European Excursion - Photo Montage Part II: Places Other than Praha

Orientation:  

First locate Prague on the map.  We visited our friends Kristyna and Patrick at Pardubice, about 65 miles east of Prague or an hour train ride.  We also went to their their cabin in Cesko for the weekend.  While staying in Pardubice, Katie and I took the train to Hradec Králové ("Castle of the Queen"), a town  about 30 minutes train ride to the north.    Here are photos of our visits to these various places.

Arriving at the Pardubice (PAR-du-bit-za) hlavni nadrazi,
the main railway station

A typical town square seen in most European cities

Greeted by several peacocks
at the Pardubice town square

Spent the first weekend at
our Couch Surfer hosts Kristyna and Jan Patrick's cabin
in the country (Česko?).
The cabin is about a hundred years old.
Patrick's family has owned it for more than 40 years now
and has done much renovation and improvement to the property.  

The old woodstove is still in use

Patrick's dad grew some impressive potatoes!
Put my 'potato harvest' in Seattle to total shame...

Our sleeping quarter is above the barn,
this ladder is the only way up or down

Our "Couch" for the night.

Beautiful backyard with apple trees and
other vegetables scattered about

The water well supplies all the water needs

Note the intricate details
of the gate latch!

...and the design of the door handle

Kristyna making us a pot of delicious potato soup for lunch.
There are evidence of 21st century comfort:
A brand new dishwasher and flat glass stove top!
 

Everyone, look natural...

"N

a zdraví" (Cheers!)

Clockwise from 3 o'clock:
Kristyna, Jan Patrick, Daisy, Katie

While visiting the Hlinsko Village, a town in the Pardubice Region,
Patrick got very thirsty all of a sudden...

...while Katie tried to whip up a batch of something something for lunch...

...while Daisy tried to measure the size of her head against the ladle

Would somebody please scratch the poor goat? 

Taking a stroll around Česko

Katie and I catching the train to
 Hradec Králové for an afternoon

Lucky!  We got to ride the regional new train
to Hradec for 27kc (about $1.50)

Very nice train conductor.
The blue compartment
is the water closet 

Transferring train at Pardubice-Rosice...

Finally, Hradec Kralove hlavni nadrazi (Hradec main railway station) 

Convenient bus terminal in front of the train station

River Elbe running through the city of Hradec

Gothic Church of the Holy Ghost in Hradec.
Like many buildings of its age,
the Church was rebuilt several times.
Its present appearance dates from a reconstruction
in the 1860’s and 70’s.

A typical European town square with a column and
statues erected in the middle, attempted to
rid the curse of the plague

Apparently there is a rather high Asian population
(especially Vietnamese) in the Czech Republic.

A quiet Sunday afternoon in the Hradec town square

Time for some nourishment...

...and some zzzzzzzz...

Jan Patrick the Macho Macho Man!

The American Requiem performed by the Boni Pueri (Czech Boys Choir) of
Hradec Kralove and the Pardubice Philharmonic and Chorus.
A powerful, special concert on September 11 to commemorate
the victims of 9/11 as well as all other victims of
terrorist attacks around the world.

Kristyna's talented 12-year old younger brother sings in the Boni Pueri.  The Choir performs regularly with the renowned Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and most recently toured around Japan for six weeks.

Katie and I were honored to be invited to the concert
and were delighted to have attended this most amazing performance.