Golden Prague, Expat life, tips and reviews

Yikes - the bloodsuckers are back!

When we moved to Prague I would have never imagined that one of the most annoying thing here would be - mosquitoes. I mean, we haven’t moved to the tropics, right? But did the little buggers bugger us last year, until close to Christmas. Now there are already out again! Hubby is playing the mass murderer and I am checking frenetically my reserves of Avon Skin-so-Soft. I should have been warned as I saw last year that IKEA here is even selling mosquito nets… Sorry, not much time to post today, I am joining hubby in the hunt. *insert evil grin here*

Easter -

Does anybody remember the reason for this season?

Sorry to interrupt the ‘Easter Bunny Happiness’ but may I remind you of the ‘reason for the season’? It seems that, whilst the child Jesus is still, somehow, present at Christmas, the man Jesus has often completely disappeared of our Easter celebrations. Might it be that the sweet and mild baby is less threatening for our comfort than a tortured and sentenced to death adult? How did it come that the fluffy-puffy Easter bunny with his chocolate eggs could take over? The origin of Easter are the events nearly 2000 years ago in Jerusalem, not some fairytale figure that hides eggs for the children. Today is Good Friday when the crucifixion of an innocent should be remembered…

Life is better with a tooth less

This will be a rather short update, and without any gory pictures But it is quite fitting with my previous post about possible expat emergencies .

I feel a bit dodgy still and will post more contact info tomorrow when I can think more straight (eh, you know who you are, don’t think there is any double meaning in this ;-). But meanwhile the story in the famous nutshell: Some weeks ago I broke a piece of one of my teeth. This tooth was already dead since quite some time, so I didn’t bother too much. And actually I didn’t had any time to take care of it, moving between two countries and all this. But last Sunday morning I woke up with a face like a rabbit, at least on one side! My face was wider on the chin than on the cheek, you get the idea, bugs bunny rabbit became my second name ;-( Now, coming from a health care background it was pretty clear to me that the swelling was caused by an abscess in my upper jaw. Something that better is treated fast, very fast. Means to see a professional, yikes, a dentist! Short story made even shorter, the tooth had to come out by dental force! A recommended English speaking dentist didn’t have a spot free to fit me in, so I became brave, for once, and went to the “native dental clinic in Prague”. All went well and I still live to tell the tale…

Ok, time to take myself now to a cosy bed filled with painkillers In case you are in a dental emergency in Prague, here the address of the angels that helped me:

Všeobecná Fakultní Nemocnice v Praze, U Nemocnice 2, Praha 2, 128 00

When I can think straight again, possibly sometime tomorrow, I will post a google map link See you then, take care

PS They are also much cheaper than any private dental clinic in Prague

Expat emergencies -

better prepared than sorry!

One thing that I discovered quite early in my Expat life is that things take longer abroad. It takes longer to find information, the way, where things are, how things are done in a new country etc etc etc. Problem is, in an emergency, or even a semi-emergency, you don’t have the time for searching around!

Image source by Hamed Saber

So I started to make a list on my computer which one day, hopefully will be a collection of nicely printed documents in a folder I thought I would share here some of the points I have covered and encourage you to make your own emergency document/ folder based on your own needs:

The emergency numbers in Prague/ the Czech Republic are for Fire (150), Police (158 or 156), Ambulance (155) but your best bet would be to dial 112, an Europe wide valid emergency number. These guys will sort out with you how best to help you and send the right people your way!

Your own address and telephone numbers

No joke, but it takes some time until you have memorized your new address and telephone numbers, so write them down! If the pronunciation is difficult, write also down how your address is pronounced correctly in the local language.

People, Family and Friends

First your family, including work address and mobile/ cell phone numbers. Then a list of friends and experienced Expats that have offered to help. How will you ask for help if you don’t know how to reach them? Make a note/ mark the ones that are fluent in both the local language and yours!

Doctors and vets

Both your “normal” ones as well as the respective emergency services. Make also a note of regular medication you or one of your family takes and of known medical conditions.

School and Kindergarten

What will happen when you can’t go to pick them up? Somebody has to know where the little treasures are!

Church and Embassy

Get to know the people that want to help you, both in a practical as in a spiritual way

Car

If you have a car you want to find out where the next garage for your “breed” is before it breaks down and perhaps even sign up with a breakdown/ recovery service to get you there.

Bank/ Cards

Stolen handbag or wallet? Do you have a list of phone numbers to call and cancel your cards/ checks?

Photocopies of your documents

Having a copy is better then nothing in case the original gets either stolen or lost.

Hope this helps to prepare for some common Expat emergencies and if I have forgotten something feel free to add it with a comment! Take care and may you never get into an emergency situation

Money Safety in Prague

The tourist season has started and it seems to be a good time to post something about how to make the most out of your money when you exchange it for Czech Crowns. It surprises me how many people still fall for the same old tricks whilst hoping to make a buck or two extra! So first the no-no’s:

Never change money on the street.

That should be a no-brainer, but there are still people doing it! I have yet to hear a story where such a transaction was successful for the visitor, but I have heard and read many where the tourist lost all their money! Remember, if the deal sounds too good to be true, it is not true. If somebody walks up to you and asks if you want to change money simple ignore him or her and walk away. One more word of caution: sometimes one or two fake plain-clothes policemen will appear on the scene, wave a fake police badge and ask you for your wallet to check if you have fake currency in it. NEVER let your wallet go out of your hands. If they insist, ask them to come with you to the next police station. You must know that Czech police officers are NOT allowed to, and will under no circumstances, check your wallet. They are simply accomplices of the “street money dealer” trying to relieve you from your hard earned cash!

Don’t use the little exchange offices that are spread all over the city.

If you have to, always ask: “What would I get for (insert amount of money you want to exchange here) in Czech Crowns?” The advertised rates often are misleading (confusing buy/sell rates) and hidden commissions (for example if you don’t exchange a minimum amount) may apply. There is barely any reason to use them and many reasons not to.

Don’t change your money at the hotel reception.

They notoriously offer the worst exchange rates. Use them only in emergency cases and again, ask beforehand: “What would I get for (insert amount of money you want to exchange here) in Czech Crowns?”

After having told you what not to do, now it is time to tell you what to do Can you guess that I am female?

Do use a bank.

Banks will give you a better rate even if they charge 1-2% commission. Banks use official and real-time rates, they will charge you a commission, but there exchange rates are accurate and there is no risk that the bank clerk runs away with your money.

Best method: Use ATM machines.

Do a bit of work beforehand and ask your home bank how much they charge you for withdrawing money via an ATM machine from your bank account into a local currency like Czech Crowns. Often they have agreements with local banks, in this case it might be worthwhile checking this out, as the fees are often different from bank to bank. Ask also for minimum charges that apply and find out what would be the ideal amount to withdraw. ATM machines are virtually on each street corner and the best way to “exchange” your money without any risk.

For more safety tips whilst being in Prague have also a look at this previous post of mine How safe is Prague? Happy holidays/ vacations and take care!