The river Vltava (or Moldau) and the 14th century Charles Bridge
From April 28 through May 1, 2011, we spent a wonderful long weekend in Prague. We had always wanted to go there, and we are sure glad it finally worked out! The city is phenomenal; the only downside is that the whole planet seems to know it. Indeed, there were myriads of tour groups, making sightseeing difficult at times. One way to deal with this is to explore areas which are a bit more out of the way and not conveniently reachable by tour bus (such as Vyšehrad castle). Another trick is to get up very early. At daybreak, one only has to share the city with at most a few fellow photographers who know how to stay out of each other's way.
There is too much to say about Prague! How could one fail to mention that it's awesome to have lunch next to the house Johannes Kepler lived in from 1600 to 1612, or to see a church where Mozart played the organ, or to stroll across a bridge whose construction began more than six and a half centuries ago, or to be moved by the plaque honoring Jan Palach and Jan Zajic, names I remember well: I was 14 when Soviet tanks rolled into Prague in 1968 to put an end to Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring. And there's so much more... It's probably best to simply let the pictures do the talking.
One preliminary remark: the photos have been grouped according to where, not when they were taken. All are posted with full EXIF data embedded, including GPS coordinates, so if you use an on-line EXIF viewer, such as Jeffrey's, displaying any photo and clicking the Exif button will instantly put the spot where the photo was taken on the map for you. It's a pretty neat way to visit Prague!
For now, just have fun and if you haven't been to Prague, plan a visit soon! You won't be sorry.
Click on any image to see a larger (1500 x 1000 pixel) version!
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Old Town Square, the center of the old city |
Part of the astronomical clock on the Old Town Hall Tower |
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Old Town Square building |
The Old Town Hall Tower |
The top of the tower |
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The view from the tower is magnificent |
People gather to see the astronomical clock strike the hour |
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Saint Nicholas church and the elegant Pařížská Avenue |
Our Lady before Tyn with its gorgeous multiple spires |
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It's not easy to find the church's entrance... |
In one of the tower's corners |
The view to the northwest |
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Malé námĕstí (Small Square) |
Saint Nicholas at dusk |
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The Rudolfinum, home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra |
View from the Manes Bridge to the Charles Bridge |
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Local art students are not lacking for subjects! |
In the Lesser Town |
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Taking a stroll in the lovely gardens... |
...of the Senate of the Czech Republic |
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The dripstone wall (what's this?) |
The view from the castle |
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Climbing back down... |
....to the bottom of the hill |
Another Saint Nicholas church! |
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Ungelt Square, location of our hotel |
The hotel entrance to the left and the puppet shop to the right |
Here's a link for those who want to take a closer look at the Metamorphis Excellent Hotel
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A side street off Pařížská Avenue |
Entering the Jewish Quarter |
Graves on top, shops at the bottom |
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There's not much space, so the gravestones are close together |
Statue outside the Spanish Synagogue |
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The Charles Bridge |
The red streetcars familiar from at least one Bond movie |
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Generations... |
This park is too new to be on Google Earth! |
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Somewhere on University Hill |
Gynecology and Obstetrics hospital |
Basilica side door on Vyšehrad |
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The Vyšehrad cemetery |
One has a lovely view from Vyšehrad castle... |
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...in both directions! |
One of the ways down |
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The Charles Bridge at dawn: one has to get up early to photograph it without hordes of tourists |
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A few people are always around... |
...but the atmosphere this early is great |
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Looking towards the Lesser Town |
Leaving the bridge |
St. Salvator Church |
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Inside the book tower in the city library |
Night view across the Vltava to the Lesser Town |
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Arcades along Havelská Lane |
Havelská street market and St. Gall church |
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Wenceslas Square... |
...is not really a square but an avenue |
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The National Museum and the Palach and Zajíc Memorial |
Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc Don't know who they are? Look them up; they deserve it! |
These pictures may also bee viewed in a Gallery.
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