Jiri in front of his meat smoke house.
We left cousin Jiri's place at Jince today. The last few days with Jiri were remarkable because we created a bond, a connection with him and Karol's other relatives that was unexpected and very real. Anton, Karol's Dad, would be smiling down on us and would be real happy that his legacy has passed onto the boys as well.
What was even more unexpected was the life and times of Cousin Jiri. Jiri's skills and interests are many and wonderfully diverse. He has the same adventurous and far minded spirit as Karol's father, Anton. As mayor of his town (and fire warden) for many years he pushed for the community to respect it's open spaces and resist over development. When he wants something he builds it. If he doesn't know how, he figures it out. His house is full of his creations and surrounding it are his many tools, equipment, constructions, animals and landscape projects. He has taught himself to play violin and flute as well. Really liked the cross bow he made from an old set of plans. Check out Jiri's world..
What was even more unexpected was the life and times of Cousin Jiri. Jiri's skills and interests are many and wonderfully diverse. He has the same adventurous and far minded spirit as Karol's father, Anton. As mayor of his town (and fire warden) for many years he pushed for the community to respect it's open spaces and resist over development. When he wants something he builds it. If he doesn't know how, he figures it out. His house is full of his creations and surrounding it are his many tools, equipment, constructions, animals and landscape projects. He has taught himself to play violin and flute as well. Really liked the cross bow he made from an old set of plans. Check out Jiri's world..
Cousin Jitka
Cousin Jiri organised our trip to Prague from the village of Jince where we had been staying for the last four days. Cousin Jitka, his neighbour, turned up with a small hatch of a car after having spent the hours since dawn collecting mushrooms. She jammed us and the luggage all in while giggling and talking continuously in Czech. We had luggage filling the rear hatch to the roof so there was no rear view and all of us had smaller bags in our laps or under our feet or both. Jitka is a small but energetic power house of a woman as well as being a paediatrician. Her car suits her and she drove it at break neck speed through the blind country lanes and winding alleys of the village until we got to the freeway where she increased the speed to a blinding 150 kmh average. She’s a sweety but on the road she cursed and thumbed any drivers who dared not drop away into the slower lane fast enough - while she literally jammed up their arses.
One driver was already in the right, slower lane, way out in front of us. I watched it curiously as we approached. It tried hesitantly once, twice, to overtake the massive cargo truck in front of it. As we approached at nothing short of the speed of a flying bullet, the driver finally dared to attempt the overtake (on this 2 lane freeway). This meant we were on a direct collision course as we caught up with them and began the pass to the left of the truck. Jitka jammed on the brakes, all the luggage lurched forward and whacked a few heads. I was in the front wondering why my life hadn’t already passed before my eyes while stiff arming the dash. The driver finished the 3rd attempt at the overtake and Jitka continued her tirade. The driver immediately pulled to the right after passing the truck, we passed him and Jitka gestured a series of hand movements that can either be described as porno with fingers or an intricate medical procedure. She pushed on to 155 kmh and kept up the tirade without any subtitles.
When she dropped us off in the center of Prague, in front of the cobbled stone street of our amazing art nouveau hotel, Hotel Paris, she was actually panting as if she had just done a sprint to the corner shop. I took the opportunity to remind the family that if they ever complained about my driving ever again, that I would remind them of the last 40 minutes. Everyone was exhausted, stunned and completely relieved to still be alive.
One driver was already in the right, slower lane, way out in front of us. I watched it curiously as we approached. It tried hesitantly once, twice, to overtake the massive cargo truck in front of it. As we approached at nothing short of the speed of a flying bullet, the driver finally dared to attempt the overtake (on this 2 lane freeway). This meant we were on a direct collision course as we caught up with them and began the pass to the left of the truck. Jitka jammed on the brakes, all the luggage lurched forward and whacked a few heads. I was in the front wondering why my life hadn’t already passed before my eyes while stiff arming the dash. The driver finished the 3rd attempt at the overtake and Jitka continued her tirade. The driver immediately pulled to the right after passing the truck, we passed him and Jitka gestured a series of hand movements that can either be described as porno with fingers or an intricate medical procedure. She pushed on to 155 kmh and kept up the tirade without any subtitles.
