This is such a pleasure to read. The crux of it, I think, coming down to this one excellent question: “But aren’t all of us making choices about which aspects of our past we choose to carry forward with us and which we are content to leave behind?” Much to ponder in that.
Thank you for the reference to The key if Gold - I need to check this out!
Enjoy your month there! So much to explore and process and, of course, write about!
Perhaps there is a reason the Czech national anthem is "Where is my home." As much as I love Prague, I always spend some time on every trip in the countryside. It has a different rhythm and flow. I did visit the Svec ancestral home. You had to take a train from Pilsen, get off at the last stop, then take a bus about 10 km to the last bus stop and you found yourself in a village of several hundred people along the Berounka River. In 1726 four new homes were built on a hill overlooking the village and 2 of the 4 were Svec. Apparently the introvert gene is deep in the family. Land records describe the home and the current houses look to have been rebuilt from log and thatch into stone and tile. They were on a hill that overlooked a river valley below, absolutely beautiful especially near sunset. From the house you could see down to the village and even glimpse the cemetery. It was a bit sobering to think that generations were born, married, and died living their entire lives in the space between the house and that cemetery. The house was also very practical, despite having a million dollar view, there were no windows facing the valley. Although the house remained in the family until the late 20th century, my ggg grandfather Frantisek was the last of my direct line to live there. He left at the age of 11 after both his parents died and his brother inherited the property. I was better for having been there and perhaps being reminded of the ordinary things in our lives that a home represents and how somethings change overtime such as jobs, but other things such as relationships, endure.
Sounds like a great experience. I'm reminded of Loius Jenkins's poem, "My Ancestral Home." Do you know it? If you can't find it, I'll send a copy. Close enough is sometimes better.
This is such a pleasure to read. The crux of it, I think, coming down to this one excellent question: “But aren’t all of us making choices about which aspects of our past we choose to carry forward with us and which we are content to leave behind?” Much to ponder in that.
Thank you for the reference to The key if Gold - I need to check this out!
Enjoy your month there! So much to explore and process and, of course, write about!
That dish looks delicious. I need to visit U Sadu
Perhaps there is a reason the Czech national anthem is "Where is my home." As much as I love Prague, I always spend some time on every trip in the countryside. It has a different rhythm and flow. I did visit the Svec ancestral home. You had to take a train from Pilsen, get off at the last stop, then take a bus about 10 km to the last bus stop and you found yourself in a village of several hundred people along the Berounka River. In 1726 four new homes were built on a hill overlooking the village and 2 of the 4 were Svec. Apparently the introvert gene is deep in the family. Land records describe the home and the current houses look to have been rebuilt from log and thatch into stone and tile. They were on a hill that overlooked a river valley below, absolutely beautiful especially near sunset. From the house you could see down to the village and even glimpse the cemetery. It was a bit sobering to think that generations were born, married, and died living their entire lives in the space between the house and that cemetery. The house was also very practical, despite having a million dollar view, there were no windows facing the valley. Although the house remained in the family until the late 20th century, my ggg grandfather Frantisek was the last of my direct line to live there. He left at the age of 11 after both his parents died and his brother inherited the property. I was better for having been there and perhaps being reminded of the ordinary things in our lives that a home represents and how somethings change overtime such as jobs, but other things such as relationships, endure.
You might also enjoy this reflection by a Czech author: https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2022-07/czech-enough-jaroslav-kalfar/
Sounds like a great experience. I'm reminded of Loius Jenkins's poem, "My Ancestral Home." Do you know it? If you can't find it, I'll send a copy. Close enough is sometimes better.
Hope the tripe is going well. Some great photos so far, especially the food.