Voices Europe Tour Choir Journal Day 5: Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic 1998

DAY 5
Monday, April 6th, 1998 (10:45pm)

CESKY KRUMLOV, CZECH REPUBLIC: HOTEL RUZE

Today we left Prague and are now at Cesky Krumlov and are staying at the Hotel Ruze

We all slept on the five hour bus ride and are getting along better. The hotel is 4 out of 5 stars and we are getting $300 rooms which are really huge. Patty and I are sharing a room which is making us closer.

After we got into our room (223) we went with Eva to lunch and I had a bowl of dill soup with an egg in it and a roll, also a bottle of Pepsi which Jean got for me. We stood up around a table. Eva told me and Leah how cheap things and love are better and best.

Before the lunch we sang to two people from New York who knew the words to “After The Gold Rush.” It rained and our umbrellas looked colorful against the small buildings on the narrow streets. A girl outside the restaurant was named Alishka and I got a picture of her.

I bought a gingerbread egg for Grandma, a necklace and doily for myself with the money I got from the bank where I used my Visa for the first time on the trip to get money. It has become my joke about asking whether a place takes it. Also, because I saw an American flag in Chicago and said how I felt patriotic, whenever people see one here they tease me about it.

We said goodbye to Eva who we sang “Sag Du Noko” and encircled her. She danced and laughed as we sang and before gave me her card to write. She started to cry as she left down the cobblestone street in the rain.

Mr. M. told us to dress up for dinner and so we all came down so dolled up we were giggled at and stared at by some people. I had wine at my meal.

I’m learning how to say “thank you” in Czech. I think it’s “dekuji.” We made a web (out of yarn) after dinner with Mr. M. who told us about rebuilding ourselves together. He gave Jessica the beautiful yarn he bought to bring on our reunion.

We went out walking after and saw people figures in the stone by the huge castle. The shadows and smells were so distinct. It smelled like a blacksmith shop. We walked in an Abby and saw a church that Patty and I walked behind before dinner which is from the 1500s. It’s not hard to imagine what it was like then with the smells, sounds, and sight. Patty and I tried to find a descent bar to have a drink using her extra money but everything seemed to be closed by 6pm or so. Other people are still out walking though. Tired. I like this place better than Prague. I’ll remember Eva. The clock bell rang eleven times just a couple of minutes ago.

Here are photos and a postcard from this day:

* Disclaimer: This is a work of creative non-fiction based on actual journal entries at the dates and places included. However, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of all the information included, as it was written solely from what I remembered at the time. To respect the privacy of individuals, many names have been changed. The journal has been edited for grammar and punctuation. This is not an advertisement. I am not being compensated for sharing anything from my journal including, but not limited to, places we stayed or visited. Alcohol should be consumed responsibly. Mentions of consumption of alcohol in my journal is, to the best of my knowledge, in accordance with local laws for the places we visited abroad at the time in 1998. 


Read all journal entries from this trip! here