“Travel is not a destination, but sharing life with people.” I
learned this from the owner of UKrumlose restaurant
when I was traveling in the Czech Republic the summer of 2013. It changed my
ideas about travelling.
A Birthday Party Fell From The Sky
Xin Obaid
I never dreamed that, for my 50th birthday, I would have a very unique party with lots of strangers in the old town of Cesky Krumlov in theCzech Republic, and all for free. But, it really happened! Today--- four years later, when I think about it, I remember it very clearly, as if it happened just last night. It was an early summer morning, before 6am, in Cesky Krumlov, (let us call this amazing old town ‘CK’), and I was walking on an old cobblestone road, which was so narrow that no more than two people could walk abreast. The smell of the air seemed very different from any other place I had ever been-----it was vibrant with the scent of free spirits, unrestrained passions, and love, all of those mixing and swirling around me. “Why?” I asked,and then came the answer, from myself, “because here is the source of Bohemia.”My mind was rushing like a wild horse, filled with so many thoughts of that amazing, almost 800 year old town.
“Hello. Good morning,” a voice said suddenly from behind me,just a short distance away. I was scared. I looked back and there was a man behind me. I subconsciously held my arms with both hands, as if this could make me calm down. I even did not say hello to him, I just began walking a little bit faster.The man caught up to me and said, “Do not worry. At least we have somethings in common.” He was then standing next me. I even did not know what he was talking about. I said, “What do you want?” He pointed to his hat and my hat and said, “We both like to wear hats, right? “ I realized he wore a blackVictorian style hat and that he was a tall young man. His eyes were gleaming. I said hello, and then goodbye to him, and turned to go back to my hotel. He followed me and asked if I had any plans for the day. I stopped and looked at him; I shook my head “no” but then said, “Actually, today is my 50th birthday.”
He seemed excited, raised his hands and cheerfully said, “We are going to have your birthday party in my bar. Please invite all your friends to come, and this party will be free.” I laughed because he acted as if we were old friends when in reality we were strangers. I told him I didn’t have any friends there, that I was a traveler, and that I did not know him. He took a little pine from his t-shirt and gave it to me. The pine was his bar’s logo. He told me I could invite any one, including the people who were staying in my hotel. He said his bar was located ahead on the beautiful narrow road, and that if I continued to walk along that road I could not miss it. Finally he said, “I will see you and your friends tonight at 6:30.” Then he waved the hand that was holding his hat and walked away.
I watched his shadow fading and fading on the ground…… kind of
like I was watching a mysterious movie that was not part of reality. I walked
back to my hotel wearing the pine that he gave to me. I liked the logo pine; it
was so cute.
“Good morning, Xin! You came back so soon.” The hotel
owner, a friendly young lady, warmly greeted me. I was going to say “good
morning” to Skppy, but she cried out: “Oh my god! Did you go to U Krumlose?” I
said, “What do you mean?” When she pointed to the bar logo pine, I realized
what she meant. I looked at Skppy for a moment and I told her everything that
happened a few minutes ago on my walk. Skppy cheerfully answered, “That will be
wonderful! I will help you invite the people who stay in our hotel. We will see
you there.”
The hotel I was staying is a beautiful small hotel facing
the quiet river. The owner was an amazing woman. She loved to draw, and many of
her paintings were on the hotel walls. Her name is Skppy, so she named her
hotel “Skppy.”
That day I took a tour of the town. About 6 pm, I followed
my heart and went to the bar. I was so curious about what would happen that
night. When I saw the logo hanging on the door, I felt as if a best friend
stood gracefully at the threshold greeting me. In the bar I saw Skppy sitting
on a table painting in her big notebook. There was another woman sitting with
her. I also noticed there were at about 20 other people in the bar as well.
The owner came out from his kitchen and asked my name, and
where I was from. Then he knocked on the shaker in his hand and signaled to
everyone to be quiet. He began to announce: "Our friend Xin’s 50th
birthday party starts right now! She is Chinese and lives in United States. I
will mix 50 different types of flips for all of us to drink and celebrate. All
drinks are free of charge!” Everyone cheered and cried, “Xin! Xin! Happy
birthday to you!”
The owner led me to the kitchen where he introduced me to his
wife. She was a very beautiful and elegant woman. She had a long golden braid
that came down to her waist. She looked as if a lady from an eighteenth century
oil painting had jumped out of it into that kitchen. When we hugged each other
I told her that she looked like a beautiful oil painting. She was embarrassed,
and her face blushed red. She was making special food for me, a dish called
steak tartare. It was absolutely the most delicious food that I ever had in my
life!
Steak tartareis a meat dish made
from finely chopped or mincedrawbeef. It is served with onions, capers and seasonings (the latter
typically incorporating fresh ground pepper and Worcestershire sauce), with an
egg yolk put onto middle of the beef.
The owner also invited some local musicians. They performed lots
of songs from their country. Some young singers asked me many questions about
China. They said they did not know what the real China was like. We were
talking and singing----of course, we had drunk so many kinds of flips.
Even though the owner was very busy making drinks for all of us,
he still very patiently explained how the drinks were made, and the stories and
meanings behind them. He always sat down when he got a chance, and told me
about his life.
He was born in Prague, Czech Republic. Before he got married he
did not know what he really wanted to do with his life. He met a beautiful girl
who loved food and loved to cook food. They married in Prague. He started
learning about wine and how to make drinks. He was amazed by the drink culture.
Then he studied history, especially the history of mythology. He
said, “Bacchus is a god of wine, but Bacchus not only holds the power of wine.
He also brings happiness and love to people.”
He and his wife opened a restaurant and bar in Prague a few
years ago. The business grew fast and soon became the most popular restaurant
and bar in Prague. He also published a wine magazine and taught drink-making.
Three years ago, he and his wife came to CK for a vacation. His wife loved the
town, so they bought a house there and opened the restaurant and bar.
I asked him why he was doing this party for me? He just smiled
and started making another drink for me. But someone else said that he likes
sharing with people. He likes talking with people. He enjoys so much making
drinks for people. He likes inviting people to have drinks in his bar, and for
free. I said, “Even inviting a stranger like me?”
He gave me a cup of the drink he had just made, looked me in the
eye and said, “i want to say think you so much!". "Way you thanked
me?". "Because you shared your life with me." " I shared my
life with you?". I really confused. Then he said, " you told me today
is your 50th birthday, you shared it with me and I always thought that Travel
is not a destination, but sharing life with people. If we share life with each
other, we are friends and family. Right?”
Everyone started hugging each other. During the party Skppy drew
my portrait, and asked people who were there to sign their name on the
painting. She handed it to me as a birthday gift. I was so happy, that at the
end of party, I cried and cried.
The next day I left my hotel very early to catch the bus from CK
to the Vienna airport to meet my husband, and I did not get chance to ask what
is the name of the owner of U Krumlose restaurant and bar. But I said to myself
that his name represents CK, he is my great friend Ck and I learned about
sharing life with people---- how powerful! When we share with people, our life
will be totally different.