We are in Malkov, Czech Republic, where Jirka lives. This house is the birthplace of Joe's mother and of ancestors back to 1600s. Jirka is a second cousin so he shares ancestors with Joe. It is wonderful that the house remains in the family after so many generations! Last time we were here (2005) Joe's mother was with us and we made a video of her talking about her recollections of her childhood here.
We are so glad we got that video since it is now too late to get her memories recorded!
She told us of the delight of the children of the family sleeping on the back of this old stove! The stove has a cook top, as well as two ovens -one exclusively for bread. Of course it also heated the house. It is very nice that it remains in the house - many families have taken the old stoves out.
The house has a barn, and an orchard as well as some hectares of forrest for firewood. Jirka keeps rabbits (traditional Czech variety) for fur and meat, and turtles (native Czech species) for pets.
Jirka's house is Malkov number 17. Just down the road is Malkov no. 2. Where Joe and Jirka's great grandmother was born. It is still owned by a family member, Vaclav Skala, and he and his family use it as a summer house. It has a different design, with a courtyard formed by the house and farm buildings.
Malkov has about 80 residents, quite a few of them relatives of Joe and Jirka.
The nearest city is Klatovy, about 40 kms away. This is where both of Joe's parents went to school, albeit 10 years apart. Joe's father walked for 2 hours every morning to attend school. They didn't meet until university in Prague.
Klatovy still has its old walls and the city square is inside the old city.
Joe's cousin Martina lives here with her daughter Stèpanka. We spent an afternoon catching up with them.
Other scenes of. Bohemia...
I will pause this blog at this point. Our first 3 months of our European journey is over. We can only stay 3 months in any 6 months in the Shengan zone, so we must leave. Fortunately the car can stay longer, and Jirka kas enough room to park it. We will go by train to Paris and then home, with two stops -Dhubai and Bangkok. That way we arrive home without too much travel stress. We should be home 8 th August.
I will recommence the blog in about February next year when we expect to be back. So watch this space! If you subscribe to the blog you will be notified when it starts up again.
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