Archive for » July, 2011 «

Prague

09 Jul 2011 By

We made the 2 hour drive from Dresden to Prague via a detour to some castle on a hill. I had taken a photo but it was wet, and we didn’t get out of the car as it seemed from the ‘trip advisor’ reviews that there wasn’t too much to see once you’d paid the bus fair to the top. So we carried on to Prague.

Arriving mid afternoon we checked into the hotel on the outskirts of the city, about a 10 minute underground ride to the middle.

Prague Train Station

We booked a Segway tour for the next day and took the train into the main tourist area, and did a little shopping at the British stores there.

Weather was hot, so the next morning we had our Segway tour booked. Neither of us had been on one before so we had a quick lesson each, along with the 5 others in our little group, and off we went up through the parks.

Prague Sedgway

The segways were great fun, and pretty quick. Much faster than walking, non tiring and you get to see so much more with our guide explaining what was what as we went from place to place. Stopping for a very cheap half litre of beer overlooking Prague.

Prague 1

We did the usual tourist places, the castle, Atomic clock, church etc, which looked very nice as the sun started to set.

Prague Týn Church

In the evening we had a really good curry as a well review restaurant just behind the church pictured above. If you ever go to Prague, and fancy a curry, this is the place. The Indian Jewel. Afterwards we took a walk through the town and over the Charles Bridge with some great views of the castle up on the hill.

Prague Castle Charles Bridge

Nice place Prague. Very busy and to be honest I think I preferred Dresden. Just as nice and much quieter.

All photos from our trip below, click one for the slideshow.

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Dresden

07 Jul 2011 By

About an hours drive on from Colditz is Dresden. We weren’t too sure what to expect there considering we’d blown the crap out of it 5 weeks before the end of the second world war, but we were aware it had been rebuilt.

Checked into a lovely hotel, right in the centre, on the main square.

Dresden Town Square

Arrived in the evening as the sun was setting so chance for a quick wander around and a coffee at Starbucks just round the corner. Couldn’t have asked for more.

So camera we took a quick walking tour whilst looking for somewhere to eat. And found a nice little street by the water.

Dresden

Jane suggested Tapas, and I not being the most adventurous in my eating habits, decided to give it a try. Have to say that will be the first of many visits to a Tapas restaurant. Very very nice food, especially the chorizo sausage. Could quite easily eaten a few more portions of those.

Wandered on back to the hotel, taking in a quick photo as the sun went of the protestant cathedral. Rebuilt recently with very very little of the original building remaining from the war. The before and after photos are amazing. The one below showing what was left of the cathedral in 1956.

Dresden Protestant Cathedral

Compared to it now:

Dresden Protestant Cathedral 2

In fact we were told that 95% of the city centre was obliterated, and from where we were next to the cathedral, everything we could see from there had been rebuilt in the past 8 years. You’d never know it, done to represent the past. Take note Coventry. I guess waiting all these years to do it now, with West German money makes all the difference.

Took a walking tour the next day. I’m not one for the tours, get decidedly bored very quickly. Don’t mind going around taking photos of nice looking buildings but less interested in what they are. Not sure that makes too much sense but hey, that’s just me. Consequently I have to google the buildings later so label the photos; or ask Jane who was paying attention. Sometimes wonder how I ever managed to study for a degree. However, got a nice photo of the catholic cathedral below as the sun went down. Best time for photos.

Dresden at Sunset

And another great shot down the street at the protestant cathedral.

Dresden Protestant Cathedral

So have to say we were quite impressed with Dresden. Good food, very nice city. Took a trip over the river to go up the cable railway, and managed to burn my head again. Must wear suncream. And Jane wouldn’t let us leave Dresden until I’d taken a photo of the pedestrian stop and go signs. A little different to the rest of the World in that they’re girls. Makes a change. Sure it’s not the only place to use them, but I’ve not seen them before.

Dresden Green Go Light

Off to Prague next. As usual all photos below, click for the slideshow.

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Colditz

06 Jul 2011 By

Whilst the kids were in England, Jane and I took the opportunity to see a bit of Germany. So booked a few hotels, packed the car and headed off to our first stop Colditz, around a 6 hour drive from Düsseldorf. It took most of the day to get there, with stops for lunch etc, and a massive detour when only 5km away as the main route there was closed. But got there in the end.

Colditz

Colditz is now part youth hostel, part music school and part museum. On entering the ‘castle’ there’s a sign showing how many people attempted to escape, did escape etc. Seems the percentage chance of the Brits escaping wasn’t too good. Thought we were good at things like that.

Colditz

Couldn’t quite figure out if we were supposed to pay for a ticket to wander around the place. There was a ticket office and shop right at the back, not at the entrance, so we thought tickets must be for something else otherwise the ticket booth would be at the start. Who knows! So we just wandered around the place.

It was quite a hot day, but noticed it very cold inside the buildings. Can’t have been too pleasant in the winter in the small, concrete ‘cells’.

Colditz

In all there wasn’t too much to see. There was a lot of literature to read as you walked around, but it was all in German. My German isn’t up to translating that; yet. I think there was an English speaking guide you could take, maybe that’s what the tickets were for. Consequently we didn’t stay long.

You can see all the photos below, just click one to see the slideshow.

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Photography

04 Jul 2011 By

A while ago I bought myself what’s known as the ‘nifty fifty’. A 50mm 1.8 prime lens for my camera. No zoom, you ‘zoom with your feet’. Bought it because it was not only cheap, but, very very good in low light so no flash needed, great for street shots, fantastic narrow depth of field and best of all, pin sharp. Well, that’s what it said on the tin. Finally, after 3 attempts I’ve got a lens that does all that; and I love it.

Went into Düsseldorf last night for a meal and wander around seeing as there was triathlon on and a nice summers evening. Took the nifty fifty of course and a few photos.

Started off with something simple, just a plain old ashtray. Nothing special, and quite liked how it turned out.

Ashtray

So whilst sat in the restaurant, outside as it happens seeing as it was quite warm. All you can eat Asian (Chinese) food by the way, 11.90€ so a good deal. But whilst waiting took this shot of the chap opposite waiting for his meal, messing with his phone. So sharp. Love it.

Man in restaurant

Looked good in colour, but better in black and white. So on a walk afterward we came across this fellow, one of those living statues. Obviously worth a snap too. And again better in black and white.

Until finally we wandered along the Rhine and an old Chinese fellow was cycling towards us, pulled over and got off his bike. Fully laden with who knows what.

Düsseldorf - Homelss man?

Nto sure if he was advertising something or homeless. And the original version was very nice too, but, preferred this more subdued, less saturated colour version. Both are on flickr and always open to advice. In fact, I welcome it.

As usual you can see all the Düsseldorf photos below, note some are quite old now:

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Kettwig

03 Jul 2011 By

According to the weather forecast is was supposed to be sunny today. It wasn’t until late evening. But that didn’t stop Jane and I heading off for a walk along the Ruhr in a very nice little town called Kettwig, about 20 minutes drive from home.

Pain in the backside to park when there, but the town itself was very pretty. Lots of old, really old, buildings, narrow streets and houses with window boxes.

Kettwig window boxes and houses

Sat and had coffee and cake, before heading on back. Taling a few photos on the way, including quite a nice one of this sunflower, with a bee in the middle.

Sunflower

Not sure why there was a large shoe outside one of the shops. Though it might have been some sort of cobblers shop, or shoe shop, but no. Maybe it was a long time ago.

Shoe

All images can be seen on Flickr by clicking on image below:

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