A black, teenage tomcat joined us for lunch today on the grounds of the Okoř castle ruins. He didn’t like any of the vegetables or fruit I offered him. I knew he wouldn’t, but the kureci (chicken) was for our sandwiches. I relented and gave him a couple of slices, which he munched on appreciatively next to me on the picnic bench while I prepared the rest of our food.
We brought our lunch kit with us; a heavy plastic, ripstop-style zippered case with a small cutting board, a full knife, wooden butter spreading tool, vegetable peeler, salt & pepper containers and a tea towel. It accompanies us on our day trips, facilitating a fresh made, inexpensive lunch.
We enjoyed chicken sandwiches quartered into little triangles, slices of cucumber and carrot, whole strawberries, an apple and some brownies given to us last night by friends we had over for pizza night. They gave us the idea to visit Hrad (Castle) Okoř as well.
Unfortunately the castle was not open. Since its New Year’s Eve, we weren’t surprised. Still, we enjoyed seeing the outside structure.
According to Wikipedia, it was first built in 1228, then modified a hundred years later to be more of a Gothic style. It was remodeled again in the 16th century and converted into a Renaissance-styled residency. During the Thirty Years’ War it was damaged and restored. From there it was owned by Jesuit priests and then finally abandoned in the late 1700′s.
Now it lies in ruins.
Still, getting out of town (thanks to our pastor lending us his car during the Christmas holiday) was good. It was cold, but the fresh lunch and the tomcat friendliness made it worth it.
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