New Years Eve in Prague

The year is about to end and I’m spending the last day in Prague, the beautiful gothic capital of Czechia. Since it’s also the last day of the decade, we might as well go out with a bang.

Overlooking the Charles Bridge on New Years Eve.

I normally associate the Vltava river with Bedřich Smetana and his composition Moldau from the Má vlast suite. Earlier today I stood alone in silence on the northern tip of Strelecky Ostrov, an island in the middle of Vltava, surrounded by the currents of the river.

Quiet winter morning in the red-roofed Lesser Quarter.

A short distance away was the busy Charles Bridge, but it could have been another planet as I enjoyed the silence. The Moldau piece is a perfect illustration of the winding river.

Crossing the Charles Bridge at night while the snow gently falls.

A few hours later, the chaos ensued. The Vltava river was been lined with firestarters and other pyromaniacs celebrating by blowing things up. The locals were firing fireworks in all directions, perhaps trying to shoot B-roll material for a Rammstein music video.

Pyrotechnic residue in the mist along the Vltava river.

I suppose there was a bit of involvement from herbal bitter Becherovka, the classic Czech digestive. It is slightly reminiscent of the Melnais Balzam, a weird stuff I had in Latvia. But as with many things in this country, twice as lethal at half the price.

Stay safe everyone. I wish you all a Happy New Year and Na Zdraví!