We spent this final day mainly in the car on our way back home. The start of our journey, as Řízek dubbed it, was at 8:30. After breakfast and a quick return of the borrowed containers, we set off towards home. Along the way, we made three stops. The most important one was just before the borders of our republic. During this stop, our medic Tadeáš registered his subjects. Everything went smoothly, and the registration was successful. The second stop was to refuel near Beroun and the third was a snack stop featuring sausages in buns at Orlen.

After dropping off our colleagues, we gathered for a vehicle clean-up. It was quite swift compared to last year. After tidying up, we went for an excellent burger at LA Burger by the pond.

Now, it’s time to summarize the trip. It was a beautiful 13 days of traveling through a lovely part of Europe. Each of us was captivated by something different, whether it was the architecture, traditions, food, or nature. All the Benelux countries, which were the main goal of the trip, delighted us. It was interesting to discover something new and unknown to our eyes every time. Other countries like France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany were beautiful and pleasant bonuses. We were most surprised by the omnipresent bicycles and the lanes for them. They weren't always the typical heavy city bikes. Often, we spotted truly exquisite and expensive pieces, which particularly had me staring in awe. It's hard to highlight just one thing, but it was once again incredibly legendary.

We tasted local delicacies, slept in tents, cooked on a gas stove, swam in natural waters, and so on. This is just a small glimpse of what we've experienced and continue to experience. This is not something to take for granted. It requires a great group with a clear goal and an understanding of what to expect from each other. For some of us, it was our 4th trip together. Twice, six of us were traveling (Baltics, Balkans), and this year, seven. Every year brings something new. After all these years of ]]>https://vakantio.de/en/blog/trip-to-balkan/13-den-trip-to-beneluxhttps://vakantio.de/en/blog/trip-to-balkan/13-den-trip-to-beneluxWed, 15 Jul 2026 12:55:00 GMT49.912041216.6124965Like in previous years, we went on a trip this year, this time to the Benelux. And again, like last year, we are working every day on a blog that will bring our experiences closer to those close to our hearts.

However, we have a few changes compared to previous years. The first change is the seventh crew member, a sociologist. The second change is the beginning of our trip. To save time, we rented a car only on the day of departure. For this reason, we set off on the trip in several stages.

The first group, with the working name students, set off in the morning to pick up the car, buy bombs, and food for the trip. The second group, working, set off from Lanškroun at noon, and the last group, home/train office, set off again at noon but from Brno.

I was part of group n.3, in Česká Třebová I was joined by a castaway who had stayed at the local train station, and in Prague we were joined by group n.2. This group was stuck in Bageteria, although it was reinforced with disinfection. With the help of a tram that runs underground, we got to group n.1, greeted each other with an old familiar car, boarded, and set off towards Holland.

The seating in the car followed the classic order: business in the front, party in the back. But I went beyond the established order. As a recent, successful college graduate, and after work hours, I had something to celebrate. So I joined the back of the car and left the driver alone sober. We made the journey more enjoyable with chilled beers, memories of the Balkans, telling each other what was new, and continuous karaoke.

The only unpleasant thing that happened to me was that Řízek spilled beer on himself, his backpack, and cans of beans while celebrating. We helped him clean his backpack for a while and then moved on.

At midnight we had a late dinner of pickled bacon, fed our cart and continued to our sleeping place. We arrived at it at one in the morning, fought the wind for a while to set up the tents, and went to sleep.

A big thank you to Béď for driving us all the way to Holland. And Řízek will be wearing a hula hula necklace the next day.

Phila

Today, a few of us got together after breakfast and took a little tour around Prague. I included a sample of one of the over 250 pictures that were taken as a group in this post.

After almost 15km in the sun, I'm taking a few minutes to relax and write this post while I rest a bit on my bed.

Later, I'll head down to the hostel courtyard again and maybe to the bar. I'm looking forward to what the next few days will bring.

Day #20

Wednesday, May 20th

From Studenec to Petrova Ves

The rising sun casts a reddish light on my collection of trees, and as I slowly wake up and check the upcoming route on my phone, I decide to head towards Slovakia today. Just do what feels right.

I've already traveled through Austria, and I would otherwise miss out on a lot of distance in Slovakia.

In between, the song of the day suddenly comes to mind. Sometimes it just happens that way.

Once my GPS accepts that there is a new direction, we can get going.

That way, I also leave the EuroVelo 9, which I have been following up to this point.

The air is a bit humid, and according to the information I have, it is supposed to rain from the north starting in the afternoon.

So let's hope it stays dry, or at least I can get wet as late as possible if it must be.

What beautiful paths, marked bike paths that continue to exist, and the sun can achieve. In a good mood, I make fitting progress.

Passing picturesque lakes, populated by flocks of birds that announce their presence loudly.

I included the Morava cycling route in my route planning, which was a good decision. For kilometers, I ride along the river.

Just lay comfortably in the aerobars, and the speed comes almost by itself.

At some point, I realize that I am on EuroVelo 4. It's going well.

At least for a while, or eventually the signage ends.

It doesn't matter, my route is ahead of me.

In Otrokovice, I find an opportunity to go shopping and get all the groceries for the day so that I'm stocked up until tomorrow.

Full load, I continue. On the flat, the weight only becomes noticeable when starting ... in the weight.

The wind picks up, and the sky becomes overcast.

Nevertheless, I need to take a lunch break first and I find a nice spot by the river.

Whether I will manage the entire distance to Slovakia today, or if I will stay another night in the Czech Republic. It is so beautiful that it is irrelevant.

Everything I need on my tour is with me, and something always comes up.

At a construction site that blocks the river path, I stop to orient myself. Left or right along the road. There are no detour signs.

In that moment, I meet 2 bikepackers who point the way, and after a friendly greeting, I get back in motion.

What surprised me yesterday is that there are loudspeakers hanging in the villages. And today, I experience once again that there are announcements over loudspeakers at various times, accompanied by music.

As I don't understand a word, it remains a source of irritation for me.

It is becoming apparent that I will reach the border of Slovakia. Today I am prepared and enjoy the transition into the first completely new country on my journey.

However, it remains very agricultural, and I still have kilometers to go. All just fields as far as the eye can see. And since it has become hilly again, I can see far.

At some point, I see a patch of woods or something, which seems to consist of more than just bushes, although the hunting stands bother me.

Later, shots are fired, and I am happy about my decision to be in a small strip of thicket next to the country road.

Since suitable trees are lacking here, I pitch my tent for the first time on such a cycling journey.

As you make your bed, so you lie on it, which for me means a bit slanted, yet warm and soft.

By the time I finish, it is dark, and I quickly fall asleep.

Conclusion Czech Republic:

It was a short intermezzo with correspondingly few impressions.

At least the part I saw is recommended for cycling vacations.

Beautiful paths and a great landscape.

Less old building substance than in Poland, which makes it look more modern in many places.

That I will return is certain.

Song of the day:

Windrose - Diggy Diggy Hole (you know why)

Tag #19

Tuesday, the 19th of May.

From Jesenik to Studenec

Sunshine welcomes the new day. I slept well and can calmly look forward to the elevation meters that await me right at the beginning today.

So many white pollen are flying through the air, making me feel like I'm riding through snow. Fits, since I'm in a ski area.

After 2 hours, it’s time for a break. I've already covered 25 km. Along the way, I’ve conquered nearly 500 meters of elevation, and following an old saying, I look forward to the distance ahead of me.

Where it goes up, it also must go down.

Hopefully on good terrain.

Since being in Czechia, I've had issues with the internet, probably due to my phone.

Everything will sort itself out, and something always comes up anyway.

This is how I like my day.

In the morning, climbing the mountains and then stretching out over kilometers going back down.

The bike paths are sometimes newer than the route itself, and at times I just glide along.

It’s nice that my wish has come true.

As a bonus, I can even ride in just my shirt since the sun is shining, aside from a few dark clouds at noon.

At least going uphill, I warm up; the wind on the way down reminds me that the air is still cold.

I usually know Czechia only from the highway when we were on our way to festivals or for mushroom picking, or visiting Prague.

It’s a nice change of perspective, and I enjoy the diverse landscape.

There are also bumpy trails here, but very minimal, and the worst paths were previously acceptable average, so I’m making good progress.

There are also many more people out and about. I encounter many on inline skates, on foot, and on bikes.

Which clearly shows once again, create the offer and it will be used.

In the evening, I pass through the big city of Olomouc. Good for shopping, bad for overnight stays.

At least according to my standards.

Let’s keep going, I still have a few kilometers to cover.

