Prague New Year 2019 pt1

Jan and I are going back to Prague for the New Year again, we last went two years ago when it was really foggy , but a fabulous atmosphere.  We have arrived at our apartment which is near the "Memorial to victims of communism" below Petrin hill  at 7.30 pm, so after a quick unpack we are going out for a walk and to find something to eat.
We are going over the Strelecky ostrov bridge and then along the river towards Charles bridge.

Having made our way along to Charles Bridge, we turn off and head through the streets to get to Old Town Square.  that is where the Christmas markets and Tree are situated.
Here is the world famous Astronomical clock, which has recently been restored. the colours looks fabulous now .

                                         Old Town Square, busy with all the market stalls.

The huge Christmas tree is different from previous years in that it hasn't got the dripping lights all over it .  But it turns out the lights are computer controlled in a pattern sequence to music .

Dinner time now, I remember a small place not far from here ,  I marked it in google maps for future reference.   having found the street there is another restaurant almost next door, so we are trying this one , since I hate food its difficult finding something I will eat!

                                                       Look at the size of this sausage!

                                    We are about 2 floors underground here, looks like a cave.

Back through to the square now and along to Charles bridge to cross the river to go back to our apartment.

                                    I remember these light globes from last time we where here.

                                        Onto Charles bridge, its always busy on here.

The castle and St Vitus Cathedral  looking splendid overlooking the river.  not great picture with the phone though.

The end tower of the bridge,  we turn off left just up the road from here to head along to Petrin park.

The end of our first evening in Prague, tomorrow is New Years Eve, which is going to be a very long day!

Prague at night Jan 6th 2015

We have made our way down onto "Manes" bridge , its 3.20 now and there is colour starting to appear in the sunset,  i don't think it will be a good one but any colour will be a bonus with the weather being so changeable.
Walking onto the bridge i start setting up the tripod , and yes you guessed it,  Jan takes out her I-Phone and takes this.......................

                                                 and i missed it!!!!!!!!!   Arghhhhhh  
                                      great cloud and colour and the flock of seagulls
                       Memories of the windmill sunset in Norfolk that i missed      Again :(

Any how , i get set up and take a few ..............    in fact loads but after 15 mins i got this one..

                        i use long lens to get the best colour behind behind Spires in silhouette

 I have been moving around along the bridge taking a few shots , But had to wait until 4.20 ish before i got a few images i like :)

                         using a 10 stop nd filter to smooth out the water i take this image :)

       We have moved a little way around  towards Charles bridge, going down to see the swans........

                         Jan takes this image as i shoot into darkness.   can you see me?   lol

 
                                                                          Dusk into darkness.
        

 We quickly make our way to Lesser town tower , to get a view  from high up at dusk ,It costs about £3 to go up the tower , about the same for all of them it seems.    just as we get to the top of the tower, a police car drives onto the Pedestrian only bridge!!!!!!!!!!!   WTF?     can see the blue light streak followed by brake lights . 

                              As the light fades i shoot these images of the Castle/Palace

                                                              view panorama big HERE

                                                         Charles Bridge  , dark now.

                       Looking up towards St Nicholas church from the towers mid level walkway

 After coming down from the tower , walking onto the bridge i stop to try shooting the water mill wheel in "Devils stream"   which separates Lesser town from Kampa island.

                                                  Longish exposure blurs the wheel :)

                                    The Tower we have just come down from on the right.

   
                                     Here i am shooting the Charles bridge down by the river :)

                       Looking upstream to the National Theatre , beautifully illuminated.
a 10 second exposure used to smooth out the water combined with a 2 second exposure on the buildings for extra sharpness.

 Back on the bridge i shoot the Tower we have just been up with St Vitus Cathedral up on  castle hill behind.

                      I shoot this while walking across the bridge , putting tripod on the wall.
                     the red lights are traffic lights , i tried to get a green one but failed!!!!!!!   Doh!

                                              Photobomb by Jan :D   Arghhhhhh   lol

                                       

     Now time to get the reflection image i failed last night when the sleet was blowing into the lens!
        much better conditions tonight ,and i manage to get the wooden groyne and weir in the frame :D

                         a long lens shot of St Vitus Cathedral       Magnificent building!

