Plzň, Land of Beer and Snowstorms

It started snowing heavily just before we arrived in Plzň, and it didn’t give up for two days. That did not stop us (even though my Fulbright compatriots were both seriously …let’s say affected…from the last night in Humpolec).

I’m from Minnesota, so what do I care about some white fluffy stuff? Michelle, however, is from Georgia and snow was novel to her. There were times we were the only ones out and about and we felt like to find a place to eat.

The cathedral of St. Bartholomew was closed for the next 2 years or so. Of course. But we did get to climb to the top of the bell tower.

 

The square began to fill with snowmen of all shapes, sizes, genders, and species.  We tried to tour the underground, also closed. And the Pilsner museum. Also closed. And the cute pub that we carefully followed according to the sign’s hours – and tried twice to get into.

But the puppet museum was open! And it was pretty cool. The variety of marionettes was remarkable.  There were people and ghosts and monsters and anatomically correct naked ones, and life-sized walruses.  Each one had a genuinely unique face.  We had opportunities to play with some and watch others who actually know what they are doing, make them come alive. They really do have an eerily real quality to them when an expert takes hold of the reins.

 

We did get to tour the Pilsner brewery which is a must if you’ve made it all the way here. They make and bottle 100% of the Pilsner beer here that is distributed all over the world. I did actually like the taste of the unfiltered unpasteurized stuff they gave us underground.

 

We had a really cool airbnb loft flat to stay in, but it was on the 5th floor (4th for these Europeans who count the main level as Floor Zero), and there was no lift.  Now that was a haul!

I guess Americans did something worthwhile here. That says “Thanks America!”

It snowed and snowed and snowed. Then, the day we left it finally stopped snowing and the sun came out. It was brilliant and beautiful, the white snow against the blue sky.

 

I might like to go again when it is warm and sunny, but this felt like a truly unique experience that I really appreciate.