2010

I shot this on my way to work, before sunrise. I wasn't the only one on the way to work, as you can see in the background, and Prazke Sluzby were already clearing the sidewalks. I doubt this street sweeper is primarily a snow sweeper, though. Prague rarely gets anywhere close to this much.

The Luziny Metro Station, on Line B, was constructed in 1994 as part of the Nove Butovice-Zlicin expansion. Line B actually opened in 1985 on a more limited route from Florenc-Smichovske Nadrazi, and didn't reach its current extent (Zlicin-Cerny Most) until 1998. Kolbenova station is even newer, dating to 2001. In any case, Luziny is on of the most distinctive on the Metro system both because it's above ground and because it has these palm trees encased in glass.

Here's a closeup of the palm tree.

Here's a 81-71M Class Metro train, originally built in the Soviet Union and based on Moscow Metro trains, the 81-71 Class have now been fully rebuilt with new seats and interiors, as well as modern electronics, making them 81-71M's. The 81-71 Class were not the first Prague Metro trains, though, as the first trains had been Ecs Class Metro trains similar to those now used in Budapest. The A (green) and B (yellow) lines now use them exclusively, while the C Line uses the new Seimens M1's.

Moskevska station, on the B-Line, now known as Andel, was built between 1977 and 1985, and was one of the original B-Line stations. It also featured more Communist propaganda in its design than any other station, especially the bronzes along the platforms celebrating the Moscow Olympics in 1980, as well as the Soviet space programme. Another theme was the "friendship" or "peace" between Moscow and Prague.......since the Soviet army invaded Prague in 1968 to ensure this would always be the case. In spite of the Soviet Union's fall, and the Velvet Revolution against Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, the modern-day Czech authorities have left the Andel station alone, with the only change being the name change to Andel in 1990.

The ceiling in the platform area of Andel would have no doubt looked quite futuristic in 1977, although I don't know if it's original. I brings to mind sci-fi movies of the period.

Here's an alternate shot of the Andel ceiling.

Here's another 81-71M Class arriving in Andel. In unrebuilt form, these would have been the original B-Line trains.

By evening on the 11th, very little snow had melted, with a lot of parked cars still buried.

The snowstorm appears to have caught Prague businesses somewhat by surprise, as many sidewalk cafes never brought their furniture and canopies in. Normally, they stay open in the winter, as they have large propane heaters for their guests, which are usually not too inadequate if the guests are wearing coats.

Palmovka Metro station was built on the B-Line in 1990, making it one of the first post-Communist stations. The projector and screen on the right is for the "Metrovision" news service, now being run by Barrandov Studios.

Roztyly Station was opened on the C-Line in 1980 as part of the Haje extension. It was originally known as Primatora Vacka (Mayor Vacka), but was renamed in 1990 as part of the anti-Communist renaming of many Metro stations.

Like Luziny, Hurka was part of the Zlicin extension in 1994, and like Luziny it's an above ground station. It's an alternate station to Nove Butovice, also serving Sidliste Nove Butovice.

The day after I finished my roll of Fujicolor Superia 1600, I tried the Plus-X roll in my Zeiss-Ikon Contina LK, and started it in Krc, taking more snow pictures. The snow still hadn't melted, so it still looked like New York more than Prague.

Haje was just as buried as Krc. One of the problems I had in scanning the negs was that the shots were a little bit too bright, but my scanner was also a factor. As you can see, a slight post process is all that the shots needed.

This was another shot taken in Haje. There was a certain about of snow still coming down when I took this, creating a slight haze.

This church, on Stepanska, is not one that I'm very familiar with. I might put up more historical detail later.

Vysehrad had an exceptional amount of snow, maybe because the whole neighborhood (formerly a seperate city) is on a hill. This is an exterior view of the Metro station.