Czequestria 2017: Digital Frontier

[Crash Override]

(05.05.2017)Emmanuel Goldstein schrieb:  Fährt wer mit dem Zug über Nürnberg? (weil dann könnten wir zusammen fahren)

Ich würde auf der Route (zumindest lt. DB) bis nach nürnberg mit dem zug fahren, und dnach in den (DB) IC - Bus gen Praha umsteigen. Preise hab ich leider (noch) nicht, weswegen ich da auch noch kein Hotel und auch kein Ticket besorgt habe.

[Railway Dash]

As promised, here are some lines with my experiences and recommendations considering getting cash money and using the public transport systems. I'm writing from the point of view as a foreigner, as a tourist who has visited Praha about a dozen times now, and well of course, I might have noticed some things that are so common and normal to local natives that they never would think of mentioning them, but they may well be interesting to visitors.

Getting cash money (Öffnen)

Don't change money in exchange offices in common places, such as in the main train station (hlavní nádraží) or at the airport. They may write "no comission", but they offer bad rates - you get far less CZK / KČ (the name of the local curreny is the Koruna Česká / pl. Korun Českých, abbreviated to KČ, with no sub-unit in cash money anymore) for your Euros.

You can, however, use the services of the private-run exchange offices around the streets Opletalova, Jeruzalémska and U půjčovny, in the center of the city, right next to the main train station. They offer better, acceptable rates than at the train station and don't differ from each other very much.

Another way to get cash is to use your EC card at an ATM (german: Geldautomat, in Praha mostly labeled als "bankomat"). Yes, the banks will charge you a fee, but that fee is a fixed rate which does not depend on how much money you're drawing from your account. So the best way is, if you're travelling in a group, to have ONE "cashier" in your group who uses his card and draws a comparatively huge sum from his account at once. Thus, the fee is kinda split over a huge sum, resulting in a very good overall effective exchange rate. If you, however, draw only a comparatively small sum (such as 1.000 or 2.000 KČ), that same fee goes over that sum, which will decrease your effective rat considerably. I, for myself, used to draw from 10.000 to 15.000 KČ at a time (which lasted for several years for me then; in a group, it's best if the account owner "sells" the money to his comrades) and got effective rates of 1:26,95 at least.

It's possible the ATM will offer you the choice between a "fixed rate" or something like that ("Festkurs" oder ähnliche Bezeichnung) and the "daily rate" ("Tageskurs"). Always choose the daily rate (Tageskurs)! The machine will try to get you to choose the fix rate "with no daily rate exchange risk". True, but this "fixed rate" is pretty poor! Accept the "exchange risk" of the daily rate - it is, in any case, better than the fixed rate! Don't let the computer irritate you - of course, the banks try to trick you into accepting a fix rate with a poor result - four you, not for them.

Never change cash in your hotel. Of course, the hotel receptions almost always offer exchange services, "free of comission" - but for very poor rates! You're lucky if you get 1:22,5 at your hotel, maybe even less.

Also, do not do your exchange at home in Germany. In Germany, almost all money exchange is done with the Reisebank. Even if your bank would organise you KČ (which isn't sure as many German banks don't have a cash counter anymore!), they obtain it from the Reisebank. The rates of Reisebank are pretty poor and the additional fees are very high, so your overall rate will be extremely poor!

Maybe you're travelling by car to Praha (in that case: good luck, dealing with the local police, especially outside of Praha, can be really tricky - and expensive) or have a stop nearby the border. Don't fall for the try to change money there - overall rates will also be extremely poor, and you're taking a great risk of getting at least some notes of counterfeit money or outdated and thus invalid KČ banknotes!

If someone tries to deal you 20 KČ or 50 KČ notes: refuse to take them and tell the dealer you might as well call the police since you are about to be criminally tricked. These notes have ceased to be legal tenders many years ago (the 20 KČ about a decade ago!) and been withdrawn from circulation, but some people might try to deal them to the unknowing tourist.

Public transport (Öffnen)

The best way to get moving around in Praha is by using the public transport.

