Scottish Games, Sychrov, The Czech Republic by Jaromír Zajíček

Traditional Scottish Games at Sychrov Castle are among the largest Scottish Games in Europe and are held under the auspices of Her Excellency Sian Macleod, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Czech Republic.

Really a rich program can be seen in two stages – primary and secondary, Games are hosted in a neo-Gothic castle Sychrov and its beautiful park. It is located about an hour driving from Prague.

Busy Scottish Games Programme includes

• Traditional and non-traditional Scottish and Irish music performed by famous Czech and foreign artists
• Demonstration and teaching of Scottish dances
• 2nd Whisky Festival – tasting scotch whiskey (single malt and blended)
• Classic Scottish Weightlifting competitions
• Children’s competitions throughout the day
• Theatre performance for children
• The show of the British veteran cars (Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Aston Martin, etc.)
• Historical camps with regular demonstrations and lectures
• Fencing
• Trained birds of prey demonstrations
• Market stalls with traditional and modern Scottish jewelery, kilts (skirts), music and small souvenirs

The basic admission fee is 400,- Czech Crowns (around €16), children up to 15 years for free. For further information about Scottish Games at Sychrov Castle can be found on the official website.

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Budapest, Hungary by Marco Aurelio Martins Costa

One particularly captivating country looking for TEFL teachers is Hungary, a fabulously cultural and historic country in Europe. With amazing castles and stunning world heritage sites, as well as bustling cities such as Budapest and the romantic Danube River, the country is unique in its charm and attraction.

The positions in Hungary are in locations like Tata and Budapest, offering competitive wages and in some cases, offer accommodation as part of the employment package.

TEFL England gives you free, lifetime access to the TEFL Job Centre when you enrol on one of their courses, which is extremely handy for keeping you up to date with all of the most recent TEFL employment opportunities. As well as this, there is access to the employer’s directory, which has literally thousands of contacts. They offer full support throughout your course, in aspects like C.V. and interview advice, job placement guidance and even in basic things like choosing the right course for you. This helps make your TEFL experience very straight forward.

Hungary is a fantastically vibrant place to work and live, and an ideal setting to start your TEFL journey.  If you have your sights set somewhere else in Europe, however, why not look to teach English in The Czech Republic, France, Spain, Russia, Finland, Germany – and the list goes on! TEFL is a truly rewarding experience, and a brilliant opportunity to become fully immersed in an exciting and unfamiliar environment.

For more information visit: https://teflengland.co.uk/ or have a look at some of the TEFL jobs available worldwide on: https://teflengland.co.uk/tefl-jobs.asp.

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Photo by zamek-hradec.cz

Slavic people settled at this place already at the end of 8th century. In the 11th century Slavic settlement turned into a royal castle of the Přemyslids. After next 200 years it was rebuilt by Czech King Premysl Otakar II. into the palatial castle protected by a massive fortification. In 1531 the castle burned down, but despite major repairs still holds its medieval appearance.

The total reconstruction was done in the late 16th century by Kaspar Pruskovský from Pruskov, who in 1585 inherited this property. At the castle was established ornamental garden with a breeding pond Pilar.

In February 1796 a renaissance castle was badly damaged by fire. A year later started its reconstruction, which not only brought substantial changes to exteriors, but also a fundamental change in the surroundings. The chateau was rebuilt into the form that has survived with minor changes until today. One of the first guests in the renovated castle was composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who stayed here between 1806 – 1811. A little later the castle even welcomed Niccolò Paganini and in 1846 and 1848 also hosted the pianist and composer Franz Liszt.

The second half of the 19th century brought another neo-Gothic transformation. The most important building of that time was an economic extension of the Red Castle dating from 1874 – 1895 and the White Tower.

The castle Hradec nad Moravicí became in 2002 a national cultural monument, and is an important center of social events.

For further information visit official site of Chateau Hradec nad Moravicí (only in Czech ).

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jaroslav Kuba

Near the waterfalls is located Mumlava shed – a restaurant. Falls are easily accessible on foot or by bike along the asphalt road, an access for motor vehicles is not allowed, so you will not be disturbed. From Mumlava waterfalls you can continue to Vosecká shed.

In the surroundings of Harrachov you can find more rivers offering the similar phenomena, such as waterfalls, but they certainly can not be compared with Mumlava waterfall. Its height reaches up to 8 meters and is 10 meters wide. The waterfalls are different in every season, so whether you come in summer, or spring, or any other time you will see them always in a different form.

