Banjo jamboree, caslav, czech republic

[Christopher Standridge]

Hey gang, I thought I would post a few shots from my month in Europe. #My bluegrass band and I played 16 shows in 14 different villages in 6 different countries. #It was an amazing experience to say the least. #We mostly stayed in the homes of local musicians or maybe bed and breakfast like places. #Everyone we met treated us with such kindness and warmth. #My favorite places were in Bavaria, Germany and all of the Czech Republic. #Holland was kind of cool for a #hobbit country. #Legal pot in the north country but no beer in the gas stations, down south in Belgium and man oh man, the beer is damn near Heavenly!!!
The 4 days in Paris was interesting to say the least. #The food was amazing, and stick with the wine, because the beer...
Of the Czech Republic, the Nashville of Europe:
John from Obing in Bavaria, 100km east of Munich, said it best and I quote, "the Czechs have MUSIC flowing from their FINGERS...FROM BIRTH." #And no kidding, the whole country was full of musicians and builders. #The Czech Republic has more than 500 bluegrass bands, not to mention all the other bands, jazz, R&R, etc...
We headlined at the 35th annual Banjo Jamboree, where the best 25 of the Czech bands were picked to play, and talking about feeling the pressure, all these bands could flat out play!
First pic is proof that we actually played...

[Christopher Standridge]

Hear is a pic of a jam we found ourselves in. After being a soviet block until '89, only the young could speak very good English. They liked to sing bluegrass standards in English even if they couldn't speak it. Some things were lost in translation however, when referring to the key of Bflat, they mean just straight B. Heads up on that one, it takes a little bit to catch on to that especially after you have been drinking on the Plum Brandy they might offer you, which is really MOONSHINE!

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is a day shot of the banjo gathering. #This is the location of the Guiness World Record for most banjos on stage at one time, I think 65 or something. #They only had a mesely 37 this year. #I was thinking that I could maybe make the world a better place if only I had the proper explosives.

[Christopher Standridge]

I got to meet and hang out with over 10 builders here at this fest alone. #I was not fortunate to get pics of everyone, but here are a few.
My buddy from Wintergrass, Jaroslav Prucha along with my wife, Laura and me.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is his little stand/shed to keep the rain off his banjo display. It was a beautiful day but intermitten with these 10 minute cloud-bursts. Jaroslav told me I could come by his shop when they started work at 4am, I think he was joking, but this pic makes me think not.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is where I was introduced to Holoubek, He had a cozy little spot in the audience. #He offered to brew us some tea. #The gentleman in the cowboy hat and camoflaged jacket was named Peter. #He spoke very good English and offered to introduce me to the builders at the festival. #I regret that I was unable to get his contact information for he was an amazing person who helped me quite a lot to further understand the region's history, geography, culture, and language. #If you read this Peter, or anyone else who knows how to contact him, please get in touch with me!

[Christopher Standridge]

Andy Holoubek. #A very interesting fellow and a great builder. #I met his wife and children as well.

[Christopher Standridge]

Great mandolins and guitars!

[Christopher Standridge]

Here are a few with my favorite Czech mando builder and player Eda Kristufek, builder of the Krishot mandolin. Here is one of his that was Ash backed and spruce topped and sounded like melted butter...

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is my band mate, Marshall, trying out Ed's F5. Mahoganey backed and cedar topped, but it sounded like a bluegrass workhorse!!

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is Ed between Marshall and me. What a humble and modest fellow. Everyone agrees that he builds an amazing instrument, yet he is the type of person that would never boast about his work. I would say things like, "nice recurve" and "tight scroll" and he would only reply, "yes, I like it too. That is why I built it that way". That A5 was a keeper for sure.

[Christopher Standridge]

One more of Ed and Zuska, a the mandolin player for Peter Ruby's Bells and Whistles band, giving a cople of Carvers the inspection. #She was quite the player and she called out "Southern Flavor" when we began to pick. #With Ed's 30 years of building experience, I took to heart his gentle but guiding criticizm. #Also Ed's brother, Pavel I met but didn't photograph. #Pavel is also a builder primarily focusing on banjos. #Earl Scruggs had him build one for him.

