BMW Group and Vattenfall Europe have begun a second phase of the Mini E test fleet in Berlin, with the transfer of 70 MINI E electric vehicles to private customers (30 units) and fleet users (40 units).
The aim of the project, funded by the German Federal Environment Ministry (BMU), is to optimize the charging strategy to the use of wind energy for the MINI E to achieve the best possible. 20 MINI E users will be able to use the prototype of a route planner for smartphones, which can display charging stations along a selected route.
Also, the final reports of the consortium partners of the firs MINI E Berlin project were presented to the Federal Environment Ministry official. This included two six-month successive phases of use (beginning in June 2009), and represented nearly 500,000 kilometers of driving. The MINI E were charged mainly at night, using certified green electricity from Vattenfall. Three out of four Berlin MINI E users advocated an exclusive use of renewable energy sources for electric vehicles in the future.
The MINI E Fleet trials began in 2009 in the USA (New York, Los Angeles and in the state of New Jersey), UK (Oxford / London) and Germany (Munich and Berlin). This fleet tests subsequently expanded into France (Paris), Japan (Tokyo) and China (Beijing and Shenzhen). In cooperation with the Federal Environment Ministry, BMW AG in China, together with the Society for International Cooperation (GIC) Ltd. and Chinese partners are examining ways to support the use of renewable energy sources for electric vehicles. A memorandum of understanding was signed recently in Berlin.
Lone Bay is the most popular town’s beach. It is located near many hotels (Park, Eden, Montauro), the yacht marina and is in easy walking distance from the town center. The beaches in Lone Bay are ideal for children and seniors who will enjoy the easy swimming in the calm waters of the bay, playing and sunbathing. Nearby are many sport and tourist facilities, boats and surf boards rentals, as well as several snack bars. Monvi amusement center, which during the night becomes a popular place to go out, with plentiful bars, clubs and restaurants, is also close by.
Cuvi Bay
Cuvi Bay is approximately 3 km from the center of Rovinj and it stretches for 1 km along the coast.
In this coastal part the beaches are very well-attended due to the gravels and pebbles and the easy access to the sea. Other advantages of Cuvi Bay are the number of cafes and other facilites you’ll find long the beach. If driving, you can park your car close to Cuvi Bay and it takes only a few minutes to walk to the beach. Or you could come by bike since the whole coast, all the way to the very center of Rovinj, is connected with paths for walkers and bicycle riders that have been put in place and that start at the coast of Lone Bay, close to Hotel
Plato is quoted as saying: “He was a wise man who invented beer.” While the authenticity of his authorship is a bit dodgy, let’s go with the sentiment. Czechs know a thing or two about beer brewing, and recently a Czech bishop blessed a certain batch of the country’s flagship brew, Pilsner Urquell, to be delivered to the Vatican for Easter.
Blessing Pilsner Urquell goes back to the beer’s humble beginnings when the first blessed batch was served in 1842. On April 20, the beer will be sent to the Giovanni Paolo II church restaurant in Rome, where it will be served. Some of the blessed beer will also be kept in the Plzen Brewery Museum.
The special Easter brew will have been symbolically maturing for about 40 days, historically the Christian fasting period of Lent. The blessing of beer is relatively rare; however there is a tradition behind it as many monasteries used to have their own breweries. The purpose of the blessing is not for the beer itself, but the person who will be drinking the beer.
With all of Prague’s incredible neo-Gothic architecture to look up at and beer signs to march toward, it’s easy to miss something that’s everywhere: Czech delicatessens. They may be different from their Western (especially American) counterparts in that they serve ready-made vs. per-request items, but lahůdky are great places to refuel without having to sit down in a restaurant and shell out more than you’d like to on a lunch.
Apetit's deli in Lucerna
One in particular that has become a recent favorite of mine is the Apetit lahůdky a cukrárna in the Lucerna Passage, right off Wenceslas Square (the deli is located on the central aisle of the passage, running from the main atrium, between Štěpánská and Vodičkova streets, down to V Jámě street). It opened about a year ago and is part of the Apetit chain, which has a self-service-style restaurant across the hallway. But the deli has the best deals for a light bite or a sweet tooth, perfect for grabbing to go and eating in the nearby hidden gardens just behind Müstek: the rose-laden and bench-filled Františkánská zahrada. You can also round out the meal (and your figure) with an ice-cream from the heaveny Ovocný Světozor just around the corner, too.
Františkánská zahrada (the roses should be out soon)
The offerings of lahůdky may seem intimidating at first, with rows of spilling-over open-faced sandwiches (chlebičky) and tubs of various creamy salads, but in addition to be a crown-saver it’s also a taste of Czech cuisine just as important as roast duck or goulash. Chlebičky, which are a good-sized slice of white baguette topped with various combinations — such as ham and cheese and boiled egg, carrot salad, crab salad or cheese and pickle — are only about 12 Kc a piece. It’s not surprising then that the Apetit lahůdky can at times build up a long queue of people waiting to get a fill up on a few.
