The breakfast at the hotel is incredible! They even have chocolate swirl bread there! I ate quite a lot, because it was delicious, and because I wasn't sure we'd be able to find lunch. The first destination was a little coffee shop where we could watch 5 men making glassware behind windows. I felt a little bad because it was kind of like they were on display or something.
Then we went to the real big glass blowing factory. It's 100 years old, and the people work for about 50 crowns (a crown is a Czech dollar), which is the equivalent of about 2 euros per hour.
They also make the glass entirely by hand, just like they did 100 years ago. It's super cool to watch though! They got a glob of molten glass on a stick, then blow it hollow by blowing through the stick and turning it. Then they spin it in a wet brick thing with a rounded inside, and close it in a mold, and spin and blow it lots more. When it comes out of the mold it's a vase, or goblet, or jar, or anything else. This whole process takes about two minutes per thing. The molten glass is a bizarre texture. It sort of reminds me of a balloon the way they blow it up, or maybe a thick soap bubble, the way it's in constant motion. It's also about 50-60 degrees Celsius working by the furnaces, so these guys that work there drink about 5-6 litres of beer per day, dealcoholized. They also smoke while they work. It's funny to see them blowing the glass, turning the stick, and holding a cigarette all at the same time.
Then, as I was blissfully watching all this in fascination, I suddenly realized that some of the workers were trying to get my attention. I realized they wanted me to come onto the platform where they were working. I obeyed hesitantly, because we'd been instructed on the tour bus to be stay out of the way. On the workers' platform I go a closer look as they got a dollop of glass out of the furnace, blew it, spun it, and then they were talking to me again. I couldn't understand the words they were saying of course, but I was supposed to blow the glass! (I managed to figure that much out). Now, blowing sounds like a simple thing, but when it comes down to it it's rather a challenge in itself. How does one blow glass? Hard, soft, fast, slow? Something in between maybe? All this was whizzing through my mind while an excited group of workers chattered at me in a mixture of Dutch and Czech. I must have stuttered something out in English because one guy started talking to me in English. He said to keep blowing because the glass was still wet. So I kept blowing while he kept turning the stick. By this time I was really wishing I'd learned just a few Czech words. 'Hello', and 'thank you' would have been really useful. So I hope that a huge smile and an English thank you sufficed to show my gratitude for such a cool experience.
Anyways, Kim got to go right after me. She thought it was pretty cool too. I do wonder just a bit though, how many germs must be on those glass-blowing sticks. I definitely didn't care though, I'd do it again in a heartbeat, which actually happened. On the other side of the room I was called upon yet again to blow some glass. I felt a bit bad going twice when the older people didn't get to go at all, but I had no idea how to explain that to the Czech workers. And I'll admit it was pretty neat to get picked again to try blowing glass. It's a lot of fun!
Then, as I was leaving the room I saw a plate with coins. I was going to leave a donation because I'd had such a good time and the workers were quite poor, but then a nearby worker motioned me over and handed me a purple vase. I asked him how much it was and he seemed to be saying it was a gift. I couldn't believe this so I asked him three times, and then said a grateful and perplexed thank you very much. I REALLY wish I spoke some Czech! I felt so honoured though. I don't know what the purpose of giving it to me was, and those Czech workers are so poor, but I'll treasure it forever. Only I really worry and hope now that it makes it safely to Canada. In the gift shop I couldn't believe the prices. The most expensive things were about 250 Kc (crowns) or ten euros, for handblown, gorgeous, glassware. In Canada things like that would sell for probably hundreds of dollars. I bought two pretty little... well, I can't say right now because they're a gift for my parents.
Hopefully I can find lots of good souvenirs in Czech Republic. Tomorrow afternoon is free time shopping and I can't wait! On the way back from the factory I paid close attention and spotted a mini-market in the tiny town near the hotel (Stara Splavy). So Kim and I walked there while the rest of the tour group ate their nine euro lunch at the hotel.