[Christopher Standridge]

I also met Capek, Janish, Furch, and a few more I can't remember...
This is Thomas Dvorak, the mando player for the amazing Czech band Relief, pronouced Rel-ee-ev. #He plays a very nice and early Holoubek.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is his band, who played before us but should have headlined. #Relief is the Czech equivalent of Doyle and Quicksilver. #They were amazing with wonderful originals and incredible harmonies. #Jiri is the guitar player and brother of Andy Holoubek. Quite loyally, he also plays Holoubek guitars.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is also a region of the Czech Republic called Moravia. #We played at the Hotel Ogar with another local band from Brno, Poutnici. # #We played half our gigs with other bands and a common European thing I guess is to play the last set together. #Everytime we shared the bill we would get to play together which was a lot of fun. #We also usually ate together and DRANK together. #German beer is very good and they drink it out of liter pint glasses. #Here also in the Czech Republic, the beer is very good and the food and also the aforementioned Plum Brandy. #Poutnici are also well known in the area. #We were presented with a bottle of the plum brandy, also known as Slivovitz, and honorary citizenship of the Wallachian Kingdom for our performance. #When we got home, I recognized the faces of our friends from Poutnici right on the bottle label! #You have to be pretty good to be endorsed by a plum distiller! #Oh by the way, here is a link to the Wallachian Kingdom (http://www.vitejte.cz/objekt.php?oid=5719&j=en)

[Christopher Standridge]

Here while we were playing together with Poutnici. #I was playing a break and I look down and see the half of the pick I got from Mikey, the Taterbug Special, lying between my feet. #I have broke more strings in my life that I care to admit, but that is the first time for breaking a $20 pick. #I will be sure and let Dave at Red Bear know asap.
Oh BTW, that mandolin Jon is holding is a very tasty Krishot, traditionaly built with spruce and maple.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here in my hat is Lilly Pavlak. #She was our booking agent and responsible for all our rooms and boarding. #She was the sweetest lady and soon I began calling her "Mom". #She is a big mover and shaker in the Euro bluegrass world. #Some of you might recognize her from IBMA. #When she comes out in September, I promised to escort her up to Vancouver, BC and take her fishing. #We will see you soon Lilly!

[Christopher Standridge]

Again with Lilly...

[Christopher Standridge]

This one is of John Gonzalves, the owner of a wonderful place we played in Bavaria. #The Building we slept in was built in the 1200's. #The Beergarden that we played in was a wonderful little place and John had hosted to the likes of Doyle Lawson, Bill Kieth, Byron Berline, and others. #He was a hoot and when he was off work, break out the steins! Here is a link to John and Rita's Kleinkunstbuhne (http://www.obing.de/john)

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is John performing his art above a birch fired grill. #The food here is amazing, sausages, steaks, pork shoulders, turkey all in crazy marrinade. #Farmers salad of grated carrots and cucumbers, marinated cucumbers and onions in buttermilk sauce, potato salad with cabbage, and oh yeah kraut salad, all so tasty.

[Christopher Standridge]

Thanks JLP, it was an amazing trip. Let me know if you want to see anything specific. We have over 2500 photos from the trip.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is one of Brugge, Belgium. By far my favorite spot in all of Holland. This was a little midevil castle town full on with a moat surrounding it.

[Christopher Standridge]

Also in Brugge, nice little hobbit door. I know there are hobbits around here, I know it.
The truffles and mussles were great here. So were the chocolates, and so was the...

[Christopher Standridge]

Beer!!
At the Half Moon Brewery in Brugge. Brugge Zot, yummmmm!

[Christopher Standridge]

Performing in these old, sometimes 8 or 900 yr old castles was truly a thrill.

[Christopher Standridge]

And sure enough, Look in the audience...
Hobbits!!!

[Bret Roberts]

Really great trip! Thanks for sharing. I would have loved to have know you were traveling around. Next time try to make it to Luxembourg (to tell the truth, it’s so small you could have driven through it and not noticed)

BTW, you might want to change this comment.
“Here is one of Brugge, Belgium. By far my favorite spot in all of Holland.” http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Thanks again for you photos.

