Tulips!!!

Okay, I'm a little obsessed with tulips.  You see so many around here in spring, and they're just so perfect and beautiful and happy.

All pictures taken mid to late April, 2016, in Vsetín, Czech Republic  

A Few Reasons I Love Vsetin, Czech Republic

Tulips: 

Tree blossoms along the river:

Maypoles:

Deer in the Czech Republic

Look who I saw today! It's a roe deer, I believe, the kind we have in the mountains around Vsetin. 

I was very happy to see him, but he wasn't so happy to see me. When he decided I was a threat, he ran away barking like a hoarse dog. He kept sounding the alarm long after I was no longer any possible threat. I wish I could have told him I wasn't going to hurt him.

I've only heard that sound--and been sure it was actually a deer--two other times.  Very cool experience.

Literary Magazines with Themes--Spring/Summer 2016 Edition

I recently posted my Spring/Summer 2016 list of literary magazines with themes. It's a fun way to submit.  All listed magazines also pay (though for some it's a token payment).

Click here for the list

Velký Javorník View Tower

Velký Javorník:  one of the Czech Republic's many awesome view towers. This one is a steep walk up into the Veřovice hills in Wallachia.

I went from Frenštát pod Radhoštem up the green trail to the tower, then along the red ridge trail until I cut down the steep yellow path to Mořkov to catch my train, about a 15-17km trip (depending on if you explore Frenštát's nature trail first, as I did).  Be prepared for about 700 meters of elevation gain overall.  The ridge trail goes up and down a bit.  Views are really nice.

The tower itself is open year round and free, and there's a pub there too for refreshment.  Up top, 3-D wooden signs point out different mountains in view.  From here you can see both Poland and Slovakia on a clear day.

Cool signs showing different mountains, some of which are in Slovakia

More pictures:

Family enjoying the spring sun and views

A pleasant spring off a short fork of trail

Spring's Variability

From the same hike, April 2, 2016, a hike in which I also lay out in the sun in bare feet and short sleeves.

Snowdrops

Actual Snow

Taken near Velký Javorník viewtower in the Czech Republic

Frenštát pod Radhoštěm Nature Trail

Me in a Golden Eagle nest on the boardwalk trail

Just outside of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, a small town in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, I discovered a cool nature trail.

Called the Stezka v korunách stromů (Path in the treetops), the very short boardwalk goes out among the trees.  The path focuses on birds and has interpretive signs with full English translations (not so usual in this part of the country) and interactive displays.    

You'll also see the town's ski jump up close (bigger than they look on TV) and various other sites of local interest.  

The coolest thing might be the barefoot path, where you take your shoes off and walk on different types of natural surfaces--wood ships, river rocks, gravel, etc.  Quite unique.  

Barefoot path

From here you can also head up to Velký Javorník view tower, a steep but rewarding walk with great veiws, and even further along the red ridge trail along the Veřovice hills.  You can catch trains or buses from villages on both sides of the ridge--but plan ahead as connections may be infrequent.