Aparthotel City 5

Today, national mourning is held in the Czech Republic, with a holy mass in the Saint Vitus Cathedral. We are all deeply shocked by the Thursday news, we couldn’t even imagine something like that happening in our country and in our beautiful city before. Everybody from the hotel staff is okay, thank you for your support.

Even though astronomically it’s still autumn, first snow has already arrived to Prague! The city has become a totally different place, with the typical red roofs of the Lesser town and everything else turning white. The weather also turned Prague into a dangerous place full of traps - black ice. That’s why everybody must be careful, otherwise he may fall on the slippery roads. But don’t worry, this is for sure not the last snow this season - more is bound to come during the winter, so if you want to witness snowy white Prague, you still have the chance! See you soon!

34 YEARS OF FREEDOM!
Today, on the 17th of November, we celebrate our most important national holiday, Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day. Exactly 34 years ago, a peaceful student demonstration was brutally dispersed here in Prague. That led to a general strike and consequently to the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. Only a month later, the symbol of the democratic resistance, Václav Havel, was elected our president.
Democracy can't be taken for granted. To be reminded of that, people annually gather in the centre of Prague, to honor those who fought so we could all live in freedom, and of course, so that you all could visit us here in Prague, in the beautiful city it is meant to be.

On this day 55 years ago, troops of the countries of Warsaw pact, with Soviet union in the lead, crossed the borders of Czechoslovakia to stop the “contra revolution” that’s been allegedly happening in our country. At least In reality, the year 68’ was the peak of a rather short era in our history that we call “Prague spring”, when a reformist communist government tried to liberalize the situation in our formally totalitarian country. That of course ended on the 21 of August, when “Operation Danube” was started. The reformist government was removed, and a conservative government, one that would obediently listen to what Moscow orders, was installed. That meant the end of Prague spring and another 21 years of communist dictatorship. As a reminder of these events, today, Prague is full of posters that say things like “Go home, Ivan!”, the same ones like people used in protest of the occupation in 68’.
Nowadays, we fortunately live in freedom, but nonetheless, it is important to remember.

WINTER IN PRAGUE
After an exceptionally sunny new year, with temperatures that even made flowers in our garden blossom, snow finally arrived. Everybody seems happy about it, except for Nero of course, who is suffering a great deal. Yet there is one greater event: next week there will be the final round of our presidential elections, so we will finally know the name of the person who will be the head of the Czech republic for the next five years! wish us luck!
Kristina & staff

NEW YEAR GREETINGS FROM PRAGUE!
All staff, including Nero of course, wishes you all the best in 2023, hoping this year, if it didn’t work out for you during the last, you’re going to visit us in Prague! Can’t wait to see you!
Kristina & staff

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM PRAGUE!
We wish all our friends and guests Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We wish that especially to those, who would like to spend the holiday season here in Prague, but under certain circumstances can't. If you are one of those people, here is at least a taste of the atmosphere of the Prague holiday season:) (it's been snowing for the whole December, only this week, it started to rain, so Prague is sadly without snow this year)
Once more, Merry Christmas to everybody!
Kristina & staff

THE NIGHT OF CHURCHES
Two days ago, on Friday the 6th of June, an annual event called The Night of Churches took place in Prague. During the night, visitors had the opportunity to visit the insides of all churches in Prague (and there is a lot to see!) even with some side events, such as a concert of children’s choir, holy mass, or an exhibition of the church’s history. The event is highly anticipated every year, since not every church is always opened to the public, or an entrance must be paid for.
All the visitors of Aparthotel City 5 enjoyed the event very much, therefore we hope that if you didn’t make it to Prague this year to visit your favorite church (make sure to let us know in the comments which is your Prague top), we can expect to welcome you in our hotel by this time next year!
Kristina & staff

APARTHOTEL CITY 5 STANDS BY UKRAINE!
We admire the bravery of ukrainian citizens and fully support those on the battlefield during these dark times.

Last week, we celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the Velvet revolution, fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. On this day, we celebrate also The International Students Day (the only international holiday with its roots in Czech Republic) and Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day. Even with the covid restrictions, we managed to pay homage to the victims of both 1939 and 1989 events, traditionally by lighting a candle on Národní třída, the setting of the main 17.11. events. Right there, 32 years ago, police, under the command of the communist government, brutally, using batons, dispersed a peaceful students demonstration. This later led to the final fall of the communist regime in our country and Václav Havel, a long-time dissident, becoming our president. And ever since then, we remind ourselves that it were the students who started the whole process.

Restrictions in Czech Republic being lifted!
After months of forced closure that felt like an eternity, hotels and lodging houses are allowed to reopen, while schools and universities all across the country return to classroom teaching. Also, the attendance cap on cultural and sport events has been expanded. Furthermore, wearing face mask on the street is no longer required.
However, if you'd like to visit us after such a long time, you can do so only under certain conditions - every visitor must present a negative PCR or antigen test old 48 hours or less, taking one more test is required if your stay exceeds one week. Moreover, visitors that provide a valid vaccine certificate or proof of having antibodies are also allowed to be housed.
For more information, see https://english.radio.cz/monday-sees-hotels-reopen-czechia-schools-return-fully-classroom-teaching-8718383
And most importantly, see you soon!

Monday sees hotels reopen in Czechia, schools return fully to classroom teaching This Monday sees another series of restrictions lifted as the coronavirus epidemic in the Czech Republic subsides.