While I'm at it, I guess I can post about other things that folks find unpleasant.

PICKPOCKETING: Definitely a potential issue at some tourist spots. Old Town Square, especially at the astronomical clock. Metro/tram in the center. Charles Bridge. Keep an eye on your possessions. Keep your bag closed. Don't set anything down to take photos. Street scams, like the kind you might run into in Barcelona, don't seem to be that common. Actual violent crime is next to nil. I've been alone in dark parts of PRague at 3am and felt totally safe in a way that never happens in a large city in the U.S.

OVERCHARGING/RESTAURANT SCAMS: This is beyond the inflated pricing that goes with being in the tourist center. (But about that...you can pay 3 or 4x more for a beer and about everything else around Old Town Square and the Bridge area than you would even a couple street away). You see a sign that says "beer, 40 crowns," walk in and order a beer. You get a half-liter and a small bowl of pretzels. Turns out that the 40 crown beer is .3L, but your .5L beer is 100 crowns and the pretzels are another 20. Ask to see a menu. Don't eat anything that you didn't order without finding out how much it costs.

DRUGS: The Czech Republic has decriminalized small amounts of drugs...to my knowledge, this is virtually all drugs, even hard ones. It is very common for people (even reputable people) to smoke marijuana in parks, beer gardens, and sometimes just walking down the street. Much rarer: I've seen people shooting up in the last year or two. Like, sitting on park benches on main streets. Maybe three or four times, so unlikely you'll see it, but don't be shocked.

PUBLIC URINATION: Happens. There are more free public toilets now than a few years ago, but the combination of a people that like to drink beer with pay toilets = people (well, almost always male) urinating in the bush, on the sides of buildings, etc.

DISPASSIONATE SERVICE: Those who are staying at nice hotels, eat at nice restaurants, and generally stay in the tourist zone won't encounter much. Americans, in particular, though always comment on the attitude of shop clerks, waiters, etc. if you hang out in 'locals' places long enough. Attempting to buy 80 crowns worth of something with a 1000Kc bill (or even 500 sometimes) can lead to a mild temper tantrum or a cold stare. There's also this passive-aggressive streak that can run through the culture.

SMOKING: To go along with the pollution warning above, I should say that most authentic Czech pubs are smokey, poorly ventilated affairs. Smoking is a matter of course on streets, in parks, at beer gardens, basically anywhere outside.

Thanks for all your advice, adventureadam.

My question was not intended to be a dig at you nor PRG, just precautionary.

Have been to PRG before and didn't notice anything unusual, but we didn't ride on any of the rivers (we did cross some bridges). Moreover, we went in November (colder weather).

I've also been to Manila, Hong Kong and Tokyo before where it is not unusual to wear a even a basic mask due to pollution. But there are also plenty of people who don't bother. I certainly haven't.

So once again, it was only just to clarify the extent of the situation - it wasn't a dig at you.

I wasn't talking about you.

November is a much different time, for sure. Of course, then you start to get into the inversion and coal dust, but that's another story

Guess I inadvertently became the bad guy

As mentioned earlier, I posted a link to this thread in the Marriott forum because people had questions about PRG in addition to the Marriott there, and I thought the info provided in this thread was quite helpful. Sorry it seemed to have gotten sidetracked re: possible poor air quality.

Re: other sidetracking. I've not managed to get the guide download to my Kindle. I try, it says it will take longer due to size of guy, I get a message from Kindle that it's been downloaded, but it' not on my Kindle. I'm currently headed to FT Awards, so don't have time to track down Amazon & find out what's going on. Not sure I needed it really, as we're pretty covered in PRG & I know VIE quite well, and will see other FTers in Munich. But hey free is free

Cheers.

It was not a controversial post. Neither was SkiAdcock's reply. Perhaps we are all getting too excited looking forward to this Do.

If you want to see a very angry and controversial post, you will -- if Traveller announces that she will not be in Prague. My reply will be furious!

For those of you who are having problems loading the guide to you Kindle - you can download it to your computer and then using a USB cable load it to your Kindle. Sometimes this is a lot faster.

Are there lockers in the train stations that would accomodate our luggage if we wanted to store them for a few hours and walk around?? This mite make things a little easier...

Yes. They are coin-operated, so make sure you have some 5, 10 and 20Kc coins (can't remember if they take 50s)

I will be staying at the Prague Hilton during the DO. I convinced a friend to come with me, but she may or may not join us during the DO.

Gj83, if your friend is stunningly beautiful, possesses absolutely no morals, and has incredibly bad taste in men, I will be happy to escort her in Prague if she decides to pass up any Do activities.

Dov, you can escort me then. The recently separated looking for a rebound person I am right now.

It will be good to see you again. It's been 4 years since that PBI DO.

gj83, while you unquestionably meet the first qualification (stunningly beautiful), you, unfortunately, demonstrated at the meet that you failed the third qualification (incredibly bad taste in men) and thus, sadly enough, I never was able to find out if you had the second qualification (absolutely no morals).

I obviously epitomize incredibly bad taste in men...my marriage lasted a whopping year.

I resemble that remark and you're in good company gj83 - my first marriage lasted an incredible 9.5 months (married to an airline CSA - go figure ). Second is coming up to 8 years and going strong (with 2 kids in the bargain - thanfully none from the first marriage ).

I am really bummed that I am missing this Do by less than a week, would love to stay, but other commitments in Europe are calling.

Mine lasted about 14 years, so my ex obviously has much worse taste in men than you do.