I bought grapes, pudding, yogurt, crackers, rice cakes, and two random spready things to put on the rice cakes, and all for just 125 Kc! That's about five euros. Kim and I also had a wonderful thing marvelling at how cheap everything was (only two euros for a bottle of vodka or rum!), and wondering what exactly a lot of the things were. But anyways, we know where to get food now, and we'll save a lot of 9 euros-es by shopping locally, and it's also a lot more adventurous and fun to experience some of the local culture.
In the afternoon we went back on the bus to the Bohemian Paradise. I thought it would be some sort of garden, but it's actually a nature hike with breathtakingly beautiful rock formations. We got to climb stairs carved into the rock. Some were so narrow in cracks between rocks that we hardly fit. Most of the older people were too scared... or just didn't really fit, so only a few people actually did the entire hike. It was incredibly amazing to be hiking again. I can't describe how refreshing it was. I felt like a kid in a candy store, running up to each corner to see what beauty awaits just out of sight, and being just as excited about what there will be around the next bend in the trail.
Unfortunately, we only had an hour and fifteen minutes, but the time we did have was pure bliss. I sure did miss nature hikes in the mountains. More than I realized. I imagine parts of heaven will look much like the Bohemian Paradise. Only heaven will be much better, because we won't have to turn back to be on time for the 4:00 bus departure.
Tonight there's a dance at the hotel, with live music. I think it'll be only older people there, since Kim and I are the only young people in the tour group, but it'll still be neat to check it out.
So yes, day one of sightseeing officially ranks as amazing! The glass-blowing factory is one of the coolest experiences of life (up there with carillon playing). I also love my purple jug.
I'm so thankful that God gave me such a wonderful, eye-opening, educational, and exciting day today.
PS: The glass Kim and I blew was promptly thrown in the waste bin. They just let us blow it for kicks.
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Day 2, Part 2: The Dance
Well, Kim and I didn't really do much dancing. The live music was two Czech musicians (old men) singing Dutch folk songs. They were very talented though. Kim and I did join a line of people walking around in a train, with everyone holding the shoulders of the person in front of them. That was lots of fun!
We almost didn't end up going at all. When we got there we saw people sitting in the hotel bar (where the music was) and Kim really didn't want to go because apparently people sit with friends at bars, and it would be kind of embarrassing to be sitting with just us two. But then as we were debating our bus driver waved us over, so we joined him and the other bus driver. They're both about 30 years old, so much younger than everyone else. Kim and I ordered a beer each, and had a nice chat. It was really neat being able to get some of our questions about Czech Republic answered. We learned a bit about the history, culture, and language. Czech Republic is the biggest beer-drinking people country in the world. Okay, that sentence probably didn't make much sense. I'll try again. Czech People drink more per capita than people from any other country in the world, and that doesn't include the dealcoholized beer they drink all day at the factories. The average is 180 litres per person per year, and that includes everyone, including newborns who obviously don't drink beer. So the average adult drinks an awful lot.
And I know how to say thank you now! Pronounced diekooien (easy to remember because it's like 'the cows' in Dutch). Then we also learned that Czech people make moonshine because it's cheaper, and then it's up to 60% alcohol content, or higher. And then... we were informed that they sold it at the hotel bar as well, and pointed to a sign to prove it. And then we were informed that we absolutely should try it. Well, I figured we might as well give a go. I'll never get another opportunity to try something like that again. Czech Republic was really turning out to be a place of very unique experiences.
So Kim and I got our 62% alcohol, and whew! That stuff burns. You have to drink about two drops per sip- and beware if you drink three. Kim and I only managed to drink half a small shot glass. Trust me when I say we're in no danger of wanting to get even remotely tipsy. I've discovered that it's fun to have a social drink, and beer isn't quite as disgusting as it seemed at first. But I've also seen drunk people and I makes me all the more determined not to drink too much ever. I really don't want to do anything stupid, and it wouldn't bring glory to God.
So Kim and I have fun, but we're also careful, just to make that clear. We're daughters of the Most High God, and we never forget that.
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