Prague Favorite Tips by RockTadgers

Picking up the lingo...

Favorite thing: The first encounter with the Czech language can be a scary experience. What are all these accents all over the place? What to do with all these consonant clusters? Don't these guys USE spaces in their sentences???

Most Czechs, especially younger ones, know at least a little English nowadays, but picking up a few words can be extremely useful to break down the Czech's outwardly frosty appearance. Once you get past that somewhat solemn looking exterior, you'll find them to be friendly, hospitible and forthcoming. Despite the invasion of their capital by tourists, they are still genuinely interested in foreigners, and get to know them and you'll make some great friends!

Fondest memory: Here's a tip for picking up the basic Czech pronunciation -

Spend a couple of hours on the metro. No kidding. Sit where you can see the metro map clearly, because at every stop, a muffled recorded message will announce each station. Recite it back to yourself a couple of times, cross referencing it with the map, and you'll start to get some idea of how Czechs pronounce their words.

That sounds a bit daft, but I've seen many people sitting on the metro, staring at the map and mouthing the words to themselves. Czech 101...

Bridges, Castles, Sausages & Beer

Favorite thing: If I was really trying to impress somebody with Prague, I would take them in the winter to catch some snow. Anywhere looks good after a dusting, but Prague is breathtakingly beautiful in the winter. It's sights become luminous, and everything seems so crisp and clearly defined.

Then I'd take them along the tourist trail at two in the morning, so we'd have Old Town and Charles Bridge to ourselves.

Fondest memory: I miss the beer halls most, because the beer really is as good as everyone says. Gambrinus is a personal favourite, possibly with some utopenci - pickled sausage with onions and grey-brown bread, which sounds horrid, but goes down a treat with a pivo or three!