You'll need a valid ticket before you enter public transport - there is no way to obtain tickets on board the buses, trams and trains! I highly recommend using 24 hour tickets. There are two types of them: tickets for 24 hours or for 72 hours. Depending on how long you're staying in Praha, you should choose your ticket. The price is a bit lower than mid-european standard, considering the really huge network you get for it. You may want to check http://www.dpp.cz for the actual fares. If you're arriving at the main train station (be it by train or by bus; buses stop at a bus station at Wilsonova which is right next to the train station), you'll find a ticket booth in the lower main hall of the train station, nearby the entrance to the Metro station. This booth is actually operated by real humans (not just computers or machines!), you can talk to them - the traffic enterprise (DP Praha) only puts employees there who speak several languages. Some of them do speak German, but in any case, you can talk to them in English. Same goes for the airport.

A ticket must be validated when first entering a vehicle or the Metro (or suburban train) platform. In buses or trams, you find the stamping devices inside the vehicles. When travelling with the Metro or the Esko trains (= suburban trains, bei uns in Deutschland entsprechen die Esko-Züge der S-Bahn), you must validate the ticket when entering the platform. Even just standing at a Metro platform requires a valid ticket! After validating, your ticket will be valid for the time printed on it, don't stamp it again.

When a ride is going to depart, keep one thing in mind: NEVER try to stall or delay it. In some areas in Germany, it sadly has become quite common for passengers to willingly block the doors from closing "so the train can wait for the others who come trotting over there". DO NOT try this in Praha - or you'll be faster off the vehicle or the Metro system than the blink of an eye. Also, the doors have no light barriers (Lichtschranken) - not even at the newest vehicles. Doors are always closed all at once by the driver. The closing of the doors will be announced: at trams and buses, you hear a beeping or humming sound and see an orange light at the door. This signal means: stop entering or leaving, the doors are about to close and the ride is about to depart. At the Metro, you'll hear a typical announcement (only played inside the train, but when the doors are open, you'll hear it outside, too): "Ukončete, prosím, výstup a nástup, dveře se zavírají!" It means: "Stop leaving and entering [the train], the doors are closing!" / "Beenden Sie das Aus- und Einsteigen, die Türen schließen!" Immidiately after this announcement finishes, the doors do as announced - they close, whether you try to block it or not. And they won't reverse - and being caught between the single doors can hurt!

Please keep in mind: people and especially the employees of DP Praha aren't unfriendly - but they are for sure one thing: they are consequent. What was said, was meant exactly that way - and when it was said that the doors of the Metro will be closing, they will close, no discussion. For Germans, this might be unusal at first sight, but once you get used to it, you'll find it improves the effectiveness of public transport a lot.

For the smokers: smoking is strictly prohibited at the whole Metro system. Don't be a fool and ignore that! Nearly every Metro station has security staff, and if you're trying to smoke down there, they'll get into action really fast - and you're expelled from the Metro system really quickly or will pay a hefty fee at least. As for the security staff, it's pretty simple: just use common sense, don't give them a reason to step into action, and you'll have no issue with them; in fact, you most likely won't even notice they're even there. Same goes not only for smoking but also for littering the platforms or the tracks. - At tram and bus stops, smoking is officially prohibited, too; there are the everywhere signs that say "Kouření zakázáno" which means "no smoking". At less frequented stops, it's tolerated inofficially, but at crowded stops, again use some common sense - and don't cover up the other passengers in a smoke cloud.

When using trams or buses, you'll hear announcements for the stops. There are always two stops mentioned, don't let that confuse you: first, it's the name of the stop you're approaching (or already standing at) just now, second is the name of the next stop. It sounds this way: "(jingle) Trojská. Příští zastávka: Nad Trojou." So it means: you're right at the stop Trojská, and the next stop after Trojská will be Nad Trojou. Unusual for Germans, but you'll get used to it fairly quickly. - Sometimes, there might be an additional announcment: "(soft ding) Příští zastávka je na znamení." This means: the next stop is a stop on demand only and won't be served if no one signals the driver to want a stop and if no one is present at the stop itself. If you want to exit at such a stop, be sure to press the signal button at the doors (labeled "Znamení k řidiči") as soon as you hear the announcement that your stop will only be served on demand.