However, everything looks bad; I can unfortunately hardly see sideways, and while I’m still contemplating just riding for another 2 hours to cover kilometers and find accommodation, I pass along a collection of trees and bushes on the country road.

I take a closer look at it and once again realize that something indeed always comes up.

Later, I am happy about the spatula that Dave left for me. The best tool to get hummus from the package onto the bread.

And then scrape off afterward.

A game changer indeed, compared to a sharp knife.

Now everything is done, and I'm finally gently rocking in my hammock until I fall asleep.

(Note from the editor: This happened within seconds).

Song of the Day

Gutalax - Poopcorn (travelers from Czech Republic)

I remembered the place from when I checked out to Asia back then 🤓

Prague is very beautiful, with many lovely spots, and the people are very friendly when you start a conversation. The weather was, just like the days before, similar to the Schwäbisch-Badische border. It was advised to dress warmly 🔥

The beer was very good, and the food was delicious and authentic.

I stayed in Žižkov -> Prague 3.

A good place to reach everything on foot and enjoy good meals away from the hustle and bustle 👍🏻

On Thursday, there was a trip to Terezin to visit the concentration camp. We toured the Small Fortress, the crematorium, and the Ghetto Museum. It was interesting to see it, with the Small Fortress feeling the most authentic to me.

Today, I walked through the city again. The loyal fans already know my “Good for the Thighs Tour” through cities around our planet 😏

The goal was to see the remaining sights spread throughout the city.

Prague is definitely worth a visit 🫠🤭

Stay curious and see you soon ✌🏼🥰

We slide along roads where neither milk nor honey flow, nor do Slivovitz or Pilsner.
It's not even a proper road. We are currently on a muddy dirt path that the last heavy downpour has turned into a slippery slide. From above, I can look down at the small reservoir we are heading towards.

The sun burns from the blue sky, causing temperatures to rise sharply even in the morning.
However, we cannot stop the car to enjoy the view, because as soon as we stop, the wheels will sink into the thick clay muck, never to be seen again. So, the robber cave sways mile after mile high above the water.

The ride gets wilder and my panic reaches unutterable proportions. Once again, I have to complain: No! No! No! We are going to tumble down the steep slope, sink into mud, mire, and slime, rolled and dived by wild boars, and dissolve forever into the lonely expanses of Czech Canada. No! No! No!

I really don't want to go into that stupid reservoir anymore; you don't have to wash every day, body hygiene is overrated anyway!
As the rear tires of the Kangoo sway dangerously again and the back end almost swings over the abyss, I cover my face with my hands, unable to face fate with its cold, merciless eyes.

A last roar of the engine, and the hero proudly announces: “Oh man, even here the water is just brown sludge!”

I can hardly believe it, but we have arrived without injuries, scratches, or dents, and even without the obligatory vacation getting stuck at the reservoir.

A fisherman sits motionless on the opposite shore, a pedal boat family paddles in the sun, and an autonomous brigade of ducks patrols the water.
We take our daily bath, but true joy looks different. Up to now, all rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds we have encountered have been completely over-fertilized and algae-covered, making them only hospitable to the universally beloved New Year’s carp. But the stink has to go, especially with these summer temperatures. Because contrary to all forecasts from the weather app, the sun accompanies us on this trip.

When the fisherman opposite finally moves around noon, contrary to my expectations, friendly employees from the waterworks ask us to drive the robber cave out of the dense riverbank to the roadside: “Car – there – water.” Only now is it clear how many vehicles are hidden in the bushes. Suddenly, numerous cars emerge from the plum thickets around the lake! This is presumably to prevent fuel or oil from entering the water. Or perhaps one or the other vehicle has previously toppled over the fragile sand cliff and landed in the lake.

Maybe you're wondering if we can recommend little Czechia as a travel destination? A detour is definitely worthwhile!
The Krkonošsko Mountains are not far away and offer endlessly green avenues lined with oaks, linden trees, or chestnuts, whose romance is undisturbed by any guardrails. And when you ascend the next hill, a wide view of Sněžka may suddenly open up. And this is, after all, referred to by VisitCzechia as the “Czech Matterhorn.” Moreover, there are the Czech Dolomites, the Bohemian Paradise, and Czech Canada.

We find many quiet rural areas where tourism is still gentle. The people are relaxed and very polite, and are quick to offer help if travelers struggle with the circumstances. Young people speak English very well and almost fluently. The older generation often remembers a few phrases in German.

Culinarily, however, the Czechs do not impress me. Although grocery shopping is comparatively inexpensive, neither the limited cheese selection nor the bacon-filled dumplings, gigantic boiled hams, or almond cream—which unmercifully reveals itself to be liver sausage after purchase—excite me.

Vegetables seem to consist mainly of cabbage, and the camping kitchen is rather one-sided on this trip.
In return, plums and prunes grow everywhere, which we eagerly collect. The selection of sweet pastries is definitely noteworthy; especially the different poppy seed cakes have captured our hearts.

We randomly discover large stones in Czech Canada, also find the small vineyards in Moravia, and eat in Telč the obligatory soft ice cream that can be bought in every, even the smallest village, and seems to belong to Czech culture just like beer and knedliky.

Now on the itinerary is Český Krumlov.
It has been the hero's dream for a while to visit the Seidel photo studio. The opportunity presents itself quite unexpectedly but is seized readily, which is why our path now leads us to South Bohemia.

The museum is housed in the Jugendstil building of the Seidels and offers impressive insights into the history of photography. The studio is faithfully reconstructed and vividly illustrates the work of photographers in the early days of this craft. 

Old wooden cameras, costumes, couches, printed wallpapers, plenty of authentic interior from the turn of the century, a historical darkroom, and a comprehensive archive in the attic captivate even those without prior knowledge.

Enchanted by the charm of this wondrous place, which seems to be from another era, we don’t want to miss the old town of Český Krumlov, which is embraced by the Vltava River.

Still mentally on another planet, we are once again struck by the Riquewihr effect. Just quickly around three corners, and suddenly we find ourselves in a bustling crowd. Tourists from all over converge. Asian influencers film themselves with thoughtful looks at the river, youth groups test their Budweiser tolerance, families struggle through soft ice cream lines, scouts whistle each other shrill signals, school trips load their luggage onto canoes and capsize on the Vltava, couples kiss against the colorful backdrop, and there’s a shift change for street musicians on the bridge.

I break into a sweat again and we decide we have seen enough. The parking machine eats our remaining crowns, and then it's time to get out of here!

Unfortunately, our last day in this little land is marred by failures. The Farmer’s Baroque in Holašovice, not far from Budweis, has been blocked by carnival booths of the annual fair, at the sight of which I once again lose my breath.

So onward to Liberec, where there’s a flea market taking place tomorrow that we want to check out. On the way, we inadvertently land on a toll highway even though I had drilled it into the GPS that we wanted to avoid this. We can’t make sense of the Czech toll system and later book a vignette for a whopping 11 euros for ten days. We should have done that right from the start…

Arriving at our chosen spot for the night in Liberec, friendly staff inform us that the annual music festival Benátská! is currently taking place and we must sleep elsewhere.

On the road to Mount Ještěd, which towers over the city at just over 1000m and features a conspicuous television tower, there are some parking spots available, but tomorrow, Saturday, a car race will take place. The racing cars have set up base halfway up and are already roaring up and down for test drives.
Fortunately, the noise subsides with the onset of darkness and we can spend the night here.

After traveling over 2300km and making a detour to the remarkable Görlitz, we return home on Sunday during a downpour, with lightning and thunder. We’ve brought back a few bags of caraway and beautiful memories, and there are still some attractions left to discover on the next trip.

So, until we meet again: a hearty farewell!

But my travel goal is achieved. I wash the sweat off my forehead with the water, and then we make our way back in the heat.

I nearly drop my glass in shock. We look at each other and are very much aware now that the storm is occurring right above our heads. The lightning must have struck a huge tree right next to us. The rain hasn’t reached us yet, and the hero dares to venture out into the storm once more to see if he can perhaps spot the strike site.

Very worried, I have to watch from the shelter of the tarp as the downpour begins. Tennis ball-sized raindrops beat down loudly on our mobile shelter, threatening to tear monstrous holes. I imagine the worst scenarios where the hero can't return to me through the torrents, is whipped away by the storm, and the carp pond is devoured mercilessly, relentlessly, and uncompromisingly by a tsunami of monstrous waves.

Now we set out to search for the Bohemian villages.

