In Pardubice, we met up with my cousin (also named Olga) and her husband Petr and their winsome daughter Lada. They graciously agreed to let us stay overnight (we didn't give them much warning!). Pictured below are Olga walking and Lada on the scooter. Olga is my Uncle Lubor's daughter. I did not get a chance to meet Uncle Lubor's son Bob and his family this trip, as they live in Stuttgart.
After they picked us up from the train station, we got ourselves settled at their place and went out for a walk. It was a gorgeous day, and really felt like spring had finally come for real. This was a real treat as it had been quite cold previously.
Here's Petr, he's quite the active guy, one who especially enjoys running (although he is speed-walking in the picture). After our walk, he invited me to for a run with him and I did. It was a good workout for me, and probably not for him because he's used to going so much faster!
Pardubice is a real hockey town, the hometown in fact of Dominik Hasek, the famous goalie for some NHL team (I used to know!). Petr went to school with him and they used to play tennis together actually!
These brightly coloured buildings remind me of a storybook setting...and somehow they look just right. I had to take a picture because no one would get it that yellow, pink and green houses side by side wouldn't look just plain wrong otherwise.
Didn't manage to get a picture of this peacock with his tail fanned out...not for lack of trying either! But it was fun to surprise some Taiwanese tourists with a little of my Mandarin as we were watching these birds.
Lada was so fun to hang out with...not bothered in the least that her "teta jesterice" (auntie lizard--that's me!) could barely communicate with her. She just happily chattered on and grabbed my hand and took me places. I was sorry that we couldn't stay longer, she was providing me with invaluable Czech and daughter lessons (giving me ideas and insight into what Dana might be like at her age).
These look like Christmas decorations don't they? My dad could paint this, no problem, it looks like something he would consider doing. I think it's beautiful.
We had lunch in an old beer cellar turned restaurant. I copied Lada and had svickova na smetane (if i remember correctly), one of my favourite dishes. It has dumplings with a really really yummy (indescribable!) cream sauce and meat. It was good, but of course my mom does it better.
I really like this picture, I would love Lada to get to know my Eli and Dana...they would be fast friends I'm sure. Maybe the next time I go to Czech Republic (me with Scott and Eli and Dana next time!), we can stay with these guys in the Jindrichuv Hradec house... I can picture it already: "Pass the salt, pass the Czech-English dictionary..." It would be a hoot.
After they picked us up from the train station, we got ourselves settled at their place and went out for a walk. It was a gorgeous day, and really felt like spring had finally come for real. This was a real treat as it had been quite cold previously.
Here's Petr, he's quite the active guy, one who especially enjoys running (although he is speed-walking in the picture). After our walk, he invited me to for a run with him and I did. It was a good workout for me, and probably not for him because he's used to going so much faster!
Pardubice is a real hockey town, the hometown in fact of Dominik Hasek, the famous goalie for some NHL team (I used to know!). Petr went to school with him and they used to play tennis together actually!
These brightly coloured buildings remind me of a storybook setting...and somehow they look just right. I had to take a picture because no one would get it that yellow, pink and green houses side by side wouldn't look just plain wrong otherwise.
Didn't manage to get a picture of this peacock with his tail fanned out...not for lack of trying either! But it was fun to surprise some Taiwanese tourists with a little of my Mandarin as we were watching these birds.
Lada was so fun to hang out with...not bothered in the least that her "teta jesterice" (auntie lizard--that's me!) could barely communicate with her. She just happily chattered on and grabbed my hand and took me places. I was sorry that we couldn't stay longer, she was providing me with invaluable Czech and daughter lessons (giving me ideas and insight into what Dana might be like at her age).
These look like Christmas decorations don't they? My dad could paint this, no problem, it looks like something he would consider doing. I think it's beautiful.
We had lunch in an old beer cellar turned restaurant. I copied Lada and had svickova na smetane (if i remember correctly), one of my favourite dishes. It has dumplings with a really really yummy (indescribable!) cream sauce and meat. It was good, but of course my mom does it better.
I really like this picture, I would love Lada to get to know my Eli and Dana...they would be fast friends I'm sure. Maybe the next time I go to Czech Republic (me with Scott and Eli and Dana next time!), we can stay with these guys in the Jindrichuv Hradec house... I can picture it already: "Pass the salt, pass the Czech-English dictionary..." It would be a hoot.