http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Czech Republic , North , Hrensko en-us Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:18:23 BST Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:18:23 BST We had planned a change of pace with some walking and boating in an area of sandstone gorges called the Sandstone Rocks of Labe. We were a bit slow away in the morning and travelling on tiny roads itrsquos a bit nerve wracking for both of us. I am trying to fit past an oncoming car who is travelling at 60 or 70kmhr and Alison is telling me to move left. I have a mirror which gives me a goo http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/blog-274376.html Day tripped to this little slice of paradise near the border of eastern Germany. A stunning day of serious tranquility and beauty. Was all zen like when I returned to Prague... felt like engaging in some contemporary dance to really top it off.Sway like the wind willow........... http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/blog-113450.html With time getting short and the weather finally being sunny and warm we decided to return to Hrensko for a weekend of hiking. We enjoyed this area so much last year and wanted at least one more visit to this beautiful region. The small village of Hrensko is located right beside the Labe River. Across the river is Germany. The border crosses the river about a mile north of Hrensko and beyond tha http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/blog-69560.html During our hike through the mountains we were pleased at the number of wild flowers we saw blooming. I wish I knew the names of all of them. But I needed and did not have a Central European Field Guide to Flowers. Some like the Foxglove I recognized but there are so many that were unfamiliar to me. http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/blog-12041.html Climbing on up the mountain we finally reached the top of the mountain where the largest natural bridge in Europe stands. Below and at one end of the bridge an old hotel still operates as a restaurant but accepts no overnight guests. The employees have to hike in each day to their job. All supplies for the restaurant are brought up the mountain in a small cable car. The cable car is not large http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/blog-12039.html We set off up the trail. Our destination was four kilometers away the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe. A huge group of school kids were ahead of us ... thank goodness they were ahead of us. In fact we slowed so they would get far enough ahead that we could not hear them. When in the woods we prefer the sounds of nature to the sounds of 40 excited school children. I must say the kids http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/blog-12035.html The area known as Czech Switzerland or Bohemian Switzerland is located on the German border between Prague and Dresden. The Elbe River has cut a deep canyon through the mountains leaving behind high sandstone cliffs. To avoid river taxes in centuries past smugglers used this area to carry goods into both countries. Small villages developed in the mountains to provide services to the smugglers. http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/blog-11970.html Do you remember in the blog on going to Dresden that I mentioned the beautiful mountainous country we passed through and I said Nancy and I have to learn more about this area. There must be some wonderful hiking in that area. Well ........ when we returned to IBTS we metioned the beauty we saw to several people. Each enouraged us to return and hike there. In fact PP said Take two days off http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Czech-Republic/North/Hrensko/blog-11121.html