The whole journey was accompanied by a great atmosphere that was definitely worth it. From my position as the driver, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The only obstacle to a good mood was the condition and profile of the Balkan roads. Another drop in the cup of patience was the Balkan traffic, which is indeed something else. Adhering to rules, animals crossing the road, parking in the driving lane, and constant honking were probably the most striking surprises. According to my colleagues on board, I got used to it in a day and a half and then completely integrated.

Each country had something to offer. Whether you're a mountain lover or a beach bum, there’s something for everyone. The only downside in the mountains is that the signage isn’t as thorough as in the Czech Republic, along with the possibility of minefields. The sea was lovely and clear, except for one instance. All the visited towns had something to offer, except for Podgorica, which truly has nothing. Other than that, everywhere had its charm.

The crew maintained a great vibe throughout the journey. The navigator in the passenger seat was indispensable. The back rows either slept, marveled at the beautiful views of the landscape, or enjoyed the music playing, to which they added other genres and parodies. Requests for physiological needs were rare. Six guys over a course of 15 days might get a bit wild, so we apologize to our married colleague and all the parents and partners 😂.

There was no shortage of catchphrases on this trip either. One catchphrase followed another, often funnier than the last. Even though they often seemed to be very personally motivated, they were taken with humor.

The only downside to the mood was a car malfunction and some minor ailments like rashes and digestive issues. Otherwise, everything went according to plan.
Now, about the last day. We were awakened by the chilly weather prevailing in Trebević. The car showed a frosty 8 degrees Celsius for a summer morning. After quickly packing our things, we headed for breakfast at a store in Sarajevo, which was still closed at that early hour, and thus continued our journey to Zenica, where we were successful in procuring goodies for breakfast. After a quick breakfast, we sped along the roads of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the borders of Croatia, where we didn’t linger at all according to plans, even though there was a customs check. We passed through Croatia and Hungary like a knife through butter, except for a lunch stop at a KFC chain just outside Budapest. The trip was smooth, and around 18:00, we crossed the border into our beloved country. Before dropping off our married buddy, we refueled at Blučina. Then we were witnesses to a beautiful welcome of the Gregor couple. After a short snack, we made a quick stop at Decathlon, where Hanz bought a mat for his next holiday trip. After that, it was just a matter of dropping all my colleagues off at their homes, and then I safely made my way back home as well.

Now we only have to wash the car for return, and we symbolically concluded with an excellent burger at LAburger.
In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone who supported us on our journey through Europe. There are a lot of you. Thank you so much ❤️

Lastly, special thanks also to my colleagues in the vehicle. It wouldn’t have been the same without you. I’m very glad to have such a great group for travels, a big THANK YOU. The trip for next year seems to be in the works, so definitely look forward to another regular influx of experiences in a year.
On behalf of the entire crew, Béďa

Unfortunately, breakfast was only available starting at 8 AM today. Therefore, it got a bit late for the start. I had planned a long ride for today. The reason for that was the town of Domažlice itself and a promising accommodation at a very good price. However, since the day is long enough, the starting time did not play a significant role.

In contrast to yesterday, it didn't rain at all today; the weather was wonderful, if it weren't for the headwind. Actually, I like the wind, but on such a long ride, I need to manage the battery power well. This means specifically that I should ride with as little assistance as possible or even without it when the terrain is flat. The less motor power, the more strength I need to exert myself.

With the energy-rich breakfast and the food I had with me, that was possible, and I reached the destination feeling less tired than yesterday. And even now, three hours later, I am still able to write this daily report without falling asleep.

Today, there were also some sections with loose terrain; however, all were without traffic and easy to ride. In particular, a longer section through the forest was very nice. I could even have crossed a lovely, shallow stream. However, I chose the bridge due to the inherent risk. Imagine if I had fallen into the stream with all my luggage and everything got soaked. How would my journey have unfolded then?

At the end of the forest, there was a small lake. From afar, I heard loud music and saw many tents and parked cars. It looked like a huge party, and the path for me was blocked. They wanted to charge me an entrance fee of about 4 euros to let me through. I found that outrageous, as this was a public path. On the other hand, I didn’t want to argue for long, so I backed up a bit and went around the lake on the other side.

Shortly after, a large city came into view, namely Plzeň, which is Pilsen in German. This is where the famous beer, Pilsner Urquell, comes from. Fortunately, there is a nice bypass that allows you to view the city from above without having to cut through it.

To cross the railroad tracks in a suburb of Plzeň, a magnificent bridge was built that can be accessed in a sizeable arc. Please check out the photos; it's much better than a description.

Dobrany is another small place with beautiful buildings and a large village square. Here, after almost 70 kilometers, I took my lunch break and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and magnificent architecture.

As I continued on the route, I had to ride on roads that had little traffic. At that moment, Komoot discovered a special shortcut that suited me. It took me through a vehicle ban with certain exceptions that I, as a foreigner, didn’t understand, and then right across the premises of a construction company. The access points were closed with barriers, but many other cyclists had prepared a lovely detour that was presented to me.

My destination, Domažlice, immediately thrilled me, and I knew that this was the reward for my great effort.

https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/2250335780?ref=itd

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**English:**

Unfortunately, breakfast was only available starting at 8 AM today. Therefore, the start was slightly delayed. I had planned a long ride for today. The reason was the town of Domažlice itself and a promising accommodation at an excellent price. However, since the day is long enough, the starting time didn’t make a big difference.

In contrast to yesterday, it didn’t rain at all today; the weather was fabulous, if it weren’t for the headwind. Actually, I like the wind, but on such a long journey, I have to manage the battery power effectively. This means I should ride with the lowest possible assistance or even without any when the terrain is flat. The less motor power, the more effort I need to exert myself.

With the energizing breakfast and the food I brought, that was achievable, and I arrived at the destination feeling less fatigued than yesterday. And even now, three hours later, I can still write this daily report without nodding off.

Today, there were also several segments with loose ground, but all were devoid of traffic and easy to traverse. Particularly, there was a longer stretch through a forest that was very scenic. I could have crossed a lovely shallow stream. However, I chose the bridge due to the risk involved. Imagine if I had slipped into the stream with all my gear and everything got drenched. How would my journey have unfolded?

At the end of the woods, there was a small lake. From a distance, I heard loud music and spotted many tents and parked vehicles. It appeared to be a huge celebration, and my path was obstructed. They wanted to charge me an entrance fee of about 4 euros to let me pass. I considered that quite disrespectful as this was a public path. However, I didn’t want to argue for long, so I backed up slightly and went around the lake on the opposite side.

Shortly afterward, I encountered a large city again, namely Plzeň, known as Pilsen in German. This is where the famous beer, Pilsner Urquell, is produced. Luckily, there exists a lovely bypass that allows one to view the town from above without necessitating a trek through it.

In a suburb of Plzeň, to cross the railway, a magnificent bridge was constructed that can be approached in a large arc. Please look at the photographs; it’s far more illustrative than any description.

Dobrany is another small locality adorned with beautiful buildings and a vast village square. Here, after nearly 70 kilometers, I paused for lunch and relished the peaceful ambiance and splendid architecture.

As I progressed along the route, I needed to ride on roads that, however, had little traffic. At that moment, Komoot found a unique shortcut that suited me. It led me through a vehicle-restricted area with certain exceptions that as a foreigner I didn’t grasp, and then right across a construction firm's premises. The access points were blocked off with barriers, yet many other cyclists had established a beautiful alternate route that was available to me.

My destination, Domažlice, immediately captivated me, and I realized that this was the reward for my considerable efforts.

David's family has won my heart over these two days. In particular, the two children, Jonas and Toni, are boys you just have to love. His wife, Lucie, has also supported me a lot and is very helpful. Thank you, Lucie! 🙏

David showed me Prague again, as it isn’t usually experienced. He knows the city and its history as well as surely not many others do. I felt very comfortable in their beautiful home and slept well. So today I was able to start my tour, additionally strengthened by a porridge from Lucie.

The first 30 kilometers consisted of entering Prague and then heading out in a southwest direction. I was able to manage part of this on good bike paths and quiet streets, but in the city I also had to use traffic roads. Nevertheless, that went quite well, and I didn’t feel stressed.

This calm changed when I had to cross the Vltava River over a railway bridge. The adjacent bike path had to be accessed first by climbing some stairs. I attempted that briefly, and it immediately showed me the difficulty of getting up there. I had two solutions: either carry the luggage up separately and then ride the lightweight bike up, or cross the Vltava via another bridge. The second option seemed like the easier solution to me, even though it meant a small detour. For me, that was simpler and safer.

