Christmas

Pam and I spent the holidays here in CZ . In mid December Conner came over to spend time with us. Our first family excursion was to the big Christmas market in Nurnburg, Germany. It was Iowa winter cold there but the city was so enjoyable we hardly noticed. The Christmas market here has been an annual event since 1610. It takes up most of the old downtown and is policed for quality. Only local handmade items, German artist made things are allowed. No Chineese socks or Korean made Christmas decorations. The regular stores carry that stuff. All the food must be locally produced and hot food prepared on premises. Good quality and beautifully made. Pam, Conner and I spent several hours inspecting the goods and tasting the food. Its only about a 7 hour drive from Olomouc so a return trip may be in the offing next year. The next day we all went to the German history museum and ended up spending the whole day there. It has one of the finest collections of medieval sculpture and painting around. Additionally there are collections of antique furniture, arms and armor, folk art, and contemporary German painting. About mid afternoon Pam and Conner left Ken to his own devices and the two went to the coffee shop where Pam taught Conner how to knit. By the time we got home the next day he had nearly finished a fine neck scarf. Nurnburg was badly damaged during WWII but they have reconstructed it with great care and pride. It deserves a warm weather inspection. Upon our return Conner was asked to participate in the big Christmas pageant at Svaty Kopecek( it means saints hill) which is a big 300 year old Baroque pilgrimage church on the hill north of town. On Christmas day evening the pageant was performed outdoors in the cloister behind the church and in a misty rain around 1000 people showed up to watch. Conner played an angel with panache, and got to sing a solo… We Three Kings,.. He was a hit. The rest of the songs were Czech carols that we had never heard before. After the Christmas play was over there was a sing along in the small chapel behind the stage. Conner sang "Angels we have heard on High" and taught the choir the chorus. He also sang "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." He was great. We went home while Conner stayed with the directors and a few of the crew for beers. After Christmas we went to visit our friends Radka and Ivo near Ostrava. Ivo is a good skier and agreed to take Conner sking in the Beskid Mountains. They went and Pam and I and Radka went to a fine painting exhibit at the Ostrava art museum. Good food, good wine, good friends. It was a wonderful Christmas and only would have been better if Quentin and Alana were here. But they were in Toronto with her parents. I guess that is what happens when children grow up,…maybe next year we will all get to be together again.