Other announcements you may hear at trams or buses: "... Přestup na Metro / Přestup na linky S a další vlakové spoje". This means: You can change to the Metro / to the Esko and other trains. - At a final stop, you'll hear: "Konečná zastávka - prosíme vystupte!", but that is also repeated in English anyways ("Final stop, please leave the tram!").

If you're using the Esko trains, there are, depending on which kind of train is running, less to sometimes even no announcements at all, so maybe this is for the somewhat more advanced visitors only

Public transport vehicles are often pretty crowded - which, of course, attracts pickpockets (Taschendiebe). So don't carry around your wallet or smartphone in your plot pocket of your jeans - or it will be gone after you have been in a crowded spot or vehicle. Aside from pickpockets (who won't make any prey if you don't offer them something), Praha is fairly safe. Sometimes, beggars may mor or less obtrusively ask you for money, especially once they realise you're a tourist. Whether you choose to give them some bucks or refuse is up to you. In any case, they're just an annoyance but not really a security issue. In all the years I traveled to Praha, no one has ever tried to rob me.

So, right now, this is all I could think about it. No worries, you don't need to learn and recite this whole text - but maybe you'll find one or another of the information in here useful when being in Praha and remember of having at least once read about it

If there are any questions - bring them. Either here or send me a PN, I'm pretty sure I can help out. I may be german but I was often enough in Praha - and I WILL go there again. Some time.

[Xenomorf0CZ]

Ich habe die BESTE App für tschechisch Geld gefunden! Es heißt "České peníze". Es ist für Android, Ios und Windows (NUR W10 deskop). Dort sind aktualle Kursen der Krone. Aber nur auf Tschechisch. Es ist aber einfach zu verwenden, viel Glück damit.

[Jamis]

Did not you get to buy Royal Route tickets? They literally dusted them, and the two unpaid disappeared after being released back in less than two hours.

That's why we decided to release few more Royal Route tickets for sale (for the last few lucky ones). These will be released for sale this Sunday at 19:00 at https://www.czequestria.cz/tickets/ Their sale will be time-limited.

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If you are interested, do not hesitate - this is the last chance Royal Route tickets get!

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[Yavos (†)]

Yay! This time I set an alarm to notify me about this event.
Knowing me I should probably set a few backup alarms as well.  

[Jamis]

(06.05.2017)Xenomorf0CZ schrieb:  Preis der tschechische Krone in Praha ist €=23-4 Kč. Aber normale Preis ist 26,7! (jeztz am 6/5/17) Also das ist warum soll man sich beachten.

This is NOT TRUE! As every tourist destination you can find good and bad exchange places. And as every time you exchange the money, you have to check the conditions and exchange rate in advance. Even in Prague tourist center, there are places, where you can safely exchange money with good rate.

Czequestria venue is outside the common area visited by tourists. There is one exchange office in nearby shopping mall and the selling rate is 1€ = 25,88 CZK (middle rate is now 26,5 CZK, best exchange office in Prague near Old Town Square sells 26,3 CZK for 1€) which is hardly the best, but not that tragic as you described.

Even though, I recommend to exchange the money abroad or get money from ATM in Prague (if your bank supports it and have good exchange rate).

(19.05.2017)Yavos schrieb:   Yay! This time I set an alarm to notify me about this event.
Knowing me I should probably set a few backup alarms as well.  

and... did you get it?

[Yavos (†)]

(22.05.2017)Jamis schrieb:   and... did you get it?

Yes. Just need to pay it and everything's fine.
Do you have time next weekend (june 3rd) to get money thrown at you?

[Lichtschatten]

i will be there

[Jamis]

Thinking about how to get to Czequestria, searching for accommodation, or trying to understand the public transport in Prague?

We prepared some practical information on transportation, accommodation and updated rules for attendees. You can find them - together with the Czequestria 2017 summary - on the https://www.czequestria.cz/ under the "Information" section.

[Jamis]

The long-time awaited moment is here! … we are finally publishing the sign-up option for vendors    

You need to read the rules first, then you just have to fill the form. You will then be noted whether you’ve been accepted or not and will be sent information concerning the payment of vendor fee.

Most of the information is same or very similar as previous years - see https://www.czequestria.cz/vendoring/ for details.

