prague’s amazing Jewish Heritage and discover fascinating sites and aspects of Jewish culture which greatly influenced the western tradition. A specially licensed Jewish Heritage specialist brings both the sites and the breathtaking stories to life. This tour is a genuine eye-opener and a must for every Prague visitor. (Early booking is required.) Periodically updated versions newsletter are available at: of europeanrivers.wordpress.com this Whenever passing by the Church of Our Lady of Tyn towering over the Old Town Square, I fondly remember that the outline of its very elegant gothic spires gave many a havdalah (‫ )תבית הלדבה‬spice box their intricate and beautiful shape. Prague’s Judeo-Christian heritage is conspicuous for the richest hue of European heritage in general. Five: Walk the Famous Charles Bridge Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV ordered the construction of this magnificent bridge in 1357. For precisely 484 years the sixteen arches of this bridge were the only solid land connection across the Vltava river on an important travel route between Eastern and Western Europe. Both the bridge and the unique statutory gracing its sides have amazing stories to tell. The Old Town bridge tower is rightly considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style buildings in the world. Join our outstanding “Prague Secrets Revealed” guided walk and experience this unique site in its full glory and significance. Millions of tourists walk across the Charles Bridge every year. Yet, very few allow themselves the time and luxury to re-live its past and admire its significance with the help of an expert. The Carmelite church of Our Lady Victorious on the Lower Side houses one of the most revered effigies of the Catholic World – the Infant Jesus of Prague. This tiny statue was brought to Prague by Princess Polyxena Lobkowitz in 1628. Discover why she deemed this little statue to be her dearest possession and what miraculous powers have been ascribed to it – all during your “Prague Secrets Revealed” guided walk. (Early booking required.) Six: Enjoy the Typical Czech Fare & Nine: Shop for the World Famous Experience Czech and Slovak Folklore Czech Crystal Glass, Garnet Stones and Designer Jewelry Prague is not only the Czech capital but also the principal city of Central Bohemia. This is where the famed Bohemian cuisine really earns its enviable reputation. There is a myriad of restaurants in Prague but very few of them still maintain the authentic Bohemian flair, serving the traditional dishes unspoiled by the ever-changing times and its culinary mores. A true Bohemian experience is rounded by both the typical Czech drinks and a delightful folklore show featuring both Czech and Slovak countryside traditions. (Early booking is required.) Seven: Visit Theresienstadt (Terezin) A short and comfortable drive from Prague brings you to the grounds of the former concentration camp of Theresienstadt (Terezín). Originally, a vast set of two interlocked star-shaped imperial Austrian artillery fortresses, Teresienstadt became a political and military prison even before the WWI. The Nazis converted the fortresses of Terezin into a ghetto and a Nazi concentration camp in 1940. Theresienstadt is unique monument of the atrocities of the age of horror. In a rare display of patent duplicity even by the Nazi standards, the representatives of the International and Danish Red Cross were given a tour of the concentration camp in 1944 and convinced that the inmates were living under the conditions of relative comfort enjoying rich Jewish cultural life. Out of some 144,000 inmates only 17, 242 survived. The story of Theresienstadt is both harrowing and educational by all means. The best way to visit this amazing site is by our specially guided tour. (Timely booking is required.) Eight: Visit an Authentic Czech Castle and taste Czech Wines Prague has been home to some of Europe’s finest artisans since the early medieval times. Czech crystal glass stands for an incredible quality of both craftsmanship and design at unusually good prices. Czech Republic is one of Europe’s leading producers of fine garnet stones and elegant jewelry. Like in every major city, Prague has its fair share of honest and highly reputable merchants as well as those who prey on the unknowing tourist. I have discovered that:  1 Large, major outlets on the principal streets cannot afford to sell counterfeit products due to frequent inspections.  2 Well-established merchants have usually spent large amounts of money on promoting their brand names. They cannot afford to ruin their reputation which took years to build by getting involved into any fraudulent activity.  