The more I think about this, the more appalling it gets ("Beware or be busted," News, July 6–12). When you travel to another country, you should always do your research and respect the rules and regulations of that country. If you can't take the time to figure something out as simple as transportation tickets, either stay home or travel with a tour group.

First of all, every travel guide for Prague and the Czech Republic has at least one paragraph detailing how to buy tickets for the tram and metro. If you don't have a guidebook, the reception at your hotel/hostel can help you. Or ask someone when you're buying a ticket.

Second, you cannot claim that you didn't know you had to stamp your ticket for it to be valid when it says so in plain English on the actual tickets themselves. And any observant person will notice the thousands of people around you stamping their tickets.

It is not that difficult to figure out — instructions are written in English. The last time I checked, most other countries also require tickets, as well as stamping. Germany, for example. In the United States I know that Washington, D.C., has the same system of buying and stamping. Philadelphia requires that you buy tokens and then deposit them as you enter the bus, underground, etc.

I feel sorry for the ticket controllers who have to deal with this on a daily basis while trying to do their jobs. It is your responsibility, as a traveler, to do the research ahead of time. I find it rude and insulting that anyone would expect special treatment for not doing so. If you act like a tourist and fly blind into a city and openly ignore or disregard its rules, you deserve to be fined.

Nikki Alexander

Monarchs' return

I read Mr. Weeks' comment ("Return of the King," Opinion, July 13–19). As someone who has accompanied the Habsburg family in various ways for many years, I am able to form a judgment. First, I assure you that no living member of the Habsburg family ever thought to claim a "Czech throne" (whatever that should be). Believe me, they are too realistic to sink to nostalgia like so many others. Second, you make the old mistake of comparing monarchy and democracy: That's quite wrong! You can compare monarchy and a republic or democracy and dictatorship. Or is Britain — the cradle of democracy and the parliamentary system — no democracy because of having a queen? Was the communist Czechoslovak state a democracy by being a republic? You made a quite wretched argument. European monarchies remained because the system of democracy and monarchy works! I am with Mr. Nevřela when he says that people need someone to orientate themselves. And for that I would much more prefer a nonpartisan monarch than a president nominated by his party. What has changed really? The Czech Republic (like many other countries) is ruled by a minority of rich and politically influential people. The fundamental thing is that everyone would like to be "king," so they have exchanged one king for many.

It is right, pitiable Edvard Beneš said, "Given a choice between the Habsburgs and the Germans, I'd take the Germans." We all know what happened two years later. And we know too, both would have been impossible if our ancestors hadn't destroyed old Austro-Hungary: World War II and the communist dictatorship over many parts of Europe were the result.

Hannes Marcel Bichler

Reinventing Czechs

Now and then I read news from my old homeland (I was born in Prague and left in 1948). "Reinventing the typical Czech" (News, July 13–19) is sad but somewhat correct — better PR is required, but also make your citizens PR-conscious. We visited the Czech Republic in 1995 and, upon leaving, we were insulted by border police and I vowed never to go there again. My childhood Internet e-mail contact in Prague agrees with my observations: Times and happenings there are not great; do something super to put yourself on the map of the world (not only some hockey championship).

Jiri Call

I visited Prague and the Czech Republic for the first time in 2004 and plan to return this year. I had the opportunity to travel the country with a former Czech citizen, which gave me the unique opportunity to meet Czechs who live in large cities (Prague, Brno) as well as small villages. My hosts were always warm, friendly and very proud of their heritage. I found my new friends to be quite worldly in their knowledge of history as well as current events. The villages I visited in south Moravia hold on to their folk traditions and pass them down to the younger generation. This was evident by the number of children participating in the Ride of Kings festival. I found this pride in tradition heartwarming. Visitors to the Czech Republic can experience both the most modern of conveniences and the folk songs and dances passed on through the generations in this most beautiful country.

Donna Jungbluth

Why should the Czechs be the only ones the world is so ignorant about? Just ask any American about Canada — they still think we live in igloos and eat whale meat. A recent newspaper interview with a student from Harvard, of all places, is a prime example of this — he thought Toronto was a collection of wooden huts. 'Tis to weep ...

George C. Rozehnal

In my opinion you should keep your Old World charm. This is what brings Americans to your country. We like to get away from the quick pace of our life and go to a much easier way of life, what we would consider a pure way of life. But at the same time you must show the world that you can handle the 21st century. The best town to promote is Břeclav. I think this would be the town to use for tourism. It has that village feel to it. Take the time and visit there and go to their town hall and ask for Lenka Mozgova. She is very knowledgeable with what Břeclav has to offer and in what direction it needs to go.

Kimberly Folks

Deported emigrés

I really see this family as being a threat to my country's security ("Emigré family fights to go home," News, July 20–26). They are probably part of that infamous Czech terrorist group "The Švestkové knedlíčky" (The Plumb Dumplings) — a militant group who plan to conquer the world with great Czech food of the great Czech people.

Geraldine Skorepa

Rock makeover

Nice to see that Slim Jim ("Rockin' Americana," Night & Day, July 20–26) has traded in his infamous Confederate flag print T-shirt for a more 21st-century-friendly one. Others may have forgotten this aspect of the band's history — I haven't.

Chris Rose