THE CZECH REPUBLIC Stereotypes There is one thing which is common for all nationalities all over the world. It can get people together or, on the other hand, split them up... Do you know what we are talking about? It is called PREJUDICE!!!

Stereotypes once again … The Italians are known for their temperament, pasta and historical monuments, the French for wine, cheese, style, the Spanish for paella, bull fights and fiestas, Norwegians for being very kind people, the most peaceful Nation in the world, sports addicts and ecology concious. What is typical for the Czechs?

Many Spaniards think the Czech Republic is still connected with Slovakia and that Czechoslovakia is still a nation, but everybody knows that Prague is one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe and many Spanish visit the town and the country every year.

What do Czechs seem to be like for Spaniards? The good side and the bad side... Spaniards think Czechs are friendly people, love drinking beer and Becherovka, eating dumplings, and using mobile phones a lot. In the Spanish gossip magazines it is said that Czech girls are very beautiful.

Czech Beer Hearty Czech food requires hearty drink, and Czech beer is touted as the world’s best. Two of the most famous labels are Pilsner Urquell, a light and hoppy brew, and Budwieser Budvar. People say Czech beer tastes better from the typical half litre beer mug.

Becherovka Herbal Liqueur This old Cezch drink is less known than beer in Spain, but Becherovka green bottles are easily recognizable in the best shops. We have similar drinks and people take more than ‘some drops’ to improve digestion. Considering the delicious taste of this “medicine” is served as an aperitif to be taken in small shots.

Dumplings are cooked balls of dough. There is large variety of dumplings in the Czech Republic, both sweet and savoury. Slices of Czech knedlík A kind of Czech dumpling.

Wafers When the Spanish tourist come back home, after visiting Prague, they use to bring ‘wafers’, as a typical and traditional Czech specialty to give to their friends. People say the wafers you buy fresh from the street vendors are the best ones.

Czech people are considered skilled craftmen at working glass and crystal, porcelain, garnet and marionettes manufacturing so beautiful things as these: Moser Glass and CrystalBlue Onion Pattern Thun Porcelain Ruckl CrystalBohemian GarnetCzech Marionettes

Homeland and birthplace of writers, artists, sportmen and other famous people. Franz Kafka writer Gregor Johann Mendel Naturalist Milan Kundera writer Alfons Mucha painter Karel Čapek play writer Milos Forman Film director

Art Nouveau Paintings by Alfons Mucha

Jaroslav Seifert Nobel Prize in Literature 1984 Oskar Schindler Industrialist & rescuer of Jews Otto Wichterle Chemist contact lenses inventor Dominik Hašek Ice hockey player World Ice Hockey Champions In 1999, 2000, 2001 and in 2005

The Czech Republic won the championship Davis Cup 2012, beating Spain in the final, 3–2. Congratulations!!!

Many Spaniards don’t have a clear idea of Czech Republic as a country, of course everybody knows it is in the centre of Europe and that Prague, the capital, is a very beautiful city, but to begin with, many Spanish still think the name of the country is Czechoslovakia. We know Škoda cars are manufactured in the Czech Republic. Some Czech top models are also well known in Spain, appearing often in gossip magazines: Karolina Kurkova, Tereza Maxova, Eva Herzigova, Petra Nemcova … We came to Brno to know you better: there are many interesting things to be shown in this young European country. Velice vám děkuji a zdravím z Salamanca, Španělsko!