Author: kate

Some how I did not take any photographs of this magical place… but there are many by others and they are BEAUTIFUL! The journey to Mottinger Amt (a.k.a.) MoA in Waldviertel was a mixture of picturesque rolling hills and cycle paths past corn fields, idyllic looking villages and the sun setting on the Czech mountains behind us. It then became much cooler and eerier during dusk as we entered the 10km long military zone, only passable after 4pm each evening when target practice was over.  There was reason to feel the comfort in not crossing this barren strip alone, at…

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On entering Prague we were joined by someone from the local Critical Mass network, who after a quick rehearsal in how to create a critical mass, decided that the 50 strong cyclists were enough to take on the highway into the capital city of Czech Republic! This was our first self made Critical Mass so far and for some their first, with 3 people setting the pace at the front … S L OOOOO W L Y!… then 10 blockers who smiled sweetly as they blocked off the side roads to let the mass of cyclists through as though we…

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On leaving Usti we made it along the Elbe to a secluded Wagenplatz through a contact we had made in Prague. Here they were preparing for a festival of local community projects, which we unfortunately could not attend but, after supper, which was prepared there for us, we shared some films on their open air cinema. More is written about this and the films in a later post…

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In Usti we were invited to join a group of activists, NE RASISMU!, from Usti and Prague that are concentrating on Roma racism, anti-ciganism, and antifascism, to learn about the situation tere from the people directly involoved. We met the group at one of the biggest ‘ghettos’ in Czech Republic; Predlice in the city of Usti nad Labem. Due to privatization of housing, systematic discrimination and also generally very bad living conditions of Roma people there, the actual situation can be seen as the beginning of humanitarian crisis. The group met us with instruments, circus props and footballs, in preparation…

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Next day was our first border crossing from Germany to the Czech Republic… marked unassumingly by a small EU sign.  But once we had crossed, the visual signs became more clear, and the landscape more wild. Actually the first thing that marked the crossing was a small reminder from our mobile phone providers, followed by Vietnamese tourist shops selling knickknacks from baseball caps to huge plastic Bambis. The route that afternoon was incredible, despite an accident with one of the ambitious trailer pullers who decided to follow the more off-road route option through the National Park. Our final destination was…

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On our route from Proschim we were made more aware of the extent of the open cast mines in the outskirts and surrounding areas that left huge blue lakes in place where farm land and village life once thrived. We did, I must admit take advantage of one of these lakes at lunchtime, only to be warned by one of the locals of the acidic content, and recommendation to swim elsewhere. The ride was hot, long, but as ever scenic as the scouts led us through small roads and cycle paths. A few punctures and tick inspections later we arrived…

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Many people said that although it was their hardest day’s cycling through the mountains, up up up up … the free wheeling down again made it all worth it, and was for many their best day’s cycling. The next day was mainly down hill all the way to the Elbe river, that we followed al the way into Usti Nad Labem. On the way one group visited Terezin, a former military forttress where Jews of high status were kept for information during the second world war. Along the Elbe there was still evidence from the recent floodings, and tide marks…

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A few of us cycled up to whitness the enormatiy of the the Coal Mines just outside Lauzitz….

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