The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Just came back from a week in the Czech Republic. Used to be behind the Iron Curtain, but despite the fact that the Wall came down almost 20 yrs ago, many places in this country still have an air of communism around them. For example, some cities have beautiful Czech names but others have typical Russian-sounding names such as Chomotov and Sokulov. Many shops, restaurants and public buildings have signs on them in both the Czech language and in Russian. Places like railway stations are in bad shape, quite neglected, though the trains run like clockwork. In the countryside, the people are quite poor. Many derelict houses, primitive apartment blocs, very bad roads, etc. The big cities tend to be stunningly beautiful and form a stark contrast with the way people live in the remote areas. In terms of natural beauty, the land is extremely green and tranquil - somehow it made me think of The Shire. None of the natural aspects are staggering in the way that the Alps are, or Niagara Falls, or the Arches or any other one-of-a-kind place, yet it is very pretty.



^-----Landscape in the vicinity of our holiday home.

First we visited the historic town of Karlovy Vary. Some photos of this happening city:







And in stark contrast, this is what the main railway station looks like:

We also spent 2 days in Prague, which is easily the most beautiful European city I have ever seen. The place is ancient and looks as if it walked right out of a Tolkien book or a fairy tale by Grimm.





Every rooftop in Prague seems to be different, every building seems to have something unique to it, as these two photos indicate:





Some other places in Prague:





A week well spent!

Wow, Looks like a beautiful place. The country side looks a lot like where I live here in Upstate NY. Rolling hills everywhere. Dandy Dave!

I always enjoy seeing pictures from your trips, Oscar. I get to see places that I will probably never get to visit in person. Prague definitely looks like a beautiful place. I really like ancient cities like that. Probably because we (obviously) don't have any here.
Thanks for posting them, Oscar.

Did you run into the Mafia ? I belive Czech like much of E Europe is quite criminalised, or maybe this perception is exaggerated?
Stunning photos thanks,
Ben

Bensdexta wrote:Did you run into the Mafia ? I belive Czech like much of E Europe is quite criminalised, or maybe this perception is exaggerated?

Never had any indication of this. The only thing that worries the Czechs is that rich folks from abroad come in and buy al their real estate at cheap prices. A lot of those investors come from places like Russia and Ukraine and not all of it will be kosher me thinks. But as a tourist you never notice anything. The place is safer than the North Wales coastal area me thinks.

How is Czech surviving the recession?

Bensdexta wrote:How is Czech surviving the recession?

I really can't say. All I know that a lot of people in the remote areas are quite poor. Whether or not they were equally poor before the recession started, I have no idea. The cities of Prague and Karlovy Vary are bristling with tourists, so that should help. The other cities strike me mostly as drab industrial places.

Dear Oscar, I am sorry for delay with my reaction for 3 years, but I am new member of forum and now I find your topic about the Czech Republic I am the citizen of CZ and would like to write you some comments.
I am glad to read that you have enjoyed your trip to CZ.

Unfortunately you went to Prague through the Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad) and your impression about the impact of Russian occupancy is not quite accurate because after the Velvet revolution (1989) went all Russian soldiers back to Russia, but after the revolution later in Russia many of Russian criminals etc. started to buy properties in CZ - reasons? - many Czech people can speak Russian and after the revolution you were able to buy in Czech a lot of really interesting buildings for quite cheap price (historical, industrial objects etc.).
Karlovy Vary are connected with Russia since 18th century as a favorite Russian tourists destination.

For explanation of Russian-soundings names of cities you mentioned - Czech and Russian are both slavic languages and e.g. name "Chomutov" is ancient Czech expression from 13th century and Sokolov is from the word "sokol", which means hawk.
There were names like Gottwaldov (Gottwald was Czech communist president), but after the revolution they were changed on origin names e.g. "Zlín" (former Gottwaldov).

With signs it is really specialty of Karlovy Vary and some Prague restaurants focused on Russian tourist (but similar signs you can find in London too )

The economic status of people is not about the distance from Prague - mostly you can see poor (not homeless but mostly lower social class) in suburbs of the big cities - e.g. I am from South Bohemian and here you can find e.g. českokrumlovský castle ( http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/z ... sthrza.xml ), jindřichohradecký castle ( http://www.zamek-jindrichuvhradec.eu/en/ ), Třeboň ( http://www.trebon-info.com ) and many other sightseeing and many people with their own houses, three cars etc. – I do not know how to measure the quality of life 

I think that my quality of life could higher than of many "average" people in abroad.

About the criminality I think we have got enormous problem with corruption in public sector (because of loss of 40 years of social principles and social mind of people during the communist), but on the street of Prague you can feel more safety than in some districts of London, Sydney or New York. In Prague is a lot of pickpockets and some unfair taxi-drivers etc., but there is not risk of murder or kidnaping.

The recession was inhibited because of fact, that CZ does not use Euro as currency - the unemployment was increased, many people have got trouble with their loans and decreasing value of real estates, but the situation is not critical.

Oscar thank you for your nice topic and nice pictures.

Honza