the golden city off the beaten path

Top 10 signs that you’re in Czech Republic

Socks and sandals
Socks and SandalsKarl Lagerfeld could have a heart attack if he saw this. They even ain’t strictly indoor or a fair weather thing: some people are so used to them that they wear them even when it rains a little. Most people treat their shoes as something to get off at the first chance, which might explain the reason why there isn’t a great deal of good shoes on offer in Prague shops. Usually people have sandals wait under their desk at work and kiss them good bye when it’s time to go home and wear these dreadful things with laces called shoes.

Beer is cheaper than water
Mineral water, although popular now, it’s still a recent introduction and considered somewhat superfluous. Being a man, I get the at least occasional odd look when I don’t order beer and instead order Mattoni (a specific brand which here is really a synonymous of sparkling water). A small 33cl bottle of Mattoni goes for an average of 45kc at most places, while half a liter of beer still averages at 30kc.

Colza fields
Colza FieldsTake the train from Prague to Bratislava and you’ll see kilometers and kilometers of beautiful yellow colza fields for almost half of the journey. Colza oil has been used extensively for public lighting in Central and Northern Europe for ages and it’s now being used to produce bio-diesel.

Poppy seeds
Poppy flowersGuess what?! They are legal and used for baking. Yeah, I hear you, what a waste! The use of poppy seeds is banned in some countries due to the opium alkaloid content that can cause false positives in drug tests. In Czech Republic you can find them in pastries, bagels, cakes and they taste delicious. Don’t worry, they’re safe, you won’t develop an addiction. Now sorry, but I’ll have to get my daily fix!

Monster in the bathtub
CarpIt’s almost Christmas and you’ve been invited for a party at a friend’s place. You already had a few beers and need to use the bathroom, so you stand in front of the toilet bowl, aim, lock the target and release; but immediately you have the weird feeling you’re not alone, you look around, then look in the bathtub: a 10kg carp has been staring at you all the time! As Christmas approaches you’ll see loads of places at street corners selling monstrously big carps: they’re thought to bring luck and they’re part of the dinner menu and, while waiting unfed for their destiny in the bathtub, they’ll clear out of all the mud.

Keen is the new Nike
Trekking shoesYou never know when it’s time to go mushrooming, that’s why very few people wear normal trainers, while the majority wears trekking shoes. Keen is one of the popular brands and in Czech Republic these represent the standard sport shoes, complemented in the summer by the atrocious trekking sandals, supposedly worn for their comfort and durability, certainly not for their look.

Tram etiquette
Czech tramSomeone even wrote a book about it, taking it as a starting point to discuss about the Czech’s national character. Nowhere else I’ve seen people so promptly give up their seats to elders or disabled people; and I’m not talking just about the reserved seats assigned to them. But what happens quite often is that, even with no disabled in sight, on a full tram, most would hesitate to sit on a free seat, failing to realize that it might even save everybody some space.

An Easter-n nightmare
PomlazkaIf you’re a woman don’t be surprised if on Easter Monday men will wake you up by pouring a bucket of water over your head and start whipping you with a pomlázka; this is a very old pagan tradition in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Usual targets are unmarried girls and the whole ritual has to do with fertility and although generally conducted in a playful way I’ve heard the odd report of it being performed by the grandpa, with heaps of water and hard whipping. Ouch!

Shoes on the doorstep
Shoes on doorstepYou know those Southern Europeans that never take their shoes off when entering a house? Well, here you’ll find that not only you have to take off your shoes, but it’s even more appropriate to do so outside the door. When someone throws a party it’s easy to tell: there’s a mountain of shoes outside the door, which are sometimes the easy target of petty gypsy thieves.

Knight Templars around town
Knight TemplarYou have this picture of Knight Templars on their horse… but time have changed, and now they take the metro too. Medieval reenactment here is a sport and people go around on public transport with full length swords and other weapons and then go train in some public park, such as Letna. Don’t worry, it’s all normal here, it’s not some kind of highlander freak that goes chop people’s head off until there will be only one.

