Prague in the Snow 2nd January 2017

Its forecast to snow sometime today , hopefully .  We are going to visit Letna Hill and the Metronome this morning since we changed plans yesterday.  There are a few snow flakes fluttering down as we leave the hotel and we walk to our favorite cafe "Arcadia"  Fabulous hot chocolate in twelve varietys.

 After hot chocolate and a caramel waffle we are on our way, and its started snowing properly now.
We have walked along the river to the bottom of Letna Hill, and its really comind down now!

                                                                            Selfie time #1

                                                                     The "Metronome"

            What a fabulous view up the river with all the bridges.  you can see the heavy now!
                            shot with 100 - 400mm lens , and hard to keep snow off the lens  .

                                      It has eased off a bit now giving clearer conditions.

                                                                           Selfi #2  :)

                                                               Jan found a swing  lol

                         Good viewpoint from up here , must come back at dusk one evening.

                                                             Close up of the rooftops.

 We have walked around to the back of the castle , past the valley gardens below the bridge into the castle rear entrance.

 Having gone through the metal detector at security gate we are inside below the Church,  there is a christmas market here and Jan has mulled wine and we have curled chips.

                                                                  In The Castle square.

         In front of the main square looking over the city , our hotel is just below us somewhere .

        After a rest i have run down to Charles bridge for a quick shoot, leaving Jan back at the hotel.

 The sun is setting , with lovely light across the castle district.     a long exposure of 30 seconds  taken on the bridge looks wonderful :)

The rest of today will be in the next blog as have too many images  ............................

New Years Day Petrin Hill - Prague 2017

New Years Day , we have slept in after the firework celebrations from last night ,  its a lovely morning with blue sky  and the trees over on Petrin Hill are covered in Hoar frost. it looks magical.  We had planned to go up to Letna to see the Metronome but having walked down onto Charles Bridge the Hoar frost on Petrin is too tempting to miss .

                                                 Charles Bridge and Castle on the right hand top.

                   But look at Petrin Hill!     Amazing!    we have to go up there instead of Letna.


                                             Shot at 400mm from the bridge handheld

     Sun on the Castle for a change,  but time to head back towards the Vehicular railway up Petrin.

I remembered on our way in to the city in the taxi we passed a series of statues on the main road below the Hill , so that's a good place to start from  , after a hot chocolate :)

              Here is the monument -    "Memorial to victims of communism"       info HERE

              Now to walk up through the park to the tower  , its very cold but pleasant in the sun .

                         The steep path zig zags upwards with great views through  the frosted trees .

                      We are at the top now , the Tower is not far over to the left through the trees.

            WOW!   this place always delivers when we visit   its Stunning  , blue sky and frost :)

                                     and there just happens to be a mobile chippy here   lol

Time to walk through the park back towards the castle now...............

                                                      Jan is not very good a hiding  haha

                                    Just look at this view through the trees i have spotted!

                    Its a nice walk down through the park and past the monastery back to the castle.

We have headed down past the castle and have ended up on the bridge downstream from Charles bridge,  almost time for sunset but its really cold now!

                                  Charles Bridge at sunset.  long exposure with Lee Big Stopper

                  After dark the Petrin Tower all lit up  , shot from our hotel room with long lens .

No fog tonight ,   its going to be very cold tonight and possible snow forecast for tomorrow.

New Year in Prague 2017

Its New Years Eve ,5.50 pm , Jan and myself have arrived in Prague for a short break over New Year and its FOGGY!!!!!!!!! Arghhhhhhh     that kind of ruins my plans for photographing the fireworks with the beautiful Prague Castle in the background.
 Any how, after taking the airport transfer taxi to our hotel  the "Residence Green Lobster"   Yes   what a name that it is !   We are on the top floor, and the lift , in which you have to keep the "up" button continuously pressed while its moving  only goes to the 3rd floor !    Mmmmm   don't think will use it again , rather walk up !     After settling in, we have gone out to find a restaurant, the hotel is right below the castle so we know the area from our last visit and find one quite close.After dinner   its now just after 10 pm , so we are going to walk down over Charles Bridge and through to  "Old Town Square"  where the Christmas tree and Markets are , we must keep moving as its still 2 hours until midnight and its currently minus 6 degrees!!!

                       On  Charles Bridge , long exposure ghosted out most of the moving people.

 Its really busy already , with fireworks being set of all around  , we have arrived in Old Town Square , here is the view with the Astronomical clock on the corner of the square.

 Its packed with people , with bangers going off all around and there is a rock concert underway on the stage in the far corner.

I am just taking a image of the Fabulous Christmas tree when a couple of big fireworks are set off , and i caught one in my long exposure shot :)

Time to leave here and go back to Charles Bridge i think , getting a bit too crowded here and with bangers being thrown probably Not the safest place to be , even the police have face guards  lol 

                                                                 Mulled wine for Jan :)

Back over the bridge and a quick stop to watch the fireworks that are now being set of with greater frequency in the square we have just left.

Over the bridge and down onto the river side to take a shot of the bridge.   the fog is clearing slightly but that will get worse as the fireworks go off in greater numbers.

 We have decided to stay on the bridge for the display, the castle is shrouded in fog and would not be very visible in my planned location up river on the opposite side .  standing on the bridge people are letting of big fireworks in the distance and from the next bridge down river.

The atmosphere is fantastic ,  bangers going off everywhere and large Chinese lanterns are rising up and Falling from the bridge!   Oops

Its almost midnight , the bridge is completely packed , as is asfar as i can see.    These fireworks are a bit early!

                                                                 " HAPPY NEW YEAR"

                              Load of river cruise boats have moored to watch the displays.

                                                              Fog getting thicker now :(

Fabulous celebrations in Prague , fireworks are being set of as far as we can see .  Leaving the bridge i want to go down by the river and shoot the bridge in the fog and hopefully get a few explosions in the frame too.

                                                                    "Charles Bridge"

                                  A long exposure has caught one of the boats as it passed .
There are people throwing fireworks into the rive next to me , and on the ground less than 6 ft away , have to get out of here , this is not safe!

Its about 2 am now, time to go back to the hotel , its been a very long day.....................


                      Images shot with canon 5dsr & 17-40 L on Gitzo  traveller tripod