Once I was on the other side, I continued on a mix of bike paths and streets. Then came the light rain that had spared me until now, and the wind picked up as well. Still, I pressed on, as most of the paths were bike paths directing my way. In the distance, I saw dark clouds, but also blue skies. Which one will prevail?

It cleared up and soon I enjoyed the warming sun on a park bench. After a longer break, I felt the urge to continue as I saw dark clouds gathering again. Although I was riding quickly, they caught up with me, and when a bus stop offered itself as shelter, I moved inside; there was also a dry spot for the e-bike. No sooner had I taken refuge than it thundered and shortly after, it poured rain like from a bucket. The weather forecast predicted light rain. Water collected on the street, and in front of the shelter, a small stream was flowing. That wouldn’t have been so bad, had a driver not thought to drive right through this stream. I had intended to shower only at the hotel, but that had to be expedited now.

Well, soon the sun returned here as well, and the accommodation was not far off. Despite the rain and many pauses, I arrived just before 2 PM. And that was good, as my mental and physical energy was very taxed today.

https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/2247113824?ref=itd

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**Español:**

La familia de David me ha ganado el corazón en estos dos días. En particular, los dos niños, Jonas y Toni, son chicos que simplemente hay que querer. Además, su esposa Lucie me ha apoyado mucho y es muy servicial. ¡Gracias, Lucie! 🙏

David me mostró Praga de nuevo, como no se suele conocer. Conoce la ciudad y su historia tan bien como, sin duda, no lo hace mucha otra gente. En su hermosa casa me sentí muy cómodo y dormí bien. Así que hoy pude comenzar mi recorrido, fortalecido además por un porridge de Lucie.

Los primeros 30 kilómetros consistieron en entrar a Praga y salir en dirección sureste. En parte pude hacerlo por buenos carriles para bicicletas y tranquilas calles; sin embargo, en la ciudad tuve que usar también las vías de tráfico. Pero aun así, todo fue bastante bien y no me sentí estresado.

Esta tranquilidad cambió cuando tenía que cruzar el río Moldava a través de un puente de tren. El carril para bicicletas contiguo debía alcanzarse primero subiendo unas escaleras. Lo dejé en un pequeño intento que me mostró de inmediato la dificultad de subir allí. Tenía dos soluciones: llevar la carga por separado y subir con la bicicleta ligera o cruzar el Moldava por otro puente. La segunda opción parecía ser la solución más fácil, aunque significaba un pequeño desvío. Para mí, eso era más simple y seguro.

Cuando finalmente estuve al otro lado, continué entre carriles para bicicletas y calles. Y luego llegó la ligera lluvia, que hasta ahora me había ahorrado, y también el viento aumentó. Sin embargo, seguí adelante, ya que la mayoría de los caminos eran carriles para bicicletas que me guiaban. A lo lejos vi nubes oscuras, pero también cielo azul. ¿Qué prevalecerá?

Se despejó y pronto disfruté del cálido sol en un banco del parque. Después de una pausa más larga, me sentí atraído a seguir, porque ya vi que se acercaban nubes oscuras nuevamente. A pesar de que viajaba a buen ritmo, me alcanzaron, y cuando un pequeño quiosco de autobús se ofreció como refugio, me senté adentro, y también había un lugar seco para la bicicleta eléctrica. Apenas estuve bajo el techo, comenzó a tronar, y poco después llovió intensamente. El pronóstico del tiempo había anunciado una lluvia ligera. El agua en la calle se acumuló y fluyó un pequeño arroyo frente al refugio. No habría sido un gran problema si un automovilista no hubiera decidido andar de lleno por este arroyo. En realidad, quería ducharme solo en el hotel, pero ahora eso se adelantó.

Bueno, aquí también el sol volvió pronto, y el alojamiento no estaba lejos. A pesar de la lluvia y muchas pausas, ya estaba allí poco antes de las 14 horas. Y eso estuvo bien, ya que mi energía mental y física fue muy exigida hoy.

---

**English:**

David's family has won my heart over these two days. In particular, the two children, Jonas and Toni, are boys you just have to love. His wife, Lucie, has also supported me a lot and is very helpful. Thank you, Lucie! 🙏

David showed me Prague again, as it isn’t usually experienced. He knows the city and its history as well as surely not many others do. I felt very comfortable in their beautiful home and slept well. So today I was able to start my tour, additionally strengthened by a porridge from Lucie.

The first 30 kilometers consisted of entering Prague and then heading out in a southeast direction. I was able to manage part of this on good bike paths and quiet streets, but in the city I also had to use traffic roads. Nevertheless, that went quite well, and I didn’t feel stressed.

This calm changed when I had to cross the Vltava River over a railway bridge. The adjacent bike path had to be accessed first by climbing some stairs. I attempted that briefly, and it immediately showed me the difficulty of getting up there. I had two solutions: either carry the luggage up separately and then ride the lightweight bike up, or cross the Vltava via another bridge. The second option seemed like the easier solution to me, even though it meant a small detour. For me, that was simpler and safer.

Once I was on the other side, I continued on a mix of bike paths and streets. Then came the light rain that had spared me until now, and the wind picked up as well. Still, I pressed on, as most of the paths were bike paths directing my way. In the distance, I saw dark clouds, but also blue skies. Which one will prevail?

It cleared up and soon I enjoyed the warming sun on a park bench. After a longer break, I felt the urge to continue as I saw dark clouds gathering again. Although I was riding quickly, they caught up with me, and when a bus stop offered itself as shelter, I moved inside; there was also a dry spot for the e-bike. No sooner had I taken refuge than it thundered and shortly after, it poured rain like from a bucket. The weather forecast predicted light rain. Water collected on the street, and in front of the shelter, a small stream was flowing. That wouldn’t have been so bad, had a driver not thought to drive right through this stream. I had intended to shower only at the hotel, but that had to be expedited now.

Well, soon the sun returned here as well, and the accommodation was not far off. Despite the rain and many pauses, I arrived just before 2 PM. And that was good, as my mental and physical energy was very taxed today.

I assumed I would hear the children when they got up. However, they slept longer today, and so did I. It was somewhat embarrassing that David had to wake me up, especially since he had to take an earlier train. So I hurried, and we were already sitting on the train at 06:40. Just 20 minutes later, we reached Prague in the middle of the old town.

First, David showed me his training and office space before we parted ways. He went to his meeting, and I explored the old town of Prague. I already knew it from an earlier visit with André but was still overwhelmed by the multitude of buildings, towers, churches, and other architectural masterpieces worth seeing. You could take countless photos in every street and at every corner. I tried to filter the shots and only capture the most beautiful ones.

At 11 a.m., David finished his appointment, and he had already offered me a private tour across the Vltava River at the castle of one of the tours he offers as a city guide. That’s how André and I also met him 8 years ago. As a night watchman, he showed us the special features of Prague's old town. In the meantime, he offers various tours with a whole team in different languages. If you ever come to Prague, I would be happy to give you David's contact details.

Then we took a tram for a short distance, so the route on Komoot is somewhat distorted. From then on, I got to enjoy a private tour with him and learned much about the history of these buildings that have a long past.

https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/2244737460?ref=itd

**Español:**

David tenía una cita temprana en Praga. Por lo tanto, acordamos ir a Praga en tren a las 7 de la mañana. A partir de los 65 años, se puede viajar gratuitamente en todos los medios de transporte en Praga.

Supuse que ya oiría a los niños cuando se levantaran. Sin embargo, hoy durmieron más tiempo, así que yo también. Fue un poco embarazoso que David tuviera que despertarme, especialmente porque tenía que tomar un tren anterior. Así que me apresuré, y ya estábamos sentados en el tren a las 06:40. Ya 20 minutos después, llegamos a Praga, en plena ciudad vieja.

Primero, David me mostró su sala de entrenamiento y de trabajo antes de que nos separáramos. Él se fue a su reunión y yo exploré la ciudad vieja de Praga. De una visita anterior con André, ya la conocía, pero aun así me impresionó la cantidad de edificios, torres, iglesias y otras obras maestras arquitectónicas que valen la pena ver. Se podría hacer innumerables fotos en cada calle y en cada esquina. Intenté valorar las tomas y solo capturar las más bellas.

A las 11, David terminó su cita y ya me había ofrecido previamente darme una visita privada en el castillo al otro lado del río Moldava de una de las excursiones que él dirige como guía turístico. Así fue como conocimos a David hace 8 años. Como guardia de la noche, nos mostró las características especiales de la ciudad vieja de Praga. Desde entonces, ofrece diversas visitas con todo un equipo en diferentes idiomas. Si alguna vez vienes a Praga, con gusto te daré los datos de contacto de David.