3 It is perfectly alright to bargain in Prague, in particular, if you are looking at a significant purchase. A merchant who goes below 10 percent of the listed price is more likely than not to be selling a product of inferior quality. Deals “too good to be true” are usually the worst ones…  4 Cash payments are preferred at many stores in Prague since the merchants are trying to avoid paying hefty commissions to the clearing houses. A major store, will however, always issue you with a proper receipt for your purchase and a properly filled VAT Refund form. If you rather avoided the risk of wasting your money on lesser products, fake crystal glass and counterfeit jewelry; stop by one of the two major retail outlets in Prague. Great selection of Bohemian (Czech) crystal glass, modern and antique, prime Moser crystal glass and fine jewelry is available at: Castle Melink is deeply rooted in Czech tradition as the traditional home of the queen dowagers of Bohemia. It was indeed, St. Ludmila who first resided at this ancient Slavonic and pagan and Christian site in the 9th century. ERPET Bohemian Crystal offers discounts to our passengers with discount coupons issues proper bills of purchase and VAT forms. Erpet is partnered with FEDEX, too. Present owner of the castle, Prince Jiri Lobkowitz is an heir to the long line of the lords of Melnik who has done a great work in reconstructing this impressive castle in an effort to preserve both the Czech national heritage and his own family history at this dramatic site, where the Laba (Elbe) flows into the Vltava (Moldau). CELETNÁ CRYSTAL is another great store with impressive selections of fine crystal glass, chandeliers, Czech china and jewelry. CELETNÀ, offers discounts to our passengers with discount coupons and has a very good record of customer service. They mail for you worldwide. Ten: Visit the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Prague Vinohrady Masterpiece of the great Slovenian architect, Josef Plecnik, this is the newest of all the jewels of sacral architecture in Prague. This amazing temple was consecrated in 1932 after only three years of construction. Plecnik’s extraordinary blueprint dates back to 1919 and represents an unsurpassed peak of the modernist architectural achievement in Czech Lands. Admire the basswood sculpture of Christ above the altar and statues of patron saints of Bohemia: St. John of Nepomuk, St. Agnes, St. Adalbert, St. Wenceslaus, St. Ludmila and St. Procopius, all by Czech artist Damian Pešan. Reach the Sacred Heart of Jesus using either the Prague Metro (Station Jiřího z Poděbrad on the green line (A) heeding the security advice on using the Prague Subway or take a short taxi ride to this impressive monument. (Observe the information on using taxi cabs in Prague.) CALL for Opening Hours! Currency: Legal tenders - Czech Crown (CZK) = 100 Hellers Coins: hellers*: 50 Crowns: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 banknotes: CZK 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000. *Hellers have been abolished since September 1, 2008. Some pricing may still incorporate the heller value, which is then rounded to the closest Crown value. The best way to obtain Czech currency is to use your ATM card. Banks, exchange offices and hotels readily exchange US Dollars and Euros for Czech Crowns against a commission. Security Advice: Do not exchange any currency from the street dealers despite their often persistent and ‘attractive offers’. This is both illegal and represents a common tourist scam. In most cases such ‘street dealers’ hand you out void and worthless currency dating back to the Communist times. Do not take Czech Crowns out of Czech Republic. Czech Crown is still relatively difficult to exchange and if so, always against a substantial commission on the part of the exchanging bank. Exchange your Crowns in Prague at any of the Exchange offices before leaving the country. Sales Tax VAT Refund You pay 5-19% VAT on most purchases you make, the VAT rate is depending on what kind of goods you are buying and the VAT is included in the price. All foreign tourists (not including the EU passport holders) are entitled to claim back the tax, if they spend over 6’000.00 CZK in one shop in one day. The goods need to be exported within 30 days from the purchase. After deduction of the handling expenses, you will receive a refund of up to 16% of the purchase price. Important: All the goods must be exported unused. All the goods must be certified by the Customs at the border crossing (or at the Airport) before leaving the European Union. Only certified VAT forms are eligible for VAT Refund. Some shop owners in Prague do not fill the VAT forms properly and often fail to attach the original receipt of the purchase to the VAT form. This invalidates your VAT form and voids your claim to a substantial refund. There are three transfer stations in the city center where two lines intersect: Můstek (lower end of Wenceslas Square) lines A and B Muzeum (upper end of Wenceslas Square) lines A and C Florenc (main bus station) - lines B and C These are transfer points from one line to another. Each transfer route is clearly marked and takes some 3-5minutes. Trains run from 5 AM. till midnight in 2-3 min. intervals during peak hours and in 4-10 min. intervals in the off hours. The time elapsed from the moment when the previous train left the station can be seen on the clock at the head of the tracks. All stations are equipped with escalators, some allow access for the disabled. Once on the train, the following announcements can be heard: 1. Name of the station where the train is currently stopped, e.g. "Můstek" 2. Warning: "Ukončete prosím výstup a nástup, dveře se zavírají." (Please stop getting off and on, the doors are closing.) 