Day Nine - Churches, Cemeteries and More Family Connections

This morning our group split apart for the first time and each of us went to churches that our grandparents and great-grandparents attended and were most likely baptized and/or married in. Walt and Karen went to Chmelova and Becherov while Nancy, Mary, Dianne and I went to Stebnik. We were warmly greeted by the priest and thanked for the monetary contributions St. Mary's sent to their parish for renovation of their belltower.







Fr. Jan and Monika Pilko invited Walt, Karen and I for lunch while the rest chose to peruse more cemeteries. It's so much fun to see their two daughters growing up over the years.



At 3:00 pm we met in the Karcma (bar) in Stebnik that my distant cousin and dear friend, Slavo Mlynar owns. He is also the starosta (mayor) of the village. My cousin Stefan Rusinak and his wife Olga were waiting for us with homemade loksha (think lefse) for all you Minnesota Scandinavians. Anna Tkacova joined us and brought my favorite, kreple. She knows that I love them and each time I visit I am treated to them. It's a special treat as my grandmother used to make them for me every Saturday. Olga always treats me to dried mushrooms that she picked. I love to share these with the women in my parish and they are always delighted to receive them. Mushrooms from the old country always have a different flavor than ones we can obtain at home.





The evening brought lots of laughter and wonderful conversation amongst all of us. Slavo's friend, Mila, entertained us with her wonderful accordian music and beautiful voice as we sang Rusyn and Slovak folk songs. Afterwards as we were hungry for dinner Slavo ordered pizza for delivery...yes you are reading that correctly...pizzas were delivered to the villages! I'm not sure I am quite ready for so much Westernization here. It seems each time I come there is more and more. I prefer to remember the villages in a simpler time. If you'd like to hear some of the music check out my Facebook page.


Tomorrow is our last full day here in Bardejov and the villages and will be spent visiting the mayor's in our respective villages, last minute trips to cemeteries and souvenir shops along with a short drive to see some wooden churches. We are also hoping to attend Vespers at the Orthodox church here in Bardejov tomorrow evening. One final dinner here and then packing our suitcases which may provide somewhat of a challenge as the people here are quite generous with their gifts! I may need to take a trip to Tesco to buy another suitcase!

So...until then....

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