[Christopher Standridge]

Thanks Bman, I did want to go to Luxembourg. #And no I don't think I want to change that comment. #Belgium only claimed independence from the Netherlands in 1839. #The people I spoke to in Brugge considered Belgium very much Holland. #They both have wooden shoes, Blue and white porcelan, and windmills. #Ok, so I should technically call it my favorite spot in all of Benelux, although I didn't visit Luxemburg! See my quandry?

[Christopher Standridge]

While I am thinking of the wonderful breakfast that I might cook for me and the family this morning, mmm could be preservative-free sausage or meat-free sausage, maybe bacon the same way, but it will be warm! How could I have my eggs? Fried hard or easy over, maybe scrambled or dip bread in them and call it French Toast. Well in Europe this next pic was an average breakfast for us in all the countries. Cold cuts and cheese with bread. Granted they were ussually very good cold cuts and cheese, it just got rather old. Sometimes the cold cuts were proscutio or smoked and uncured raw bacon, sometimes the meat was bologna or mybe some mystery spam-like meat with gellatin bits, yumm. But never eggs, only once in someone's home did this lady go out of her way to make us fried eggs. And even though they were the saltiest I have ever had, they were mighty fine!

[Christopher Standridge]

One more, Now I have stated that this was an amazing trip, but it did have it's trying times. #We were delayed in Newark and missed our flight to Paris, which caused us to stay in Secaucus NJ one night and finally make a flight to Brussles the next day and on to Zurich in time to make our firts show in Switzerland. #Our luggage however landed in Paris, so we performed in 3 day old clothes that stood up by themselves after we took them off. #We were forced to rent two cars instead of the one van like we had planned, but that really worked out for the better in the long run. #Band dynamics get pretty funky after a few weeks on the road and it was nice to be able to spend some time away from those that rubbed you the wrong way. #The next pic demonstrates that even while not in the same car, we just couldn't keep our mind of that one person.

[Lane Pryce]

Chris I had to get my post out of your pictures. Man that must be some killer brew over there --- made your eyes red as pomegranite (sp) juice. The European product names are different --- eh? Thanks for sharing your photos. Lp

[mandopete]

Wonderful pictures Chris - love the Wintergrass tee shirt! Looks like you had a great adventure.

[red7flag]

Thank you for the great pictures and travelogue.
Tony

[mandomick]

Nice post and great pics. Thanks!

[Christopher Standridge]

You are quite welcome guys, it is my pleasure to share. #Here is one of a band that we played both of our Switzerland festivals with. #Edu, his girlfriend, Joost, bass player I can't remember name, Jergen, and Jon..
4 Wheel Drive. #A very hot traditional bluegrass band. #They were from Belgium, Holland , and Germany.

[Christopher Standridge]

In performance...

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is another one of thos all bands jams at the end of our Col de Roches gig. That is Edu with a fine UK hand-built mandolin. Next to him in the middle is Terry Lecocq from the France based band Blue Railroad Train. He is playing a nice example of a Montanna built Flatiron.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is the last set jam at a place in Kanton Thurgau, Switzerland, called the Bonanza Saloon. #That is Helmut Limbeck on his Gibson and his friends helping us out here.

[Christopher Standridge]

After that show members of Helmut's band, Norbert and his wife, put us up at their place. Here is Lodi, fiddler for the band, and Norbert's wife and guitar player.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is Norbert, a hobby luthier and a hellava flatpicker. His guitar was a cannon! Next to him is Lodi's wife who played bass for their band.

[Timbofood]

Great pictures! Looks like you had a dandy time, thanks for sharing How'd you get the gig?

