Czech Republic is on Central European Time (MET DST aka CEST), which means it is two hour ahead of Greenwich mean time (GMT). The average temperature for begin of September is between 20-25 °C. The weather is usually warm and sunny.
Weather forecast for Brno are provided by AccuWeather and by CNN weather.
The currency used is Czech crown (CZK, koruna ceska, Kc), which is made up of 100 hellers (hal). Czech crowns are available in the following denominanions:
The average rate is between 27 and 33 Kc for one US dollar as well as for one euro. Actual rates can be found here.
VISA and Mastercard are accepted by major shops and better restaurants, as well as by most petrol/gas stations.
The public transport system in Brno is quite comprehensive and reliable. Season ticket for all city buses, trams and trolley-buses valid for the whole conference duration is a part of confrence materials.
Brno taxi services have better reputation than those in Prague. Overcharging does not happen so often and the taxi-gang wars are not an issue here. In any case, when using the taxi, ask about an approximate price in advance and make sure that the taxi-meter has been set to zero at the beginning of the ride.
An operator of City Taxi (phone number ++420-542 321 321) is able to speak English.
Prices for travelling from bus or railway station to the hotels or the Faculty of Informatics should be roughly 200 Kc.
Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, with a population of almost 400 000 and the country's judiciary and trade-fair center. The first written note of Brno comes from the ninth century. City rights were acquired in 1243. After successful defense of the city against the Swedes 350 years ago (in 1643-45 during the Thirty Years' War), Brno became the capital of Moravia. The nineteenth century was a period of technological progress and development for Brno. It became one of the most prominent industrial centers in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was in Brno where J. G. Mendel discovered his laws of heredity, V. Kaplan produced the first water turbine and Leos Janacek composed his musical works. Milan Kundera wrote his first novels here. Brno is the place of birth of Kurt Godel - one of the most important scientists of the 20th century in the world context. There are six Universities in Brno. Historical and artistic places of interest include