Luego, viajamos un poco en tranvía, así que la ruta en Komoot está algo distorsionada. A partir de ahí, pude disfrutar de una visita privada con él y aprendí mucho sobre la historia de estos edificios que tienen una larga historia.

**English:**

David had an early appointment in Prague. Therefore, we agreed to take the train to Prague at 7 o'clock. From the age of 65, one can travel for free on all means of transport in Prague.

I assumed I would hear the children when they got up. However, they slept longer today, and so did I. It was somewhat embarrassing that David had to wake me up, especially since he had to take an earlier train. So I hurried, and we were already sitting on the train at 06:40. Just 20 minutes later, we reached Prague in the middle of the old town.

First, David showed me his training and office space before we parted ways. He went to his meeting, and I explored the old town of Prague. I already knew it from an earlier visit with André but was still overwhelmed by the multitude of buildings, towers, churches, and other architectural masterpieces worth seeing. You could take countless photos in every street and at every corner. I tried to filter the shots and only capture the most beautiful ones.

At 11 a.m., David finished his appointment, and he had already offered me a private tour across the Vltava River at the castle of one of the tours he offers as a city guide. That’s how André and I also met him 8 years ago. As a night watchman, he showed us the special features of Prague's old town. In the meantime, he offers various tours with a whole team in different languages. If you ever come to Prague, I would be happy to give you David's contact details.

Then we took a tram for a short distance, so the route on Komoot is somewhat distorted. From then on, I got to enjoy a private tour with him and learned much about the history of these buildings that have a long past.

Today I reached another interim goal. My Czech friends live in Úvaly, a large village just outside Prague. They supported me yesterday with my e-bike issue, for which I am very grateful. Searching for and organizing things is much easier in the local language, and that's why I was able to start yesterday after all.

This morning, I was looking forward to the second part of the tour along the Elbe. This joy was somewhat diminished by reality. There were some roads and many paths with loose surfaces. Some of them I could have avoided by using roads, but I didn't want to. The Elbe Cycle Path had already tempted me. And since the ground was dry, it went quite well. In this part, the path followed directly along the Elbe for a long time. That's when I saw the first ships. In Kolín, right in the middle of my tour today, I had to part ways with the Elbe.

Kolin is called Köln in German, meaning the Czech Köln, also located by a river, the Elbe. The German Köln is on the Rhine. Kolin also has very beautiful buildings; I liked it immediately. However, my destination today was still over 40 kilometers away. And as I saw, there were neither bike paths nor shoulders on this part. So, roads with traffic and many cars?

Well, I had to push through that too and just set off. Soon after, I came upon a side street with no traffic. And it stayed that way until my destination. Komoot truly amazed me. At times, I had to bravely ignore road restrictions, which turned out to be the right choice. I overlooked a road restriction in the morning and enjoyed several kilometers on fresh pavement without encountering any other vehicles.

The sky was blue or, as they would say in military aviation, 'grand beau.' The wind was barely noticeable, although from Kolín, it swiftly blew in my face.

From Kolín, I kept David updated about my position, so he knew roughly when I would arrive. There just wasn't enough time to organize the parade and the brass music.

In return, I was warmly welcomed by Lucie and David in their lovely home. And I was very glad to see them again, as well as to have reached an important stage goal for me.

I have now traveled over three thousand kilometers on this journey, and it’s not guaranteed that I will make it. So much can happen, like yesterday's breakdown or something even worse.

Just now, I was able to use the washing machine and wash my clothes once again. I have hung them up now, and the sun and the wind are helping me to dry them.

https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/2242324907?ref=itd

---

**Spanish:**

Hoy he alcanzado otro objetivo intermedio. Mis amigos checos viven en Úvaly, un gran pueblo a las afueras de Praga. Ellos me apoyaron ayer con mi problema en la e-bike, por lo cual estoy muy agradecido. Buscar y organizar algo es mucho más fácil en el idioma local, y por eso pude empezar ayer, después de todo.

Esta mañana esperaba con ansias la segunda parte de la ruta a lo largo del Elba. Esta alegría se vio algo disminuida por la realidad. Hubo algunas calles y muchos caminos con suelo suelto. Algunos de ellos los podría haber evitado utilizando carreteras, pero no quise hacerlo. La ruta del Elba me había llamado la atención. Y como el terreno estaba seco, la ruta fue bastante buena. En esta parte, el camino seguía a lo largo del Elba durante un largo tramo. Ahí vi los primeros barcos. En Kolín, justo a la mitad de mi recorrido de hoy, tuve que separarme del Elba.

Kolin se llama en alemán Köln, es decir, el Köln checo, también situado a un río, el Elba. El Köln alemán está en el Rin. Kolin también tiene edificios muy bonitos, me gustó de inmediato. Pero mi objetivo de hoy aún estaba a más de 40 kilómetros. Y como vi, en esta parte no había ni carriles para bicicletas ni arcenes. Entonces, ¿caminos con tráfico y muchos coches?

Bueno, también aquí tenía que seguir adelante y simplemente partí. Poco después, llegué a una carretera secundaria sin tráfico. Y así permaneció hasta mi destino. Komoot me entusiasmó realmente. A veces tuve que ignorar valientemente las prohibiciones de acceso, lo cual fue correcto. Ya en la mañana pasé por alto una prohibición de entrada, y disfruté durante muchos kilómetros sobre un asfalto nuevo sin encontrar ningún otro vehículo.

El cielo estaba azul o, como diría el lenguaje de la aviación militar, 'grand beau'. También el viento apenas se sentía, aunque a partir de Kolín comenzó a soplar de frente con fuerza.

Desde Kolín informé a David regularmente sobre mi posición, para que supiera más o menos cuándo llegaría. Sin embargo, no hubo tiempo suficiente para organizar el desfile y la música de brass.

A cambio, Lucie y David me recibieron muy calurosamente en su hermosa casa. Y también estaba muy contento de volver a verlos, así como de haber alcanzado un importante objetivo intermedio.

Hasta ahora he recorrido más de tres mil kilómetros en este viaje, y no está garantizado que lo logre. Muchas cosas pueden interponerse, como la avería de ayer o algo peor.

Justo ahora pude usar la lavadora y lavar mi ropa una vez más. Ahora las he colgado, y el sol y el viento me están ayudando a secarlas.

---

**English:**

Today I reached another interim goal. My Czech friends live in Úvaly, a large village just outside Prague. They helped me yesterday with my e-bike damage, for which I am very grateful. Searching for and organizing things is much easier in the local language, and so I was able to start yesterday after all.

This morning, I was looking forward to the second part of the tour along the Elbe. This joy was somewhat diminished by reality. There were some roads and many paths with loose surfaces. Some of them I could have bypassed using the roads, but I didn’t want to. The Elbe Cycle Path had already tempted me. And since the ground was dry, it went quite well. On this part, the path followed directly along the Elbe for a long time. That’s when I saw the first ships. In Kolín, right in the middle of my tour today, I had to part ways with the Elbe.

Kolin is called Köln in German, meaning the Czech Köln, also situated along a river, the Elbe. The German Köln is on the Rhine. Kolin also has very beautiful buildings; I liked it immediately. However, my destination today was still over 40 kilometers away. And as I saw, there were neither bike paths nor shoulders on this part. So, roads with traffic and many cars?

Well, I had to get through that as well and just set off. Soon after, I came upon a side street with no traffic. And it stayed that way until my destination. Komoot really amazed me. At times, I had to bravely ignore road restrictions, which turned out to be right. I overlooked a road restriction in the morning and enjoyed several kilometers on fresh pavement without encountering any other vehicles.

The sky was blue or, as they would say in military aviation, 'grand beau.' The wind was barely noticeable; however, from Kolín, it blew swiftly into my face.

From Kolín, I regularly informed David about my position so he knew roughly when I would arrive. There just wasn’t enough time to organize the parade and brass music.

In return, I was warmly welcomed by Lucie and David in their lovely home. And I was very happy to see them again, as well as to have reached an important stage goal for me.

I have already traveled over three thousand kilometers on this journey, and it’s not guaranteed that I will achieve that. So much can intervene, like yesterday’s breakdown or something even worse.

Just now, I was able to use the washing machine and wash my clothes once again. I’ve hung them up now, and the sun and the wind are helping me to dry them.