It also stocks a variety of sandwiches, which work out to an incredible bargain, as well. Check out this gargantuan curried-chicken ciabatta, below, for the sweet price of just 45 Kc:
The huge curried-chicken ciabatta.
This particular one came with slices of roast chicken, tomato, cheese, gherkins, lettuce and a light curried-mayo dressing that adds a light tang, tarting it up and elevating it to something interesting. There are also smaller versions, served in cereal rolls (cerealní rohlíky) for 25 Kč — perfect for elevensies, as I’ve found.
Crammed into the glass counter are also tuna sandwiches, caprese sandwiches, standard ham and cheese, hermelín sandwiches, vying for space with veritable meals: pork and chicken shnitzels (of the latter, I had one that was crusted in a potato-and-broccoli batter. It was great, and cost about, oh, 40 Kč), as well as potato pancakes and various other breaded and potato-oriented items that can either be heated up and enjoyed on the premises or packaged up to go at no extra charge.
Another whole counter at the Apetit lahůdky a cukrárna is dedicated to salads, some of which rotate on a daily basis. One whole row is taken up with various pickled fishes, and another with several incarnations of potato salad and humr, an often crab- or lobster-flavored creamy mixture that goes well with white rolls. There are also vegetable salads, such as one with broccoli, leek, corn and carrot, as well as various pasta salads, including a tuna one (which sadly is only available on certain days, if you’re lucky), one with cream and blue cheese, one with ham and peas, and one with spinach, cream and carrot, pictured below:
Pasta Rigate
The salads are priced at around 15 or 16 Kč per 100 grams, so for a normal, restaurant-sized portion (usually 300 grams), you can get away with paying less than 50 Kč. It’s also good to mix-and-match several different kinds. I scored a chicken řízek with potato salad recently for a whopping fiftysomething crowns.
Lahudky also usually feature counters stocked full of Czech cakes and sweets, and it’s worth ordering a few (just point to what you want) to see what all the fuss is about. I’ll just let this picture do the talking of what delights await:
Calories = yum.
Most mornings when I pass by there are several pairs of customers seated outside, with steaming mugs of coffee and plates piled high with three or four cakes each. I’m working up the courage myself to throw spring diet hopes to the wind and do the same …
I could have sworn an angels’ chorus rang out in jubilation when Dřevěnka first came into sight. Although that may have just been my stomach.
Three friends and I had trudged through the season’s last snowfall almost faint but certainly cranky with hunger (speaking for myself, at least), freshly stiff from an afternoon spent cross-country skiing in Harrachov. We’d dined at the town’s microbrewery, Novosad Pivovar, the night before, and while the 12° František beer there is praiseworthy, the food was pretty standard, and not necessarily in a good way. I’d seen the website for Dřevěnka several years ago, and after mooning over its pictures of a folksy, wooden chalet with a roaring fireplace, I’d been longing to go. It was only recently, though, that I finally made the trip to Harrachov, a ski town in the Krkonoše Mountains in north Bohemia (for more on the town and surroundings, read my travel piece in tomorrow’s print edition of The Prague Post).
My Czech friend had asked the concierge at our hotel for other recommendations among the town’s hotel-eatery options, and that good woman had suggested Dřevěnka. But it was only when its wooden frame, tiny square windows alight with flickering warmth through gauzy curtain and smoke curling up from the chimney, came into view that I recognized it as from a dream.
Dřevěnka shown in summertime.
If you haven’t already guessed, I have a weakness for this sort of hidden gem: rustic and lively, the type of place (and staff) that encourages you to linger long after plates have been cleared, to chat over drinks, pet the barman’s dog and perhaps join in a song or two with whoever has instruments on hand.
The welcoming and homey interior.
I would have been happy enough just with getting to Dřevěnka and managing to secure one of their five tables. But the food was truly memorable, as well, and did more than hold up its own in the holy trinity of food, atmosphere and service. It succeeded in that elusive property of being the Real Deal: an unassuming and authentic restaurant serving up quality food with a smile, and for people’s prices.
There were two things in particular that stood out immediately upon inspecting their menu and boded well. The first was that they served Rampušák beer (25 Kč), a lovely, malty unfiltered lager from nearby Dobruška. The second was that they served Segedínský guláš.
The "other goulash" with the "other white meat."
Segedínský guláš is the “other goulash,” made from pork and a cabbage-based sauce as opposed to beef and onion, respectively, and with lighter spices. When done well, it’s hearty and filling with a tartness from the cabbage that complements the stewed pork excellently. Dřevěnka’s was incredible, and even looking at the picture of it I took makes me want to travel the 2.5 hours back to Harrachov to have it again. Oh, and the price? About 115 Kč. Needless to say, I cleared my plate, using the fluffy, homemade dumplings that came with it.