When she dropped us off in the center of Prague, in front of the cobbled stone street of our amazing art nouveau hotel, Hotel Paris, she was actually panting as if she had just done a sprint to the corner shop. I took the opportunity to remind the family that if they ever complained about my driving ever again, that I would remind them of the last 40 minutes. Everyone was exhausted, stunned and completely relieved to still be alive.
Prague
Yesterday, at Chateau Zbrioh, we were shown the ballroom like studio of Alfonso Mucha, the premier art nouveau Czech artist of the early 20th century. We were privileged to be shown some private photographs of his art practices with models in various dramatic poses. Here in Prague his presence is in the signage, the facades of buildings, the organic yet symmetrical iron gates of entrances and in the decorations of our hotel which even has a Sarah Bernhardt restaurant - she was a kind of muse for Alfonso - he designed her performance posters and even went on tour with her.
Cousin Petra
Petra and kids greet us at Hotel Paris, Prague
Karol's cousin Petra met us at the hotel with her parents, her 2 children, her brother and his 2 kids. They hadn't seen each other for 26 years! We walked around Prague with them, first to their favourite ice cream parlour and then to a wonderful walled park so the kids could play.
Martin, Petra's brother is in his early 40's. He walked with me and we chatted about the usual things. I dug a little deeper as we compared our different worlds. I foolishly made a link with laconic Aussies and casual Czechs. Martin put me straight and told me about the endemic corruption in Czech society. This he said is normalised. It is normal for an official to line his pockets if he can line yours as well. Czech society had a long period of Communist domination from after WWII to the late 80's. Authority was heavy handed and a culture of side stepping developed. After all authority had been imposed by another country..
He was a university student when the Berlin wall fell and countries that were once Communist decided it was time for a change. Russia was now the bad friend and the West the new big brother. The "Velvet Revolution" occurred and although there was initially physical resistance from the authorities, the Czech youth, like Martin and his fellow students, organised themselves and travelled around the country speaking and disseminating their ideas.
Like all great ideas in politics, the broom of change somehow misses the rich and powerful who easily metamorphose like a Kafka cockroach and re invent themselves into a new society. Oh well, life goes on and it was time to say our farewells as Martin, Petra and their respective families went off for their summer break. How great to have that small window of opportunity to connect and reconnect.
Martin, Petra's brother is in his early 40's. He walked with me and we chatted about the usual things. I dug a little deeper as we compared our different worlds. I foolishly made a link with laconic Aussies and casual Czechs. Martin put me straight and told me about the endemic corruption in Czech society. This he said is normalised. It is normal for an official to line his pockets if he can line yours as well. Czech society had a long period of Communist domination from after WWII to the late 80's. Authority was heavy handed and a culture of side stepping developed. After all authority had been imposed by another country..
He was a university student when the Berlin wall fell and countries that were once Communist decided it was time for a change. Russia was now the bad friend and the West the new big brother. The "Velvet Revolution" occurred and although there was initially physical resistance from the authorities, the Czech youth, like Martin and his fellow students, organised themselves and travelled around the country speaking and disseminating their ideas.
Like all great ideas in politics, the broom of change somehow misses the rich and powerful who easily metamorphose like a Kafka cockroach and re invent themselves into a new society. Oh well, life goes on and it was time to say our farewells as Martin, Petra and their respective families went off for their summer break. How great to have that small window of opportunity to connect and reconnect.
 Martin and his son with Karol at their favourite ice cream shop |  Petra, her kids, her parents and us |
Have a look at our first impressions of Prague as Cousin Petra showed us around for an hour or so just before she took her family away on their summer holidays..click here