  • http://knedlikyetc.blogspot.com Knedlikova

    Nice one :-) )

    You might also like the similar observational style of http://girlinczechland.wordpress.com

  • virgil

    Girl in Czechland should be recommended reading for anybody planning to move to Czech Republic ;-)

  • Anna

    Some parts are funny, some quite not accurate. For example poppy seeds don’t contain any opium, only juice from unripe poppy heads contains opium. And they are not only used in Czech republic but many other European countries, like GB.
    And I have to say walking around a house (specially if there is a carpet) with the same shoes that you walk outside is pretty disgusting…. all the yuck that you bring into your house…. ok, leaving them outside (only some people do) is not quite right either.
    And Colza fields are so common (only recently) because the farmers get a support from EU.
    Socks in sandaIs are crazy, but I personally don’t know anyone who would leave them under their desk at work??? And yeah, buying shoes in Prague IS a nightmare.
    Also I’ve never heard that carp is eaten because of luck… I personally don’t like carp, but the smaller the better, 3kg has the best taste.

  • The Editor

    Hi Anna,

    thanks for stopping by, yeah the Czechs have their quirks like all other nations. The nice thing about them is that they are mostly funny and harmless, except pomlazka, that is! ;-)

    Personally, even though where I’m from we don’t normally take off shoes indoors (but then we never use carpet) I find the habit, how to say, refreshing! ;-)

  • Anna

    Yeah, there are some Czech traditions that I can’t stand… and pomlazka is one of them. If I am at home at all I pretend I am not :D
    But at least in Prague you don’t get the water.
    You get some pretty weird stuff around Christmas too, like cutting the apples during the Christmas dinner, if there is a star (seeds in that shape) you will be fine next year, but if there’s a cross… you are supposed to die that year. Just one of the nice additions to a “merry” Christmas atmosphere :O

    • http://OttyMerrillArt.com Otty Merrill

      Anna and others…love your spirit and remarks. Getting excited about a biking trip starting in Prague next week with an American group…1st trip to your country. I’m an American artist..Polish by background. Any special “inspirational” suggestions?

      • Lorenzo B.

        Hi Otty, Anna and others!

        thanks for stopping by. I think you will like the Czech artists. By far in my opinion the best gallery in Prague is Veletrzni Palac. But since you’re a plastic artist yourself you might enjoy the Kampa Museum where you’ll find sculptures by Otto Gutfreund. In Veletrzni there’s works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Klimt, and other big names but the floor with Czechoslovak artist is AMAZING: Frantisek Kupka, Schikaneder, Panuska Jaroslav and many others…

  • Diana Macovei

    Absolutely loved it, Bolognini :) Time to move, time to move :) )))

    • Anonymous

      Thanks Diana! ;-)

  • Terreza

    I have to speak up, because what I read … It is unprecedented :D From what it says look, we live in the country 3 of the world:D. While Poppy’s really eating, but wearing socks with sandals about 1% of the people. I laughed a lot of those articles :D

    • Anonymous

      Ahoj Terreza,

      thanks for stopping by, in fact the key of most of the thing I write is irony, the same irony you could say Jaroslav Hasek taught us all that is: if you take yourself too seriously you just appear ridiculous ;-)

      I don’t think CR comes out as a 3rd world country: its got quirks that you can poke at, like any other country.

    • David Docekal

      I’m the 1% :) ..and love it. Would recommend that everyone tries – sandals are so comfortable and socks extend their season from April to October! :) In fact I don’t see any reason why not wearing sandals with socks..as I care more about how I feel than a fashion trends ^_^ Am I really that weird? :o )

    • Moni

      Haha I totally disagree with that 1% of Czechs wearing socks with sandals…it is widelly spread all over the country. And doesn’t matter in which country I am, almost everytime I see somebody wearing socks and sandals I can bet it is a Czech tourist

  • http://sadmanstongue.com/ Lucie Bruno

    Dude i’m really digging this, I hope you don’t mind if I repost on my blog, with full credit to you and a link back to you of course.

  • Eli

    :D Hi! I have to say the last one was really unexpected. At first I had no idea what you’re talking about. :D I don’t know if you want/need an explanation of this though and don’t want to give you one unless it’ll be desired.

    Socks and sandals… This is quite strange to me as well. And despite the frequency of different people mentioning it, I rarely see anybody, who’d actually wear it.

