The last pilgrimage with Václav Havel
After a week of mourning the death of the former President of the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia, Václav Havel, the “last pilgrimage” was held on Saturday 31st December, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.
The pilgrimage was a boat loaded with floral gifts that public officials and the public brought to the coffin bearing the remains of President Václav Havel during the course of the week of mourning. The Lužnice boat and tow boat with flowers set sail from the ferry stop at the National Theatre – Hollar, on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and cruised along the Vltava River all the way to its first stop in Mělník.
On New Year’s Day it continued on its journey through Štětí, Roudnice, Litoměřice all the way to its second stop in Ústí nad Labem. Hundreds of people, who brought flowers and lit candles, were waiting on the banks of the Elbe River for the arrival of the Lužnice.
The funeral convoy set off for its final sail from Ústí’s – Vaňova to Děčín on Monday 2nd January, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. Approximately 1500 people were waiting on bridges and river banks for the boat’s arrival at the port in Děčín. The majority of them also waited for the beginning of throwing all of the flowers into the Elbe River. Other than the crew, dozens of people also sailed on the boat to Děčín, who boarded in Ústí nad Labem in order to symbolically say farewell to President Václav Havel.
We sincerely thank all volunteers, participants, onlookers and the captain of the boat for helping us part with the memory of the president with due dignity.
Photo: Jana Pertáková
