Wɔatintim: 04.06.2024
Encounters (II): Along the Elbe, the well-developed cycle path also runs along roads, which can also be narrow. There is little traffic. A car comes from the right and wants to turn onto the road. My wife and I ride - in good Bocholt tradition - next to each other and keep an eye on the car. A scooter rider overtakes us from behind, for whom there is still enough space up to the same height, opens the visor of her helmet and utters the following sentence with cool aloofness: "I would like to kindly point out that this is a road and not a cycle path." What is the lady trying to tell us? Is there a hidden message here? Is it a kind of indirect speech?
Encounters (III): behind Bad Schandau we have to change sides of the Elbe. There aren't many bridges there, but there are ferries in the towns, one of them in Schmilka. We don't take this one, however, but the next one in Schöna. The captain points out to us that there are steps to climb on the other side of the Elbe, an alternative would be - and from here on I only understand something about "Sh...i...", as the captain starts mumbling heavily and then starts to speak in a "Saxon" accent. So I ask humorously: "Alternatively, swimming?" But that doesn't seem to have really sunk in. In an indignant barracks tone he yells: "Schmilka!!" The other guests look a bit confused. We take the ferry anyway.
In the Czech Republic we drive along the Bohemian Trail, on which the Austrians and Russians chased part of Napoleon's troops in 1813, into Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland and have a schnitzel for 7 euros at lunch with a very friendly landlady.
Encounters (IV): On the way we meet a German senior class (presumably) that is walking through Switzerland armed with two teachers. When we reach a crossroads, one teacher looks at his map, somewhat disorientated, the other teacher thinks she knows a direction, but turns back again after 50m. The students ask for directions, but do not contribute much to finding a solution. The teacher says: "I don't know where we are." We naturally assume that this statement is a pedagogical approach that is intended to encourage the students to think for themselves, and we leave the students behind with the top exhibits of German teachers (especially since the Saxon-Bohemian region is not very densely populated, but is still regularly populated).
In the afternoon we look for a very nice place to stay in Jiretin pod Jedvolou; here in the Czech Republic, accommodation and food are much cheaper.
When we get to our room in the afternoon, we notice that the showers are still cold. I am immediately reminded of "Exodus 90". For anyone who doesn't know what it is, here is a link: https://exodus90.de/ - I can highly recommend it!