Day 5 – Pilsen on my mind

Soon after waking up, I packed up my belongings and set out in search of breakfast. Unfortunately, I had to settle for a rather average panini at a petrol station. However, the coffee was quite good. ☕ Right after breakfast, I faced the challenge of tackling the steepest hill so far, called “Slepičí vrch”. It was a long and grueling climb of 724 meters. My bubble of optimism bursted a bit. During the first few days, I naively believed that my performance would improve as I continued my journey. Instead, some of my muscles are beginning to wear down, requiring more effort to accomplish the same tasks. I suppose the spiritual aspect of my trip will come into play now.

The descent from “Slepičí vrch” was perhaps the most picturesque ride I’ve experienced thus far. Even better, I stumbled upon a remote lake where I could cool down and relax.

After a few more hill climbs, I decided to treat myself to a Kofola. It’s a drink that tastes nothing like Coca Cola, but it holds a special place as part of the national heritage and is one thing I miss in Germany.

Around lunchtime, I met Stephan. He had come from Germany for the Škoda Auto Meetup. I helped him with the restaurant order, and he showed me his car. He had swapped out the engine of his Rapid, giving his Škoda over 100 horsepower. If you’re a car enthusiast, I recommend checking out the pictures (and take note of Mathias Kahle’s signature on the dashboard—he races for Škoda in Germany).

In the late evening, I arrived in Pilsen (Plzeň).

Coincidentally, there was a floorball championship taking place in the main square. Each team had a medical doctor on hand in case of injuries. Since no one was injured, I politely asked the doctor, Vojta from Pardubice, if he could treat my knees. He kindly agreed and provided me with some chiropractic treatment. It was truly amazing.

After settling into my accommodation, I decided to treat myself to a steak at a local steakhouse. In an unexpected plot twist, I ordered a glass of wine instead of beer. Everyone drinks beer in Pilsen, so I thought I’d try something different.

I wish you all a lovely evening, and I’ll see you tomorrow.