It's all in the details

So I've said farewell (for now) to Hungary and Budapest.  It was a bittersweet leaving as we were completely taken care of and had such a wonderful time.  Friday evening there was a dinner boat cruise along the Danube with a number of people associated with the Fulbright Commission to send us off.  Everyone had a wonderful time.

Huba Brückner, director of the Fulbright Commission in Hungary is in the center next to Carridy and Annamaria Sas, our everlasting caretaker, is pictured with me on the right.  These two people, especially Annamaria, are responsible for the amazing experience we were all able to have in Hungary.

Saturday morning we had a 9:30 am train to Brno, Czech Republic.  The sea of luggage swamped the hotel lobby and the Czech representative who came to Budapest to travel with us to Brno realized there would be issues with the 16 American teachers.  Many people in the group claim to have traveled internationally before, but I think they are lying.  We were booked into first class train compartments, which was unexpected but greatly appreciated.  The train traveled through Slovakia, stopping in the capital Bratislava and arrived in Brno roughly four hours after leaving Budapest. 

The Czech Republic is dividing into two general regions, Moravia and Bohemia.  If my understanding is correct they are very different from each other.  It would be like if the US were made up of Minnesota and Louisiana.  Brno is the largest city is Moravia and Prague is the nation's capital and hub of Bohemia. 

It's been very hot in central Europe for the last couple weeks, mostly in the high 90's with high humidity.  When we arrived at the hotel in Brno in six taxis (remember all the luggage??) and it was learned that the hotel had no air conditioning, the proverbial "It" hit the fan.  It did not make for a comfortable transition to the Czech Republic.

A welcome reception was hosted for us at the Abbey of Old Brno.  Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, was the abbot of this abbey, and on these grounds is where he did his famous experiments growing peas and figuring out how dominant and recessive traits are passed along through genetics.  After touring the Mendel Museum, a private organ concert was given for out group in the basilica, followed by dinner.  As we walked out into the covered courtyard after the concert, the skies opened up and poured rain.  It was wonderful the way the heat was finally broken.

In our first two days in Brno we've had sessions on Czech history, education and language (which is incredibly more difficult than I could ever have imagined!).  While on a walking tour of the city center yesterday, this plaque on the side of a building was pointed out to us.  František Poupé was the brewmaster of Brno who is considered responsible for truly figuring out how to brew beer.  The plaque says he lived until 1805, and obviously beer was brewed before the 18th century, but I guess he really tweaked the secret.  Ironically, his last name, Poupé means Bud.  Could this be the origin of the most globally recognizable Czech beer, Budweiser??