    Nice to read that about trams! Because we’ve always been taught to let older people sit, then you always do it and yet you also always have to listen to other people complain how nobody does it. Puzzling. Today I heard some people complaining how tram/bus drivers always close the door when they see somebody trying to catch it. While my experience tells me, that they always wait and sometimes even into such extreme, that the bus drives slowly enough so I can manage to run in time to the request stop (though that was the first or the last one and in one case I had large backpack and ski). Some people are just ungrateful bitches. And some are plain stupid. Like when it’s raining outside, the tram is full and the windows get all steamed up so you can’t see outside. And it’s always me, who opens the window just a little bit, so we won’t all suffocate. And it’s always me, who is considered weird or stupid, judging by the looks.

    I had no idea MEN pour water onto women…. o.O As far as I know, girls are allowed to pour water on boys when they come for eggs after noon. Too bad there’s nobody, who’d have the balls to come to strange people’s house and do that where I live.

    • Luiz

      Are you sure you are from Czech, that’s al soooo true….hehehehehehe

  • Kelly

    45 kc for a 33 cl bottle of Mattoni? You do know they sell it at any Albert for about 19 kc for 1 L, right?

    • me

      yes, but I guess we are talking about beverages in RESTAURANTS. That´s the diff.

      • Josephine Q

        I wouldn’t say it costs more than 35 Kc in a restaurant…..usually about 30 Kc.

        • Annasach

          Last week I had 33 cl Bonaque (or something like that) for 49 Kc in a restaurant in Prague….

  • Random Guest

    Hi, I’m sorry but I find parts your blog offensive and the mention of petty gypsy thieves racist. I would have prefered to write this in a mail directly to the author but there appears to be no author and no address or any other contact of any kind. Are we ashamed of our opinions?

    • http://cometoprague.com/ Lorenzo Bolognini

      Hi Random Guest, as a matter of fact I’m the one who signs with his own name whereas you don’t so probably you’re the one that is ashamed of his opinions and went as far as to create a new email address just to post a comment anonymously.

      Had I insulted the gypsies in general you’d be right to call my article out on being racist but I haven’t and besides that statement is based on fact, not prejudice, if a thieve is gypsy how else would I call him other than gypsy thieve? If a horse is a horse I call it a horse, not a duck or you have your own word also for that?

      Thanks for your comment anyway, if you care to sign it it’d be even more welcome to stay, otherwise I might feel tempted to remove it as trolling.

      • Dfvdafd

        you are definitely right.

      • Luiz

        Well, the way you post it makes understand that you are telling that just Gypsys are thieves. You could write just “thieves” and leave your personal opinion about Gypsyes out of it.
        As i told you before, the article is very funny and most of the topics are true, but the Gypsy part is bad comment from you…even you trying to explain it, too late.

        Better apologize.

        • Zuzana

          Hey, I live in CZ and I almost fully agree with the article listed above – it was fun to read, so points to the author. I dont think there is any need to apologize – if you realize, such article could be taken as an offending one at parts to Czech people, but is anyone demending an apology? NO – these are stereotypes, we smile over them and just because there is one negative connotation related to Roma citizens, everybody is so brainwashed by racism policies that suddenly using a STEREOTYPE of thieves is a big NO-NO :-) )…..how unexpected…..just deal with it – it was to add a smartbutt comment with a wink attached to it by the author, not to hide a racial comment and evoke this huge antiracial discussion ;-) ))

      • Bublinacka

        Hello Lorenzo, thank you for your article, well the shoes are getting better I guess. And yap garlic and onions are almost in every food. But because I am czech I feel that I need to respond to this gypsy di. scussion. I wouldn’t say it is rasims because most of the crime is done by gypsies, you check there are rates of crime on the internet. I would write more but I don’t want to spoil very nice atmosphere of this blog.

        • Poor mind

          Poor mentality as 99% of the people that I have met in the CZ after leaving here for 4 years. Such a shame!!! There as many white criminals and mafia killers as there are gypsy. Maybe more white than the dark. Travel to America, Asia, Africa baby, open your mind and be different from your nationals closed minded people!

