Jon Searles' photos with the keyword: Smichov

This was a lucky shot with my cameraphone while I was waiting for a show behind the Meet Factory, a club closely connected to the alternative sculptor David Cerny. The tram is a Tatra T6A5 built around 1996, although the number is too blurred to read.

This is not at Luzna, but back in Prague at Nadrazi Praha-Smichov. I shot this photo as I walked by on my way to the bus which would take me to meet the return trip of #498.022 at Nadrazi Praha-Radotin.

Soon after passing Vysehrad, the main for Beroun crosses the Zeleznicni Most, the most visible of the rail bridges over the Vltava (as the others are in out-of-the-way neighborhoods). If you look out over the city, it's surprising what you can see when you consider that this is a cameraphone image. Every major landmark on the west bank of the Vltava (except for Miklasky Chram) from Stadion Strahov to Prazky Hrad is at least slightly visible, encompassing the neighborhoods of Smichov, Strahov, the Mala Strana, and the Hradcany all at once.

I randomly shot this on the food court (for practical purposes the top level) of Novy Smichov, an urban shopping centre that's actually closer to the Andel Metro than Nadrazi Praha-Smichov. I noticed the Czech flags were up on the other side of the court (which is open in the middle to give natural light to the other levels), which are actually a bit unusual in the Czech Republic. Indeed, in most countries other than the U.S., flying the national flag on home territory isn't the norm except for at government facilities and institutions. In this case, the reason for the exception seemed to be that the restaurant in question was a traditional Czech restaurant, something increasingly rare within the Czech Republic itself.

One of several St. Vaclav's churches in Prague, this one is considered to be Neo-Rennaissance in style. This is my second attempt at photographing it, and this time I think I got the exposure more spot on since the light was better distributed on this day, with winter weather playing a role, I think. It's also my first attempt at photographing it in black and white.

The sign on the bus stop appears to be a practical joke. "Praskovo Namesti" means something like "Pig's Square" in Czech, and this is actually Jiraskovo Namesti. In the distance you can see Smichov (or at least Prague 5), and the Malostranske Vodaren. Vez.

This is one of the most famous, if not the most famous, post-1989 building in Prague. This is what Wikipedia has to say about it: "The Dancing House (Czech: Tančící dům) is the nickname given to the Nationale-Nederlanden building in downtown Prague, Czech Republic at Rašínovo nábřeží 80, 120 00 Praha 2. It was designed by Yugoslavian-born Czech architect Vlado Milunić in co-operation with Canadian architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot (where the previous building had been destroyed during the Bombing of Prague in 1945). The building was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996.[1] side view The very non-traditional design was controversial at the time. Czech president Václav Havel, who lived for decades next to the site, had supported it, hoping that the building would become a center of cultural activity. Originally named Fred and Ginger (after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers - the house vaguely resembles a pair of dancers) the house stands out among the Neo-Baroque, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings for which Prague is famous. Others have nicknamed it "Drunk House". On the roof is a French restaurant with magnificent views of the city. The building's other tenants include several multinational firms. (The plans for a cultural center were not realized.)"

Again I'm not sure if this is technically Smichov, or just Prague 5, but I took this from the Jiraskuv Most, with a clear view of the Tancici Dum (Dancing House) on the left.

Here's a panoramic view of sorts, even if it wasn't taken with a panoramic camera. You can see the River Vltava, the Jiraskuv Most over it, and then some of the more famouse buildings of the Nove Mesto, most notably the Zofin tower and Manes on the left, and the Tancici Dum (Dancing House), on the center-right.

Or at least...I think this is technically Smichov. It's not too far from the Palackeho Most. The main reason I took this is that I like the building a lot. Smichov and the Mala Strana are full of these, of course, but you can also find a lot of them in Karlin.

This will probably go into Green Idea Factory, if they'll let me post it. They're very much into stuff like this over there. It isn't true that the Prague police do nothing, actually, as this seems to be how they spend their time, taking cars like these and loading them onto flatbeds, but it never seems to be enough. Smichov and the Kampa end of the Mala Strana (near Ujezd) seem to be two of the worst areas. Don't even get me started about the inconvenience this causes people, plus the danger of accidents, obstructed ambulances, etc.