3. Name of the following station (e.g. Muzeum): "Příští stanice: Muzeum" (Next station: Muzeum), followed, if applicable, by "Přestup na linku A/B/C." (Transfer to line A/B/C) Tourists cannot claim VAT refund on nonexported items such, as fuel, meals, hotel bills, entertainment tickets, etc. Postage and stamps* Postcard Overseas Air Mail Letter Overseas Air Mail EUROPE Postcards EUROPE Letters CZK 21 CZK 24 CZK 21 CZK 21 Stamps are available at Post Offices, Tobacco Stores and Souvenir shops in Prague. *Rates are correct at the time of going to print. These rates may change without previous notice. The Prague metro is only about 30 years old and is mostly Russian-built. An extension by new stations and two new lines (D and E) is planned for the future. Transfer ticket (for multiple use/long ride) Recommended Prague metro is an open ticket system. The tickets are the same for all means of transport in Prague (excluding commuter trains for single tickets). The transfer single ride ticket costs 32 CZK* and allows a 75 minutes ride (90 minutes during night and weekends and state holidays). The non-transferable ticket (costs 24 CZK*) is valid for a distance of five metro stations (not including the station of validation) allowing changes between lines A, B and C, but no longer than 30 minutes in total. A Day Pass (24-hour Pass) costs CZK 110* The Prague metro carries around 400 million passengers a year. It is fast, efficient, clean, and easy to use. Its three lines consist of about 50 km of tracks (running mostly underground) and some 50 stations. *Correct at the time of going to print. These prices may change without any previous notice. Please, confirm the pricing with your hotel concierge before buying the actual public transportation tickets. Line A (Green) - running east to west from Skalka to Dejvická Line B (Yellow) - running east to west from Černý most to Zličín Line C (Red) - running north to south from Nádraží Holešovice to Háje Tickets for public transportation are sold through yellow ticket vending machines located at every metro station (also in English, coins only), at ticket offices located at some metro stations, at a Tabák/Trafika, at some newsstands, and at tourist information centers. Important: A ticket needs to be punched at the entrance to the metro station and on the tram/bus to mark the start of the validation period. Please, keep your validated, (punched) tickets with you during the whole trip. The tickets must be readily available for frequent controls that may take place anywhere and in particular, at the exit from the subway station. Prague Subway System is deemed to be generally safe. However, pickpockets and petty thieves do operate on the trains and in the stations. 1 Please, do remain alert to your surroundings at all the times. 2 Never carry any original Ids (including your Passport) while riding on the subway. A Xerox copy is a very good substitute. 3 Do nor allow con-artists to distract you by asking you questions and giving you small gifts. 4 Never carry more than one credit card or ATM card and a very small amount of cash on you while taking the subway. TAXIS IN PRAGUE The only times when a taxi can be a good choice are if you're traveling with a lot of luggage, when you need to travel at night when the metro is NOT running. Although the situation is getting better, many Prague taxi drivers are still as rude and dishonest as ever and will try to overcharge you if you're a foreigner and "don't know the ropes” The best and the safest way to take a taxi cab is to walk to any of the major hotels and take one of their own registered taxis. It is advisable to find out beforehand how much your ride should cost. You have the right to request a printed receipt from the driver. Our hotel doormen will be very happy to provide you with a hotel taxi service or a safe substitute. Please, do not forget to agree upon the price BEFORE entering the taxi cab. A good downtown location for taking safe hotel taxi cabs is the Prague Intercontinental Hotel at the end of the Paris Street. Your feedback on this document is welcome. Please, visit: europeanrivers.wordpress.com A Selection Czech House Pobrezni 1, Hilton