This is upstream Elbe… leading to Czechia.

You can see the steep rocks and way down there… Elbe river flowing towards Dresden and you can see the rains coming in the horizon too!

Stopped for a cappuccino

For that we have to cross over to the Germany side of the mountains. Here we are crossing the border – not a single person in sight to check my passport.

Now for the steep climb back up

Incredible – how lush the green vegetation is. All growing out of sandstone rocks!!

Right in the middle of the river are these two islands. One of them has a rock figure of a guy embracing a girl. There is no doubt that it was placed there. The boat driver helpingly pointed out that the other island is not occupied yet. None of the young couples in our boat took him up on that offer!

The rock looks like a huge mushroom. And the yellow painting – it is actually lichen !! Apparently, unlike moss, lichen likes the sun.

The good news is if it were to topple, we had nothing to worry. The river is barely a foot and a half deep. The water is crystal clear and we could easily see the bottom. There were some eels swimming around. The boat driver did not even bother rowing. He just kept pushing the riverbed with a long stick!

Ready to laze around in the river checking out the rock formations on either side.