Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25241
urban access:: PRAGUE: ADVENTURES IN BOHEMIA TEXT: MATT BERNSOHN Most travelers are drawn to Prague for its romantic reputation: the Charles bridge, the symphony and Kafka are enough to make any existential lover fall instantly into the city's arms. But just because you're enjoying the cafe culture in Wenceslas Square and rapping like a Bohemian intellectual, doesn't mean you should leave your trail walrrcmt5'l!:xDI.oriltic)n. So when the unbearable lightness of Prague gets to be too thEi'sulrrc,undinllZcountryside-it's heavy with possibility. II AROUND PRAHA OKLAT TO SKRYJE ping is the hobo Bohemian (or "hobo boho") method of enjoying nature. The idea is simple: Throw as few possessions as possible over your shoulder and take off. The Czech Republic has so many hiking trails that you can pull out a map, point at it blindly and find a trail. Take an escapist day hike (18 km) and start from Krivoklat, a small, lazy, off- the-beaten-path town, and hike through dense forest and valley terrain to Skryje, a well- known resort town along the winding Berounka River. Catch a direct train from Prague's Smrchov station and ride the scenic route to Krivoklat. The hiking trail is marked with red and can be found near the Krivoklat station. The hike can be done in one day but several choose to stay a night in the pristine forests. Along the way check outTyrov, a small town that houses a castle once used as a prison. From there, head back into the valley where you venture deep into a gorge flanked by cliffs and thick green forests. If you can brave the smell, refresh yourself with a sulfurous mineral water treatment at one of the spas in Skryje. From there make your way back to the bustle of Prague via Beroun on bus or train. .. BIKE JICIN'S WEB OF TRAILS l;\"!'-Q Become a mountain biking Bohemian. How? Ride past medieval castles, rolling green hills, glacial rocks and small rural towns on a frenzied network of mixed- terrain trails near jicin, 90 kilometers from Prague in Chesky Raj, the birthplace of the term "Bohemian." From Jicin, you 'll start on a paved road that slowly turns to dirt, leading you past farms, fields and ruins, and through forests and glades dense with foliage. The Czech Republic is famous for its mixed-terrain trails and with over 300 kilometers of routes accessed from Jicin it's clear why. There is plenty here to entertain riders, its beauty and expansive o I f- f- 0: ~ 'I terrain is great for single or multi-day trips. Biking is wildly popular throughout the country ~ so bike rentals are never a problem. You can rent bikes for US$10 a day at Sagita Sport or ~ ~ 0: :::l Velomat in Jicin or arrange a trip with a guide who will outfit you with all the necessities. For ~ the Jicin information center, call 0433 53 43 90. To arrange a longer tour contact Greenways Travel Club www.gtc.cz. the specialists for long bike trips. o o I tL SLALOM KAYAK VELTRUSY Charging a rapid is usually reserved for when a river's level is high enough to accommodate anyone's lust for surging water. Prague's waters might not satisfy the Class V paddler in you, but their fickle trickle still provides plenty of fun. Located 20 minutes outside of Prague, Veltrusy alongside the river Moldau has a slalom kayak course for the after-work crowd. The course is set up in four or five well formed rapids so you get drenched but won't get ripped from your vessel. Using a system of gates, the course is specifically set up to accommodate all levels of paddlers. Hop on one of the buses that leaves from Florenc station every hour to reach this high-tech Slip and Slide. Once in the town, follow signs for Camp Obara where you'll find a canoeing club that can provide equipment and advice. Contact the campsite at 420205781195. 74