Maybe we should try to divide, not to E and W europe, but northern and southern. Where will we be then? I suggest ... central again.
Yes, pretty much spot on! Mainland Europe stretches from latitudes about 70 degrees north to about 36 degrees north making the centre 53 degrees north. Praha at 50 degrees north is close enough!! Central again.
Hehe I did a design for a t-shirt like six years ago, there was written: Czech republic... ... in the heart of Europe
I'm only wondering, if there's no such region as Central Europe, where Central European Time came from?
Maybe from somewhere else than the United Nations? 8) By the way, some of the countries using CET (from Wikipedia): Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Andorra, Spain, Albania, Sweden. So we can see there's not much correlation between so-called Central Europe (Time) and geographical location anyway. And I guess the Czech Republic can be called the heart of Europe, just as lets say Guatemala is the heart of America or Mongolia is the heart of Asia. Just for fun, select few top links returned by Google when searching for "Heart of Europe": http://www.heartofeurope.com/ http://www.heartofeurope.co.uk/ http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Europe-Past-Polands-Present/dp/0192801260 http://www.affordabletours.com/search/it/?t=HM Looks like there's a tough competition for the title. :wink: But seriously, I'm so disgusted with our political situation (and economical isn't that much better) that I wouldn't hesitate to place my country on the Balkan or even South America (banánová republika). :evil:
In this wide ranging geo-, politico-, religious- discussion it must be noted that, while in Praha, Cesky Krumlov and Marianske Lazne (only places my wife shopped), I took special note to see if ANY shops had ANY size basket near the door. None did. Other observations (referring to this thread's various topics): - I did not see any Czech have the slightest hesitation in attempting to speak English i.e. no embarrassment. - No, not everyone smiled but many people did (particularly when they heard my atrocious Czech language skills (?)). The Germans in Marianske Lazne certainly smiled a lot less. - Even the civil servants seen including the policie were quite friendly including those who stopped us driving the wrong way (NOTE to foreign drivers - it IS possible to go the wrong way while at a gas station).
I smile when I'm happy, I don't when I'm not, when I'm upset I wish I could cry but I can't. Why not? I don't know. I laugh when I'm really happy. I get anxious when I'm bored or waiting for an important result such as during exams or after a job interview. Most of the time I smile inside but not on the out. I have to be stimulated to smile. I can't just smile to keep someone else happy unless I have nothing else to think about and then it is only for my own personal amusement. Sorry that sounds a bit cruel but if people feel others are obliged to smile because they themselves are happy then they could at least try to to make me happy before complaining abot my lack of outward expression of happiness culminating in a smile. I don't think I have ever met a Czech before so I am looking forward to evaluating their temperament myself. I think in these insecure times perhaps everyone is a little anxious at least.
this is something all foreigners need to know before pissing off or insulting a true Czech: never ever ever say anything bad about knedlíky (Czech dumplings) or pivo (beer). Once a bad remark is made of either one of these, it's very hard to get over for a true czech. Keep this in mind!
The (true) Czechs are allowed to make comments or complains about the quality of "knedlíky" (dumplings) or "pivo" (beer). 8) 8)
lol, yea, i believe that would work only for true Czechs cuz their "lifetime experience" of drinking and eating would definately make them an expert on the best beer and dumplings ever!!! yum!
