suggestions for Berlin & Prague?

[Lisa Nikodym]

I'll be playing tourist in Berlin & Prague the from the end of November through the beginning of December.  Does anyone have suggestions for places for good photography?  Or any other suggestions, for that matter?  I'm aware that I'll be there during the Christmas markets, but haven't been to them before.

I will be traveling by train, and won't have a car, in case that matters.

Thanks,
Lisa

[Jack Flesher]

I'll be playing tourist in Berlin & Prague the from the end of November through the beginning of December.  Does anyone have suggestions for places for good photography?  Or any other suggestions, for that matter?  I'm aware that I'll be there during the Christmas markets, but haven't been to them before.

I will be traveling by train, and won't have a car, in case that matters.

Thanks,
Lisa

Lisa:

Cannot speak to Berlin, but for Prague, you can do virtually the entire city on foot.  There is a plethora of great photo ops there from city center to the old Jewish area, then across the river on the castle side and along the river and the five main bridges.  Two blocks off the square and food and drink prices drop to 1/4 of what they are in the main clock square.  Take a tripod -- I know you hate them -- for some incredible long-exposure ops at night at the square, castle and river/bridges.

Cheers,

[digitaldog]

Lisa:

Cannot speak to Berlin, but for Prague, you can do virtually the entire city on foot.  There is a plethora of great photo ops there from city center to the old Jewish area, then across the river on the castle side and along the river and the five main bridges.  Two blocks off the square and food and drink prices drop to 1/4 of what they are in the main clock square.  Take a tripod -- I know you hate them -- for some incredible long-exposure ops at night at the square, castle and river/bridges.

Cheers,

Good tips, thanks Jack. I'm in Prague right now (hope to spend the day shooting Friday, here for "real" work).

About the Tripod, whatever you do, you'll have to pack it and not take it carry on. I took a Mono Pod. From Albuquerque to Frankfurt, no issues. In Frankfurt, I was told I couldn't take the MonoPod in the carry on. After some discussions with this security guy, he told me I could take it but made me promise I wouldn't take it out of the bag (like Duh, why would I do that on an hour flight to Prague). Anyway, got away this time, on the way home I'll have to send my bag under the plane.

[Lisa Nikodym]

Thanks, Jack.  This time I *am* planning to take the tripod in checked luggage, despite the annoyance of having to check things, because it was so frustrating trying to take high-ISO hand-held images inside churches in France when I was there earlier this year.  I'm also taking the spouse to help carry it.   I'll look for good night shots.

Good to know about restaurant prices on the main square.  I think the place I'm staying is right near there.  I've also heard somewhere that if you learn a few basic Czech phrases, you get better service in restaurants and they don't expect the tips that they would otherwise expect from clueless Americans.  I got a CD to learn a few basic phrases...

Lisa

[BlasR]

Lisa,
 
Couple hours in bus, from prague, is,Cesky Krumlov .

I think is one of the most beautiful place in Europe.

Good luck

BlasR

[Lisa Nikodym]

BlasR, is Cesky Krumlov worth the trip even when the castle is closed?  It will be closed for the winter when we're there.  I looked into it, and it's about three hours from Prague each way by bus, which would make for a very long day trip.  Without the castle open, do you think it is still worth the long trip?

Thanks,
Lisa

[BlasR]

Lisa,

I when there on Dec.

The castle was open, I don't know why will be closed.

The place is something else, just beautiful, anywhere you look it's full of nice color,

it's a little bridge just before going to the castle the you will love it, after that the little street the take you the to castle,

is so beautiful the you will spend a lot of time just there. look like a perfect old paint

To answer your question, about going if the castle is closed, I will say yes.

anyway will be a door to go outside of the castle the you can look down to the little city.

Good luck.

In prague get up around 5 am,  in go to the bridge,(bridge will be almost empty)  the priests will be walking the is a great photos, of them.

Good luck

BlasR

BlasR, is Cesky Krumlov worth the trip even when the castle is closed?  It will be closed for the winter when we're there.  I looked into it, and it's about three hours from Prague each way by bus, which would make for a very long day trip.  Without the castle open, do you think it is still worth the long trip?

Thanks,
Lisa

[cottagehunter]

BlasR, is Cesky Krumlov worth the trip even when the castle is closed?  It will be closed for the winter when we're there.  I looked into it, and it's about three hours from Prague each way by bus, which would make for a very long day trip.  Without the castle open, do you think it is still worth the long trip?

Thanks,
Lisa

I was there in June of 2007 (I am actually working on the pictures I took there right now)  and I didn't even go in the castle just wandered around the town spent several hours there. So in my opinion yes it's worth the trip if the castle isn't open. On the way there you should stop and see  Hluboká castle (http://www.czech-transport.com/index.php?id=135) built in the style of Windsor castle in G.B. Also Brno is a nice town with a historic old town and is only 2 hrs away from Prague  by car. So should be no trouble by train.
Picture is of statues in Brno 4 fools holding up  their pants and is as shot no editing except for resizing

[palmerson]

i'm in berlin... what do you wanna know? what is your field of interest?

[Lisa Nikodym]

i'm in berlin... what do you wanna know? what is your field of interest?

My primary interest in Berlin is visiting the great museums (though I know that's not relevant for photography).  Secondary interests would be photography of historic buildings and of interesting street scenes; in those secondary fields of interest, would you have any particular suggestions for good areas to visit?

Lisa