When my husband and I went to the Czech Republic last July, we stayed at the most awesome Airbnb in Tichá where we met some really lovely people who were basically a Czech version of us. I had not missed my children until I saw hers, and then of course, I missed mine like crazy.
When we were there, we went on a really nice walk and I took some photos. There’s no question in my mind that my ancestors would have walked these roads at some point in their lives. I am guessing that, though the buildings are different, if my ancestors were to go there today, they would probably still recognize it.
In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Since I have been doing some research having to do with Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem, and since technically we walked from Tichá, to Kunčice p. O., and then were briefly in Frenštát p. R., I decided I would share the trip.
Walking out the garden gate
It’s pretty common to see tractors in driveways where we live in Iowa, too. Agriculture!
Down the driveway. Many Czechs (in this part of the country at least) have a shared driveway, or a partially shared driveway.
There are shrines and crosses all over the place in this part of the country. I am not totally sure when this one was built, but it looks like the 18th century to me. As in, I am sure that my ancestors could have seen this. The inscription is of John 3:16 (at least part of it is?) – Jan 3, 16 “Nebot’ tak Bůh miloval svět že Syna svého jednorozeného dal, aby každý, kdož věří v něho…” then it gets kind of hard to read. “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Something like that.
The top of the cross.
Fruit trees.
Of course, since this is a dirt path, I felt extra nostalgic.
My ancestors’ mountains.
What kinds of secret lover’s trysts has this forest seen?
Somebody had a sense of humor!
Moo!
After a few days in Moravia, I started to bet Danny if the next house we would pass would have window boxes with flowers. I always guessed there would be, and that there would be red geraniums. And there always were. When we got home, I planted some red geraniums in window boxes on my front porch. I will try to save some inside over the winter to keep it from being too dreary and sad.
Notice how these people have the wood stacked up right next to the house, the same way they were at the Trojanovice home at the Wallachian Open Air Museum. Sure beats trudging across the cold, snowy yard to get the wood.
Another plaque somewhere
See the deer?
I had to pinch myself. “Yes, I am really here. There’s a sign that says I am.”
Love these pictures!
My ancestral area too! Was just in Trojanovice, Prostředni Bečva, Rožnov pod Radhostěm, and Frenstat pod Radhoštěm in Sept!
Cool Janet! I bet we are distantly related, haha! What surnames are you interested in?
Lovely pictures. Thanks for posting. My paternal great grandmother was a MAZAC and they emigrated in 1892 to Texas. I am retired and now I spend many, many hours working on my families genealogy. Began thirty years ago, in Texas History in college. I am the only one in my family interested in it. Hopefully, I will be able to keep my ancestors alive in my writing. My grandfather came from Mala Lhota, Moravia in 1894. Keep up the good work. I also have about thirty family blogs, but I will never be able to travel to Moravia. God bless you, Sally from Houston, Texas
My 2nd great grandfather Josef Havel was born at house #105 Tichá in 1831. Josef married Mariana Neckáiová in 1853 from #80 in Tichá, and the couple lived in House #175 Tichá. They had four children before Mariana died in 1871 (including a son Josef born in 1860). Josef then married a second wife in 1871 (Anna Sablaturova, b 1838 in Trojanovice, Moravia). Josef and Anna immigrated to Texas in 1873 with their eight children and settled in Burleson County. We visited Tichá in 2014 and visited with the current owner of #175, a Mr. Cervenka. He gave us a picture of #175 as it appeared in1935. With all of this, I'll bet that you and I may even be cousins!
I just came across this by accident in my searches. I had tracked my biological genealogy back to Josef Havel and Anna . I knew his first wife was Mariana (or Marianna) but I couldn’t make out the last name on the paperwork I have, but knew it started with a “N”). My GG grandfather and grandmother were Joseph Havel and Mary (Surovik) Havel. Mariana (or Marianna) was his mother, not Anna. My G Grandmother was Ella Havel Mikeska. and Grandmother was Annie Mikeska Odstrcil (Campise). Would love to learn more.