Out and About in Letohrad

Selájam
We heard the music on and off most of the afternoon.  It was one of the nicer days of late and I kept

trying to figure out from which window from the surrounding houses it was coming from.  We were a bit busy with upcoming programs and were somewhat annoyed with all the various music.  And it was quite loud at times.  So, later that evening we headed for Thursday evening bible study
(it was our turn to lead which I did with a type of guided meditation) via the most direct route which skirted the main square.  After we left the church to return home there was more music.... this time obviously not coming from someone's window.  So with nothing immediately pressing we ventured up the hill toward the main square. And, poof, there was a crowd, a stage, a band and several concession stands with food and drinks.  Scheese.... we gotta get our heads out of the sand!

It turns out this was the day of the traditional student festival, or Majáles.  From what I can gather, Majáles is a hundred or so years old and is traditionally the day when students were, more or less, excused from being 'proper'.  Now, this day is usually one of festivals and events for students.  The Letohrad 'Selájam' (that's Majáles backwards) was sponsored by the local private high school and the city.  It was set up on the main square and featured eight events beginning about two in the afternoon. The headliner event, a single performer called VOXEL (no translation), was just going on and immediately attracted a crowd of young ladies in front of the stage.  The performance was very interesting to an American ear (although B.J. has been humming it...) but quite a treat for the mass of fans in front of the stage.  Check out one of the songs, Click Here.

Bowling

OK, which way did you say to roll it?

Now there's a term I have not taken seriously for, oh, let's just say a number of decades.  But here we are in the two-laned Letohrad bowling center.  There's a good crowd ranging in age from middle single digits to the higher double digits (no comment).  It was not like I remember back in the dark ages.  Yes, there still are the

Sam lining up a shot... with a little help.

Now, it's tap time!!

automatic pin setters but this time the score is automatically kept on the screen just above your lane.... I know, I said it's been a while!  So..... let the games begin.  First on tap (no, that was later) was to find a pair of bowling shoes from the rack that would fit and not have your little toe screaming in pain.  After a bit of shuffling and groaning all were in uniform.  Next pick your weapon... I grabbed a green one that I found to be quite comfortable with the grip I was able to dig out of memory despite several billion brain cells being consumed daily with practicing Czech.  The order was somewhat arbitrary but worked out well, with lots of pinch-bowlers thrown in.  What a great time!  B.J. and I actually had a couple strikes although the big head feeling was immediately deflated with the next gutter-ball.

Hana, Nad'a and Josef