Laundry and a Haircut...

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

September 3, 2007
N48°48.763
E014°18.920

Today was a laundry day. Yes, one of those dreadful days where we walk around trying to find a place to do our laundry, sit there while the machine is spinning and then wait for everything to dry. The other task for the day, besides site seeing, was finding a barber for Marc.

We completed our laundry, without incident, and even met a nice couple from Australia who were also doing there laundry. They felt the same way as us, trapped inside, when they should be out exploring the rustic town. As soon as we finished our laundry we grabbed a light lunch (cheese, bread and bananas) and sat on the bank of the Vltava and watching kayakers roll over the small rapids. From our vantage point we took pictures of a weathered multi-colored abandoned house and discussed what life must have been like during communism. We agreed, no matter how much we read, or stories we’ve heard, we’ll never really understand.

One thing we’ve noticed as we make our way through the Czech Republic is the people are shocked when you say hello or simply ask them how they are doing. For example, in a café, if we greet the barista by saying, “How are you doing today?” They’ll look at us warily, like they’re shocked and unsure how to respond. Most times they don’t even respond, acting like they didn’t even hear the question. As we were walking through the park we wondered if this may be residual behavior from the days of communism.

If you think about it, less than 20 years ago, most of these people couldn’t trust anyone—their neighbors, their friends, and possibly even their family. Anyone could be part of the secret police and turn them into the government for something that might even be misconstrued. We thought this might be part of the issue, the skepticism towards friendliness, but aren’t totally sure. Also, not surprising, most people we meet don’t want to talk about their lives during that period. People are obviously happier the way things are now, who can blame them.

After lunch we got lost strolling through the cobbled streets and finally made our way back to our hostel where Marc got a haircut. After searching in Prague, Kunta Hora and Cesky Kumlov for a barbershop, we decided that barbers don’t exist in Eastern Europe. So, Marc decided to shave his head since his hair, which was now maybe an inch long, was, in his words, out of control and mangy. I used a pair of small medial scissors, maybe a half inch in length, to cut the majority of the hair before Marc jumped into the shower and used a razor. I cleaned it up a bit when he got out of the shower. He is now completely bald and as his brother Joel said, “It looks like he’s getting photographed prior to being sent into his own padded little room.” Check out the mug shots!

Must Love Dogs: The people in the Czech Republic definitely love their dogs. It is completely normal to see dogs lounging around restaurants and cafes, riding metros and buses, and enjoying the luxuries of a hotel with their owners. All of the businesses are very pet friendly. The most common breed is probably dachshunds—which my family is very fond of.