Adnil:

I am impressed with your report. So much useful information and so easy to read. Your report is almost like a precious guide book, which I am going to take with me when I visit Prague.

going concern:

Sorry I didn't have much time for shopping as I was so busy with the photography course (probably a good thing!) There were plenty of shops - I don't think you will have a problem finding them on your own!!

I think the girls would love the birds of prey at the castle gardens and Wallenstein Palace (grotto and peacocks).

If it's hot take a boat ride, rent a paddle boat (there were serveral locations near the Charles Bridge or on one of the small islands) or take them to Zlute Lazne.

I think they would also love the marionette show.

Have a wonderful trip!!

PS: My favorite clothing shop in Spain was a place called Zara. I see they also have one in Prague (Zara Na Pøíkopì 15 Prague). Not sure where it is but the kids might like it...

goingconcern, I have traveled to Prague twice with my 2 teenaged girls. Our (their) favorite shop was Promod, although they also love Zara. Both are European chains (not just Prague).

adnil, I just stumbled upon this report and plan to savor it fully later. The photography course sounds divine - were all the participants young?

Great info! We're hopefully heading to Prague next summer and will use some of this info.

Adnil:

One of my favorite cities..been there several times in the 70's, 80's and 90's...haven't been since '97..most recently stayed at The Three Ostriches on the bridge..great.

I'm BU, Ed.M 1953, Emerson College, B.A. 1951...originally from Quincy.

Nice to see a BU lady having a great adventure!! Happy Travels!

Stu Tower (L.A.)

ttt

Hi noe847,

This is the first year that BU/CDIA ran the trip to Prague so it was kind of a trial. What they learned was that not alot of people can take a month... I think next year they plan to offer two weeks or a month (BTW you don't have to be a BU student to attend). Ages varied, I was the old one though...

In the photo class there was: me (I'll tell you that I am close to 39 but the 1962 in my screen name probably gives something away), Chris who was 30, Lindsay & Sara who were both 20 and Radek (a Czech student) who I am guessing was about 35...

In the film class there were two American 21 year olds, a Czech 20 something and a Czech woman who was 35. There was also another Czech woman who sometimes attended who was also 35.

adnil:

you still have to be registered in some kind of photography class at BU or elsewhere, don't you? Can a random person just register for that trip?

What a fantastic report! So helpful to all.
Did you visit the Mucha Museum? Forgive me if you listed it, I didn't read the whole report word for word. If you did visit it, was anything said about Mucha's series of huge murals portraying the history of the Slavic peoples? These were supposed to be brought from eastern Czech Republic to Prague sometime, but the last time I was there (2002) it hadn't yet happened.

Thank you for the excellant info!!!

What a wonderful report! I really liked the way you organized your info. I didn't have time to read it earlier this morning, but glad to come back to read it carefully.

Were the people in the classes pro photographers (or aiming that way) or were they amateurs?

This report made me want to do such a program, but don't know if I am a good enough photographer or whether I could keep up at my age (a woman of a certain age whatever that means).

Gina & Teacher - No you didn't have to be a student at BU any random person can sign up.... I don't know that next year's trip in planned yet but on the cdia.com website there is a form where you can request information.

The class was structured so that anyone could attend - beginners to expert. The Czech student hadn't even taken his camera out of the box yet!!

I would confim that Bob Caputo was teaching the class before you signed up as he really made it a wonderful experience. He gave us each quite a bit of one on one time. I learned so much from him (and I have already spent a year in photography school so I knew the basics....) - he taught the basics to anyone who needed it... He was very positive and just a really nice guy. He also showed us alot of his work and gave us ideas on how to make a photo better.

I don't think that age matters - I was the oldest (1962 :-) You could focus on any story that you wanted there were no requirements other than the first story which was just "Prague". Some of the younger kids went to nightclubs to take photos. I wasn't interested in this (nor could I stay awake that late) so I never set foot in a night club.

From what I have heard they plan to offer 2 week classes next year as it seems more attractive to people.

Kristinelaine - no I never made it to the Mucha museaum.

Thanks for your great report. Several years ago while in Prague I bought 3 photographs by Dagmar Hochova. She seems to be quite well known in Prague and I was wondering if you learned about her when you were there?

adnil:

1962 IS young.

adnil1962: Great report. I have saved it for future reference. I so want to visit Prague and you have given us such great info. Thx, Nancy

Thanks for all the very detailed info in this trip report. I am currently planning a trip to Prague and this posting is coming in very handy!

(If there are any other Fodorites who will be in Prague the week of September 24 and want to meet up or share a tour guide let me know.)

thank you for the report...and yes, 1962 is young.

adnil1962-your photographs are stunning! What kind of camera did you use? Did you do much manipulation after the picture was taken or did they just look that great from the moment you took them? You have a wonderful eye. I hope you pursue this as a career!

Thanks Italybound!! I have a Nikon D200 with an 18-200 VR lens. The photos on the website are as taken, Bob Caputo was pretty firm in his beliefs that we should not be using photoshop to correct anything.

Some of the ones on the cdia website could use some color correction (which I admit that I did do once I got home and did prints for my own album).