tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post236370549023044341..comments2024-01-01T16:01:35.711+00:00Comments on Dick Puddlecote: In PragueDick Puddlecotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-86846615144502719022010-11-19T09:24:00.253+00:002010-11-19T09:24:00.253+00:00Thanks for that, Stan. Very interesting observatio...Thanks for that, Stan. Very interesting observations indeed. :)Dick Puddlecotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-6121684014397390502010-11-18T19:07:39.939+00:002010-11-18T19:07:39.939+00:00I was curious about your impressions - I've be...I was curious about your impressions - I've been living and working as a musician based in Prague for more than a decade now - saw which way the UK wind was blowing,voted with my feet. <br /><br />On a personal level,Prague is still highly agreeable,remarkably low-stress for a city of its size. People are remarkably socially responsible - it's still quite common for random adults to eg:reprimand noisy kids on public transport without the fear of assault or other consequences that that brings in the UK,in fact younger people actually offer me their seats on trams! If you're not actively causing a problem, people leave you alone,too - and no official badgering either from health police/rubbish inspectors etc. Public transport is indeed cheap and efficient,crime rates are low too, outside the tourist-oriented centre,where it's mostly theft & fraud. The service industries are an odd mixture of old and new - it's still possible to have that special,pre-"fall of the wall", meal experience,just round the corner from places such as you describe.As you noted,the smoking ban is not a big issue, owing to the fact that people have a choice. <br /><br />That willingness to trust people to make their own decisions extends to all the vices,with no obvious ill-effects,although one sometimes sees spectacular,usually harmless drunks on the streets.As you probably realised,Czechia (as many Czechs like to call it) is in the Guinness Book of Records for per capita beer consumption - quite right too,it's the best on the planet,and it's around a pound a half-litre - "liquid bread",they call it. It's a shame the wine isn't better, there's good stuff, but not much of it gets out of the areas where they make it. While on the subject of alcohol, one interesting custom is the willingness of local distilleries to convert (for a fee) your surplus garden fruit crop into a range of exotic spirits - slivovice (plums), merunkovice (apricots),jablkovice(apples) etc,etc - a much more invigorating "5-a-day" regimen than in the UK.<br /><br />The extensive range of Dutch and other rolling tobaccos is priced around 3 pounds the 40-gram pack,and a bonus for some is that, since Jan 1st, dope(s)is/are effectively legal. <br /><br />Although prostitution is not actually legal,anywhere that calls itself a "nightclub" or sometimes "gentlemans' club" is usually a brothel - at least one of these establishments has a deal where you can fuck for free if you don't mind being broadcast on the internet! Several pages of the local small-ads free press cater for those of less clubbable inclinations.<br /> <br />Cz is not in the eurozone,and I have to admire the skill with which Vaclav Klaus has used the (largely ceremonial) office of President to minimise the EU's social engineering. (I've met him twice at gigs,nice chap,drinks Jack D. so I have to say there's an accessibility to this country's leaders that is not common in the world these days) Long may it continue! Good blog,keep up the good work, S.Stan Mannhttp://www.stantheman.cznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-68971677634672491762010-11-18T18:18:31.807+00:002010-11-18T18:18:31.807+00:00I went to Prague earlier this year, with a group o...I went to Prague earlier this year, with a group of friends, and it was great. Being in Prague felt, to me, like Britain of 20 years ago.<br /><br />I'm a non-smoker but it was great to be able to sit in a bar, surrounded by all my friends, both smokers and non-smokers, and not suffer the frequent interruptions of our smoking compatriots having to exile themselves to enjoy a smoke.<br /><br />We were there for three days and I think it was maybe the second day when the ethnic make-up of the place finally registered as well. Did it register with you as well?The Cowboy Onlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04967260831514096205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-56989974415644094172010-11-18T16:13:56.855+00:002010-11-18T16:13:56.855+00:00Glad I went to Prague when I did. It was ace. The ...Glad I went to Prague when I did. It was ace. The EU will fuck it up.NickMhttp://www.countingcats.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-50896655877100933882010-11-18T13:39:56.832+00:002010-11-18T13:39:56.832+00:00Excellent post Dick. Makes one sad to be British.Excellent post Dick. Makes one sad to be British.