          • Kamil

            Slow down, Poor mind, and count. Gypsies make about 2% of Czech Rep.’s population. If there were as many gypsy criminals as the “white” ones, it would be much worse than most of alleged racists here have ever supposed…

      • POOR MENTALITY

        ITS A SHAME! Such a beautiful country, nice people but with a very poor mentality. I like your article but I believe you have spent time enough here and begun to think as a Czech person. I leave here and everyday I feel sorry for this people who believes that there are differences between humans… this is more accentuated here in western Europe unfortunately. One day (I do not expect this generation to experience it) will understand that the gypsy community bad behavior is a consequence of centuries of exclusion and victim of racists (99% of cz people are). I know white people that are criminals, have done as bad things as the gypsy but they are covered by a cretins like the majority of the people who believe that only the dark people are dangerous for the society. WRONG MATE! you just proved that you have a great talent writing but a poor mentality just repeating like a pirate bird whatever nonsense you have heard from the native guys. OPEN YOUR MIND!

    • Luiz

      Hey, that’s right , i found it funny whole article except the Gypsy part, that’s wasn’t cool Mr Writer, racism is not nice…. Gypsy people are the same as you, me and everyone….negative point for this part men.

      • CzechGuy

        you are either not from Eastern Europe or are a gypsy yourself. Being classified as a gypsy goes beyond race, its a way of life. Just like homeless get a bad rap, same goes for the term of gypsy in these part of the woods. I know more than a few ‘gypsies’ who are decent people contributing to society.. and guess what they wouldn’t appreciate to be labeled that way since its not so much a racial issue as is a social one.

        • Cool but no to RACISM!!

          Hey Mr. CzechGuy, one day when your country have experimented enough of freedom and the next generations get rid of this “mentality” maybe you will understand that racism or call someone worse than you, just prove that you are not prepared enough to leave with the cultural diversity present in this world for such a long time. But is understandable… the country is still getting used to share different skin color and social differences. We all know the problems they can cause but do u or your government do to prevent it? NOTHING, JUST PAY THEM MONEY to keep doing nothing. This is not sustainable, I doubt any white person would guve them a job or a chance to be different. THEY ARE NOT CAUSE OF DISGRACE BUT CONSEQUENCE OF A WRONG system and poor mentality. Before you say that I am one of them, I am from a non European place where freedom is not a big deal and people are treated equally. Its a shame that the majority of people I met in CZ share the same idea about gypsy people…

          • clovek

            afaik, gypsies are there since 12th century or so. It isn’t about “not getting used to share different skin color and social differences”

          • Hajzl

            Its true,in some way its goverment fault,but gypsys have the same right,some times more then “white”.They can go to school be a doctor,everything what they want but they must obey the law. When a parent send 3-4years old child to steel he will do it again when he is older.
            You say im not better then gypsy.OK,im not,we the same,except i go to work,pay taxes.I have noproblem to travel to other countries,most gypsys have that problem.
            Not only Czech peoplehave this opinion.Tell me why Canada dont want them,UK dont want them? ETC.

        • Mujku

          Czech Republic is not in Eastern Europe, it is in its Centre, that´s why they call it “The heart of Europe”. And even if you say that some of the gypsies insult the members of their community, it is not an argument! I could insult women being woman, but that wouldn´t make me better. What is wrong is the violent, stupid, cruel people, not some ethnic group!

          WHEN so many people will stop being ignorant, cruel, shallow minded and realize that there are good and bad people in every races and nationalities? You can´t condemn anyone for his or her origin, sex, religion, ski color, etc…

          • drak

            of course you can, most of gypsies are bad people…I don’t understand people talking about racism when they DON’T have personal experience with gypsies, you know nothing. In Czech there is a lot of Vietnamese but nobody has problems with them, but almost everyone hate gypsies because they are scum.

      • Katerinastojarova

        it is not nice..but come to Czech, to Ostrava-Přívoz, have a walk on the main square there, go to the central station..try using your cell in the public..and go to the post office when the welfare benefits day comes and tell me how many white people did you see there waiting in the queue…and then tell me about your experience..
        and you may also find a shop there that closes for half an hour in the morning since “gypsy” kids used to go there before school started and you know what? so many things just dissappeared from the shelves..
        I know it’s wrong, I really don’t want to be rasist..but everyday, they just made me be one..they are not all the same, they are not..but it’s also hard for us..just try to see it from our point of view as well..OK, mine, I am not saying I am talking about everyone..

  • http://twitter.com/Pragueat1sight PragueAtFirstSight

    I love this!!! How true, you made me chuckle and think of the “good old times”. :)

  • Ocelot20002001

    @Eli: “Socks and sandals… This is quite strange to me as well. And despite the frequency of different people mentioning it, I rarely see anybody, who’d actually wear it.” really? come on where do you live?

