BW's turned into a gambler. A whole 20kc gambler*.
We traversed to Velke Chucle - Prague's horse racing track - with friends and their parents a couple of weekends ago.
Our friends Scot and BB are getting married next summer, and that weekend was their parents' first time meeting each other. The catch: the Scottish Mum and Dad don't speak Czech and the Czech Mama and Tata don't speak English, so - what the hay - a racetrack is a happy common ground. Who doesn't like horses and money? BW paid attention to the horses and I ate potato pancakes. Win!
BW and his 20kc* bet didn't win, but BB did - a whopping 130kc*.
It was a fitting reason to get out of town and spend some time in the sun. And it's pastoral - lots of locals with picnic lunches and green space and dogs trotting around and . Vyborny!
*20kc = 1USD
You can get there on your Open Card. Entrance to the races is 120kc |
A blur of tails and legs and small men |
A content crowd |
The setting was easy on the eyes |
On the right is Josef Váňa Sr., the Czech Republic's most decorated jockey |
BB and her folks |
The stands from the side |
Kids had a play area... |
...while adults had a betting area (with nothing in English) |
Full stands |
A winning horse |
More of the action |
Sounds as though you had a fun day, Em.
ReplyDeleteMost years, I conduct a small number of weddings nearly all of which are cross-cultural - English-speaker to Czech or Slovak. The problem of the inability of the parents and older relatives of the couple not being able to communicate with each other, is one a very common one. Hand signals, gestures, together with a few beers (which I see you were all enjoying :-) ), usually help, together with younger Czechs who speak English, doing a little translating.
I've never been to a horse race, but I want to go sometime. What a great setting, too!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Julie! I had always (erroneously) assumed they were all big-hats-and-big-money, but these were super casual and fun.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a translator at the services? I'd think meeting the future in-laws is hard enough, even without the language barrier :) My in-laws are coming in a few weeks, and thankfully we all speak the same lingo!
ReplyDeleteI use an English-speaking Czech person to translate & get the couple to print an Order of Service with the complete liturgy in both Czech & English so everybody can follow.
ReplyDelete