[Christopher Standridge]

One more and I will give it a rest for a while. #This one is a lesson for those who are afraid of cultural or language barriers while travelling.
My wife was able to meet me 1/2 way through my trip and we had a great time. #My boys however stayed behind with grandparents. #That was very hard, I had never been seperated from them for more than a few days before this trip. #I love kids and missed mine very much. #

[Christopher Standridge]

This girl, Norbert's and his wife's 7 yr old daughter Livia, must have picked up on me needing some kid interaction. #We soon became pals. #She spoke beautiful High German, but not one vowell of English. #I had been practicing how to order a beer in German and maybe how to say "I'm sorry" but was nowhere near the conversation ability. #Livia didn't care. #She prattled her beautiful language at me for over 3 hours that morning. #She told me of her kitty, who was sick once and it worried her greatly. #She told me of the wildflowers in her yard and how to say butterfly in German. #She told me of her first baptism and that her granddad had teased her that the priest would use a toilet scrubber to baptise her with. #All in her language. #She drew me a nice self-portrait that I will always hold dear.

[Christopher Standridge]

here is the pic of Livia

[Lee]

Best thread in a long time. Thanks for sharing. Music does make the world a cozier place for all of us.
The smiles on your last photo are priceless!

[Bret Roberts]

Rovinmando,

No problem here with that. I have friends that that sit on both sides of that fence.
Thanks again for the photos. What a great trip you had.

[hendrix2]

Thanks Bman, I did want to go to Luxembourg. #And no I don't think I want to change that comment. #Belgium only claimed independence from the Netherlands in 1839. #The people I spoke to in Brugge considered Belgium very much Holland. #They both have wooden shoes, Blue and white porcelan, and windmills. #Ok, so I should technically call it my favorite spot in all of Benelux, although I didn't visit Luxemburg! #See my quandry?
Being from Belgium myself I can say that we certainly not consider Belgium as Holland. And I think you spoke some very weird people in Brugge if they said that http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Mark Walker]

Rovinmando - thanks for sharing.

I particularly liked the third picture in the thread (I like them ALL) - with the guy 'playing' the *anjo case! #That's how I should be photographed playing my instruments - with them all locked INSIDE their cases! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Great thread; great photos and stories. # Sounds like a trip of a lifetime!

[Christopher Standridge]

All right guys, point taken about Belgium not being in Holland. I was actually not wanting to be in the Netherlands anymore, especially when I tried to find a beer in a store after 6pm. On our way south to Belgium we went through Norden Nederlands and made it to this spot on the North Sea just north of the Hague and stayed there a night. My fiddler is also a birder and we found over 70 new bird species for him.

[Christopher Standridge]

I liked all of Holland really. Amsterdam was rather a dirty little city and I was quite ready when it was time for us to move on. Here is a view from the North Sea.

[mandopete]

Chris - this thread is like a breath of fresh air here on the ol' Cafe, thanks again.

[Christopher Standridge]

We were 4 days in the Netherlands and it was a very confusing country to drive around in. I was beginning to think we would never escape Hobbit country and began to worry if I would fall in the same predicament that ol Rip Van Winkle did. You can imagine my surprise when they turned on the lights in the Scare-orcs.

[Christopher Standridge]

Thanks Pete, I can't wait to tell you some more interesting band dynamic stories in person. No Darrington for me this year, but how 'bout Stevenson??
I know there is little mandolin content in these recent ones, I just can't stop. Let me know when I have worn out my welcome.
We saw lots of crazy art work, sometimes around lakes, in parks, out in the middle of nowhere, and here on the coast.
Here is one that should have the caption of "Don't let your reach exceed your grasp" or something like that...

[mandopete]

Thanks Pete, I can't wait to tell you some more interesting band dynamic stories in person. #No Darrington for me this year, but how 'bout Stevenson??
We are playing Stevenson this year - see you there!

[pickinNgrinnin]

This is one of the coolest cafe threads I've seen in a long time. Thanks for posting your pictures. What an experience that must have been.

It's interesting that Bluegrasss music is so popular in the Czech Republic. To the east, in Slovakia, Bluegrass music is also popular but perhaps not at the same level as in the Czech Republic. Music sure has a way to bring people from other cultures together. Looks like the hospitality there was top notch.

