Fast forward to yesterday afternoon. After a morning spent at a paper museum and castle, we stopped by Privrat. We hoped we would be able to take a few photos or meet a few people from Privrat.
What we got was so much better!
A relative of my dad's visited Privrat last year only to find the house he was looking for had burned down long ago. He did, however, find a house with a Vencl woman who he might be connected to. We heard that she might be someone Roger and I could meet if she was home when we came. We didn't know anything for sure.
Best case scenario, we would take lots of pictures and leave. Our guide, Josef, knocked at the door and the woman came out. We shared some of our family history with her in the hopes that maybe it might trigger a memory. We didn't get much as far as genealogy. Only that in a town if 350 that's made up primarily if Vencls, we're likely connected!
However, before we knew it her grandaughters, grandson and their parents were outside with us. Roger and I even had a beer in our hands!
Her 22-year-old granddaughter, Lusieje, spoke good English. She has never talked with a native English speaker so I think it was a bit of a shock having two Americans show up on her doorstep wanting to chat!
They shared with us about life in Privrat. We told them stories about Minnesota.
The way she described their family get-togethers doesn't sound all too different from our own family's Wencl parties!
All in all, it was a grand time. Something we'll never forget.
Of course, Anna is now Facebook friends with them. She was yelling "we have real Vencl friends!" all yesterday afternoon. And we're going back to visit the pub in Privrat this afternoon.
BEST DAY EVER.
Joy & peace from Litomysl,
Rog + Anna
This is just so great! I love, love, love it!
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