13. 4. 2008

Brno and the outside world

How well does Brno cater to those from outside? (By "outside" I mean from outside the Czech language and Czech culture.) This is the first of (hopefully) a series of brief comments on different aspects of life here in Brno for foreigners - not my case, exactly, as a Canadian-Czech amphibian, but still something I feel I can comment on. Today - your average tourist.

Well, at least as far as tourists are concerned, it seems Brno is getting its act together. Take a look at the direction posts found at strategic points around the city, or the slim metal slabs erected at places of interest, with brief but very informative texts in Czech, excellent English and German (of which I'm not qualified to judge the quality).

They're models of what is termed "street furniture" - simple, elegant, eye-catching, practical. Added to this, there's the official city map, pleasingly designed, with a map of the city, a detailed map of the centre, and a map of the surroundings - a combination you don't come across very often. And with lavish use of that trade-mark Brno fire-engine red, as distinctive as the Brno logo. Full marks!

2 komentáře:

Anonymní řekl(a)...

I couldn't agree more. It seems to me that the situation as far as tourism is concerned is undoubtedly getting better.

Vlastimil Veselý řekl(a)...

Thanks for your comment, Milan. Anyway where do you see room for improvements?