Very cool http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Milan Christi]

Great thread! It's so cool to hear about someone's positive experience in Europe. I just wish I would have known you were in the area - those gigs looked like a ton of fun - and I must admit I'm lax at checking into the bluegrass scene over here (day job, ugh!). I had to laugh at your breakfast experience - sooooooo typical for Americans who just land here - I had to chuckle because I thought the same thing when I first got here. But believe me, once you get used to it you'll never go back to the greasy, fried, overcooked, cholesterol-laden stuff.
If you're coming back next year please give me a heads-up - I'm within a day's drive to most of those venues.
Thanks for posting!!

[mrmando]

Chris, what fantastic photos. So glad you were able to make this trip.

[french guy]

rovinmando, so sorry you don't stay one month more because here in France , not far from Geneve in La Roche sur Foron , 3,4,5 of august , will be the scene for the EWOB
Europeen World of Bluegrass and many of the persons you have pictured on your thread was there last year and will be there next august . Musicians of CZ are very nice , very respectfull of the tradition , I love them .
And I'm very excited to see them again this year . We will open a bottle of vine and drink for you.
Jean

[Cary Fagan]

Thanks, for the great thread. As someone interested in Czech bluegrass, I appreciated it.

[Fliss]

I'd like to add my thanks too - I've really enjoyed reading this thread. Great photos, and it looks like you met a great bunch of people.

Fliss

[Christopher Standridge]

Pete, Great I will see you then!
MC, The cheese was wonderful, all over! Oh and I forgot to add, the coffee too was exquisite. Truly one cup limit. They know how to do it right. We found it hard to find anyone with "to go" cups, though. Such an American concept of excess and waste I suppose. And I really didn't like having to pay to use the toilet, but when you gotta go...
Jean, I will be at scout camp with my two boys that weekend or I would be seriously tempted. I proudly boast a EWOB sticker on my mando case now. That sounds like a lot of fun and I know that the wine will be tres bon!
Thanks everyone else for the kind remarks. When I have more time I might post a few more.

[JEStanek]

Please do. This has been a fun one to read.

Jamie

[Laura Leder]

Hey, Chris,
It was so much fun to read about your experience and see such great photos! I think all of us would like to go with you next time! It looks like it was a blast.
Thanks for sharing everything!
Laura http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Christopher Standridge]

My friend Lilly sent me some more pics from our trip, here is one of Rosta Capek at the Banjo Jamboree.

[Peter Hackman]

Hear is a pic of a jam we found ourselves in. #After being a soviet block until '89, only the young could speak very good English. #They liked to sing bluegrass standards in English even if they couldn't speak it. #Some things were lost in translation however, when referring to the key of Bflat, they mean just straight B. #Heads up on that one, it takes a little bit to catch on to that especially after you have been drinking on the Plum Brandy they might offer you, which is really MOONSHINE!
Hm, this is a little confusing.

English B flat is, in many European languages
(e.g., Swedish, Danish, German) B.
English B is, in these languages, H.

(I've heard that many Swedish educators have adopted the English
terminology; B flat translates to "Bess".

I'm pretty sure the Czechs follow the German/Scandinavian terminology.


(In French, B is si, B flat is si bémol, in Italian, si and si bemolle resp.)

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is a funny one. I don't know if you guys have ever played while waiting in line at the airline counter desk, well I can now say I have. This was after we got delayed flying out of Newark. A LOT of people were delayed and we lined up after about a hundred people. The line didn't seem to move much and as our banjo player is a stickler for harmonies and arrangements, he saw an oppurtunity to practice. The funny thing is at one point this lady expedited about 30 people in front and behind us to shorter lines. I quipped "What gives, we have been waiting longer than some of these people". She replied that since people were enjoying our music and not complaining about the long line, she would just keep us where we were and let us play a little longer. I think we deserved some drink coupons for that one.

[Christopher Standridge]

Sweet Pete,
I will have to agree that it was a little more than a little confusing. I only know that when they called out Bflat, they really intended B major. I am not sure about the Sweedish, as I didn't make it up there. In the Czech Republic however, be warned.

[Christopher Standridge]

These little guys were everywhere. #I am used to porcupines from when I lived in Alaska, but these guys were a lot cuter. #This hedgehog was only the size of a kid sized soccer ball, but he was not very skittish. #He hung out for a while.