Surely you know the situation: you take an umbrella hoping that it won't rain. If you hadn't taken it, it surely would have rained. I took a drive belt with that same mindset, especially after last year's experiences when I had to cancel my tour in Carcassonne because the bike couldn’t be repaired there.

Well, things turned out differently: despite the umbrella I had taken, it rained, and in my case, I was grateful that I had a spare belt with me; otherwise, my tour would have ended here again.

But let's go through everything in order: I woke up early and, accordingly, was ready to leave early. Two questions occupied my mind during the night. One was: how do I safely get my e-bike down the steep stairs? This is also a safety factor since the e-bike is very heavy. The right solution for me was to remove the batteries and lighten the bike. And it really worked well. According to the host, I shouldn't have taken the e-bike into the apartment. But I found no reasonable alternative.

Secondly, I focused on the first few kilometers of my stage. Right at the beginning, I had to use a federal road for some kilometers. Unfortunately, I found no solution here; I simply had to go through it! Fortunately, I wasn’t aware that I would have to do this twice.

I set off cheerfully at a quarter to eight. Since my accommodation was in a suburb, I first had to ride to Trutnov, and from there, I continued up the hill on the federal road. At first, there was a comfortable shoulder, but then it suddenly disappeared, resulting in an uneasy feeling. I had just reached the necessary height and the point where I wanted to turn left and leave the federal road when I heard an unpleasant noise and could no longer pedal. So, I got off the bike and pushed it to a bus shelter. Together with Markus on the phone, we examined what had happened. When I found the tear in the belt, we both realized that I could only fix it with professional help.

Now, two major problems arose. First: how do I get to a workshop since my e-bike was no longer roadworthy? Second: how do I find a bike mechanic who can fix the damage? Since this, particularly with the language barrier, is very difficult, I quickly called David in Prague. Thanks to him and his wife Lucie, both situations were resolved relatively quickly. The taxi driver took me and my e-bike back down to Trutnov to the bike mechanic that Lucie had arranged.

The bike mechanic apologized for not speaking English; he could only speak German. What a lucky break! And when he told me that he could replace the belt, my happiness was complete. He suggested that I should explore the city and come back in an hour.

And indeed, when I returned after a good hour, my bike was repaired and ready to ride. 😊

The costs were: taxi 8.-, bike mechanic 32.-, so a total of around CHF 40.-.

Now my ride began for the second time. Surprisingly, I reached the height where the mishap happened again without stress, riding back over the federal road. But already after 400 meters, a sign appeared indicating that passage was not allowed due to construction. I didn’t let that deter me and just kept going. After several kilometers, there was still no construction, and it stayed that way. There was absolutely no traffic; as a driver, I wouldn’t have continued either.

One village further, there was another construction, but as a cyclist, I passed through here unharmed as well.

Then, the paved road simply ended with a barrier. After that, I continued on a narrow path with grass for cyclists. Now I knew I had reached the Elbe Cycle Path. And with that, the inclines stopped, and soon there was a wonderful bike path. Later, there were a few kilometers that had to be ridden on a road; however, I made good progress.

I then decided to skip the extra loop I had planned in Hradec Králové. I had already experienced enough for today.

---

**Español:**

Seguramente conoces la situación: uno lleva un paraguas con la esperanza de que entonces no llueva. Si no lo hubiera llevado, seguro que habría llovido. Con esa misma mentalidad llevé una correa de transmisión, especialmente tras las experiencias del año pasado, cuando tuve que cancelar mi recorrido en Carcassonne porque la bicicleta no pudo ser reparada allí.

Sin embargo, las cosas fueron diferentes: a pesar del paraguas que llevé, llovió, y en mi caso, estaba agradecido de que tenía una correa de repuesto; de lo contrario, mi recorrido aquí habría terminado nuevamente.

Pero todo a su debido tiempo: me desperté temprano y, por lo tanto, estaba listo para partir también temprano. Durante la noche, dos preguntas me ocupaban la mente. Una era: ¿cómo bajo mi e-bike de manera segura por las empinadas escaleras? Este es también un factor de seguridad, ya que la e-bike es muy pesada. La solución correcta para mí fue quitar las baterías y hacer la bicicleta más ligera. Y así funcionó bien. Según el anfitrión, no debería haber llevado la e-bike al apartamento. Pero no encontré una alternativa razonable.

En segundo lugar, me ocupé de los primeros kilómetros de mi etapa. Al principio, durante algunos kilómetros, tuve que usar una carretera nacional. Lamentablemente, aquí no encontré ninguna solución; simplemente tenía que pasar. Que tuviera que hacer esto dos veces, afortunadamente, no era consciente en ese momento.

Ya a las siete y cuarenta y cinco, comencé mi viaje de buen humor. Como mi alojamiento estaba en un suburbio, primero tuve que ir a Trutnov y desde allí continuar por la carretera nacional cuesta arriba. Al principio había un cómodo arcén, pero de repente desapareció, lo que me generó una sensación de incomodidad. Justo había alcanzado la altura necesaria y el lugar donde quería girar a la izquierda y salir de la carretera nacional. Entonces oí un sonido desagradable y ya no pude pedalear. Así que bajé de la bicicleta y la empujé a una parada de autobús en la carretera. Junto con Markus por teléfono, miramos qué había pasado. Cuando encontré la raja en la correa, ambos estábamos seguros de que solo podía repararla con ayuda profesional.

Ahora surgieron dos grandes problemas. Primero: ¿cómo llego a un taller si mi e-bike ya no es funcional? Segundo: ¿cómo encuentro un mecánico de bicicletas que pueda reparar el daño? Dado que esto es, especialmente con la barrera del idioma, muy difícil, llamé rápidamente a David en Praga. Gracias a él y a su esposa Lucie, ambas situaciones se resolvieron relativamente rápido. El taxista me llevó con la e-bike de regreso al valle a Trutnov, al mecánico de bicicletas que Lucie había organizado.

El mecánico se disculpó por no hablar inglés; solo podía hablar alemán. ¡Qué golpe de suerte! Y cuando me dijo que podía reemplazar la correa, mi felicidad fue completa. Dijo que debía explorar la ciudad y regresar en una hora.

Y de hecho, cuando volví después de una buena hora, mi bicicleta estaba reparada y lista para usar. 😊

Los costos fueron: taxi 8.-, mecánico 32.-, en total alrededor de CHF 40.-.

Ahora comenzaba mi viaje por segunda vez. Sorprendentemente, llegué sin estrés a la altura donde ocurrió el incidente, atravesando nuevamente la carretera nacional. Pero ya después de 400 metros, apareció un letrero que decía que no se podía pasar aquí debido a una construcción. No me dejé intimidar y continué. Después de varios kilómetros, aún no había construcción, y así permaneció. No había tráfico en absoluto; como conductor de automóvil, tampoco habría continuado.

Un pueblo más allá había otra construcción, pero como ciclista, también pasé por allí sin problemas.

Luego, el camino pavimentado simplemente se detuvo con un cierre. Después, continué por un estrecho sendero con hierba para ciclistas. Ahora sabía que había llegado al camino del Elba. Y con eso también cesaron las pendientes y pronto había un maravilloso camino para bicicletas. Más tarde había algunos kilómetros que debían recorrerse por una carretera; sin embargo, avancé rápidamente.

Decidí omitir el desvío adicional que había planeado en Hradec Králové. Ya había experimentado suficiente hoy.

To get straight to the point: today’s stage was both relaxing and diverse. In retrospect, there’s nothing I could complain about. Yes, there were a few surprises, but that’s on me. With a distance of 100 kilometers, I simply cannot remember all the parts of it, what kind of road it is, and what kind of surface it has.

When Komoot states “loose surface,” it can apparently also mean grass, as you can see in the photos. However, this particular stretch, which lasted several kilometers, was wonderful to ride. Even though it is slower than on a road, as long as it's dry, I prefer it. Also concerning safety, as there are no fast traffic participants here.

The weather was also nice; it couldn't have been better. The mild wind mostly came from eastern directions. So that helped me as well.

Today, there was no city to cross, but only small villages with names that are hard to pronounce. I also found suitable places for my breaks, and I particularly enjoyed the lunch break, which I extended for myself relatively long.

At the last hotel, I booked breakfast for 50 zlotys. When I arrived at the dining room at 7 a.m., there was no buffet in sight, and I thought I was in the wrong room. But then a lady approached me and handed me a menu. I had never had to order a hotel breakfast this way. I didn’t hesitate and just took something Polish, which was very varied. The advantage of this option is that you can take the leftovers with you, which is not possible with a buffet. So my lunch today was also secured because I couldn’t have eaten all of that for breakfast. Even then, there were leftovers, but they couldn’t be taken without appropriate containers.

