Sunday 21 September 2008

Day 3: Melnik to Litoměřice

We started our second day of cycling with a pathetic breakfast at the hotel. Several people complained that they hadn't been able to sleep well - there were trucks driving along the road all night. A few victims had their first mosquito bites. The hotel was too far from the centre of town. Conclusion: Explore should definitely find a new hotel in Melnik!


As usual, we were all keen to get back on our bikes. For all my worries, my bum was not the least bit sore - thank goodness for padded shorts and a nice Royal Gel seat. The bruise on my right inner thigh had been complemented overnight by one on my left inner thigh. Gradually it became apparent that I was banging into the water bottle cage every time I got off to stop. I was much more careful after that.


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We rode into central Melnik and had some time to explore after stocking up on water and snacks.


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Melnik town square


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We even had a mid-morning wine tasting at the castle.


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The Vltava River meets the Elbe (or Labe, depending on your language). From this point, we rode along the Elbe.


We left Melnik and rode for a few hours to Roudnice for lunch.


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And onward, to Terezin Fortress.


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The tour notes say that it is the "site of the so-called Small Fortress of Terezin, once part of a neo-classical defensive complex constructed by Joseph II. The fortress received notoriety during the reign of the Habsburgs as a political prison, a notoriety that went on to reach new heights under the Nazis, who turned the town into a Jewish ghetto and the fortress into an internment centre. Today the fortress remains a memorial to those atrocities, with a symbolic cemetery in front of the main entrance." It was moving, awful, depressing, stark.


Apologies in advance for the disturbing photos.


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While it was mainly used as a work camp, thousands of people died at Terezin from malnutrition and poor hygiene - and many more were sent to Auschwitz and other concentration camps to be gassed instead. It still makes me feel ill just to think about it. I recently finished reading Persepolis, and I am now re-reading Maus. When will people learn not to hurt each other?


On that somber note, we rode the remaining 5km or so to Litoměřice. S and I took a stroll through the main plaza and were amused to find this flashing, interactive map:


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Click to watch the movie on youtube!



We had a nice dinner - Czech goulash - and went to sleep.


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Day 3 Stats:
Distance: 41km
Roadkill: 1 bird, 1 fox, 1 snake (or maybe it was just some rope)
Weather: perfect, sunny
Fields passed: apples, pears, corn
Power plants passed: 1
Concentration camps: 1
Bruises: 2 more
Mosquito bites: 2 on elbow, 1 on back of leg, 1 on ankle

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