[Christopher Standridge]

This is a picture of John and Rita Gonzalves' place in Obing, Bavaria. The hotel is in the background. In the foreground is part of the Beergarten. I like the idea of a beer garden and unlike here in the states, these aren't just for drunks. The beer garden we played in was a family environment.

[Christopher Standridge]

This 9 yr old from the audience of the beer garden used our camera to take pics of us. Looking at these pictures now I know why so many people liked us. We look like clowns...

[Christopher Standridge]

John and Rita were very gracious hosts that truly loved bluegrass music. There were a couple of frames hanging up that showed pictures of other blugrass acts that had came to play for them over the years. I was happy to see some Americans on one such frame...

[MDW]

Great story and pics. Thanks so much for sharing. You were so good to identify nearly everyone you came in contact with. Now maybe I missed something but I don't recall you giving your name and the name of your band. Need to give yourselves a little more credit!

[Christopher Standridge]

The second night we played here. John didn't have to work the grill and he was able to enjoy our performance(break out the steins). Next door there was some folk activity going on while we were playing. During a set break I stuck my nose in to check it out. I found Leedenhosen dancers, the young being taught by the elders. It was a very cool scene and I was invited to join in. Unfortunately we played later than they were dancing, so maybe next time.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is a picture of two guys at our Obing performances. I think they illustrate the extreme range of lifestyles that one would find in the area. Traditional leedenhosen on the left and grungy heavy metal on the right.

[Christopher Standridge]

MDW, I appereciate your interest in me and my band. I have a hard time at self promoting and that wasn't the point of this thread. I truly just wanted to share some of my experiences with fellow mandolin players.
My name is Chris Standridge, from Eastern Tennessee but now live in Southwestern Washington state. I am the luthier building under the Carver Mandolin Company name. I had been playing with these guys for about 3 years under the name Columbia Cutups, but unfortunately when our band leader started setting this tour up in March he decided that we should change our name. We were known shortly as Larry Wilder and the Stumptown Stars for about 2 months before the tour and also on the tour. Due to band dynamics and pisspoor leadership/tyrany the fiddler, bass player and myself resigned as soon as we hit American soil. I had a great time and now looking to start another group with our fiddler and bass player that can retrace our European footsteps and also see other places.
Thanks for asking.

[mrmando]

You waited till you got home to resign -- smart fella! Last time I was in Europe with a band I resigned in the middle of the tour! (Actually, I was forced out, but the feelings were mutual.) That was awkward, to say the least.

[Christopher Standridge]

Martin,
That would have been uncomfortable for sure. It was all that we could do not to kill him there. We took a lot of notes on allthe comical things that happened to us and the antics that the band did, we came up with a working title for the book soon to come out: "How to Dispose of a Body in Europe" So what did you do after you left the band? Go spend the rest of your time in a coffee shop or something?

[Mish]

All I can say is WOW. Slovakia is the place of my heritage and now I have a new mission.

[mrmando]

Hi Chris -- my wife was with me; another band member was booted at the same time along with her 7-month-old son. Basically, we spent the last week of the tour as a cheap vacation. We hung in Athens while the rest of the band went to Thessaloniki. We had free accommodations for part of that time, so it wasn't too bad. Saw some local sights; spent a day at the beach and swam in the Aegean Sea; took a day trip to the island of Hydra. It was much more fun than we would've had if we'd stuck with the band. You can read the whole sordid tale at http://mybigfatgreekvacation.blogspot.com (http://mybigfatgreekvacation.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_archive.html) if you have several hours with nothing better to do.

[Christopher Standridge]

Martin,
Thanks for that link I will indeed check it out. #I have always wanted to go to Greece, I am glad that it worked out for you.
Here is a picture of the radio station we played at in Ulm. #As usual The fiddler, bassist, and myself were there on time and had to go on without our band leader/banjoist and guitarist. #They seemed to have a fard time making it to certain venues. #I enjoyed driving the Autobahn and liked the no speed limit. #It made our leader very nervous though, it could have had something to do with the fact that he liked to drive about 80 km/hr in the fast lane(left lane) with his left blinker on.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is one of the engineers. #Fredrich on the right interviewed us in English and then translated both his questions and our answers to German. #Hagrid, I mean Herbert Schildhammer is on the left. #He hung out with us at our performance later that night and then he escorted our wayward band leader and guitarist all the way to our next gig in Jihavla, CZ. He and his friend Eberhard missed the first of the Banjo Jamboree just to do this. The European people we met bent over backwards helping us. It was kind of embarrasing sometimes, and I often felt our leader was being an Ugly American and took advantage of their hospitality.

