Walking Group

By Carmen Trankovsky (US)

Our first walk was on September 29, 2009 when ‘three ladies and a dog’ got together in Riegrovy Sady Park in Vinohrady where Gina Hearn, Julie Chytil, her doggie Paddik and I wandered happily around. Those first cold months Anne Wright and Chieko Tone even braved freezing temperatures with me to keep the group going (fairytale Průhonice Park in -11°C was quite an experience). Throughout the years I have been so lucky to have met many more amazing women from all over the world during these walks – they have truly enriched my life!

The Walking Interest Group is a very popular group to be active within IWAP. It is a fun loving group of international women of all ages who love to walk and talk while enjoying nature in the Czech Republic.

Walking Group 2015

The walks are about 8 to 10 km and take place once a week so it is easy to fit them into busy schedules. This country has so much to offer with many walking/hiking trails to explore and beautiful scenery. Most of our walks are a cultural experience as it is inevitable that we will come across historical quaint villages, castles, battlefield memorials or just open countryside fields filled with flowers in summer or beautiful white snow in winter. We have also had wonderful experiences with Czech people who offer a friendly hello or even offer us apples from their gardens when we are peering over their fences. I am sure we are a curious sight to them as we come chattering down the streets of their quiet little towns.

Walking Group 2018

Fun Facts

• smallest group for a walk – 2; largest group – 25
• the person who has done the most walks with me – Colette Katschner-de Ruiter
• walks have never been cancelled as other walkers have stepped in to lead walks whenever I am not in town (but that changed due to Covid19, walks at the end of 2020 and the first half of 2021 had to be cancelled, however, we plan to resume them soon)
• most exotic country represented in my opinion – Mongolia

Memorable Moments

• walking through water at a flooded riverbank
• being invited in by the hospitable widow of Czech sculptor Miroslav Jirava to see the sculptures when we peeked over her fence in Okoř
• a smiling attendant opening up a little chapel along our way so we could see the interior
• being invited into an observatory to look at the stars
• making fruit dumplings at Charlotte’s house

Comments from walking group participants:

“Love it! The best way to make new friends while you walk and talk. Exercise combined with a nice lunch around Prague.” – Naima Christensen (SE)

“I love the walking group! I get to see bits of Prague that I might otherwise not know of, chat with a lovely group of ladies from all over the world, have good exercise and eat a sociable lunch. Wonderful!” – Deanne Davies (UK)

“I like the walks because it gives me a chance to spend time getting to know members as we walk both in the city and in beautiful parks around Prague! It makes time fly, and then we end up at a great restaurant for lunch. Always a nice day out in the fresh air whether it is sunny, raining or snowing!” – Wendy Gilbert (US)

“A great way to recover from jetlag in the first few weeks, to enjoy the fresh air whilst stretching legs over ‘non cobblestoned’ tracks, catching up with old and new friends, exploring new areas and revisiting old ones, all which helps me ease back into the ‘Czech’ world on my annual return. I do miss the comradeship when I am out of Prague.” – Yvonne Prochazka (AU)

Walking Group 2018

Our group is very welcoming to all members. Being out in nature creates a more relaxed atmosphere and makes it easier for newcomers to find friends and adjust to this new culture. Offer. So if you love to walk and are new to IWAP or just want to meet new ladies, send me an email.