Tromtinden

The snow is melting fast now, it is starting to get nice and green along the coast and the midnight sun is back. The weather forecast for this coming weekend is excellent with sun and 16-20 C temperatures. Even though there is still a fair bit of snow higher up, the time for mountain hiking has started for us. Last Sunday was also warm and sunny and we went for an evening hike up Tromtinden, a hill on the western side of Kvaløya with fantastic views out to the ocean and a range of smaller islands. The last time that we were up here, it was grey and cold, but this time the weather was perfect and we enjoyed having our dinner on the top. We were the only ones on this top, but it was more crowded on some of the neighbouring peaks.

Nearly midnight sun

Prague

After an interesting and busy conference in Prague, we had a day and a half for some sightseeing. We mostly just walked around, visited several of the main tourist sites, found a couple of great viewpoints and sampled some of the many excellent cafés and restaurants. The weather was perfect most of the week and it was very enjoyable to be able to sit outside for lunch and dinner, particularly now the cold has returned to Tromsø. It is easy to see why Prague is so popular with tourists, it is a beautiful, friendly and clean city with lots of good coffee and food. I particularly enjoyed the early morning Náplavka farmer's market along the river, the views from the tower of the Old Town Hall and the Petrín gardens, and the excellent food in the Estrella vegetarian restaurant.

St Peter and Paul Basilica in Vysehrad

We joined lots of tourists waiting for the apostles to show in the astronomical clock at the old town hall

This is what we were all waiting for, the apostles showing in the windows above the clock

Old market square with the old town hall

The tower of the Old Town Hall gives not only a great view over the city centre, it also makes it possible to 'spy' on all the people below: street artists, Hara Krishna parade, stag party groups, and of course lots of tourists. Here a few photos from the tower.

Old Market Square and the Church of Our Lady before Tyn

Singing Hara Krishna

The soap bubbles were very popular with the children

In the evening we watched a show at one of the black light theatres. Afterwards they showed their 'secrets'.

Prague by night: the gothic Powder Tower

The next day we started at the Náplavka farmer's market along the river, where we gathered our breakfast from some of the market stalls, good coffee, crepe with lemon and a sausage roll. We continued our walk across the river to Petrín garden where we walked up to the view tower and monastery at the top of the hill. A visit to Prague castle and it's huge St Vitus cathedral is of course compulsory, even though the cathedral was closed unfortunately. Then on to Letenska park with it's large metronome, and back across the river to the old city centre, the Jewish quarters, afternoon coffee and an excellent meal in Estrella restaurant.

Náplavka farmer's market

Memorial for the victims of communism

View over the centre of Prague and the Vltava river from Petrín park

Prague castle and St Vitus cathedral

St Vitus cathedral