From Decin to Hrensko and back again by boat

Dĕčín is a smallish city in the Czech Republic, close to the German border. It used to be known mainly for its heavy industry, but after the Velvet Revolution in 1989 many factories closed down, which led to an improvement in air quality, restoration of many houses and, sadly, building of too many supermarkets. The city lies in beautiful landscape, though, as you can see from this panorama (click for a larger version on Flickr)

If you would like to see this view in real life, take the bus No. 1 to its end station called Nemocnice (hospital) and then just follow the stone paved walk uphill.

Dĕčín is at the edge of the national park Ceskosaske Svycarsko (Czech-Saxon Switzerland) and you can get there by train from Prague in less than two hours.

Leaving Decin you will see the old bridge and perhaps some cargo ships. After all, the Elbe runs all the way to Hamburg with its huge port and then to Cuxhaven and the North Sea.

Hřensko itself is just a collection of few houses and many dreadful market stalls (thankfully fewer now since the border controls have been cancalled so fewer people stop there), so hurry through it to see the sandstone gorges. They are well worth a visit (and their own lens), but here are at least photos from the entrance: