Prague Journal

Sunday, June 5, 2005.

Today’s rain cleared just in time for Jitka’s garden party in honor of the visit of Bernhard and Jirka, two of Ales’s math colleagues from Canada (Hamilton, Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba, respectively). Neither Rick nor I had met Jirka and his wife Marie, who are Czech natives, but Bernard is a long-time friend. The garden party was at the family home of Michael and Irena, long-time friends of Ales and Jitka. An additional treat for us was finally meeting Ales and Jitka’s daughters, Zuzana and Lucie.
The setting was part of the fun of the occasion. This huge villa in Hanspaulka had been built by Michael’s grandfather, and with music from the 30’s and 40’s wafting through the place, it was easy to imagine the glory years. Ownership never passed out of the family, though the communists forced them to sublet part of it. Like most of Prague real estate, however, the place is now worth a fortune, and because it is too big for Michael’s family, its sale seems imminent. But the 30’s were a period of particular national pride and accomplishment in the Czech lands, and it was a special treat to be reminded of them, at least for an afternoon. And when speaking of any occasion on which Jitka has something to do with the food, it goes without saying that the fare was plentiful and most tasty.

posted by JWinn @ 10:15 PM