    The article is missing the acid smell of Czech people within summer :-)

  • V.

    Hei, u forgot the garlic! the garlic is everywhere :)

  • Steve

    well, all true, again you forgot to tell that probably soap and water are really a luxury for some people and for the socks and sandals, it is really crazy and while you stay at work to see people taking off their shoes to put on their pantofle… and the smell…. :) )))

    regarding the gypsy part, nothing happened to me… yet…however you are right and is not about racism, just telling the truth

  • Another Random Guest

    Hi, you say 10 signs but slandering gypsies (which is another typical czech thing) makes it 11. Why not change the headline?

  • PL

    The (outrageously noisy) way Czech people blow their noses should be definitely in this list.

    • Philip

      Yes and also another sign is every other car is Skoda

      • Theror

        like every second car in US is Chevrolet

    • Madlicka

      very simple reason – we are taught since early age that blowing your nose on public is OK while sniffling and sniveling is both unhealthy (since the mucus can go to your bronchial tubes or sinuses) AND disgusting. When I studied in the UK, an auditorium full of sniffing people made me sometimes feel so sick that I had to leave. I guess a British person can have similar feelings about blowing our noses here…

  • Radek

    Hey, nice observation :) but I have to disagree with 1 thing – the shoes (Keen?). I live in CZ for my whole life and Ive never heard of ‘em :)

    • N_faisal_n

      Tracking shoes two years ago almost everyone had them and hiking backpacks and even pans. Im in a bar now and there are 6 people out of 10 wearing tracking shoes.

    • Uzsezasenudim

      no no, true story bro. I know some ppl who wore ´em :)

    • http://twitter.com/teepeecz Digitalni_tisk_Brno

      já je teda mám a moje žena-růžena má asi patery, takže… JO

    • Michaldepraha

      yep, what is Keen :-) ? I know Pinke, or Adihash…Keen never heard of…

    • Dave

      Oh i have to disagree. I also live in Czech republic for years and the majority of my family wear them. But as you said its not the only shoes in our country :) ..

    • Michal

      Never heard of them…

  • Tim

    Screw Prague, come to Brno :)

    • Gejda

      fu?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jan-Sveen/593644401 Jan Sveen

      yessss!

  • Janexoxo

    As for the past years in Czechia I would add one more typical fact – gypsy kids in diapers smoking cigarettes and gypsy adults attacking white people during the day (usually a group of 6-10 gypsies attacks one single person) for being white. Very sad but true fact.

    • Uzsezasenudim

      that is simply stupid what you wrote here. I can understand that ppl will probably say these things about “whatever minority” after a bad experience, but c´mon… what you just wrote here is amazingly stupid. I wish I had the magic ring from Arabela fairytale and I´d love to delete ppl like you, and all the bad gypsies as well :D Seriously? Hey girl where have you been living in CR? Most? Warnsdorf? Than I would just say, yeah it is very complicated there and it might get nasty :D but than again.. IT IS NOT TYPICAL CZECH THING :) Peace

    • Strcprstskrzkrk

      Your post just confirms Sloths’ reminder of a wide-spread racism in Czech Republic. And by the way – what the hell is “Czechia”?

    • Gcolour

      That´s bullshit!

    • Dandima

      Im English Ive lived near Cerny Most (the Bronx) and although Ive heard reports from my students who live there I must say Ive never in the 4 years seen a group of Gypsies annoy or rob anyone!! In any part of Prague or the Czech Rep Ive travelled the world and this country feels to me like the safest place on earth. If you make comments like this then you should get out more often and visit more countries then you’ll how beautiful this country is.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jan-Sveen/593644401 Jan Sveen

      i’ve lived in brno for 9 years, close to the zigane quarters, and i have never read anymore foolish than this. rightwing fascist bullshit!

  • Janexoxo

    Btw. the author is right about the gypsy thieves. If only they stole just shoes. But mostly they mug you, kick you unconscious and then blame it on the society.

  • CzechGuy

    You left out the point that Czech’s can’t handle any spice or anything that has flavor beyond what pork and potatoes can deliver… after living for years in Prague and having hundreds of family and friends from the region.. I can attest to that. I was always fed up with how anything labeled spicy on a menu was far from it while asking to make a proper fiery Hungarian Goulash was impossible, and always getting complaints from my Eastern European friends and relatives about anything that had a deeper palette of tastes and spices.. Once you get used to knedlo vepro zelo, pecena kachena and svickova there is nothing original left, except for maybe a pecene koleno

    • Janexoxo

      Sorry but then you have friends who cannot cook if everything tastes more or less the same. It is definitelly not typical for Czech cuisine.

