West Cork Choral Singers |
April 2008 saw West Cork Choral Singers travel to the town of Turnov in the Czech Republic. We were invited to join with with members of the Musica Fortuna Choir, based in Turnov, just over an hours drive North of Prague. Here we all are, with some of our hosts, gathered for a group photograph at the castle atValdstejn. |
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Turnov is part of an area known as Bohemian Paradise. It has a wealth of Castles and Chateaux, some dating back to the 13th century.
We visited the Chateau of Sychrov. The Chateau has been built onto over the centuries but started life in the 1600s. It is well preserved and maintained. We enjoyed a tour of the splendid interior, and time in the landscaped grounds, despite the rain! Here is the upper hall, showing some of the beuaty of the Chateau. |
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We also visited some magnificent landscape. Described in the tourist brochure as "the fairy tale hill full of stones" Kozakov was indeed such a mixture of trees and rock as you would expect to find in one of Grimm's Fairy Tales. |
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It is amazing how the trees curl their roots around the rock and yet manage to survive for many many years. |
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Wolf shows just how well-named is the rock opening known as The Mousehole, taking the visitor through the rocks and into another area of beautiful woodland. |
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We shared meals together, time to get to know each other over a glass of Czech beer, brewed locally. We know that because we visited the brewery! |
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We exchanged gifts |
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We danced the night away. Pictured here are theMusical Directors of the two Choirs, Diana and Vite leading by example! |
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We gave a concert for the people of Turnov.
West Cork Choral Singers |
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and Musica Fortuna |
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This is another spectacular place, up near the German Border. just outside the town of Liberec. In the winter it is covered in snow, a popular ski destination. We visited on a beautiful spring day and enjoyed coffee at the very top. The building with the tall spire is a hotel.
The view encompassed Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. |
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We split up into smaller groups and explored the delights of Liberec town. Some visited the art gallery, others the botanical gardens, or the zoo. We met up again back in the main square with this splendid church as it's focal point. |
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Our last evening was spent in the local fire station where Musica Fortuna wined and dined us, and we danced the night away. |
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Roisin is one of our Irish Speakers and so she was able to thanks our hosts for giving us such a wonderful time, in Irish. |
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Jan, who was an excellent translator for us, also proved to have great musical ability. We gave him the traditional Irish Tin Whistle as a thank you for his hard work in translating for us. Within 24 hours he had learned to play it and gave us an Irish Tune. |
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And so, all too soon it was time to say good-bye. Some of our members stayed on in the area, and the rest of us travelled into Prague.
Some of us enjoyed an evening river cruise. |
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We stayed at the Grand Hotel Europa on the famous Wenceslas Square. |
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The inside was just a grand as the outside. |
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One of the most famous sites to see is the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square. |
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The Charles Bridge links the two halves of the city over the Vitava River.
We returned to Ireland refreshed, having enjoyed the sights of the Czech Republic, but most of all haveing enjoyed the making music with our new friends, Musica Fortuna. We are looking forward to their return visit to West Cork in the summer of 2009. |