Winter 2009-2010

I've been doing a lot of traveling for my job this winter. Mostly, I fly into a city one evening and out the next evening without any time for sightseeing, but I did manage to get a day in Paris and a weekend in Prague to be a tourist.

Paris, November 2009

After a Friday meeting in Paris, I had all Saturday to walk the city. I was rather jet lagged (we had flown in overnight Thursday night for a Friday morning meeting), so I had to nap in the middle of the day, but I managed to walk to a large number of the most famous sites, visiting the Louvre, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees with all its Christmas shops and lights, Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. I didn't go in anywhere -- even in late November the crowds were excessive, but I enjoyed seeing the famous spots firsthand.


My first stop was the Lourvre.


Pont Neuf on the Seine.


A nice gargoyle on Notre Dame.


I have no idea what this building is, bug I liked the metal work.


The obligatory Eiffel Tower picture, though the light is pretty bland. I also walked up under the tower, and it's larger in person than I expected.


I thought the contrast of the Egyptian Obelisk and the Ferris Wheel was pretty funny at the end of the Champs Elysees.


I put the camera down on a bridge wall and took a long exposure of the Seinne and the Louvre at night.


After dinner, we watched the light show on the Eiffel Tower. The lights all over were flickering on and off in an apparently random pattern very quickly, making the whole thing sparkle.

By setting the camera down on the railing and taking a long exposure, I was able to get all the lights on at once, revealing the lattice structure.

Prague, February 2010

A trip to Dresden spanned a weekend, so we went to Prague to do some sightseeing. Prague is a beautiful city. However, I need to find a way to do these trips when it's warmer . . .


We took a guided tour of the Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. This is the cathedral as viewed from the north.


The cathedral is crowded by the other buildings of the castle, so the front is only visible at an extreme angle.


Gargoyles


Amazing stained glass.


The inside is cavernous.


Front rose window.


The organ.


A lot of silver.


The view from the south.


The view back towards the city with the Charles bridge on the right.


The view back towards the city with the Old Town Square and Tyn Cathedral.


We took a boat tour, too. I liked the framing on this bridge.


The view from the river back up to the castle and cathedral.


One end of the Charles Bridge at sunset.


Another view back to the cathedral and castle.


The Charles Bridge.


The Old Town Square and Tyn Cathedral.


Another view of the Old Town Square and Tyn Cathedral.


Another view of the Old Town Square.