Slovak Fun

The weather was certainly steamy, but the company was exceptionally friendly at today's SASW Slovak Picnic. The people who organized the event were surprised that we would travel such a distance to attend. We were welcomed with open arms, and every time I looked around, Marty was chatting with a newfound friend. 

We met all sorts of interesting Slovak characters, including the Slovak Ambassador, who seemed to be happy for the invite. My brother, Drew, joined the festivities, and we had a grand time sitting under a shady tree, feasting on fašírka (Slovak hamburgers) with potato salad, cabbage halušky, cucumber and onions medley, bread with bryndza spread, and yummy desserts including palacinky, nutrolls, and all kinds of pastries. Marty enjoyed some Slovak beer as well. 

Check out Lubos' website for some photos: http://www.slovakcooking.com/picnic/ By the way, Lubos has some great recipes and Slovak language tools on his website, if you are ever interested in learning more about Slovakia. 

I had some great genealogy chats with Slovaks who had roots close to my own, and met a woman whose father was born in Slanske Nove Mesto, the town where I was treated so well by my Takach relatives. As you can see by today's photo, Marty was quite taken with little Martin, the youngest Slovak at the party, at just about 4 months of age. It turns out that Martin's parents lived just as far from Fairfax as we do, only in the opposite direction! That, in combination with the heat, could explain little Martin's grim expression. We had a grand time and we have been invited to attend an event at the Slovak Embassy in December, in honor of Sv.Miklus (St. Nicholas). I think I'll mark my calendar!