Prague's skyline is dominated by the vast hilltop complex of Prague Castle, which looks out over the city centre from the west bank of the River Vltava. There's been a royal seat here for over a millennium and it continues to serve as headquarters of the Czech president but the castle is also home to one of Prague's most chief tourist attractions: the Gothic Cathedral of St Vitus. The best thing about the place, though, is that the public are free to roam around the atmospheric courtyards and take in the views from the ramparts from early in the morning until late at night.

St. Vitus’s Cathedral regally over the other buildings of Prague Castle. This fairytale cathedral, the largest in the Czech Republic, was centuries in the building – as a matter of fact, ten centuries. This Gothic cathedral among the most beautiful in Europe, is the spiritual heart of Prague Castle and of the Czech Republic itself. The Cathedral has a long and chequered history. The history of Prague began with the construction of the castle in the 9th century. Its attractive mix of palaces, churches, museums, gardens and galleries gives a fascinating insight into the origins of the city. Once inside, it's difficult not to be impressed by the sheer height of the nave and struck by the modern fixtures and fittings, especially the stained-glass windows.

在布拉格总统府大院中坐落着一座古老的教堂, 这就是欧洲著名的哥特式建筑圣 - 圣维塔大教堂 St Vitus's Cathedral, 教堂近百米高的尖顶让其当仁不让地成为布拉格最重要的地标建筑. 圣维塔大教堂素有布拉格城堡建筑之宝的美誉, 不但具有丰富的建筑特色, 是布拉格城堡王室加冕与辞世后长眠之所. 位于城堡区的圣维塔大教堂是捷克共和国首都布拉格的一座天主教堂, 也是捷克最大, 最重要的一座教堂, 属于罗马天主教布拉格总教区的主教座堂.

我带着新奇的心情来到了布拉格的圣维塔大教堂, 结果是令我非常震撼, 特别是里面的装饰, 藏品金光闪闪, 令人回味.

Charles Bridge or Karlov Most in Czech represents the oldest Prague Gothic bridge connecting the Old Town and the Lesser Town. Initially it was simply known as the Stone Bridge or Prague Bridge. The bridge has actually been known as “Charles Bridge” since 1870. Bristling with statuary and crowded with people, the Charles Bridge is by far the city's most famous monument. Built in the fourteenth century by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, the bridge originally featured just a simple crucifix until when Statue of St John of Nepomuk (picture way below) appeared. His statue was such a propaganda success that the Catholic church authorities ordered another 21 to be erected in the early 17th century on Charles Bridge. Taken collectively, set against the backdrop of the Prague Castle, the effect of those statues is breathtaking. From a photographic point of view, it’s an interesting place to observe life, both locals and tourists and a picturesque backdrop to practice street photography or photojournalism, or even a little architecture if the fancy takes you.

从布拉格广场穿过蜿蜒的查理士街, 便见到横跨塔沃尔塔瓦河的查理士桥了, 这里也是整座布拉格老城的精华所在. 精华必然浓缩, 这句话形容查理士桥很恰当. 小桥不长, 不到 10 米间宽, 仅供行人通行, 铺地的方石早已被打磨的光亮铁青, 两边古典的街灯仿佛也已存在了一个世纪. 

站在大桥上瞭望四周, 皆是华丽的哥特式尖顶与皇家的贵族雕像, 斑驳的墙壁承载着久远而辉煌的过去, 竟然看不到一丝现代建筑的痕迹. 这样的情况, 即便在一些文物保存较好的西欧城市也是很难见到, 更何况布拉格曾经作为一座社会主义国家的首都几十年之久, 那些有着社会主义的表情的高大厂房, 成排的职工宿舍, 空旷的大道和办公大楼, 在布拉格老城竟然没有留下一丝痕迹, 让我顿时觉得诧异. 当然随着在布拉格行走的深入, 才发现这一切也只是限于布拉格的老城, 而在老城的外围, 那些社会主义表情的建筑就会比比皆是, 那些似曾相识的建筑, 总会勾起一些童年的记忆.

每个稍具规模的欧洲城市都不会缺少地标性格的建筑场景, 不论是古老的教堂, 广场, 还是现代的铁塔, 摩天高楼, 基本上都脱离不了塑造一种要人抬头的景仰. 在布拉格, 这些拥有相当高度的建筑并不匮乏, 却无一能够顶衔城市的地标荣耀, 反倒是跨越维尔塔瓦河的查理士桥, 长久以来就如磁石一般, 紧紧地吸引着每一吋步伐的停驻. 一步步亲近查理士桥的过程, 不仅只是一段路径, 更是一连串的酿酝.

Many years ago i was told by a friend that if i ever want to see the Europe of outsiders’ imagination, then Prague is the city i should visit. As the capital of old Bohemia and full of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, i was assured a real fairytale-like city of castles and cathedrals and grand old buildings. 

