Well I decided to go off the beaten path again today and also commune with nature. I did a group tour to the Saxon Switzerland National Park (it’s not anywhere near Switzerland!). It straddles the border between Germany and the Czech Republic. When it was first discovered, even though it was in the Saxony region of Germany, they said it reminded them of Switzerland so they named it Saxon Switzerland. It’s where parts of the Chronicles of Narnia movie series was filmed.
Before I go into detail about the tour, I first have to share this great customer service story. The company I booked the tour thru, Viator, let me know that I was the only one signed up from Dresden so they couldn’t do it for one person. I asked if there was any way they could get me on with another tour group because I really wanted to see it. So they sent someone in their personal car to pick me up at my hotel and drive me to meet up with the tour group going from Prague (they also drove me home afterwards). Now that’s great customer service!
So our first stop was the town of Kurort Rathen where we hiked up to the Bastei area. The Bastei is a rock formation towering above the Elbe River in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains of Germany. The jagged rocks of the Bastei were formed by water erosion over one million years ago. The first four pictures are from this area.
After looking around there we drove across the border into the Czech Republic to a town called Hrensko. It is at the lowest elevation of any town in the Czech Republic. We then proceeded to hike up to what felt like the highest elevation which was called the Pravcicka Brana (Pravcicka Gate). It is the biggest natural sandstone arch in Europe. (It reminded me of the Natural Bridge in the town of the same in Virginia north of Roanoke). After looking around, we relaxed and had a drink at this little chateau called Sokoli hnizdo (meaning Falcon’s Nest). Pics 5 thru 7 are from this area.
Then we hiked back down the hill (much easier) and drove to have lunch. After lunch we hiked down to the river between the canyon gorges of the Kamenice River. There we boarded a gondola type boat where the driver steered us through the narrow gorge (Pic 8) with a long pole pushing against the bottom. He would point out funny rock formations (even one that looked like Bart Simpson and it was funny to hear all the Czechs and Germans laugh and say Bart Simpson. He’s world renowned! Lol).
We then walked along the river back to the town of Hrensko. The river path was really cool because they had created tunnels right thru the huge rock formations. We then drove back to our hotels.
I have to admit I was tired at the end of the day. It was a lot of hiking but well worth it for all the spectacular views. The pictures just don’t do it justice.
Well that’s all for Dresden. I leave tomorrow for 6 nights in Berlin. Can’t wait!
Hope everyone’s Tuesday is going well and early Happy Halloween to all!!
Jeff
The Wandering Italian 