What expats say: There is a different era behind every corner
Graeme Fairweather (34) studied drama and theatre arts at the Staffordshire University. He came to Brno from Manchaster and had been working for an IT company until this year. Graeme's black and white pictures were appreciated by the jury of the Photo contest for Brno expats. He kindly answered us our usual questions for foreigners living in Brno.
What do you like and what don't you like in Brno?
For me one of the biggest factors in my being here is the diversity of the city, in saying this I am talking about the streets which align the centre. The way in which I am able to turn a corner and come to a completly different perspective or view, kind of like being in a different era or time, walking from the castle to a busy main street in just 2 minutes, I like the feeling this gives me.
Another point to make is to look at the city surroundings, Brno is more or less built in a valley surrounded by greenery and hills, not many cities can boast this.
As for my dislike's I would have to go with the traffic (crazy drivers) and the noise and pollution it brings to the city.
Do you know some best practices from living in other cities which could be of use in Brno, too?
I think one thing would be to stop the flow of traffic (as mentioned) coming through and make Brno a more greener place to be in terms of pollution, there is also the noise factor of traffic to consider. So making the traffic wider spread from the centre would be a good practice although difficult task.
What do you think is its advantage compared with other cities?
Not too many {American ;-)} tourists, this makes it more relaxed and less stressful place. I like that the shops in the centre are closed on Saturday and Sunday, which frees the city from manic shoppers, it helps also that naturally the tourist attractions are in close vacinity of each other.
Where do you see the way to make Brno more open and attractive for foreigners?
I think in general captial cities tend to take away the limelight from smaller cities, I think its a matter of advertising a place like Brno more, we only hear about major cities and the majority forget about other smaller unique places such as Brno (and Manchester), I have noticed that more buildings are being given a face lift (so to speak) which makes a more attractive place to see, also has mentioned, the traffic issue should be improved.
What is your favorite place in Brno which is really unique?
I think where I am living now, Kamenná čtvrť, is a really unique part of Brno. It is built inside an old quarry on an hill with lots of small winding streets and every house is almost different, not to mention the friendly atmospheare it gives. It is like being in a small fairytale village. Also amazing views.
11 komentářů:
I see the closed shops at the weekends as a big mistake. Not only do they close at the weekends but also early during the work days (most of them) and who works a little late has no chance. And it also makes the city center especially "dead" at the weekends. I don't think the "manic shoppers" would go to these shops if they were open. If somebody's manic about shopping, I bet they prefer shopping centers like Vaňkovka.
have you seen masarykova in the day time? monday to friday. It is full of people and the shops also. So if it were open Saturday and sunday, for sure they would shop there as well. You should open your eye's maybe?? just a thought ;-)
People should spend weekends in nature,relaxing not in the shops!And what about the shop assistants? don´t they deserve some time off? If shops were closed at weekends people would have more time to be with the relatives...it would help the relations between the people which are broken these times....
I agree very much, I am Czech from Brno and I like that the shops in centre are closed and also is giving people who work hard time to enjoy family, it is not "big mistake" to have shops closed. I like also what is in interview and agree about surrounding of city views.
Who wants to go to the nature, goes to the nature. Who wants to go to the shops and sees that the ones in the center are closed, will go to other shops. It's sick to want to regulate what people do in their free time. "People should go to the nature"...ehm, says who? Even many cafeterias in the center are closed at the weekends, that's just weird.
to comment 2: No I don't know Masarykova during the day because I'm working during the day. At 6pm most of the shops are closing.
Have you ever worked with tourists in Brno? It gives a really bad impression if they pass through the center and sometimes they can't even take a coffee or go through some shops. What good brings it when the center is without people at the weekends? Nobody will go there anyway to enjoy the peace if everything's closed and those people from the center just go to some other place. If the shopkeepers want to enjoy free weekend, ok, it's their decision, I just say it's bad for the city.
To imagine that tourist come to a city to go shopping is some what absurd, I would imagine they come to see the architecture and sights not to shop for clothes or other products. And during the weekend the cafe's and resturaunts are open in the centre which is sometimes where I go with my family. I am not sure where you are looking? Please I say to you vist the centre today and you will see people there, it is not especially "dead" only possibly when weather is bad. I think the person answering these questions is giving there own view and I feel you were a little agressive in your point you wanted to make. But its like you say yourself, Vankovka is open for people to shop, so why the concern about closing centre shops? But each peson is different? no?
Hmm...I wouldn't say that American tourists would make Brno somehow crazier. For example I prefer noisy US-tourists to the typical English tourists who tend to get drunk at every occasion and also quite aggressive.
Comment above about agressive drinking English persons can certainly be said for Czech persons also, after all we are a nation known for drinking and great beer, so it is good advert no? I think you can generalize all nationalities if you choose examples like this. I have many English/British friends who drink very little or nothing, I think you are very aggressive yourself in attacking person here, have you been drinking?
What it comes down to is this. The longer the service companies ie shops, bars etc are open including weekends, the more money they make, the money money they make the more tax they pay, the more money from tax goes towards nice looking buildings, better public transport (less cars), beter roads (less noise) and conservation of green areas for more people to enjoy for the future.
jajajaja.... if only it was so simple... but I think not, not sure what field of work you are from but as an ex town planner (assistant) for a city in Belgium I can tell you this, you are far from the truth, The shops open in week end would make little if no difference, to assume 'its simple' is abbsurd, sorry but it is.
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