Located at the heart of Europe, Prague ('Praha') in Czech has been the capital of the ancient realm of Bohemia for centuries. Prague used to be known as the 'Five Towns' and although it has now been divided into 10 separate districts, most visitors concentrate on the five historic towns: Stare Mesto (Old Town); Mala Strana (Lesser Quarter); Nove Mesto (New Town) and the former ghetto of the Jewish Quarter or Josefov. Prague is at once one of the most beautiful and intriguing cities in Europe, justly famous for its Old Town and Castle, but beyond the crowds is another equally fascinating city of galleries, gardens and iconic design.

Prague has one of the world's most pristine and varied cityscapes, encompassing Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, neoclassical, Art Nouveau and ultra-modern buildings. The centre of Prague is essentially a Gothic city with a Baroque face. Nearly all of its numerous churches were either built or remodelled during the Baroque period and many of the original Gothic houses were given a new Baroque facade in the frenetic period of building and reconstruction initiated in the 17th century. And if the centre has a Baroque appearance, visitors who venture slightly further out might be surprised to find that Prague has some of the best examples of early 20th-century Modernist architecture of any European city.

浪漫这个词, 我们都不陌生. 每个人都对浪漫有不同的定义, 但无论怎么去定义, 浪漫给人的感觉总是舒服的. 比起欧洲其他地方, 东中欧给人一种贫穷, 落后的感觉. 但这片土地特有的气息和色彩, 是其他地方无法比拟的. 捷克是波西米亚的发源地, 这里, 从来不会缺少色彩两个字. 而浪漫, 也可以是一种颜色. 布拉格的色彩, 是什么样的呢? 相机记录了我想说的一切. 浪漫之地, 有的时候是不需要用语言诠释的. 布拉格是捷克的首都, 是这个国家经济, 文化和政治中心, 同时这里也是欧洲最美丽的城市之一. 其实对浪漫的定义, 美, 也是非常重要的因素.

这篇文章我将分为 "布拉格旧城广场" 及 "天文钟" 两个部分来跟大家分享. 在开始我的布拉格之旅前, 我先来正名一下. 一路上看到 Pragu, 以发音上来看, 一直以为这就是布拉格的原名. 但又不断在地图看到 Praha 与 Praga 等, 且这些地名在地图上的位置, 似乎又应该就是布拉格. 这一路上的疑问, 终于在抵达布拉格市区后给了个解答. 原来 Praha, Pragu, Praga 与 Prag 指的都是布拉格, 其间只不过是因为语言上的不同而有相左.

Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. A day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Having just returned from a glorious Prague vacation, i could not agree with that more.

I had a wonderful time while i was away at Prague doing my travel photo shooting. I reconnected with dear friends, visited some exciting places i love to return to time and time again. I took the time to relax, reflect and reconnect with myself. I honestly relished every single day of my vacation. The glorious end to a happy and fruitful vacation can be a little bit sad. With every step closer to home, the feeling of freedom, calm and relaxation slowly melts away.

I am inspired by all i have seen and done these past few weeks and as shared with you before -  "Inspiration" is key. By taking some time out for myself, i was able to re-connect with what brings me joy and with what gets me going.

The architecture of Prague is varied and wonderful, with many beautifully preserved buildings in decrepit condition. A beautiful public square of stunning homes and apartment houses would be adjacent to blocks and blocks of squalid abodes. The magnificent and elegant buildings that house an astonishing collection of artifacts is next door to a crumbling and ramshackle mansion built in the same era.

People i had met at Prague were warm and welcoming. Their culture is vibrant. Their music is fabulous. Some of my favorite parts of the vacation were the walks along the historical streets, so simple and special. Time that will always be remembered and never can be taken. This trip has become another memorable meaningful travel in my life. I am truly contented and blessed for able to lead such a fulfilling life.

The countless of photos with stories / thoughts taken at Prague will be unveiled soon in a series of blog posts according to the places explored in Prague. Please continue to stay close tune to my photography blog for constant updates! :-)

Hello my faithful blog followers, i'm doing a little bit of an update today while i'm so busy preparing for my upcoming travel photo shoot trip at Prague. It's so hard to concentrate on other things when you know an awesome travel trip is impending! The intense trip planning and preparation had me doing some serious wanderlusting this past few weeks. 
 
I will be taking a break from my usual photo blogging for the next 2 weeks+ with guaranteed superb photo travelogues on my Prague travel trip which will be shared and published with everyone in late October. Till then, i sincerely hope all of you will also continue to stay happy and cheery always!

Please also note that some of my new local Singapore documentary photo shoots cum stories will be shared on my blog from mid or late November onwards after all my Prague photo travelogues have been published. Please continue to stay tuned for more in time to come soon again! :-)