You can apply until 30th of June 2017!

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(22.05.2017)Yavos schrieb:  

(22.05.2017)Jamis schrieb:   and... did you get it?

Yes.    Just need to pay it and everything's fine.
Do you have time next weekend (june 3rd) to get money thrown at you?  

Good   I'll be in Prague for sure, I'm just not sure about the time - my girlfriend catra is coming for weekend too, so I have to come up with a plan...

[Jamis]

Are you excited for our LARP?

Are you wondering what exactly "LARP" at Czequestria means?

All your questions are now answered on our website. Head there now! https://www.czequestria.cz/larp-en/

[Jamis]

Crowdfunding to support Czequestria 2017 has just been launched !

As the Czequestria is drawing closer to us in time, the digital boundary moves closer to our reality. And starting today everypony can get their own piece of virtual world in a real form.

The more pieces of the virtual world you choose to bring into your reality, the more events will take place on this digital spectacular weekend , and those memories will last longer! Because as we all know, all important data should be carefully backed up, ideally at multiple places ?

And what can you get from the digital world of Czequestria? Enter the portal and check out the

Crowdfunding site

[Jamis]

Guests? Guests! The very first one revealed!

Guests of various art professions are the adornment of all bigger social events and this year’s Czequestria won’t be an exception.

We are honored to introduce the first of our guests: the Slovak VA known to bronies for giving her voice to Pinkie Pie, Lenka Debnárová!

After finishing her studies at the university of musical acting she has been involved in dubbing as well as both radio and television moderation. Her voice brings many foreign characters to life, such as Padma Patil in Harry Potter or Stephanie Barnett in Big Bang Theory. Currently you can also see her on the biggest Slovak TV Markíza as a Weather reporter.

For more info visit https://www.czequestria.cz/the-very-firs...-revealed/

 

[Jamis]

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Cosplay? Cosplay show for everypony!

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Cosplay is a traditional part of any fan convention, including ours! So if you are thinking about creating a costume of your favourite character then go for it! It’s most certainly welcome and if you’ve never tried it before, don’t worry – it’s great fun!

No need for years of experience this time – The Cosplay show on this year’s Czequestria is open to anyone who will dress into a costume and become his/hers favorite Equestrian or Equestria inspired character.

Details and further info at https://www.czequestria.cz/cosplay-show/

[stiv64]

Is there anything relating to the Collectible Card Game?

[Jamis]

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The first “Czequestrian” from far, far away land!

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As with anything complex, MLP:FiM was created by people of all walks of life. And thanks to these folks we’ve been able to experience the joy of this wonderful & mesmerizing TV show. And apart from the voice actors, it’s the script & lore writers that create the actual story for those characters. And even though there is now more than handful of those that have been involved with this show, there is only one that is quite more close to Czequestria than any other…

Without further ado, it is our utmost pleasure to welcome book & script writer and a person, that’s definitely no party pooper

M. A. Larson

Sadly due to these duties he won’t be able to participate in person (as you could’ve guessed from the picture above), but you won’t be spared of his voice as he will call in via Skype.

More info at https://www.czequestria.cz/the-first-cze...away-land/

[Jamis]

(26.06.2017)stiv64 schrieb:  Is there anything relating to the Collectible Card Game?

We don't plan any official MLP CCG related event at the moment, but it's very possible, that some people will play.

[stiv64]

Nice, do you have some sort of a specific room for games?

And do I have to print my ticket and bring it to the con entry?

[stiv64]

Außerdem suchen ich und Emmanuel Goldstein noch bis zu zwei Mitfahrer und Mitbewohner für die Con.

Haben eine Ferienwohnung gegenüber der Con für weniger als 20 Euro pro Nacht/ Person und würden wohl von Nürnberg aus mit dem Fernbus anreisen, welcher 36 € pro Person für Hin und Rückfahrt kostet.

[Pulse Wave]

(27.06.2017)Jamis schrieb:  

M. A. Larson

Sadly due to these duties he won’t be able to participate in person (as you could’ve guessed from the picture above), but you won’t be spared of his voice as he will call in via Skype.

He just doesn't want to walk straight into the lion's den, and we all know who the lion is, hee hee.