It all started with a rusty wreck with a leaky floor and rotten wood - just love at first sight. But since we have a wild imagination, we immediately saw our "summer residence" in it. A beautiful, modern houseboat, thanks to which we will be able to fall asleep on the waves. What we couldn't imagine were the hundreds of hours of work and anger that this miraculous transformation cost us. I'm a furniture designer and my husband Martin is just a very clever guy. Half a year of hard work , during which we took advantage of our friends - willing part-time workers, but they bore fruit and you can now come and swing on the waves on our beautiful Houseboat MALI.

As soon as the worst winter stopped in 2019, we went to work. In February, we started building a berth in Slapy , and at the same time started the reconstruction of our rusty beauty. We cleared the interior and provided the exterior with wooden ribbing made of natural laths. The friends helped and my grandmother cooked, so after the first month we had a houseboat in front of us, not a wreck. In March, we laid the larch plank floor and put ourselves into the production and installation of window frames. We repaired the sandblasted tub and painted it beautiful blue.

In May, the interior began to take shape. I designed it and Martin made it all. In June, we introduced electricity and started sewing curtains, a cushion and making a metal swing. And on June 26, 2019, less than six months after the start of work, we finally slept on the water. The first night was unforgettable . But that's hard to explain. Come and experience it.

Fitting everything into a modest space of 12 m2 was a real nut. We wriggled out of this a bit by placing the seating outside on a metal structure, so the "living room" sways directly above the water surface. Mr. Želízko helped us with the construction for the swing and the steps to the water and the roof. We are in favor of an ecological approach , which is why we used a large part of the recycled material for the reconstruction, chose a biological toilet and use solar energy.

BUNK BED

For sleeping, Martin made you a beautiful bunk bed, the lower part of which is a pull-out bed. We like to say that we can fit 4 people, but it should be noted that the three downstairs will cuddle a little :). That's why couples or families with children who don't mind seals come to us.

CLEANSING

So that you don't have to run ashore, we've built a toilet in the space on board. The toilet is ecological , sawdust. The bath can be easily solved by jumping off the deck. You have organic soaps at your disposal, which do not mind the water in the dam. For greater comfort, however, you also have a simple garden pressure shower on the bow. If you leave the barrel with water in the sun, it will also flow warm.

RELAXATION SITTING

In the common area is a wooden bench , on which I created a special padding. It is based on the balling technique developed 30 years ago by the Czech physiotherapist Zdena Jebavá. Foam balls and rollers beautifully massage the whole body , relax the intercostal muscles, and thus help to treat the upper respiratory tract and even asthma.

You can indulge in the same relaxation on a swing hanging on a metal structure . It is the dominant feature of the ship and the most popular part of the whole houseboat. It is handmade, as is almost everything. Well, we got over it! But all the words of praise that pour out on us after each stay make up for it.

The kitchenette on the MALI houseboat is modest but fully functional. It has a lavor for washing and ecological cleaning products. Dishes and cutlery are also available, and you can cook on a single-plate alcohol stove .

If you arrive at three or four, you will have to take turns at the dining table overlooking the dam. Or you can all occupy the sitting in the herb mini garden we have prepared for you at the berth. There's also a place for a campfire in case you have an unquenchable desire to roast your sandwiches or grill something.

We will always prepare a canister with domestic water for washing and 20 liters of drinking water before you arrive directly in the cabin.

Our most popular restaurant in the area is located a short distance away, in Davle. Taverna Thessaloniki is a family business run by Vladimir Konstantinos Hraba. You can enjoy authentic Greek dishes made from fresh ingredients on site, or have them packed and enjoy by the Slapy "sea".

You can spend hours on the swing on the bow. The canvas roof will protect you from the steamy sun and the fresh air cooled by the water will gently caress your face. Absolute well-being is rarely disturbed by the so-called sparkling wine, ie a wave blown from the bow and whipped by the wind on board.

The surroundings of the Slapy dam are ideal for cyclists, tourists and fishermen . You can plan your trips carefully or just go straight for the nose. Either way, you will discover wonderful nooks and crannies.

Our houseboat is located near Štěchovice . Plan of the local church of St. Jan Nepomucký comes from the architect Kamil Hilbert, who is also responsible for the completion of St. Vitus Cathedral. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Štěchovice and its surroundings were one of the most popular destinations for excursionists. The Svatojanské streams formed beautiful roaring rapids here in an inaccessible valley full of stones. That is why in 1889 the Czech Tourists Club set out its very first tourist brand. Many tramp settlements have sprung up in the area, some of which persist to this day. For example, the settlement Ztracenka . The totem on Mravenčí skála has been preserved from the original equipment to this day, together with a column with metal linden leaves with the names of the settlers who are no longer among us.

The construction of the Štěchovice and Slapy dams flooded the Svatojanské streams and the rapids are a thing of the past. Nevertheless, we recommend walking the local nature trail, which will take you through the romantic valley of the Vltava River. In addition, information signs contain QR codes that will delight your trip with tramp songs.

Take a hike to the popular Máj lookout near Teletín, or Smetana's lookout point near Třebsín. But choose the time of the trip wisely. In the afternoon, the trips resemble a tourist anthill.

We rent our houseboat as a dwelling. It has no engine. So you do not have the opportunity to go with him in the distance outside the berth. However, if your heart desires after a trip on the water, we will lend you a motorboat . If you doubt your captain's skills, there is nothing easier than paying for a wonderful trip by steamer along the Slapy Dam under the guidance of an experienced sea wolf.

Of course, you can also swim in Slapy. The dam is lined with beautiful sandy and grassy beaches , where you can have the obligatory crawfish and lemonade in the summer steam. For lovers of swimming without a swimsuit, the area around the dam offers a lot of places hidden among the trees.

Especially families will welcome swimming in Nová Rabyně, where they are allowed to go with dogs. Children will appreciate the gradual entry into the water and the pleasant grass beach. Nová Živohošť is a carefully maintained campground with 3 stalls with refreshments and a boat and pedal boat rental. Grasshoppers are not so comfortable, because the entrance to the water is rocky. However, this small disadvantage is easily offset by several times lower number of visitors than in other places.

In addition to the houseboat and rowboat, we will also lend you a paddleboard . On a large board, you can drive to the surface where you like, and immerse yourself in your thoughts, meditate or practice yoga.

We have no special equipment for children, games or television. So it's up to the parents to estimate for themselves how old the child will be with us. We know from experience that five-year-old children are excited about trips, swimming and swinging.

We also have life jackets ready for children, so talk about them. It will serve you both on trips on a rowboat and in moments when you want to swing with a book in hand.