More new faces and places

Sunday started out with the alarm at 7:05, and it was much easier getting ready now that everything is organized and put away, instead of living out of a suitcase.  Tim and I both enjoyed our first breakfast here in the apartment - Tim was thrilled to have cereal with raisins and COLD milk, a banana and orange drink, and I had scrambled eggs and bacon.  We were downstairs outside the flat by 8:35 to meet the landlady, Luba, and her daughter, Lenka, for our walk to the Lutheran Church in town.  No pictures inside the sanctuary yet as we were rushed, but next time I'll try to post some.  It was of course a beautiful old structure, with the pulpit high up off the floor against a wall, just like the church in Bratislava.  I loved how the bells pealed after the service!  We actually sang along, following the Slovak words, and we think it's a great technique to learn pronunciation because you are seeing the language visually, hearing it aurally, and trying it out on your tongue, all simultaneously.  Multi-sensory educational techniques at their best!!  :-)  Lenka translated for us during the service and helped us find our place in the worship book.  

With our landlady, Luba, and her daughter, Lenka after church

With Jana and her mother Jana, our school's Headmistress
In front of the church we attended today

After the service, we met the Headmistress of the school, Jana, and her daughter, also named Jana, who translated for us after Luba and Lenka left.  The Janas gave us a walking tour around the old town, some of which we had seen during our wanderings, and some new places, but we learned a lot from their explanations.  The church on the square in last night's picture was originally Lutheran - but it is now Catholic.  She said it dates to the 12th century, so something doesn't square with the history of the Reformation, or maybe we didn't understand clearly, or maybe it started Catholic then changed and changed back!  In the same part of the square where we saw the folk performers last night, there was an antique car rally going on today!!  There was even one old Ford model there, along with many other European cars.  The drivers were all dressed in period costumes for their vehicles, and of course there was a large crowd there to see the spectacle!  Fun stuff!!  

The former Lutheran, now Catholic church on the square

One of the antique cars

More of the parade of cars

After we left the square, we ran into the parade of cars again!

We then headed to a small village outside of the town where we ate at another darling restaurant, sitting at an outdoor table.  It was the most amazing meal of all!  We started with hot tea for us and coffee for Jana and Jana (pronounced "yahna"), because the deputy headmistress, Patka, who we first met when we arrived on Friday, was playing organ for the service in her village nearby and was coming later.  Next was soup with chicken, noodles, and vegetables - very tasty.  That was followed by a plate with 3 kinds of meat - beef, chicken breast, and pork, all with a light gravy sauce, plus some roasted small potatoes, a little nest of rice, and a slaw-type salad with cucumbers, cabbage, and tomatoes.  It was more than we could eat, but all delicious.  We had wine with the meal too, and I think they ordered a really nice one which has won awards.  (Slovak of course!)  And finally, ice cream.  Patka came part way through, so the meal lasted a long time as we enjoyed conversation.  They are all absolutely delightful people!!  

This picture is for Papa - our ice cream sundae dessert.
They ordered everything for us, so we didn't have a choice!!  :-)

Eating on the outdoor patio in the village with the ladies from school

Next, Jana and her daughter departed, and Patka gave us a tour of her village and the nearby resort area at the lake created in 1975 by a dam on the river.  We walked a while down through a picnic meadow to the lake, then joined her good friend who had stopped at a bar/restaurant for a late lunch while on a bike ride with another friend.  I had more hot tea, and Tim tried her recommendation - a glass of the grape juice from the adjacent vineyard, from which they make their famous chablis wine.  It was delicious!  More interesting conversation followed before we headed back to be dropped off at our flat.  

Views during our drive through the countryside

The lake, with mountains in the background

Looking at the hillside across the lake

So beautiful!

On our walk with Patka, the deputy headmistress from the school

We had a cup of tea, and the grape juice on the outdoor patio
at the left side of the building

We've been reading the Des Moines Sunday Register online, which is fun, and Tim must be feeling right at home, because he fell asleep with the "paper" (computer) on his lap, just like on a normal Sunday afternoon at home in Ankeny!!  :-)   I'm kind of surprised he didn't wake up to the loud noises that sound like gunshots outside.  We're less startled by it now that we know it's people out beating their rugs!!  There is a large structure like playground equipment out back where people hang their rugs and beat them with huge fly swatter-like tools that I've only seen in museums back in the USA.  

A carpet beater!

It truly sounds like gunshots as the beating sounds echo off the apartment buildings!

We walked to the HyperNova again late this afternoon, and found out it is open until 9:00 p.m. daily -- which is great because nothing else except restaurants and coffee shops are open from Saturday noon through Sunday!!  We had a light supper with delicious home-grown fresh tomatoes that were a gift from Patka - just like Iowa!!  

Well, school starts tomorrow - at least our teacher work days do.  We are supposed to go  to Patka's office at 9:00 a.m, since she has an appointment before that.  What a reasonable hour to report for our first day of work!!  :-)  The weather is much cooler today.  I hope our suitcases arrive tomorrow with some warmer clothing!!