There is nothing like a Warm Shower

Hospitality and a Warm Shower
For about five years Val and I have been members of an International Organisation known as "Warm Showers" - This is designed for touring cyclists who join up and give and receive hospitality from other cyclists.

At Kolin, 60k's NE of Prague we met the Tvrznik family. 

An email the day before (short notice at the best of times) had not got through, so I rang on the mobile at 1pm in the afternoon "Could we stay the night" "Yes that will be fine "said George
George's profile on the Warm Shower's website states "Ten bikes in our shed we are not cyclists, but trips to the shop by bike are the thing"

George and wife Dana, both teachers, are raising their 5 children to be confident and useful citizens.  We  d not meet their 8 year old son who had set off that morning, alone, a three hour journey to visit his Grandmother, with cellphone for emergencies and money for buse and train fares .
George and Dani spoke good English as did Elisabeth 12, the eldest and the other children were eager learners. They host both WS and CS guests and the night before we stayed they hosted a family of five French cycle tourists.

 

We had a meal with them around a large family table, Dani's  mother lives with them in the house she has lived in most of her life. George talks English at  a fast clip, rarely lost for a word, but every now and then, rolls his eyes upwards searching for a word, then off again. We were told lots about the National psyche, the countries education system, the state of the economy, relations with Russia to name a few. (Next mornings paper had an article on the President who had been told that 40 cigarettes and many whiskies a day were not good for his ailing health - Dani's Mother, who spoke no English was very voluble on the subject)

Before the meal was over George had organised for us to stay two nights, and spend the next day visiting Koutna Houra, one of the Republics notable historic and beautiful towns, Elisabeth and Anastasia, were assigned as guides.

We had a delightful day with our two young friends, Elisabeth conducting all transactions with confidence.

They selected one Cafe for lunch and a second for sweets, the only sour note for Elisabeth was getting raspberries instead of Blueberries in her ice cream sundae.