Letter from Prague | All stories

Whenever there is a state holiday here in the Czech Republic, pairs of little Czech tricolour flags appear on the front of the country's trams. Given the fact such holidays are on the same date every year, when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday (when you're off work anyway) the tiny red, white and blue flags can be a reminder that an important day in the history of the state is being marked.

Every family has its own series of legends constantly retold. In my own, one of the enduring legends that fascinated me since youth was the story of my parents' marriage, which took place in 1965, in then-communist Czechoslovakia. My parents, both in their twenties then, took their vows at a local town hall.

In the fourteen years since the fall of communism Prague has undoubtedly undergone remarkable transformation in the city's infrastructure. Its beautifully restored architecture and rich cultural heritage attracts millions each year and every time I meet a group of tourists I'm always sure to tell them about my golden rule - when you walk along the city's sidewalks don't forget to look up!

"Nemluvim Cesky." I don't speak Czech. It's by far my least favorite phrase in the Czech language and one that unfortunately I've had to say quite often. On Monday's edition of this program, Dominik Jun took a look at the growing trend of Anglicization in Prague's tourist districts. I enjoyed the segment but must admit that it made me feel a bit uncomfortable when it occurred to me that I am one of this trend's perpetrators.

Not only does summer bring smog and sweaty trams to Prague, it also sees the return of women in open-toed high-heels tettering across cobblestones.

This year's summer in the Czech Republic has been rather disappointing so far, with not many of the blazing hot days that we experienced last year. While some people might be pleased because they don't have to suffer in smelly trams and buses, others say that the rainy weather has been influencing people's mood, the color of our skin and most importantly our daily intake of ice-cream and beer. All in all we are depressed and pale.

The long summer days in Prague are passing quite slowly. Most of the school children have left the city for summer camps, lots of families have moved southwards to the Mediterranean, where they hope to find sunnier weather. Prague inhabitants have been substituted by tourists. The old Czech government has formally resigned, and the time of waiting for the new one is filled with speculation of what it should look like.

Well it's all over. After three weeks of football mania Czechs have gone back to their everyday lives, swallowing the bitter disappointment over the national team's loss to Greece, which dashed its hopes of playing in the final of Euro 2004. Although the Czech team was not among the favourites at the start of the championship, the team's performance sent Czech hopes soaring sky high - and the eyes of the nation were riveted on Portugal. Never mind the fall of the Czech government and the shocking revelations of corruption in two leading Czech football

For the second time this year, my Letter from Prague is going to be about the Czech version of the hit reality show PopIdol, the televised search for new singing talents.

This is my first "Letter from Prague" for Radio Prague and as my father back in Boston, Massachusetts would readily tell you, I haven't written a proper letter since I was in summer camp. So, it is somehow fitting that I dedicate this audio letter to my long-suffering father, although he will once again be denied the simple tactile pleasure of opening the mailbox, finding a letter with his name on it and the special bonus of a foreign stamp and postmark. But here we go.