      • Theror

        I agreed.Goulash must be pikant,thats my opinion. When i cook goulash you will never want it again because i love it really hot.When all taste the same that person cant cook. You will be surprised what my girlfriend can cook from nothing and its delicious.

        • Ivan

          Goulash is Hungarian meal not Czech… Ofcourse it is also quite common here but spicy things with pork, peppers an garlic are typical for Hungarians not for us. This is really not the typical tradtional meal if you ment so…

  • J.K.

    Generally nice article, but this is quite nonsense: “Mineral water, although popular now, it’s still a recent introduction and considered somewhat superfluous.” Mineral water is popular here for more than a century and not a recent introducition. The reason for high price is different. Many people used to judge the price level of restaurant by the price of beer – so there is a pressure to keep beer prices low… and make profit elsewhere.

  • Sloth

    Another thing which is very typical is RACISM- reflected in this article as well. Be sure your shoes are “the easy target of petty gypsy thieves”… seems like the author loves stereotypes. Moreover, honestly guys, who would grab someone´s shoes?

    • Theror

      Its true.Someone had stolen my friends shoes and let him his own old shoes there. And when you cometo Czech and the gypsys steel your wallet or camera etc. you will be happy they dont hurt you.

      • max

        It’s not only gypsy thieves. Trams are full of white guys who steel your stuff, taxi drivers are white, ive more bad experiences with white guys than gypsies.

        • I.

          Lucky you, I have had more experience with gypsies… unfortunately. I don’t say they’re all like that, but stereotypes come from somewhere, right?
          I study in Brno and it’s common to see a ten-year-old (or even less) smoking while their mother is pushing her baby carriage right next to them (a cigarette in one of her hands, of course).
          Once some gypsies broke into our house and were ringing all the doors. When somebody opened (like my boyfriend did), they’d just ask if some guy (Novák or Horák, which is quite common, but they could see on our doorbells, that nobody like that lived there) is there. Then they moved to another flat. One of our neighbors didn’t reply and they broke into his place. Unfortunately for them he was just at the toilet and when they got there, he kicked them off. I guess, that if he didn’t have two dogs and wasn’t quite huge himself, he’d be just got beaten up…
          Another time a gypsy woman tried to steel from me in a tram. I caught her holding my wallet and passing it wrapped in some kind of fabric to a little girl. She could be 7 years old the most…
          I could talk like that for hours. Now ask me, where do these stereotypes origin…
          If they work (and most of them don’t) and when they are behaving, I don’t have a problem (I actually have some gypsy or semi-gypsy friends), but this is too much… I don’t say that other people don’t do that, but it’s not a majority of them…

          • Anna

            I feel like the gypsy/roma stereotype and the crimes that they actually do commit originate from a much deeper problem: due to the racism that exists towards them they are actually more likely to commit these crimes and because the system (economic, political, social, etc.) does not accept them they are unable to change their behaviour – their lifestyle may just be different and incompatible. By treating them badly we actually contribute to the problem. Additionally, I don’t believe their behaviour is an act of unkindness. If we treat them badly (and there have been many studies that show how difficult it can be for Romas to find work) they will find no other mode of survival than to steal. I also have a few Roma friends and they have all experienced quite traumatic things while in trams or on their way around town.

          • Anonymus Bohemicus

            Of course, they are stealing because of our racism. And bees are predominantly attacking allergic people perhaps? As far as standard racist theories go, we are the same race. This is much more a question of a caste. And guess who brought this crappy attitude to this egalitarian country.

  • Asksteve

    You mean Krno?

    • MultiBraner

      it’s Brno :)

  • Likininka

    Hey! I am from Czech republic and I don’t wear socks and sandals because I haven’t got sandals! I don’t drink bear and Mattoni costs 25,- Kc.
    I think this isn’t an optimistic article for us.
    Everyone isn’t same and I think you are biased against the Czechs!

  • Ma

    Seems like somebody has not been anywhere here. Go to Rome to see tough guys getting up instantly to free their seats for boarding elderly women.