[Christopher Standridge]

Unfortunately, I do not have too many from our stay in Munich. #I think the battery was dead for that time. #We played the oldest country and bluegrass club in the area, called the Rattlesnake Saloon owned by a guy named Bruno. #The soundguy Fabian took a liking to us and offered to show us around the next day. #What a great guy, he showed us all the great spots in Munich. #He found out that I was catholic and loved old churches and made sure to show us the great Fraulauen Church. #We ate traditional bavarian food of Svinesauxen and drank Salvator at the oldest restraunt in Munich. #He told us the night before that Americans couldn't keep up with the Germans when it came to drinking. #Well that sounded like a challenge to me and Marshall. #This is a picture of us with Fabian and the cook from the Rattlesnake. #Fabian is in the foreground. #I am proud to say that Fabian and I stayed up and talked after we came to a truce and put the steins away. #Unfortunately I returned to our room to find a mess I had to clean up, courtesey of Marshall.

[Christopher Standridge]

I mentioned the art around Europe. #We did see some amazing stuff. #My wife and I hung out in Paris for 4 days before returning home and saw the Louvre, Musee d' Orsee, Notre Damme, and St Chappel. #We also visited the Anne Frank house, but one of the most emotional place for me that we visited was Dauchau. #The concentration camp just north of Munich was a very chilling and gripping glimpse of humanity or the lack thereof. #Here is a piece of art outside one of the barracks.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is one of us kidding around waiting for my wife to fly in to the Prague airport. We had to drive all the way from Ulm that morning to get to the airport by 10am when she was to fly in. I knew that I would be in the doghouse if I wasn't there to pick her on time. After practicing my Czech with a security guard at the Prague Airforce base, I was able to locate the commercial airport and made it by 11am. Luckily she was delayed and didn't fly in til 1pm, which gave us plenty of time to explore the airport, figure out how to pay for parking, exchange some euros to koronas, have some exspensive airport sushi and a couple of Pilsner Urquells, and generally clown around.

[mrmando]

If you went to Musee D'Orsay, you'll appreciate this (http://www.stillion.com/images/Paris_day_3/Disc3/MVC-006F.JPG).

[Christopher Standridge]

Yay!!!
She made it! Just in time too, I swear the most beautiful women I found in all of Europe were in Prague. Not the superthin anorexic super models of Paris, but real beautiful women with real curves.
Laura had nothing to worry about of course, she is all the woman I will ever need!

[Christopher Standridge]

Martin,
Thanks for posting that as soon as I find my picture of that guy, I will post him on here. Do you know the artist of that one? That museum had some cool stuff but also some kooky stuff. The Picasso/Cezanne exhibit was there while we went. WOW!
In relation to the guy you linked to, I found this one at the Czech border. Not as refined but I think it gives us a little perspective...

[mrmando]

Chris -- it's the Florentine Singer by Dubois.

[James P]

Welcome home Chris. Great thread. Thanks for the pictures.

[Christopher Standridge]

While we are doing statues. #This badmambajamba is a statue of Jan Zizka. #This is in Cazlav, Czech Republic. #Czech his mace out and that ####### sword, and his eye-patch. #There was a fellow that predates Martin Luther and spread protestant ideas around the region named Jan Huss. #Jan Huss was invited to Switzerland by the Holy Roman Empire to go on trial for his rebelious ways. #He went, was stuck in prison, and then burned at the stake. #This upset the Czech people and they wanted to do something about it but were only farmers and no match to the army of the Empire. #This man rallied the farmers and taught them how to use their scythes to chop off soldiers' heads and showed them how to use their plow carts and wagons as seige weapons. #For about 20 years this guy led the Hussite Wars and fought back the Holy Roman Empire.

