Day before yesterday - April 26, 2013

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A walk in Šárka Valley from Divoká Šárka to Jeneralka

I spent the entire day on Friday proofreading doctoral dissertation chapters written by various PhD candidates. This is work I really enjoy doing but by the end of a week of Masters and PhD papers with the sun shining outside, the temperature in the low 20s Celcius (low 70s Farenheit) I find I am just about too lazy to do ONE-MORE-THING. So along about 15:00 or 15:30, I decided it was time to give up the fight to stay awake and head to the room for a nice nap. I went to the library to find Bill but he was not where the others thought he was. A student caught me and had me help him find some books he needed to work with over the weekend. Then I decided the next best plan or action was to sit like a turtle in the sun on the patio. Victoria and I took a short break and let the sun seep into our skin. Probably we both almost went to sleep.

After my turtle-like rest, I headed not back to the English office to finish Chapters 4 and 5 of an interesting dissertation but to Building F where we live. I was totally exhausted and really ready to snooze. I discovered where Bill was! HE had taken a nap instead of finishing the work day in the library. So, he was rested and ready to take a long walk. I was NOT rested and NOT ready to take a walk. But he can be very persuasive when he decides something. I changed into my jeans and walking shoes and we got our bus passes and headed out the door.

The easy (riding) part of the hike

We caught a bus to the top of the hill and got off to try to catch the next tram headed up that hill to Divoka Sarka. Lucky for us there was a tram sitting ahead of the one we needed and then ours was caught by a red light. We ran across the street and jumped in just in time for it to take off up the hill. Along the way all the continuing digging and building for the newest extension of the subway line still made the roadway much less attractive than in the past but the future of public transportation here will be even better than the present with the new stations all along this route. Soon we were passing the attractive cemetery which is next to the tram turn around (located next to a McDonalds - probably the last thing anyone would want to see just before heading for a nice nature walk- but often a good 'potty stop' for many tourists just before the long hike).

Let's go hiking

The green color of the hills and cliffs made us ALMOST decide to climb the very steep hill that is at the start of the valley. But since I was still feeling so tired I wasn't sure I could do the regular path, it seemed that a strenuous climb even for one of the best views in the world just was out of the question for today. As soon as we had descended the stairs that lead down from the slight hill on which the tram stops and entered the beginning of the valley or canyon that is the Sarka Valley, all my exhaustion seemed to melt away. The wild rocks, the wonderful stream, the flowers blooming beside the water and especially the odd yellow flowers that cover the rocky Prague hillsides in the spring just took our breath away. Young lovers were posing for photos while sitting on rocks beside the stream, others were holding hands and walking and stopping to kiss every few steps (oh to be so young and so in love!). Families were pushing baby carriages and laughing and talking. Young children were running and laughing. People were walking their dogs (those well behaved Czech dogs who never sniffle at you or bark at each other but walk along like well brought up children.)





It's hard or perhaps impossible to describe the beauty and wildness of this upper part of the valley with it's rocks and hills and cliffs and the stream and all of nature just in such abundance. It's a place like no other.





Soon we were in sight of the place where we first saw Czech parents teaching their kids to cross country ski on a small hill that is covered with grass in the summer but snow in the winter. The swimming pool is near it and folks were painting the wooden chairs getting ready for summer and swimming time. The pool is full and ready and actually it was warm enough today to go into the water. The temperature of the water surely is always cold since water runs in one end and out the other from the stream as far as we can judge.

Let's not forget eating!!!

Then it was just steps to the wonderful, marvelous little pub which sits right after the trail bends to the right for its further run down the valley. Of course this was a prime part of Bill's plan - supper at the pub. He found a table in the shade and sat down leaving me to go and order whatever I thought we would enjoy on the menu. They still had their wonderful meatloaf with fresh onions, mustard and tomato and good solid European bread. That plus two soft drinks seemed a good idea. I carried the drinks to the table (to a sigh of 'Why didn't you get me a Kofola?" The "Because" was because I chose from drinks I saw on the counter before I noticed the signboard listing his totally favorite Czech cola drink. But he was OK with peach tea which I knew he liked quite a bit. I went back when they had said to; "3 minutes" and got our meal. The food was as yummy as it had been last fall on our last visit. We sat for a long, long time enjoying the weather, the temperature, the food, but most of all the Czech children at play. The pub's outdoor cafe is fenced in since it is right beside the stream so parents can let their children play and run and have a perfectly wonderful time. All the children were running or pushing those plastic 'bicycles' or 'cars' if they were quite young or riding their bicycles if they were in the 5 to 10 year old crowd. No one was crying or fussing or bothering each other. They were playing as happily as any kids on earth. The parents kept a sort of eye on them but there was no need for 'eternal vigilance' in this society where everyone seems to watch the kids and nobody's kids act like jerks. We got photos of some of the happiest looking children we have ever seen but wished we had gotten even more. The little dogs were having fun, the kids were playing, the parents were eating and drinking and laughing and often picking up one of their kids who ran to say something before running off for more play. If only the whole world were able to be in such peace and joy and tranquility.

Dessert - the yummiest part of a hike

We ended our meal with strawberries and whipped cream. Then a stop at the WC to wash up and be sure we were OK to finish the rest of the hike.

Heading 'home'

The gloom of dead looking trees and dead leaves on the ground and paths is gone and green is everywhere unless there is pink or white or purple on the flowers or on the blossoming trees. Ducks were swimming down the stream or sitting, male and female together, beside the water. Many young and old people were biking and walking along the paths. Some people were picking spring greens to take home for dinner.

Crazy or brave or both

We were a little surprised right beside a memorial to someone who died falling off the rocks, to find a young woman and man in the midst of a rockface climb. She was climbing. He was holding the safety rope and letting it out little by little as she worked her way up. Watching her struggle to find a spot to grip with her hand then struggling for a place for her right foot then left foot then her other hand was pretty scary. Even wilder was watching her lose her grip and fall back down part of the rock she had just seemingly conquered. Her safety rope worked perfectly and she started all over. We decided our nerves didn't need to watch more of this wild climb.

Home again, home again

By the time we got back to our rooms, I was happily, physically tired but no longer sleepy and exhausted. Once again a walk in the woods had restored me body and soul. As we walked we had many words to say about how hard it will be to say goodbye to this spot which is right next to our dorm (the end of the Valley is only a few meters from where we live and sleep so as we walked from the far end we were always headed home). Yes, we were headed home on the walk and we are now truly headed home in only one month. This will be the end of our days living in the Czech Republic and while our hearts are full of gratitude for each day and each moment here, we feel the poignancy of each moment as we realize it is our 'last' of this and our 'last' of that.



So, that was the day-before-yesterday. Enjoy some of the photos we took on our walk.

Don't forget the rest of the photos are below. Take a look.

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Photos

Happy girl
Our first photo in 2005 was me beside this rock in deep snow.

Stream beside the opening hills
Head of the valley

Off she goes
She ran continuously except for one small fall for over one hour

Brother and sister
The joy they had caused everyone to smile.

Yes, she's climbing the cliff
We saw her take one fall. Thank God for the rope her friend held tight.

Sweet baby
Don't be fooled she is ready to RUN

One rock cliff & trees
The cliffs continue beside the path for many kilometers

Spring has come to the leaves
Never is green prettier than April

Comments

[Judy]

Šárka Valley
The two of you are simply blessed to be able to be a part of a diversity of culture. God bless you both. The smiles on your faces says it all Judy