The menu is compact, but still left me spoilt for choice as to what to order should they be out of goulash. Simple steaks and soups and enormous fruit-filled dumplings made their way past us to other tables, causing some indecision.
A hearty plate of svickova.
One friend, a diehard svíčkova fan, raved of the one he had here (115 Kč). I’m not normally partial to the dish, not being particularly fond of the sweet-savory combination, but this one was excellent. The sauce had clearly been lovingly and exactingly made, the vegetable sauce enhancing the tender beef sirloin cut.
Another ordered boar medallions, served with a rich and earthy red-wine sauce for an incredible pairing (around 200 Kč), which can be glimpsed in the background of the photo below. Lastly, our table was rounded out by an order of the river trout, served whole and sliced open lengthways, stuffed with cabbage and onions. The fish, fresh and lightly grilled, was surrounded by boiled herbed potatoes that stood out on their own. A selection of cabbage and vegetable salads finished the plate — as did we.
The river trout was served on an enormous platter.
Despite eating a big meal, my friends I found ourselves revitalized by the atmosphere and gained a second wind to that which was knocked out of us earlier on skis. We stayed on at Dřevěnka for a good while, relishing the fireplace and enjoying our beers and each other’s company. A few shots of the restaurant’s house-made slivovice didn’t go down amiss, either.
It’s places like this that remind me how much I love living in and exploring this country. If you’re like me, then I’d really recommend you find a way — be it by foot, bike or ski — to visit Dřevěnka in Harrachov.
The Czech health care system will need extra CZK 10.5 billion in 2012 due to the increased value-added tax and the promised raising of doctors’ pay, TOP 09 deputies’ group head Petr Gazdík, said on a Czech Television (CT) discussion programme Sunday.
Welcome Spring! The weather report may not agree, but March 20 is the first day of spring and Prague is waiting! Everyone is ready for a little sunshine and warmer weather; museums are opening new exhibitions, the festival circuit is moving into full gear and oh so soon outdoor tables will squeeze out every bit of sidewalk space available.
So why should you come to Prague this spring? We’ve rounded up our top 5 reasons:
St. Matthew’s Fair: For those who like a roller coaster or two, head over to St. Matthew’s Fair located at the Výstaviště fairgrounds in Prague 7. A permanent mini-amusement park is there year round, but from March 3-April 24, more than 120 attractions, a haunted house, bouncy castle, plus food and toy stands and other amusements can be found.
Easter Markets: From April 9 to May 1, Easter markets will be held on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Here you can find a range of traditional handicrafts plus lots of festival food and beer. Be sure to pick up a couple of the hand painted eggs. A Czech tradition, they make a lovely souvenir of your Prague spring.
Prague Spring: The internationally renowned music festival will be celebrating its 66th year in 2011. Inventive, classic and global, this is the place to hear some of the best orchestras and musicians from the Czech Republic and around the world. Also plays host to a young artists’ competition, which is a great chance to preview the next crop of musical stars.
1 May: This is often considered the day of love (it is also a public holiday – Labor Day!) as romantics make the climb up Petrin Hill to kiss under a blossoming cherry tree which is said to ensure your love will last another year. Lovers also traditionally lay flowers at the statue of Czech romantic poet Karel Hynek Macha, him of the famed poem, Máj.
Walk it! Prague is a city best discovered on your own two feet. Now that the snow is gone (we hope!) the cobblestones are clear for wandering. Aimlessly is our best advice; down and up whatever street strikes your fancy. And be sure to hit both sides of the Vltava river, as well as at least one park – we recommend either Kampa or Letná.
Taken at the final round of the Highsports drytooling competition at SwissCottage.
The site is interesting in that it has huge glass windows all round the wall and then wire fence at the top leaving it open to the elements.
fortunately, the weather was good and the sun was streaming in which meant that I didn’t have to balance strange lighting with flash and could use an ISO less than 800.
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat out in Prague but aren’t sure which restaurant to choose, you can make use of this new interactive map of restaurants reviewed by The Prague Post food writers.
The map features the location and contact details of each restaurant plus a link to all the latest reviews, going back to January 2010.
Lone Bay is the most popular town’s beach. It is located near many hotels (Park, Eden, Montauro), the yacht marina and is in easy walking distance from the town center. The beaches in Lone Bay are ideal for children and seniors who will enjoy the easy swimming in the calm waters of the bay, playing and sunbathing. Nearby are many sport and tourist facilities, boats and surf boards rentals, as well as several snack bars. Monvi amusement center, which during the night becomes a popular place to go out, with plentiful bars, clubs and restaurants, is also close by.
