Stromovka

◊ Not far from Dejvicka is the old hunting park, Stromovka. It was created so that nobility would have a nearby place to hunt deer. That way they didn't have to, you know,... hunt for them. Today it is a spectacular park, with some famous gardens. Friday, I was out walking in a part of town I had never been in looking for a hotel that had been featured in my photobook of Prague from the 1960's I have.

Since I had never been so far in this direction I decided to keep walking and see what else I could find. I went a little farther than I probably should have. Pretty soon after crossing some railroad tracks, I found myself with the unpleasant choice of walking into an even scarier looking industurial area, turning back, or walking down an dark, ill-used path into the woods behind an abandoned train station. Naturally I chose the dark, ill-used path into the woods. After a while this dead ended into a crumbling concrete gate covered in Czech grafitti. I figured, "What the heck" and walked though.

◊ It really was like stepping into another world. I had hear that there was a large park out in this direction, but this just took me by suprise. As it was a hunting park, it sits well below the surrounding city. It gave me the impression of walking down into a crater. Eventully I found another (better used) entrance with a map. There are train tracks that run down the middle of the park. Stupid me again walked off into the woods to try and find a way accross the tracks to get to the part of the park running along the river. Along the way I passed all sorts of people. On the main paths people were jogging, cycling, walking dogs, or pushing strollers. Deep in a stand of timber I saw a very large guy practing his boxing with a tree.
◊ Eventually, I found a tunnel to the other side and boy was I disappointed. I don't think that is a part of the park people visit much. It didn't border the river either, only a side canal. I was about to go back when I saw a sign that pointed to the National Elekrotekinal Museum, witch I had heard about somewhere before. When I had previously inquired of it's location to the locals, I had been told that no such place existed. At last I had an opportunity to prove that I was not making it up.
◊ This place was located in the farthest back recess of the park, sandwiched by railroad tracks and the canal. It is difficult to explain what happened next. To make a long story short(er), I climbed a path up a hill and over some other tracks to get around what looked like restoration construction, and after I came back down, the path joined with a road. It turned a corner to look at some ruins and I decided that I was no longer in Stromovka, as things had taken on a decidedly industurial look. I truned around to go back but then an automated gate topped with razor wire that I had failed to notice before slammed shut, cutting off my way back.

◊ Your guessed it, I managed to get myself trapped and lost in the very same industurial area I had been trying to avoid. For the next hour and a half I wandered this place between factories and warehouses while dodging dump trucks and other large pieces of equipment. Thankfully, I spotted a Russian flag and was able to follow it to the general location of that embassy and out of the maze. By this time I was pretty much done with the idea of going back into the park, so now I will have to go back some time and see the parts where people actually go.