On the way to Mumlava waterfalls you can visit the mining museum, which is accessible throughout the year. Or you can hike to any of the countless wonderful places in Krkonoše National Park.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by jzollich

Geographically Orlické hory are divided into three parts: Deštenská highland, Mladkovská highland a Bukovohorská highland. Orlické hory was declared a protected landscape area in 1969 and includes 19 protected parts. There are several rivers flowing through the mountains such as Olešenka River, Divoká Orlice and Tichá Orlice. The mountains covers a total area of ​​204 km2 and it is a home to rare and protected species of plants and animals.

Orlické hory offers ideal conditions for hiking and biking. During the winter months it is ideal for skiing and cross-country skiing. Among the most popular ski resorts are Deštné v Orlických horách, Říčky v Orlických horách, Zdobnice or Čenkovice. Visitors will be pleased with numerous cultural and historical monuments, which include for example Opočno castle, the baroque castle of Rychnov nad Kněžnou, Doudleby nad Orlicí castle, or Častolovice castle, which is one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in the Czech Republic. Among the most visited ruins are Potštejn and Litice, Žampach and Lanšperk. It is worth mentioning pilgrimage site of Homol with the Church of the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, a Baroque staircase, and with two chapels founded in 1692 by Countess Tereza Eleonor of Ugarte.

Other tourist attractions in Orlické hory include several military fortifications that were built at the former Czech-German border in 1936-38 to defend against danger from fascist Germany.

During your holiday trip you get to know and admire the natural beauty of this area. Either you are sport lover or lover of history and sights, or just a tourist looking for comfort and relaxation, then Orlické hory in the Czech Republic are really suitable for you!

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Inside you will find around 700,000 items on display, which relate to the history of music both in the Czech Republic, with items belonging to the world famous Czech composers Dvořak and Smetana, and around the world, such as an original score by Mozart. There is a programme of temporary exhibitions passing through the museum throughout the year, so even returning visitors can find something new to see.

A lot of the collection is old manuscripts and recordings, as well as instruments, and there is plenty for the music lover to browse through while also enjoying the beauty of the grand assembly hall.

If you would rather listen to music than learn about it, there is a programme of concerts each year in the assembly hall which take full advantage of the hall’s ambience and fantastic acoustics. These concerts are usually live classical music and opera, and if you are planning to visit Prague it is certainly worth seeing if there are any concerts you could attend during your stay.

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The interior of the greenhouse is divided into three separated parts with different temperature and humidity. The visitors can see the vegetation of the tropical and partly subtropical regions. Plants are arranged to evoke the idea of ​​natural plant communities. Unlike in other greenhouses there are numerous species of plants that are very common in the tropical areas and apparently have little significance. However an overall collection of these species is very valuable.

Visitors at first see the dry Australian bush and rare flora from the island of Madagascar. Then walk through xerophilic vegetation of southern Mexico and some areas of Africa, among which the most popular are Namaqualand and Little Karoo. The middle and largest part of the greenhouse is humid lowland rain forest. It is connected to other parts by an underground tunnel which is built between two large freshwater aquariums. Here you can see a number of tropical fish and other animals.

The biggest part consists of tropical plants of South America, and selected locations of Central America. Other parts are reserved for flora of Australia and Oceania, Africa and Madagascar, Vietnam, Sunda Islands and the Philippines. Visitors can watch the life in tropical lakes, or may rest for a moment on the panoramic terrace listening to a nearby waterfall. The last part is cold and evoke the life in the high mountains. There are plants from American Andes. The central part of the exhibition is devoted to rare vegetation of table mountains in Venezuela.

Trip to tropical nature is not only a dream, any more. Walk across exotic mountains, forests and semi-deserts in Europe.

Tropical greenhouse Fata Morgana is a part of Prague’s Botanical Garden in Troja and the basic admission is 70CZK (€3). For further details see the official website of Prague’s Botanical Garden.

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It is really cheap and suitable also for the families with kids. You don’t have to be an expert in canoeing, as Czech rivers are not as wild. It is even suitable for those that have never been rafting before. However you have to meet one requirement – you have to love water.

There are about 500 rivers that you can raft in the Czech republic. We prepared for you just a short overview of the most popular rivers you should start with.

Vltava river
The very Czech river is usually rafted from the town of Vyšší Brod to the city of České Budějovice. It is possible to add additional two days from Lenora to Lipno or two days from Prague to Mělník. On all these sections the river flows nicely and is suitable for tourist canoe. Very popular is sailing down the all the dams on the Vltava between České Budějovice and Prague on sea kayaks. Also, if you would like to get an unforgettable experience you should pass through the Czech capital – Prague, or through the city of Český Krumlov.

+ Beautiful landscape, nice flow, most dams are rideable
- Too many boaters and full camps.