A nice part of my route today once again followed an old railway track, just as I had experienced in Germany before. There are also photos of this, and you will surely find out which ones they are.

An exciting moment for me was the border crossing from Poland into the Czech Republic. After crossing some borders in the last few weeks, I imagined it would be similar.

This time it began that after the last village in Poland, the asphalt road suddenly turned into a road with loose surface. Was that the border, I wondered. Since I hadn’t seen any sign or anything else, I assumed that I must still be in Poland. According to the map, the border should still come. After some time, I then saw a barrier that blocked the road except for a small passage for cyclists. Therefore, there is no passage for motorized vehicles on this route.

After the border, it was not far to my accommodation for today. So I now have enough time to complete my daily tasks.

https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/2237697381?ref=itd

---

**Español:**

Para adelantarlos: la etapa de hoy fue a la vez relajante y variada. En retrospectiva, no hay nada de qué quejarse. Sí, hubo algunas sorpresas, lo cual depende de mí. Con una distancia de 100 kilómetros, simplemente no puedo recordar todas las partes, de qué tipo de carretera se trata y qué tipo de superficie tiene.

Cuando en Komoot dice “superficie suelta”, eso también puede significar hierba, como puedes ver en las fotos. Sin embargo, ese tramo, que se extendía a lo largo de varios kilómetros, fue maravilloso para andar. Aunque es más lento que en una carretera, mientras esté seco, lo prefiero. También en términos de seguridad, ya que no hay participantes del tráfico rápido aquí.

El clima también fue perfecto, no podría haber sido mejor. La brisa, que no era fuerte, venía mayormente de direcciones orientales. Así que eso también me ayudó.

Hoy no había que atravesar ninguna ciudad, solo pequeños pueblos con nombres que son difíciles de pronunciar. Encontré lugares adecuados para mis pausas, y disfruté mucho de la pausa del almuerzo, que duró bastante tiempo.

En el último hotel, reservé desayuno por 50 zlotys. Cuando llegué al comedor a las 7 de la mañana, no había buffet a la vista, y pensé que estaba en la sala equivocada. Pero entonces vino una dama hacia mí y me entregó un menú. Nunca antes había tenido que pedir un desayuno de hotel de esta manera. No dudé y simplemente tomé algo polaco, que era muy variado. La ventaja de este tipo es que puedes llevarte las sobras, lo cual no es posible en un buffet. Por lo tanto, mi almuerzo de hoy también estaba asegurado, ya que no podría haber comido todo eso en el desayuno. Aun así, había sobras, que no se podían llevar sin los recipientes adecuados.

Una parte agradable de mi ruta de hoy se desenvolvió nuevamente en una antigua vía de tren, como lo había experimentado anteriormente en Alemania. También hay fotos de esto y seguro descubrirás cuáles son.

Un momento emocionante para mí fue la frontera entre Polonia y la República Checa. Después de haber cruzado algunas fronteras en las últimas semanas, me lo imaginaba de manera similar.

Esta vez comenzó así: después de la última aldea en Polonia, la carretera asfaltada de repente se convirtió en una carretera de superficie suelta. Me pregunté si esa era la frontera. Como no vi un cartel ni nada por el estilo, asumí que aún debía estar en Polonia. También en el mapa la frontera todavía debía llegar. Después de un tiempo, vi una barrera que bloqueaba la carretera, excepto un pequeño paso para ciclistas. Por lo tanto, no hay paso para vehículos motorizados en esta ruta.

Después de la frontera, ya no quedaba lejos hasta mi alojamiento de hoy. Así que tengo tiempo suficiente para completar mis tareas diarias.

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**English:**

To get straight to the point: today’s stage was both relaxing and diverse. In retrospect, there’s nothing I could complain about. Yes, there were a few surprises, but that’s on me. With a distance of 100 kilometers, I simply cannot remember all the parts of it, what kind of road it is, and what kind of surface it has.

When Komoot states “loose surface,” it can apparently also mean grass, as you can see in the photos. However, this particular stretch, which lasted several kilometers, was wonderful to ride. Even though it is slower than on a road, as long as it's dry, I prefer it. Also concerning safety, as no fast traffic participants can be found here.

The weather was also nice; it couldn't have been better. The mild wind mostly came from eastern directions. So that helped me as well.

Today, there was no city to cross, but only small villages with names that are hard to pronounce. I also found suitable places for my breaks, and I particularly enjoyed the lunch break, which I extended for myself relatively long.

At the last hotel, I booked breakfast for 50 zlotys. When I arrived at the dining room at 7 a.m., there was no buffet in sight, and I thought I was in the wrong room. But then a lady approached me and handed me a menu. I had never had to order a hotel breakfast this way. I didn’t hesitate and just took something Polish, which was very varied. The advantage of this option is that you can take the leftovers with you, which is not possible with a buffet. So my lunch today was also secured because I couldn’t have eaten all of that for breakfast. Even then, there were leftovers, but they couldn’t be taken without appropriate containers.

A nice part of my route today once again followed an old railway track, just as I had experienced in Germany before. There are also photos of this, and you will surely find out which ones they are.

An exciting moment for me was the border crossing from Poland into the Czech Republic. After crossing some borders in the last few weeks, I imagined it would be similar.

This time it began that after the last village in Poland, the asphalt road suddenly turned into a road with loose surface. Was that the border, I wondered. Since I hadn’t seen any sign or anything else, I assumed that I must still be in Poland. According to the map, the border should still come. After some time, I then saw a barrier that blocked the road except for a small passage for cyclists. Therefore, there is no passage for motorized vehicles on this route.

After the border, it was not far to my accommodation for today. So I now have enough time to complete my daily tasks.

Today was the first full day in Prague. We woke up at 6:30 AM and had a leisurely breakfast first.

At around 10 o'clock, we set off for the Old Town. We took the 18 tram, which took about 25 minutes. The weather was heavenly! 25 degrees and clear sunshine. We visited the Charles Bridge and then had a Trdelník, also known as Baumstriezel. This is ice cream in a warm dough roll.

After this snack, we wandered through the Old Town. We saw life-size baby statues, really beautiful murals, cute souvenir shops, and such stunning architecture!

At noon, we hiked up a huge mountain to a viewpoint where we had a great view of Prague. On this mountain, we passed ruins and a witch's hut. At the top, there was a small café where we treated ourselves to a refreshing break.

Afterward, we hiked back down and explored more of the city.

When we got hungry, we went out for burgers and fries. Right in front of the center where we ate was the head of Franz Kafka! It rotates once an hour for 15 minutes. I really wanted to see this head, and I was able to do so spontaneously.

Next, we went to Prague's famous sundial. However, I didn't find it that impressive. There were sooooo many people in front of it!

Right next to the clock, there was an Easter market set up. (We are currently in Holy Week) It was very nice. A children's choir sang 'Stups the Little Easter Bunny' in Czech. Sooo sweet!!

By now it was already 5 PM, and we made our way back. Again, we took the 18 tram home. On the way, we stopped at Penny to shop for dinner. Last night we were at Albert, a Czech supermarket that resembles Germany's Edeka. We wanted to see which supermarket was cheaper today. We think it's Penny.

Upon arriving home, I did some studying while my two friends cooked dinner. :) We had rice with chicken.

04/18/25

Rain!!! Today we slept a bit longer than yesterday. The air was cool and fresh, and it was lightly drizzling. It was a really cozy morning. After breakfast, we went to the National Museum. It was really great there! The building itself was beautifully decorated, and it showcased Czech history. There were old clothes, instruments, writings, and even animals on display! For example, a life-size mammoth.

After the museum visit, we went to a cute café called 'Smetanaq'. It was still pouring, so we took the tram. We really wanted to try the old-fashioned tram. From the outside, it looked like it was out of a storybook, but inside it was just crowded and stuffy, not old-fashioned at all but very modern. Sandrine had coffee and carrot cake, Henny had hot chocolate and a type of Czech caramel pastry, and I also had hot chocolate and a waffle. Everything was very delicious. But the carrot cake was the best! I normally don't like it, but this one was really good.

After this break, we headed to 'Shakespeare's Bookstore'. A super cute old bookstore. There were secondhand books and new books, almost all in English. After spending ages in this cozy bookstore, we wandered through the Old Town again and ended up at St. Vitus Cathedral. We didn't go inside, but even from the outside, it looked very impressive. Shortly after, we arrived at the castle, or rather the fortress. Here we had to climb some stairs again… But the view at the end was fantastic! We didn't go inside the castle, just through the courtyard and all the alleys there.

