10:05am

I did mention that the Czech's are a nation of beer drinkers.There is apparently a beer festival in town. Although on the other end, there is a bouncy castle and series of guys selling medovina (honeyed wine), so maybe it's just Hey, It's a Beautiful Saturday! Day.

Personally, beer for brekkie does nothing for me (the wine sellers weren't open yet), but to each his own; it's not at all uncommon many places. Interesting side note, the tolerance level for alcohol in the bloodstream in CR is 0. My understanding is that the police are quite severe about this, although I have no practical knowledge on the topic. But, then again,  we have these:

I was in town so early on a Saturday morning for a hair appointment. It is a gorgeous day today, so I biked, a trip of about half an hour. It was really grand to see Brno at her finest. The cabbage market, Zelný trh, was chock full of early morning shoppers buying locally grown flowers,

poppy, radish and spring onion,

Grow your own started tomatoes, etc,

 and the ever popular, locally grown

bananas, Whatever, dude's got to make a living, right? 

The market is open six days a week, most weeks of the year. The level of actually locally grown versus imported from Chile locally grown, drops to close to zero in the months of January and February, but this time of the year it is great to see the sea of bright spring time colors cover the market. 

As I rode home, I was remembering the day, almost a year ago now when we left Nanjing. The last day, Monica and I took the children to our pool for a last morning swim. The weather was gorgeous and the company was wonderful and I was so very sad to be leaving.

And here we are again, gearing up to pack. I love Brno. I love our darling house, and beautiful small town that is a short bike ride away, I love the people here, and the language (well, maybe "love" is too strong a word, but I really do enjoy doing battle with it), and the very fine wine I buy in my local Vinoteka.

Of course, I am going to love Vienna. I cannot believe how incredibly lucky I am that I will get to live in one of the greatest cities in the world. And I will grow roots there just as quickly as I grew them in Nanjing and in Brno. But, leaving is always hard. I have loved Brno from the moment I got here, and on a day like today, I realize just how very much I am going to miss it.

 

Comments

[Emryss]

I can't thank you enough for sharing your adventures with us. You give me a taste of cultures that aren't covered in the travel brochures, and your photographs and stories are always delightful.

I can't wait to see what entertainment Vienna offers us. You always manage to find the quirky side of life!

[Monica]

You are a fabulous roots growner!

[Ellen]

I have been meaning to respond to this FOREVER! Mostly because the day before you posted it, I was thinking of you! Strange co-incidence. I spent some time re-reading the Further Adventures of the $700 Pony in preparation for working with the 5th graders on the book, and I re-read the chapter that mentions how your niece moved her mini around in a mini-van. So, your post was timely, although my response is not.

And glad you like the stories; life is interesting, although it can be more interesting when viewed slightly askew, I think. ;-)