This was my very last day in Vysoke Myto, and we decided that we would not ride a long trip. Jaroslav gave me two things to choose between: I could go check the route I was going to follow towards Jihlava and Usobi the following day or we could visit Jaroslav's native town.
I chose the latter.

Crossing the usual nasty hills, we reached the village. We looked into the church, made a stop at the school and paid a visit to the grave of Jaroslav's parents.
Jaroslav wanted us to visit his cousin, who lived on a farm nearby. It has been characteristic of the people I have met in the Czech rep. that they have been very nice and friendly people, and these people too gave us a warm welcome. We were invited to have a cup of tea and a piece of cake. All the while the cousin and his wife enquired about what I thought about being in the country. Before we rode on, the wife handed both of us a bar of chocolate. It was a very nice visit indeed.
Meeting people like the cousin and his wife always makes me very happy.

We headed now for Vysoke Myto. We put on our very best clothes, because the time had come to go out and dine. There was a little doubt as to what restaurant was the best in town. Jaroslav and Ludmilla mentioned Nopek and Optimal as the 2 possibilities.
Finally they decided to go to Optimal.

When we got there, I ordered a bottle of red wine and looked around. It was a very nice place. Jaroslav ordered a dish which literally consisted of garlic, chilli and fire. He really loves garlic. Ludmilla ordered a dish with different kind of meat and I had fish. I was very pleased because I now got the opportunity to invite these hospitable people to have dinner with me. When we had eaten, I made a very smart move. I suggested that we went to Nopek to have coffee and dessert. They thought it was a brilliant idea.

However, we had trouble getting into Nopek. This Friday was the last school day in Czech rep. and very often people dine out that day to celebrate their examinations. We promised that we would only stay for a quarter of an hour, and then they let us in. After the coffee Jaroslav stated that Nopek was the best restaurant. In his opinion there was to much smell of cooking in the room where we had dined at Optimal.
So now you know.

Ludmilla went home. She had a lot of preparations to do for the evening's garden concert. Karel, who is a colleague of Jaroslav, was going to sing and play, and a few good friends had been invited as well.

We had had previously handed over my bike to the people in Bend's shop for a check, and it was ok.
However, that was not the case for Jaroslav Bendl. The same morning he had got a herringbone stitch and had been taken to the hospital. That was very bad for more reasons. He and his family were going to the garden party, but now they could of course not come. When I first time visited the shop I had asked for a local jersey, which I would like to buy. They had none, but Mr. Bendl had found one of his old jerseys, which they now handed me. I was very pleased, and it will become a very appreciated souvenir to me.

I insisted on shopping a little bit. Normally it's not a thing Jaroslav uses as a pastime, but he did walk with me. We went all the way around the enormous square in town. It's one of the two biggest squares in the whole country. I bought a CD with Czech country music, and I went into a large number of shops. It was getting late and the Pechaceks were going to prepare the party. Also Jan Tomisicek had been invited, but he never showed up. We did not know why. It was a pity, because it was such a nice evening.

Click picture to enlarge. Chairs and tables were placed in the garden. The weather was ok. Chilly, but no rain. Karel, Jaroslav's colleague was going to play and sing. He had brought along one of his pupils, who had an incredibly beautiful voice. They made music for about two hours and it was precisely the kind of music I liked, country and folk. In between we enjoyed Ludmilla's home-made cakes. We also had sausages. We freshened up with tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer and wine.

But also this evening came to an end. At 10 o'clock Karel closed his key board.
The party was over.

-I collect good memories I told Karel and the young girl.
-And this evening will always be a good memory to me.

Before long the garden was cleared up and at 11 p.m. we went to bed. Jaroslav promised to wake me up at 6 o'clock a.m. Ludmilla was going to her job at the local hospital much earlier than that, so I told her good bye before I went to bed.
During a week she has opened her home to me. I think that was wonderful of her. I am very impressed.
We have not been able to talk with each other, but we have been able to communicate all the same.

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