Prague or Amsterdam?

I have been to Amsterdam more than once but never to Prague. From what I have seen reported on these two cities, I would make Prague my first choice if I lived in the West. An old city like Prague has the charm of great architecture and Eastern European culture with style,while Amsterdam gives you a beautiful city in Holland with all its canals, cheese market, bicycles, diamond market, prostitution streets, ...etc. Maybe you should ask your spouse to make sure she would go for one over the other.
 
In Amsterdam they used to sell camel dung in baggies. What gives? They actually flew it in from wherever these animals live? Im serious.
 
Maybe you can smoke camel dung. It is cheaper than hashish. Amsterdam has lots of drugs ...
 
endustry said:
If you go to Prague, use one day to travel down to Kutná Hora--a small town near Prague that is home to the Sedlec Ossuary. That is if you like bizarre sculptures made of human bones, of course.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary
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Definitely worth a day trip. Kutna-Hora/Sedlec has the Ossuary, which is stunning, but it also has a nice cathedral and a beautiful medieval town center. It's a charming little town with lovely views, and just a quick train ride from Prague. I highly recommend it. Karelstjen castle is another easy day trip. Of course you have to tear yourself away from Prague, which can be so hard to do.

For panoramas, there are great views from Petrin, the Castle, and Vysherad.
 
Second the Kutná Hora suggestion, it is quite a surreal experience. Be prepared for available darkness down in the crypt though - I was at 3200 ISO, f/4, 1/50-ish with my Canon 5D. My IS lens saved the day!
 
Both are beautiful but in very different ways. Amsterdam is kind of sublime especially in Autumn as the colors and mist are beautiful. I was surprised as to just how photogenic it was. Most people talk about the dope smoking and sex industry but who cares. In fact I saw little evidence fo either - I guess I just did not go to these places. Prague - in fact most places in central Europe (Budapest , Vienna) is much more photogenic in general however, full of wonderful baroque architecture and scenery. Either would be on my card and I would have a tough time deciding.
 
Hmmm... I'm not sure that my wife would like such place.... (Ossuary) while I'll look for the overall views from the places suggested.
 
StaaleS said:
Petrin Hill (take the funicular, get off at the stop half-way up the hill, there is a restaurant with a view) or Hradcany (Metro station Malostranska, walk up the stairs to the castle, stop just outside the castle entrance) will serve for a sunset shot across the river. The television tower in Zizkov might also be worth a look, it's certainly tall enough and there is a restaurant thingy halfway up its stalk... take the metro to Jiriho z Podebrad. Shots up the length of the river Vltava with its bridges in full view can be taken from the Metronome monument, in Letenske Sady. Or you can go the old fortress at Vysherad for the opposite view.
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At last someone who can remember and spell the metro and tram stops. The restaurant at stop on on the funicular is rather good, I never recall the tram stop on that side of the river to get off to find it, so I have to ask. There is a great pub, Husa, on Vinohrady up the hill from Jiroho Z Podebrad Metro, on the right, I am thinking the Green line, order the Cheese Plate-- aged Czech cheeses. Everything on the menu is rather good, beer is very fresh there.

Tram 22 takes you the longest, and I think it takes you up the hill to Prague Castle.

There is an art museum behind the Jewish Cemetery on the street that runs along the river, and though they ask you not to shoot photos in the Cemetery, there is a great view over the wall from the men's room window in the art museum.

If you are at Malostranka, and cross the square and street on the bridge, there is a small park below with a good view of the Charles Bridge, the river, and hopefully some swans. Sometimes called "Joe's Place" because of a well known photo taken there by Saudek.

I have been to several Sudek museums, but his studio has never been open, but I have not been back for a couple of years. I would probably visit anything associated with Sudek.

Nice island / park, up stream from Charles Bridge, take the stairs down from the bridge.

Very important Czech phrase, Prosim Pivo.

J
 
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Sep 24th update: Due to a very interesting offer, I should be able to afford a 5 days stay in Bavaria between Munich, Alps, Neuschwanstein and Salzburg in an alpin lake for a bit more than 300 €... so I'll go there... (very likely)
 
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