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072165710888952465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-54127544144606832052010-11-18T12:45:53.556+00:002010-11-18T12:45:53.556+00:00Manchester Airport is not part of the BAA and now ...Manchester Airport is not part of the BAA and now has small smoking areas beyond passport conrol at at least two of the three terminals They are partially covered and the walls are built out of mesh. A bit of spite which stops you enjoying a very good view of the aeroplanes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-34229638081356737342010-11-18T12:28:46.326+00:002010-11-18T12:28:46.326+00:00Yes, Czech is great to visit, not just Prague, I g...Yes, Czech is great to visit, not just Prague, I go there a lot. I assume you didn't go there before or around 1989, the service then was incredible, in a bad way. Like being shouted at in a book shop for looking at books?! Apparantly you had to ask the misserable assistant to bring you the book you wanted to look at. They should have kept some comunist traditions to remind people how awful it was.jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-84233030699836090132010-11-18T12:19:16.104+00:002010-11-18T12:19:16.104+00:00Yes, Prague is excellent. So are the surrounding s...Yes, Prague is excellent. So are the surrounding small towns: they may be a bit rough but the food is good and the people great.<br /><br />When I was last there a few years ago, it was possible to smoke at the airport, outside on a sort of viewing gallery close to the restaurant/cafe area.<br /><br />Mind you, it was ten Celsius below, so one didn't linger.Jeff Woodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-10005209770594779672010-11-18T10:34:03.366+00:002010-11-18T10:34:03.366+00:00I believe I suggested it's a great place. Sadl...I believe I suggested it's a great place. Sadly it will decline as the EU overlords infiltrate.Oldrightiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03192587284458430556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-83380718411203074212010-11-18T10:04:43.960+00:002010-11-18T10:04:43.960+00:00Totally agree with d'babe. And tell me, is the...Totally agree with d'babe. And tell me, is there some rule that 'no-smoking' signs must be positioned every ten metres? Did ASH find some research telling them that smoking destroys the short-term memory?<br /><br />Oh yeah, and at Heathrow you're not even allowed to smoke outside or in the car park. Fume-belching traffic all around but you mustn't light up one of those death-sticks.Neal Asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13933911904170752700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-54808436619204730292010-11-18T05:51:57.519+00:002010-11-18T05:51:57.519+00:00Nice post, got me all nostalic for Olde England.
I...Nice post, got me all nostalic for Olde England.<br />I went to Prague once; correction, I went through Prague once.<br />I was delayed in the Ukraine and my three day visa for Czechoslovakia SSR had already expired. I was put on a train and told not to get off until it reached Germany.<br /><br />You have seriously made me think about making a return journey.bannedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02406037760273820029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-17376134540035841112010-11-18T00:59:40.074+00:002010-11-18T00:59:40.074+00:00About time this post appeared Richard. I didn'...About time this post appeared Richard. I didn't want to harass you by emailing of course. ;)<br /><br />Zurich airport is perhaps the most smoker user friendly I've been in recently. Plenty smoking areas, even one in the boarding waiting area. It does show how different countries interpret the ban.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-87567688578331224472010-11-17T22:35:12.114+00:002010-11-17T22:35:12.114+00:00Actually, worse still, we left Prague bathed in su...Actually, worse still, we left Prague bathed in sunshine and landed to horizontal rain.Dick Puddlecotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-48141725928121095242010-11-17T22:33:47.570+00:002010-11-17T22:33:47.570+00:00d'babe; Zackerly!d'babe; Zackerly!Dick Puddlecotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-48387117773426195712010-11-17T22:29:53.489+00:002010-11-17T22:29:53.489+00:00What a jolly article - but if you are at all like ...What a jolly article - but if you are at all like me - there is more to tell on this tale - namely the crushing depression you felt the moment you landed back in the U -do as you're told o - K . It starts with the chipper cabin operative reminding you IT IS ILLEGALL TO SMOKE ANYWHERE IN THE TERMINAL before you tromp past the security cameras, past the NO MOBILE PHONES sign and queue BEHIND THE LINE to have your passport (which MUST BE REMOVED FROM A HOLDER)inspected by a (usually) glowering immigration operative. No matter where I've been , no matter what a great time I've had, coming back to the UK sucks the joy out of me in seconds as I wonder for the 1000th time how I ended up living in Stalleg 17d'babenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-83581822221313685272010-11-17T22:01:52.752+00:002010-11-17T22:01:52.752+00:00Damn you sir, I was trying to compose a post on my...Damn you sir, I was trying to compose a post on my recent trip to Fuerteventura along the same lines. Smoking, customer service etc. Plus B&H at €2.23 per pack.<br /><br />But you've done it better.Pavlov's Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15162563403722211352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-12632028768180227362010-11-17T21:49:39.957+00:002010-11-17T21:49:39.957+00:00Excellent post, Mr P. I'm so looking forward t...Excellent post, Mr P. I'm so looking forward to my trip to Prague. I'll hunt for baccy and report back with prices.Pat Nurse MAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01591807335364002658noreply@blogger.com