Today, time flew by. After our visit to the castle, it was already 5:30 PM, so we headed back. In the evening, we ate the leftovers from the past two nights. Afterward, we watched 'Lorax' together.

04/19/25

Today, the weather was neither good nor bad. It wasn't cold, but it also wasn't really warm, and it was very cloudy. But at least there was no rain!

First, we went to the 'John Lennon Wall'. It was very impressive! Of course, we immortalized our names there. For the first time…who knows how long they will be visible, with people painting/sticking/writing new things all the time. Sandrine even stuck on a St. Pauli sticker. ('The big HSV sticker that's already there is ***')

After that, we moved on to the small narrow alley/stairs. It was so packed that we postponed going through it until tomorrow.

So we continued on to Waldstein Garden. Here we walked through a large garden with nicely trimmed bushes. There were small fountains and ponds with huge fish. Additionally, peacocks roamed freely. I felt a bit sorry for them as all the tourists kept taking pictures and completely surrounded the peacocks… Also in Waldstein Garden was the Senát. You couldn't go in, but the entrance area alone was very impressive. Lastly, we looked at a wall that had similarities to a stalactite wall. It was specially constructed to show similarities and connections to nature.

Next on the agenda: 'Koláče'. This is a traditional Czech sweet pastry with a type of filling on top. (Not inside). We bought three different kinds and shared them all. I liked the one with cheese and apricot the best.

After that, we headed back to the Airbnb and took a short rest. Not for long, though, as we had to get ready to head to the jazz club! But first, we had a small meal. Entry was at 8 PM, and about an hour later, it slowly began. We had a really great table with an excellent view of the stage. The performance was so beautiful, and the drinks were great too!! We were at 'JazzRepublic', where entry is free AND you even get a free poster!

After such a lovely evening at the jazz club, we went quickly to the Charles Bridge and looked at the illuminated buildings of Prague. Afterward, we took the 18 tram back to the Airbnb, where we were really tired and could finally sleep.

04/20/25

Today was the fourth and final day here in Prague. It was really warm and not a cloud in the sky. (UV index 6, I actually got half tan lines:))

Our landlord recommended a bakery here, where we first bought pastries. Two Koláče and a cinnamon roll (which was extremely good). Then we took the 18 tram again towards the center, where we strolled through 'Letna Park'. Along the way, we saw many people waiting in line with woven baskets at the churches. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out exactly what that was about. On this Easter Sunday, it was really felt here in Prague. It's been beautifully decorated for a few days, and people here wish each other happy Easter holidays. Today, you often heard organ music that sounded from somewhere out of the churches. That was very lovely.

At some point, we sat/laid down on the grass and ate our picnic. So delicious! 😋 After a little relaxation and writing in diaries/postcards, we played a round of 'Shithead'. I won. ^^

After what felt like an eternity, we left the park and went to 'Letna Café'. There, Sandrine and I had iced coffees, while Henny had chai tea.

Next, we went to Prague's narrowest alley. We had to wait in line for a while, but it went faster than expected. The alley is only 50 cm wide in places, which is why traffic lights are installed outside to indicate whether you can go through at that moment. If people come from both sides at the same time, they wouldn't be able to pass by each other. That was definitely a cool experience.

The sun and heat really exhausted us, so we wanted to head back slowly. We walked back over Charles Bridge and then wandered a bit through the streets until we reached a secondhand shop we saw yesterday after the jazz evening. I actually found something and bought a beige blazer for 4€. To top it off, I had a corn dog. Yummy.

After that, we quickly went to Billa to shop for dinner and then took tram number 18 back to the Airbnb.

Back at the Airbnb, we packed and cooked, and Henny took another shower. Then it was dinner time. Now everything is ready for departure tomorrow at 6:55 AM…

That’s it with our four-day stay here in Prague, Czech Republic. I found it very, very nice.

A somewhat rushed start to the day culminated in a lovely guided tour from the Lesser Town across the Charles Bridge to the Old Town, ending in the Jewish Quarter.

After 3 hours of city history and sightseeing, we needed some comfort food and headed back to the Old Town Square. Today marked the opening of the Prague Christmas Market, which we wanted to explore.

Rejuvenated and satisfied, we began our second shopping tour. Along the way, we also stumbled upon the Palladium at Republic Square. I don’t think I've ever seen such an impressive shopping center. Absolutely unique.

A delightful ending to today was a restaurant visit, quite close to our tram stop, which took us back to our hotel.

Of course, my balloon is also along for the ride, but it has been sentenced to wait on the parking lot in front of the hotel while we make ourselves comfortable inside.

This morning, we set off from my pregnant best friend's house. The highway, which goes straight through the Czech Republic right into Prague, made the journey really easy to navigate. And the drive was over quicker than we could blink.

Once we arrived, we checked into our room and immediately made our way to the city center by tram, ready to explore the Prague shopping mile and find something delicious to eat.

Some sights that are on the agenda for tomorrow were already admired and photographed from the outside today. We even discovered the Christmas market that will open tomorrow.

We ended the evening with the only German channel that was on, which played a documentary about Dresden, the Nazi era, and murders, and we couldn’t help but laugh at ourselves with cute bunny masks on our faces as we looked in the mirror.

After Kadir's arrival, we had a quick coffee, and then packed everything into the Militaria-Benz. Departing from Schöneiche, our first stop was the Shell gas station in Erkner. All fluids were filled to the brim, and the tire pressure, especially on the rear axle, was inflated to an incredible 4.9 Bar. Then I took the wheel and we hit the highway heading south.
We left metropolitan areas like Lübbenau, Bronkow, and Schipkau behind us and crossed the border into the Czech Republic.

Since there is a functional but strict distribution of tasks on board, I had been dealing for days with all the toll regulations of the countries along our route for motorhomes over 3.5 tons. So I was certainly not surprised when we were allowed to purchase a device the size of a Discman from 1992 shortly after crossing the border at a highly trustworthy rest area. Essentially, the box is just on loan and I hope to get my €73 deposit back when we pull the block out of sight of the windshield just before returning to German soil at the end of October.

Today's destination was the parking area in Brno. That was enough after a total of 1097km (for Kadir). The last 2km seemed somewhat suspicious to me, as the route reminded me very much of the TET trails. But the Trans Euro Trail is generally traversed on two wheels.
At the entrance, a new procedure for me, but very familiar to Kadir: put money in the machine and press a combination of letters. Then a small cardboard box falls out. Inside: a pen, gate code, and instructions. We opened the gate using the code and looked for a parking spot at the edge of the spaces that were already completely occupied by English VIP caravans. Shortly thereafter, we both had our welcome beers in hand and set the table for dinner.

After a delightful wooden platter, we went to bed. Kadir in the heated living, kitchen, driving, bathroom, and sleeping area, and I up in the ice hell. No, no. It actually fits perfectly, as I favor cool ambient air during my night rest.

Good night, Turk

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!

Before I went to the museum, I discovered a beautiful painting in the city. In addition, the Charles Bridge was, for once, easy to walk on because the weather wasn't that great.

Then we went to the National Museum in Prague. There is a large exhibition on evolution, earth history, Hall of Minerals, history of the Czech Republic and the history of the 20th century.

There are also smaller exhibitions. The great thing is that you can go to the top of the beautiful building and have a wide view over the city. From the pictures you can see what highlights there were in my opinion. After three hours in the museum my head was full and I met up with Emma. We ended the afternoon relaxing. Tomorrow we'll take the train back to Germany.

Today we started the day slowly. This is the only right thing at temperatures up to 30 degrees. After breakfast we went to Republican Square, where you can also visit the Powder Tower. The Obecní dům is also a concert hall on this square, which is very beautiful.

Afterwards we took a leisurely stroll through the city and wanted to eat Czech food. Unfortunately, this is almost impossible as a vegetarian or vegan. So I ate fries and a salad. Afterwards we walked to the Petřín lookout tower. However, we saved ourselves the climb because it is quite expensive. On the way back we passed a small waterfall that seemed very peaceful. We also made soap bubbles because there was a small bottle on the floor. Back at the apartment we have dinner and a relaxing evening before heading to the National Museum tomorrow.

I can already say one thing about Prague: there are beautiful buildings and the city tells many stories. Especially if you have a history student as your personal guide. However, the tourist groups are sometimes a bit too much for me and I'm happy when we find quieter corners.

You can see which sights we saw in the pictures :). In the evening we go to the park for a picnic and end the day.