 Turning back to the river,  a nice wide shot with reflections :)    cant stay any longer , Jan is getting cold waiting for me. she is so Patient :)

 Time to head back now, but a stop off in Old Town Square for a last look at the x mass market which is closing tonight,    i manage to get the Astronomical clock, x mass Tree and Tyn Church all in the one image :)

                               the magnificent spires of Tyn Church and huge x mass tree :)

                           The moon appears through the clouds between the Spires :)   YAY

                        The lights look wonderful on all the buildings and the market stall roofs

the end of  another fantastic day in Prague  , but we are going to get dinner first somewhere in this area before going back to the hotel.  its last full day tomorrow ;(

Prague Jan 4-8th 2015 day 1 morning.

 My new years resolution, to be up to date with my blog.  so i will catch up with last years remaining trips after this Prague holiday.  at least i will try :D



Tomorrow is my birthday , so Jan and I are flying to Prague for a few days , we are leaving late Sunday afternoon, arriving at about 7 ish Czech time.

We eventually take off  Twenty minutes late!  just as the sun is setting , unfortunately the beautiful sunset is on the other side of the plane :(   Bummer

                                                  The low sun illuminating the wing :)

 We have arrived on time amazingly  ,  Prague airport transfers will have a taxi waiting for us outside, to take us to the hotel about 45 minutes drive with a fixed price of 550czk  approx £17 which is really good considering the distance and beautiful Merc

 After settling in our room and dinner in a restaurant just around the corner we plan for tomorrow.

Its Monday morning, my birthday :)    we first have to get our 72 hour transport tickets at the Metro station just down the road , these tickets have to be validated once before use and cost 310 kc , then we don't even have to show them when using any of the transport in the city!      its very strange just walking into the stations with no barriers or anything to check tickets. But.....  inspectors do check and if you Don't have a validated ticket an on the spot fine of 900 kc is issued.

Any how, we go down on the longest escalator i have ever been on and this is the platform at "Namesti Miru"      pretty cool looking station :)

 We have only gone one stop to "Muzeum"   which is coloured brown /gold . each train carriage has 4 doors each side that You open when stopped at the station, the acceleration is amazing!  This is the stop at the top end next to the National museum , ( which has been closed for renovation since 2011!    due open 2015/18 i think )   

 This is the Museum, at the top of "Wenceslas Square"  (the largest square in the city) , which is actually long and narrow with another Metro station "Mustek" at the opposite end.

                          a phone panorama has squished the huge building into a strange shape  lol

                               We are walking right down to the next Metro station

 All the pavements in Prague are formed with these granite setts arranged in patterns , they do look good must say .

                         Old tram cars have been turned into a cafe :)   closed in winter it appears.

What a wonderful hotel , all boarded up :(  what a shame , looks in good condition /recently painted.

We have now taken the metro to the next stop "Staromestska" which is near the river and close to Charles bridge and "old town square" which is out next destination. 

                                      Jan snapped this while i was shooting next image :)

           walking down the lovely cobbled streets , lined with small shops and beautiful buildings.

 Here is the outside of "St Nicolas" church in Old town square , doesn't look much on outside but it is being restored with scaffolding up on the front , but inside it is fabulous!

 

A slightly better view with the front scaffolding

beautiful inside though :)

        Just outside the church is the square , still with a Christmas market,tree and decorations :)

                                               The market stalls in front of Tyn Church

                                                                      Im in this one :)

                                        A superb x mass tree :)    with dripping light tubes :)

 Jan thought she was buying cooked apple slices  , turned out it was sugar/honeyed bread :)   Haha
 the most expensive bread Ever!  Ooops   but tasted nice

        Jut round the corner the crowds are growing to watch the animated  Astronomical clock chime.

                                          Amazing Creation :)  built in 1410  and still works!
         the small figures move and the two windows above the top clock have figures that revolve
                                                                       more info HERE

                                                               movable skeleton figure

  After leaving the crowds around the clock, a walk through the narrow streets  marvelling  the architecture.

                                                                      and sculptures :D

                                                               Watch the Bomb Jan :D

                                                              Love the curved streets :)

An empty street ,  almost!             the side streets off the main square are mainly hotels/resturants i think while the main rows around the square and all the way to the Charles bridge are food,wine,jewellery , gifts ect and is very busy indeed.

 Time to leave the streets and head to the famous Charles Bridge and views of the Castle for the afternoon.



                                   pics taken with canon 450d, htc one and i-phone 6 mobiles