Hotel Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic Phone: 224-842-125 Moderate to Expensive to Very Expensive Fodor's Review*: On the ground floor of the capacious Hilton Hotel, this renewed restaurant reopened in late 2005 to rave reviews for its upscale interpretations of Czech recipes, including one of the only versions of svícková na smetane in town to be made from tenderloin, resulting in a radically different version than at your average corner pub. Czech wines are similarly of a higher standard, though beer goes very well with most recipes. Excellent service provides another reason to make the trip to metro station Florenc. AE, DC, MC, V. *©Fodors.com Gate Sokolovska 31, Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic Phone: 224-815-305 Moderate Karlin Czech and International Contemporary international and Czech cuisine in your good Prague neighborhood with a New Age twist. Modern design, efficient service, fine selection of wines and Czech and international beers and an accommodating chef are Gate’s main assets. AE, DC, MC, V. Imperial Café and Restaurant Na Porici 15. 18, Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic Phone: 246-011-600 Moderate Often referred to as Prague’s most ornate coffee and dining room since 1914, Imperial offers an experience in Czech and continental dining with a European touch. A very good choice for lunch, dinner or even your usual afternoon coffee and cake. Frequently deemed a must, due to its unsurpassed architectural features and frequent personal recommend-dations. AE, MC, V. d Up a 11 2, * Dining in Our Prague Neighborhood Za Poricskou branou 382/16 Prague 8, Czech Republic Phone: 222-317-966 Moderate to Expensive Czech Modern & Traditional 2011 * An new upstart in the neighborhood focusing on both the Czech traditional and contemporary cuisine with focus on home-made breads and local and sustainable produce. Celiac-free food and beer are available upon request. This restaurant has so far, received very positive reviews by our passengers. Hybernia – Needle House Hybernska 7, Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic Phone: 224-226-004 Inexpensive Your typical Czech neighborhood restaurant, beer hall, pub, all-in-one on three levels including an impressive cellar. Food is unmistakably Czech in every respect and sits well with the locals and pro-Czech minded visitors alike. Hybernia’s Summer Terrace is usually your preferred venue, weather permitting. Traditional Bohemian fare is very rich not only in sour cream and bread dumplings but includes large servings of grilled meats on skewers. After a day of sightseeing and dieting, you may want to reward yourself here. U Ceskeho Lva Sokolovska 7, Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic Phone: 222-320-124 Very Inexpensive A typical Czech Pub and Restaurant Your very typical Czech working class neighborhood pub. Large-size, full plates of pork, beef, lamb or veal. Hefty sauces, soups and big dumplings. At times, smoking seems to be a compulsory feature in this restaurant. Some English spoken by some waiters, only if not debating the check and/or only if in very good mood. Yet, many guests rightly claim that no restaurant anywhere close-by offers better value for your traveling dollar or euro. Cash required most times, since waiters tend to claim that credit card terminal malfunctions. Very mixed reviews by our passengers. ly Na Zlate Krizovatce Ju ted* * PRG Plzenska Restaurace at the Municipal Hall Nam. Republiky 5, Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic Phone: 222-002-101 Inexpensive to moderate Most traditional Czech Beer Hall This is as typical and conspicuous of all the Prague numerous beer halls as it gets. Accordion tunes follow the usual clinking of the beer mugs and whoever gets his dumplings served first becomes a subject of major envy by the others for as long as they do not their bread dumplings in the heaviest gravy in town, too. A quintessential Prague beer hall experience. Theatro Restaurant Krizikova 10, Prague 4, Bohemia, Czech Republic Phone: 221-868-509 Inexpensive to moderate Modern fusion of the traditional Czech fare and international cuisine. This neighborhood restaurant caters for the theatergoers, Prague expats and corporate people working in the nearby offices of major international companies. Tipping in Prague Your restaurant check includes both the service charge and the VAT. Customary gratuity in restaurants is 10 per cent for good service. All information correct at the time of release. Please, verify the details before making any commitment. This list of restaurants is given for your orientation only and does not represent any endorsement or recommendation by the Company, Cruise Director or any of their local suppliers. Please, always observe the security advice in this letter. Your resource for European River Cruising and Dragan’s travelogue. europeanrivers.wordpress.com