February, Wrap Up Well
Photo: Naplavka Quayside (Palackeho)
February is historically the coldest month of the year with temperatures to sub-zero for much of the month so dress warmly, pack thermal socks in your bag and a cap that covers your ears. As well as warm clothes also check my Six Hot Alcoholic Drinks to keep you warm as you explore the city.
In the villages surrounding Prague like mine, all the effort that you put into chopping wood back in September/October now pays back. Nothing like a real fire when there's snow and ice on the ground.
Vehicles are required to have winter tyres and if you are heading up into the mountains especially north of the country then snow chains are advisable (just make sure you practice how to put them on). Landscaped parks and formal gardens are still closed. The 1-year 2017 motorway sticker expired on January 31st so do not use a motorway without a valid vignette.
What's Been Happening on the Sites
Facebook and instagram were updated. Lots of content updated but no new content put onto livingprague.com. I've also made my original pages more colourful by adding featured pictures to most of them and all these changes will be implemented in the coming week.
The Prague Tourist Card page has been updated with new pricing and you can now use a venue calculator to see what money you can save. Just make sure that you have enough time planned for each place.
You can also now book Czech Food cooking classes via livingprague in partnership with Chefparade. If you are interested then take a look at the Czech Food Cooking Class post.
Check the BLOG to see the latest 150 posts on the site.
Walking Tours - https://www.livingpraguetours.com
If you've done a walking tour then you are welcome to leave a quick review on the LivingPragueTours Facebook page.
A New Tour is Coming
I spent most of the month researching for a World War Two walking tour which will be available from Spring this year. I already included many aspects about the second world war in the existing tours and several people suggested that my style would be suited to explaining the background and events of that time so I'm going to do it. Expect a promotional webpage in the next month. Part New Town, part Old Town and the Jewish Quarter but the content is focused on what it was like here in Prague during the second world war. Should be available to book by the end of February with tours beginning mid-March.
3rd Party Selling
Are you are an individual or Travel Agent that wants to sell my tours to your friends or clients? then contact me and I'll show you how it works. Completely FREE service, 10% commission on any sale, online reports, preferential reservation. All you need is an email address and a credit card.
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In Prague
Presidential Elections
We voted for the other guy. Enough said.
Centenary Celebrations
2018 is the Centenary year of the independence of the country from Imperial rule. Specifically October 28th is the actual day but the whole year will be littered with events and I'll tell you about them in the Prague by Month section as the year goes on.
Superbowl - Feb 5th (starts 0030)
An American tradition in Prague normally associated with the Jama Bar (The Hollow) but now to be found in several sports bars in the city that get a special licence for this event. Just Google for "Superbowl 2018 Prague" to find options.
Golden Years - Feb 5th
Watch out for a slightly ageing group of 17 ice-hockey players in town. It's a 20th Anniversary get-together of members of the national ice hockey team that won the Gold medal in the Nagano 1998 winter olympics.
St Valentines - Feb 14th
Most restaurants will have some kind of St Valentines evening meal special offer. Normally based around a 3 course meal, music and flowers. Wellness companies offering sauna/massage/treatments etc are expecting a bumper season.
Masopust (Carnival) - Feb 6th to 17th
Masopust has it's roots in the farming calendar. February was a month when almost no land work was possible so this was when family celebrations took place i.e. weddings and animals were slaughtered. The bulk of Carnival street celebrations are in the east and south of the country. In Prague it'll be groups of people dressed up in the streets but most of the action will be in venues like concert halls, museums and forums. Some of these are free and others are ticketed.
Old Town Hall Renovation
Since January 8th until August 31st 2018 the entire Astronomical clock has been removed for renovation. If you want to see what you missed then check the Prague Astronomical Clock Striking 9am video.
Trivia
The High Life
An entire family of seven appeared to go down with food poisoning after eating their Christmas Lunch. Medical staff identified it as drug-related. It turned out that one of the seven was taking medicinal marijuana and his mother had mistaken his marijuana for what she thought was marjoram. All recovered.
Date with Destiny
February 25th marks the 70th anniversary of Klement Gottwald's "Beginning of the Communist Era" speech on the balcony of the Kinsky Palace.
City Fire Claims Lives
Four people were killed at the Eurostars Hotel David in Prague's Old Town. At least two were tourists which marks the first time since 1995 that tourists have died in a hotel fire here.
Guns, guns, guns
The number of people that have a licence to own a firearm in the country is now 303,000 and a total number of @800,000 firearms (mostly shotguns and rifles).
The Mighty Fallen
Jaromir Jagr the famous Czech ice hockey player has spent most of the last 25 years playing in the NHL. Now 45 and out of contract he is returning to his old club called Kladno. This is a Czech second division team. This weekend Jagr will play on the Kladno team and the away team has sold all of it's tickets, the first time in its history. He's still a popular guy here.
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