Rental services on Vltava river: www.ingetour.cz

Sázava river
Sázava provides two interesting sections – one is at the beginning and one at the end. The section between Týnec nad Sázavou and Pikovice belongs to the most popular ones in the Czech republic.
+ Interesting rapids
- Dangerous weirs, long stretches without power, many boaters on the downstream

Rental services on Sazava river: www.pujcovna-lodi.cz (only in Czech)

Lužnice river
Lužnice has already been described in the separated article here.

Berounka river
If you’ve never been on the water yet, Berounka river is ideal for you. It does not flow too fast, it is broad and water level is enough high throughout the year. The list of superlatives can include a beautiful nature, interesting sights all around and the camping almost on every turn. Those looking for comfort, night guitar just at the fireplace, pubs or walks to the surrounding ruins, will find Berounka as the best solution. Here you can meet the groups that runs the same river for decades.

+ Forests and meadows, many nice campsites, monuments and sights
- Dry after the weirs

Rental services on Berounka river: www.rekaberounka.cz

Ohře river
Ohře river is a number 2 among the most popular canoeing rivers. It is powerful, and fresh. Fast flow alternates with rapids. It often passes under the rocks, on which is castle or at least the ruins. The historic town of Cheb, Karlovy Vary and Kadaň worth seeing. Many camps offer only cheap place for a tent and a simple toilet, but there is also a number of comfortably equipped campsites.

+ Live river, fast flow, romantic landscape
- Too many boaters

Rental services on Ohře river: www.dronte.cz

Otava river
Castles, beer, sausage, relax – it’s Otava. Nicely flowing through the planes of Šumava forests to Orlík lake. There is no unpleasant surprises waiting for the paddlers. During the holidays it is full of boaters, but the number of boats and tents in the camps is reasonable.

+ Peaceful atmosphere
- In the hot summer can be the lack of water

Rental services on Otava river: www.lodniservis.cz

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Water temperature in the swimming pools is 28 – 30 °C, which allows perfect relaxation. Aquapark Babylon is very famous and popular park in the Czech Republic. Already its name suggests the internal layout and overall design of this water world that remember the atmosphere of ancient baths. Babylon brings to its visitors a complete range of services, which in addition to water park offers also a restaurant, café, hotel and bowling. This water park is often preferred among visitors thanks to the high-quality equipment of the whole complex.

The attractions of Aquapark Babylon will appeal to both children and adults. The most visited attractions include four slides, space bowl tornado, wild river, and over 100 meters climbing frame network.

If you are looking for a place to rest and relax in the northern Czech Republic, there is no better choice than Aquapark Babylon.

Aquapark is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (on Fridays till 23:00). Naturist party is held every last Saturday of the month from 20:00 to 24:00. On Mondays from 20:00 to 22:00 mixed (with or without a swimsuit). Christmas Naturist party will be held on Tuesday 27 December 2011.

The basic whole-day admission is 320CZK (€22). For further details see the Aquapark Babylon official website.

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You can see about 40 species of fish with a total number of more than 500. Enjoy a walk through an underwater tunnel and rainforest. If you are tired you can rest at Piranha Cafe – where you can freshen up while observing predatory piranhas. There is also available a family sport area with a ricochet court, sauna and gym, which offers active relaxation in privacy with your family.

In Giant Aquarium you have a unique opportunity to see tropical nature of South and Central America. In the first part of the tour, called AVE NATURA, you can see the exhibition which currently consists of a unique collection of skulls of exotic fish.

In the second part of the tour you get to the tropical rainforest, where you can learn what it means to stay in the tropics – a combination of heat and 85-90% humidity. Here you can admire the beauty of plants such as orchids, Bromelia or Tillandsia in amazing shapes and color diversity and in more than 150 species and varieties. The impression is enhanced by occasional tropical rain and artificial fog.

After passing through the forest you get to the bottom of freshwater tropical ponds with the fish community of South and Central America. Besides the fish that you can know from your home aquarium, you will find real rarities here. The most species belong to the family Cichlidae. You can see here a big, up to 90 cm long fish of the Colossoma Serrasalmidae weighing up to 23 Kg.

The total volume of the exhibition tank is 130 000 liters of water, which means the mass of 130 tons and for your idea it is a weight of about 40 elephant females. The aquarium is 5 meters long and 8 meters wide. The great view from the bottom of the pool is allowed by the tunnel of acrylic glass with a thickness of 6.5 cm, specially imported far from Japan.

Every Thursday afternoon you can see the unique fish feeding with divers in the tank.

The Giant Aquarium is open all year round (except of Mondays) from 9:00 to 18:00 and the basic admission is 120CZK (€5).

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