Help a Hungary Gourmet

While living in a small town in the west of Ireland Karin and I still keep in contact with Prague and Czech happenings — making a long list of places to visit upon our return.

We get many mouth-watering offerings from the Lime & Tonic coupon site.  In fact some of our very best meals in Prague have been from using their major discount offers.  Now I have been notified that my credit balance with them is about to expire.  Whoas me! 🙁

Lime & Tonic offerBut there is hope!  I can extend my account into March (when we hope to be back in Prague) by referring someone who registers with them — no purchase necessary.  So, if you are not already signed-up with Lime & Tonic, please take this opportunity to do so.  Even if you don’t find the affordable deals that we did, you can day dream over the luxury offers.

Here is the link:  Lime & Tonic

Cheers,

Another Tradition Dies

Christmas crowds in Prague

The punc(h) will be taken from the grog* this holiday season at the many outdoor Christmas markets around Prague and the Czech Republic.

The government has announced they will  strictly enforce existing laws prohibiting non-licensed vendors from selling drinks with alcohol content higher than 15 percent.  So you will have to go to a licensed premises to get anything stronger than hot mulled wine.

I can’t rant against this government directive because there is a legitimate need to monitor the source of alcohol based upon last September’s crisis that saw all sales of spirits halted for many days.  Unscrupulous bootleggers had sold various kinds of spirits that contained poisonous methanol which since then has killed 37 people and seriously injured many others.

I am hoping creative entrepreneurs will come up with some new drink that is festive yet below the maximum alcohol content.  I had my first beer cocktail in Prague and it was pretty good.

*For the un-initiated Grog is rum, water, lemon and sugar and Punc is hot spiced wine with fruit juice and rum.

hot drinks at a local Prague Christmas market

 

These are the type of local stalls that will have to come up with something new.  Notice our Ziskov tower in the upper right.

 

Only in Prague

Lately we have been day dreaming about our return to Prague–wondering when and where.  Karin was searching for available apartments and came across this gem.  We thought maybe it was a mistake and some museum photos got mixed in.  We have paid admission fees to see rooms not as elegant as this!

museum quality flat in PragueThis three room flat is located in New Town a short distance from Old Town and the city centre.  It is 134 sq. m. (1,440 sq.ft.) for 13,000 CZK (€488, $620) per month.  Unbelievable–but see for yourself at this real estate link

2013 Update:  Sorry the apt. is rented so the link is down. 🙁

Adrenaline Sports in Prague

Prague is well known for its old world charms such as its architecture, Christmas markets and beer.  Now it is making a name for itself in the modern world of adrenaline sports.  As any large city it has its share of paintball arenas and skateboard parks; balloon flights, paragliding, and bungee-jumping can all be found as well.  On any nice day you will see a tethered balloon flying over old town for those whose adrenaline is easily stimulated.

free fall wind tunnel in PragueWhat most people don’t know is that Prague is home to the only wind tunnel with a circular glass flight chamber in the world.  The Skydive Arena has made sky diving available at the Letany Shopping Center, Prague 9.  Their flight chamber is 4.3 meters in diameter and 14 meters high with wind speeds up to 160 mph allowing for feeling free fall and acrobatics.

Generally speaking any healthy person over 5 years old and not visibly pregnant can participate.  The instructors say everyone learns to control their body in free fall after a few tries.  Prices start at 1,500 Kc ($75) for 3 minutes in the chamber and can be reduced per minute with various packages.  You can memorialize your gracefulness with a DVD for extra charge.  More details at Skydive Arena

full scale flight simulator in PragueA completely different flight and adrenaline opportunity can be found at iPILOT flight simulator for only 999 Kc ($50) for 15 minutes.  Near the Ujezd tram stop in the down town area (Mala Strana) you can experience your choice of 24,000 airports around the world at the control of a realistic Airbus 320 passenger jet simulator like pilots use for training.  Hong Kong Kai Tak and London Heathrow are the popular favorites.

I am glad to see they also have a Fear of Flying course as Karin conquered her fear of flying years ago when a pilot friend explained how airplanes work and what all the noises during flight are.  iPilot has refined all that and include actually taking control of the aircraft to demystify the whole experience of flying commercially–well worth it for any nervous flyer.  More at Fly iPilot  

Prague is such a great combination of the old and the new!  I love it.