From Sternberk to Pastor Stan's Opava

We enjoyed a brief sojourn in the delightful town of Sternberk, the home of Sternberk Castle.  Our pension was in the woods on the side of the mountain next to a bike trail.  Bikers and hikers arrived by the dozens for a beer and/or snack on our patio.  While we did not visit the castle (we are a little early for many of these attractions), we did both drive around and walk around the town.  A real eye-opener for us was the fact that the locals, both motorcyclists and automobile drivers, use the Sternberk roadway race course for their own amusement on the weekend.  Consequently this raceway, which is a scenic drive other than on race days, gives the feeling of being caught in the middle of a Grand Prix!  The Czechs love their speed!
And so we motor slowly toward Opava, at 90 kph on a 70 kph road and the Czechs flew by us at 120 kph+.
Pastor Stan's birth town of Opava is a grand and elegant city architectually.  We must have looked like, as my dad called them, "flatlanders", as our heads were on swivels.  Everywhere one looked was another beautiful building.  For a cold day (8 C) there were a lot of people downtown.  It was somewhat a carnival atmosphere with vendor booths set up in the main square and a European class marathon set to begin.  Carolyn readily identified the teams of runners as Europeans in that they stripped and changed right in front of everybody.  We saw the changing but did not stay for the race.  One of the nostalgic highlights for me on this visit to Opava was to sit down for the first time in 60 years and enjoy a palacinkarna, paper-thin pancake covered with strawberries, ice cream and whipped cream.  My grandmother made them on very special occasions.  We have not yet found Pastor Stan's home church but we will continue to look. One thing that Pastor Stan told me I have found to be quite true....many of the churches that were closed during the Communist era, the congregations displaced, have been turned to other uses.  We hope you enjoy the pictures that will give you a visual of what I've been talking about.

The beautiful Sternberk Castle.  It is more of a wealthy familiy's home than a fortress.

This is a Plague Column.  These columns were built in the cities and towns of Eastern Europe as thank remembrance from those few who were delivered from the Plague.

This is a street scene from the central part of Sternberk, with the streets lined with these beautiful former Burgher houses. 

Off to Opava!

This is the countryside between Sternberk and Opava, showing one of hundreds of abandoned Soviet collective farm compounds.

Eat your hearts out!

Notice the overhead electric trolley lines and the beautiful blooming tree.

This grand cathedral happens to be Roman Catholic and is named The Assumption of the Holy Virgin.  This name causes some concern for Lutherans who do not buy into the doctrine of the bodily assumption of Mary.

The race begins here......... and, for most competitors, ends here.

Opava is a bit ahead of Soldotna.  Look at these blooms!

This is a former Lutheran church.  It was closed by the Communists, the congregation dispersed and now serves as the Office of Archives, Opava.

As we drive out of the city it is hard to keep your eye on the road!
Did I mention that we are less than 5 miles from the Polish border?


Tomorrow we go to SLOVAKIA.