Mailbox
In this week's Mailbox: Radio Prague's reports on tracking black storks and Czech aid to hurricane stricken areas; Emperor Charles IV's Autobiography; famous personalities on Czech banknotes. Listeners quoted: Mike Styles, UK; Jayne Cookson, US; Nancy Snider, US; Joe T. Vosoba, US; David Cradock, UK.
"I have just returned from a week-long stay in Prague. My wife and I were overwhelmed by the beauty of your city. Simply breathtaking! We visited so many places in such a short period of time, ranging from Prague Castle and St. Nicholas Church, to Petrin Hill and the Strahov Monastery. Restaurants in Prague are excellent, with virtually every second building being an eating place, of one form or another!
"I should add that we also stopped by Vinohradska 12... a really thought-provoking moment for me, as I used to listen to Radio Prague on a daily basis during my youth. Sadly, my hectic lifestyle these days (and being married) no longer allows me to tune in so often. As I stood there on Radio Prague's doorstep, I reflected on the many hundreds of hours listening to the English service, on all the correspondence I regularly exchanged with your station, way back when. Being outside the doors of Radio Prague was a BIG moment for me - I never, ever thought I'd be there in reality..."
Thank you, Mike, that makes us feel very special and we hope you will be able to find some time to tune in to our programmes. If not it's always easy to look up our website or subscribe to our free e-mail news bulletin or a longer version called "Radio Prague Today" - which is a daily newsletter with a rundown of all new articles posted at www.radio.cz. As I said, it's free of charge and you can find the subscription form on our website.
Moving on, and Jayne Cookson who lives in the United States sent us this e-mail:
"I heard your program tonight about the zoologists who were tracking black swans who will migrate as far as Burma this season. Is there a website that I can go to in order to track these birds?"
As a matter of fact, they are black storks and if you go to our website www.rozhlas.cz/flyingover/portal/, you'll find a link to the special site that monitors the storks' routes. Ms Cookson had also this to say:
On a related note, that is our reports on the efforts in the Czech Republic to help the hurricane stricken areas of the United States, Nancy Snider from Chicago sent us this e-mail:
"Thank you for the offers of aid from your country to mine. Thank you for being patient with our red tape that encumbers efforts to help people in need. The supplies and assistance sent by people of the Czech Republic are much appreciated. Many thanks."
Now on a completely different topic. Two weeks ago in Mailbox we answered a request by Joe T. Vosoba from the United States concerning Emperor Charles IV's Autobiography. Here's what Mr Vosoba wrote to us following the broadcast.
I am glad to hear that and I hope Charles IV's autobiography proves an interesting read. I myself tried reading it a couple of times but never got too far, I must admit but now I might give it another try.
And staying with Czech history, David Cradock from the UK has sent us this suggestion:
"It would be very interesting if you were able to give short biographies of the famous Czechs who appear on the bank notes. Perhaps a short weekly series?"
Well, we think it's a very good idea. We'll start working on it soon and we hope other listeners will find it interesting, too.
And finally it's time to repeat - for the last time - our competition question for this month. We are looking for the name of this woman:
"She was born in 1965 in the Moravian town of Prostejov. Her parents left Czechoslovakia after the Soviet invasion and moved to Sweden. They left their two children behind believing they could be brought out later. But the Czechoslovak authorities would not allow it and the ensuing battle for the kids made headlines in Sweden. Finally, the family reunited after seven years but the father soon left the family. As a teenager, our mystery woman was discovered by a photographer friend who sent photos of her to a modelling agency. She quickly became a successful model appearing on the covers of prestigious magazines. She was chosen twice by People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world and also appeared in a number of movies."
You have until next Friday to send us your answers to the usual address Radio Prague, 12099 Prague, Czech Republic or [email protected]. Thank you very much for all those letters and e-mails and, please, keep them coming.
