Flora Olomouc

... weren't just asking out of polite conversation, I got the impression they were genuinely intrigued... and as a serious schoolgirl error, in my complete exhaustion I ordered a cheese burger forgeting that what I would get would (quite literally..) be a cheese-burger with no meat...


Olomoucs is really a pretty town, very provincial and steeped in history. Gregor Medel studied theology here ...

... cornfields or gorgeous sunflower fields. We waited for the Olomouc station to appear, prepared to jump up and get off as quickly as we'd need to. And we waited. The arrival time came and went and Sam asked the lady conductor "Where was Olomouc?" The lady indicated for us to sit down and walked off. She came back a few minutes later with a piece of paper with a time from Prerov to Olomouc on it. With lots of gestures and pointing on her part, I finally worked out ...

... which I can’t understand- there’s a welcome to Victoria sign on the NSW border!), so it was only once we got to the first station over the border that I was sure. Czech Republic was one of the countries I was looking forward to the most, & it didn’t disappoint. Being something of a random traveller at the moment (in other words, if it looks good, I’ll visit it is my game plan) I ...

... three years ago, but we only became good friends now. The possibility of teaching again had been the #5 reason I chose to spend the winter in Rymarov. Unfortunately, for me and for the town of Rymarov, the school principal followed Prague's orders and didn't let me work illegally. "Any code of rules is an act of violence. ... Laws are oppressive handcuffs. ... All governments are tyranny." - Adam, in Karel Capek's play, "Adam the Creator" So, I worked ...

... but they have similar traditions, plus I love his last name) is the 332nd day. Olomouc's is a nice town like I said. Great to just wander around and explore the little lanes. But one big reason I was happy to be there is the beer. The Czech Republic is home to some of the best beer in the world and they give you every reason to drink it as its cheaper than Coke and sometimes cheaper than water. For less than a Pound you get half a litre of the stuff (that's less than $2 Cdn). I ...

... describe it as more of a tart than a pie. But even as part of the gender that is not so dependant on the existence of the cocoa bean I was impressed. Chocolate pie is yet another worthy variety to add to my long love list.

With that as our starter for the day we set out into the cold to walk it off, and both of us did not like Olomouc any less in the daylight. We started in the Bezruč Gardens alongside a winding small stream and set below the old ...

... last year. I wondered whether it was partly to do with the fact that I have now been extremely fortunate to have seen a significant number of European cities, and so I may now be tougher to please than other people. A bit like a life-long film critic feeling unsatisfied from any recent Hollywood film, or Hugh Heffner becoming more than a little blasé about the latest batch of Playboy models getting in the way around his mansion when they would totally distract any other ...

... passion, and ambition are such great and foolish things, that every victim is heroic, and that human creatures in love are something beautiful and astounding." - Karel Capek, a Czech writer Thanks to a Slovakian; Kott; Jano; Marek; and three Czechs for rides! Much thanks to Jana, Brano, Helena, Jano, & "Rikky"; Klara Sigmundova; Albina, Igor, Niki, & Katka; and Libor & his parents for places to sleep! And thank you for reading about my trip to Siberia!

... brother is an ornithologist. Jarda then spoke. He´s forty; red-faced with blond hair and a goatee; cool and good-looking in a 1970´s-troublemaker sort of way; he loves laughing at and making good jokes, and he playfully mocks my spasmatic-humming-through-the-nose laugh. He jokingly explained what exactly an ornithologist is: "Zenský mají svuj gynekolog ... tak, muzi jedou do ornitolog." (Women have their gynecologists ...

... I enjoyed walking through the little streets. I even climbed one of the church tower next to the bell to have an overview of the tiles covered with snow. Anyway the whole city was quite majestic and clean then. I stopped by a little market to get some food by the early evening and finally walked back to Hanna's place later, for a good warm soup some nice talk, finally using the computer to search for hosts in Brno and maybe London too. It was a lovely day!