  • Poor CZ mentality

    You forgot to mention that 1) the majority of the Czech population believes that dark people are less than white (see bellow comments). 2) that a part from pork there is very little to eat, if you are vegetarian you will probably starve. 3) that they say really bad things about American junk food but almost 100% of their traditional food is rich in fat, animal saturated fat, almost everything is deep fried or processed (salame, sausage and all that crappy variances of processed meet). 4) the mentality has not yet followed the recent economical growth. Food, music, entertainment and leisure is not as I expected.

    Please don’t take me wrong, I leave here for more than 3 years ( I really have to) and the place is just fun but can’t swallow the arguments about gypsy, thieves, crime etc. They are mostly done by white and there is no cz person to mention that here. Has someone ever visited a prison in CZ? I have! and I CAN ATTEST THAT THE MAJORITY IF NOT 90% ARE WHITE PEOPLE. I really hate cz mindset. Just to mention, I am not dark or gypsy and honestly speaking, I would love to be able to come her just as a tourist (that is cool) but to adapt to the life here is a long term is almost impossible.

    • http://twitter.com/straiki Tomáš Vahalík

      Oh c’mon, there is no dark people (not counting African-American race or Mulattoes etc.), we actually can’t talk about racism, we are the SAME race.. Screw prisons, look at the reality, they’re causing problems everywhere (but I’m not saying that all of them are bad, but majority is) – not working, robbing, devastating buildings, gambling.. Of course, as you said, white people cause problems too, but tell me how many out of total? Considering total number of gypsies – 80% are “bad boys” – I know, always is bad to generalize, but this is not a problem of Czech mentality, it is a problem of Gypsy mentality.

      If you’re living (I think it was typo, not leaving) for more than 3 years and still thinking they’re not causing problems, then you’re lucky person.
      EOF

      • The Truth About Gipsies is…

        I agree with Tomáš here, you’re terribly lucky if you haven’t encountered any problems with the gipsy community in Czech Republic over a period of three years. Speaking for myself, and I believe more people share this opinion, I have bad experience with the minority and I will always be careful when I see a gipsy, although if a specific gipsy behaves nice to me I don’t have a problem to be nice to him too.

        I think it’s a matter of presumtion, ’cause the number of “bad boy” gipsies is huge and a “good” gipsy is terribly hard to find, although there are such gipsies who try not to cause any problems and even work.

        I’d say most of Czechs don’t really hate all the gipsies, but are very careful when they see one, because their reputation exceeds them. If you don’t live here, you won’t understand. It’s nothing like racism againts black people in America, this is different, they’re not even a difference race.

    • Hajzl

      You dont see much gypsys in prison,whyle the goverment is afraid to by spoking they racism. 4 gypsys almost killed killed my friend,steel his wallet and phone.That was 6years ago.Only 1 is in prison but for another delict.So this is the truth you dont see gypsys in prison.
      60% of gypsys didnt finish the ground school,90% of them have no job and 80% of them was punished for crime. If gypsy come to office the bacome everything,when a “white” come to office become nothing or so little so he stay at home and try help himrself alone.If a gypsy will never work,the office will calculate his pension from awerage payment.When a white work the whole life his pension will be like 60% of he gypsys.
      You know those things? I dont say they are all the same,im working with gypsy guy who will never go to office to get social help like the 99% of gypsys.
      They only cry we are racist,but its the fault of goverment,they give them advantages and benefits for nothing and they abuse it. And the gypsys are fault too,they become a new apartment and in winter they say “we are freezing” but they dont say we get the heating unit to the dump to get some money.
      Say it this normal:
      Gypsy is going to Canada,sell the apartment,even he is not the owner.fter year he comes back,become all social help for last year a and new apartment.

      If we are racistic,search internet and ask Canadian teachers about their experiences with czech gypsys.You will wonder.