[Christopher Standridge]

More breakfast, this in Holland.

[Christopher Standridge]

This is Luke Lamers, he was the promoter for the show in Vognum, Holland. He also is a very busy individual who is always attending IBMA and was very much into bluegrass.

[Christopher Standridge]

Did I mention how much gas was in Europe? That is the price in Euros, which are worth about $1.30. I think that it reflect how much gas really costs, compared to the goverment subsidised price we pay here in the states. Honestly I think it would be a good thing if we were to pay more of a realistic price for gas. I think that it would make alternative fuels more competitive and worth while researching. But hey mo mando content, so I will shut up.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here are the people that housed us while we stayed in Holland. From r to l, Hank and Ill and Cor. They were a lot of fun. Hank only learned technical english for his job as a mechanic, but he was one of the best communicators that I met on the trip. Amazing use of gestures. Cor e-mailed me and told me he found my bank-card in his dryer and sent it to me in the mail. Thanks Cor.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is us ordering from the menu at our first coffee shop that we visited in Amsterdam. The Paradox Cafe was the most gezeling(cozy) coffee shop that we visited while there. You must visit it if you go to Anne Frank's house for they are only a couple of blocks away from each other.

[Christopher Standridge]

Here is Greg, our fiddler, who abstained as we enjoyed the cafe's wonderful products. He grumbled something about #&%! goverment $#@#% drug #$!* testing.

[Christopher Standridge]

All of Europe was very bike friendly, probably has something to do with the price of gas. I did not see one helmet either. This parking garage was in Amsterdam.

[Christopher Standridge]

This is a pub we found that served over 500 different beers. Amsterdam was full of interesting people and the Friday we were there was right before the Gay Pride Parade on Saturday. We wore our hats through town and this brought us a variety of different responses from people. We were actually cased and stalked by an organized group of 3 pickpockets. They came very close to us before my "spider sense" allerted me to the threatening situation. We were also invited by a group of guys to drink with them, they said "Hayy Cowboys" Some of the more gulliable members of my band wanted to take them up on it, but I warned them they don't JUST want to drink with you. Here in this pub, I went in to order our beers and a group of big, tough, shaved headed and pierced men confronted me. They laughed at me and one said "How-deh" in a european accent. I had my Munich shirt on and I think that they thought I was German. I replied in my best hick accent, "HOWDY". They weren't expecting that and their mouths gaped open and they quickly turned back to their beers. I ordered my beers from the bartender by pointing to 5 tap handles down a line and said, "I would like one of these, one of these, one of thes, one of these, and one of these." We were then 1/100th of the way of sampling them all.

[Christopher Standridge]

One more and I will quit for a while. This is what happens when you have been on the road touring for 3 weeks, not getting enough sleep, drinking a lot of really good beer, and then sampling some of the best that Amsterdam has to offer. I call this cultural overload...

[mrmando]

Here is Greg, our fiddler, who abstained as we enjoyed the cafe's wonderful products. He grumbled something about #&%! goverment $#@#% drug #$!* testing.
Eh ... were you sampling products other than coffee? Trying to put the grass back in bluegrass?

My friend Jane gave me some of that Slovakian plum liquor once...

[Gibson A5]

Wow, thanks for sharing. Looks like you packed more than a lifetime of fun into one trip. Lots of pictures with beer in them, I'd love to have just went with you for the beer tasting. You've done something the rest of us could only dream about. Good for you! Good luck with future trips, keep the pictures comming, and continue to have fun!
Bill P.

[MandoSquirrel]

Nice sig, Bill! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Spruce]

Very entertaining thread about some places I've always wanted to visit, Chris.....
Thanks!

[collings4ever]

Look at the third image from the top. Is the kneeling guy (third from left) playing a banjo case?

[Christopher Standridge]

Yep, I think it is even Pavel Krusteff.

[recklessmando]

Most wonderful thread, thank you so much. I have to come back later when I can concentrate though. I'm trying to look at the pictures but my brain is singing "A banjo jamboree five thousand miles away, life is SOOOO good". http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif