Perpetual Change

Krasné Česko!

I love it when stereotypes prove true. And if you don´t know, Czechs drink more beer per capita than anyone else in the world. Almost twice the consumption of Americans, and I am doing my best to keep up this summer. It is sure a good thing that I do so much riding.

A quick fill in: I flew from Ukraine a month ago, then I picked up a load of bikes and drove half way back the next day. I drove through Sanremo, and by Bolzano, Italy (places I have spent significant time before this blog started) then through Austria and into Czech with Jakub Staněk, a name that will resurface a lot this summer. I trained with Jakub 3 years ago in the 3 weeks of Backroads boot camp. We worked together once last year, and it was fun, so I am back for more. Unfortunately, there isn't much work right now, so we have a lot of time off.

But maybe that isn't so bad. Our first trip went well, and so with our pockets padded we headed off to stay a few days with his folks in the North. His family owns a small butchery and restaurant - a business that they taught themselves after the end of communism. It is located in a small German apartment block that now houses the restaurant, kitchen, and several generations of their family. For those avid readers, can you tell I have found a little piece of Czech nirvana?

On our way here, we stopped in Pilsen, Czech. One reason was to tour the famous Pilsner Urquell brewery (Jakub's favorite). I have been to 5 breweries in my life, in 4 different countries, 2 of them in the last 2 weeks, and this one was probably the best. Or maybe just the most Disney-like. It was fun and the beer was great, though I still want to tour the Budvar or Budweisser one, down in our neck of the woods. That's for next week.

The other reason that we were in Pilsen, is that Jakub used to be a professional bike racer. Yes, that is why I am not too woried about the beers. There is a weekly race in Pilsen, and he convinced the organizers to let him race. He hadn't raced in 6 years, but he was right at home in the pelleton. I hadn't been to a sporting event in awhile (or a movie, for that matter, which we did the other night; any comments on the new movie from the Trekkies out there?). It was very exciting. 80 to 100 racers on millions of dollars worth of bike. They went for 50 kilometers at top speed in an hour and 10 minutes flat on a kilometer track. Again, it was exciting. Jakub did well, and even earned a beer for a qualifying lap in the middle of the race.

Now, I just have to do my best to keep up; though I have been swimming a lot too at our summer house that the company pays for. I have many more k ahead of me here in the north before I get back down there, though. Happy trails.

posted by jjs @ 6:16 AM 2 comments

Work

Someone reading this blog, once accused me of "spreading myself too thin" with my friends. They said that I kept in touch with too many people. Now that I have been at a computer and on the internet for more than 8 hours each day for the last week and not even opened my personal email, I am inclined to agree with them.

However yesterday, as I took a few minutes for myself, and thought of some of the people that I would like to write to, I realized that although I may spread myself a bit thin, I don't make friends lightly. I try to maintain a light attitude with my many friends, because I never want them to feel any type of guilt associated with our friendship, but you should know I think of you all very highly. It becomes clear to me, here with Backroads, because I meet very many interesting and engaging people, with similar backgrounds and interests to myself. I am friendly with them all, but have made real friendships with very few.

So my point is, although most of you are very far away, and we may only talk every several months, and see each other every several years, I am thinking about you - as I work and as I ride my bike over the beautiful blossoming hills of Czech, and I wish you could be here with me. Have fun.

posted by jjs @ 4:57 AM 3 comments

Value Added

Well, for the third year in a row, I made the trans-European journey from Ukraine to work. Each year gets easier from experience, but also because there are more flights every year to Ukraine and work pays for them, but this year was exceptionally smooth. I had almost no hang ups, and not only did my luggage make my 30 minute connection, but when I got to the flight counter, I was the last one, and the attendent said, "Mr. Sheetz would you like to be upgraded to Business class?"

Would anyone ever say NO to that question?

So after traversing 3 countries, in 2 hours, I had gone from eating my lunch of home-smoked ham (from the pig we slaughtered before Easter) while being surrounded by excited and yelling kids...to... eating a mediterranean chicken salad with complimentary wine and an empty seat next to me. Not to mention that the rest of the flight was packed, but I wouldn't have noticed as I devoured The Economist; I haven't had much news in the last four months.

posted by jjs @ 2:14 PM 1 comments