      • Nechci_uvest_mail

        You don’t say truth, it’s only your opinion or estimate. You can not have any informations about race (or culture) of prisoners (czech state prisons can not monitore it), so how can you say the amount of gypsy prisoners?
        Information about state payments (unemploynment benefits and others) is untruth too, you don’t know the law about pension system in Czech rep. Unemployment or child benefits aren’t determined by the race. Please, read the law instead of urban legends from SPAM e-mails and nazi groups on Facebook.
        That’s the problem with Czechs, trust in urban legends about gypsies.
        Gypsies don’t have any special benefit opposite white citizens in Czech rep. They don’t need much money to live, so sometimes don’t need to work. But i know people from majority with this traits too, so it is not the speciality of gypsy community only.
        If you look on the street, mainly gypsy workers digs excavations, so how can you say, that 90% are unemployed? Do you have any statistical data?
        I’m Czech, i’m 25 a i have never had any problem with a gypsy. I lived in Žatec, city with large gypsy community and have no problem. I live in Prague, i was going to school in Žižkov daily (large gypsy community) and had no problem. I was working as a security staff and had no problem with any gypsy. How can i believe that gypsies are the only evil on the planet? I can not. I have ever had problems only with idiots, whose race was irrelevant.

    • loloman

      I don`t know in which prison have you been, but I was also in prison (for visit) ,my friend works there as a prison guard, and there was huge majority of gypsys (80% or more). Maybye you were in prison with low security, where are people mostly for some financial frauds. Try to take a look in some deep shit prison where are locked people for serious violent crimes…

  • Margarethe

    WTF, Keen? I’ve never heard of them!
    WTF, Templar knights? Where did you get that from???

    + Czech people do not speak foreign languages although they (pretend to) learn them at school… (95% I would say :D )

  • Guest

    After reading through all the comments, I am wondering if it is just me who thinks that this is supposed 2 b just a funny article, a joke. I mean u can generalize like this about every country…

  • Muriel

    Socks in sandals are comfortable and not changing your shoes when you enter your home is disgusting.

  • Chuj++

    Good point! Shoes suck indeed. Can’t fathom the suffering of those confined to a pair of “proper shoes” all day long. To me, that’s on par with latex underwear, comfort-wise. Why not do your feet a little favor?

  • Klára

    Hm,

    Socks and sandals. I can´t rememeber last time I saw somebody wearing socks and sandals, only old people. It is true there is not enough of good shoes on offer in every shop in Prague, but there are, you just have to know where to look for them. Sandals under their desk at work? Where do you work, man?

    Beer is cheaper than water. If you talk about Prague –yes, it can be, because – as somebody has already mentioned – it is just marketing, but I have never seen Mattoni of 45 Kč.

    Keen is the new Nike. I have never heard of this brand at all. Probably it depends on part of CR.

    Shoes on the doorstep. It is normal to take off your shoes when entering house, but there is nothing typical about taking off shoes outsider the door.

    Knight Templars around town. What are you talking about ?? :D

    • http://cometoprague.com/ Lorenzo Bolognini

      Hi Klara,

      actually unless you work in some place that enforces a dress policy it’s still easy to see socks and sandals at work. Both companies I long worked for in Prague had most employees taking off shoes and wearing sandals as soon as they got to work.

      Regarding Keen I just wanted to underline the fact that most people I see around wear some sort of trail shoes rather than sneakers such as Nike. I actually meant the style of shoes more than the brand. There is no right or wrong I’m just reporting my observations.

      You might be right about Mattoni, it just depends where you go I guess, but if you want to see some Knights training with real swords just go to Letna: they train there very often.

      • Martina

        By the way, Mattoni really can’t be any “recent introduction” because it origins in Czech republic and it was sold there more than 100 years ago.

  • Me

    Little gayish if you do not see all beautiful girls ;DDDD
    Socks = hygiene
    Shoes on the doorstep = clean house

  • Raxaxa

    how to recognize you are back in USA : 1. the beer is much more expensiver then water but the tast is almoust same 2. you spent 90 procent of your time in car – you go to the atm by car .
    3. you and people around you are fat 4. you are talking but nobody is lisening 5. everybody claim he/she is happy but it is not true 5. even you earn much more then in czech republic – you are poor 6. you can frget about maschrooms because you do not have forest evrithing is PRIVATE 7. fishing without burning 400 l (100 gal) gas per one fich at hudge high speed motor boat is not fishing. 9. you do not have any public transport or noboady know about it 10. Poppy seeds is white not red / red is wild

    Jan wearing socks in sandals

  • Raxaxa

    and i frgot 11. you are living in wooden hause in huricane area 12 . honda goldwing is small motorbike but do not worry is normal 13. you are not alowed dring beer at beech niether from paper bag 14. you are scared from sherif