Vašek

Remember Vašek?

Vašek Vacek has been our Czech guardian angel, a self-appointed guide with a mission to soften our landing and enrich our experience in Prague.

Karl met Vašek (pronounced “VAH-shehk”) through Milan Vlach. When Karl came to Prague in January 2010 to secure the details of his contract, Milan was traveling out of the country. He asked Vašek, his friend and colleague, to be a local contact for the visitor and to look after him.

Boy did he.

Vašek treated Karl to dinner, arranged concert tickets, met him for lunch, and then chauffeured Karl to the airport at 4:30am to catch his flight home.

[As an addedum to the question, "How did Karl land this gig?" -- Vašek was in fact an unknown link in the chain that got us here in the first place. As far as Karl knew back in October 2009, Milan Vlach had put him directly in touch with Josef Seják (as described in this post). In fact, Milan had talked to his old friend Vašek, who in turn was the connection to Seják. Vašek is a chemist who has been involved in various projects, including the research team Seják put together for the book on ecosystem function in the Czech Republic.]

It was Vašek who helped us land our apartment. He looked at four places for us, noting apartments' size, pros and cons of neighborhoods, upkeep of flats and their buildings, age of appliances, proximity to public transportation (from a perspective of both convenience as well as noise).

And then he'd write us with extensive reviews. Some examples of his notes:

A preview, with concerns about an apartment's location ~

Please arrange the viewing for me on Monday. In advance, (looking at the address) I'm a little afraid that it's on a low floor and very active street (and from the point of view of emissions from the tunnel, probably one of the worst locations in Prague -- that intersection is always packed) ...

A review ~

It's beautiful, as in a palace -- but paradoxically it's just that nobility that is the issue. The flooring is 100-year-old parquet (too precious floor) from very rare (no longer obtainable) oak (Pannonian Oak) and the care regime is therefore very strict. It would mean slavery for you two and the boys.

And in response to Karl's effusive gratitude to him for all of this legwork, he wrote ~

Of course, I'm wonderful. But you and Kate are wonderful to a much greater extent – and I am thrilled with your energy and vitality!

Keep in mind, I hadn't met him at this point.

Vašek's emails virtually buzzed with life on the screen. His enthusiasm for everything was refreshing and infectious.

All this, and before we'd even arrived in Prague.

Vašek greeted us at Ruzyně Airport in August, loaded us into his odd-looking but spacious car, and drove us to our apartment after a brief stop at the castle square to drink in our first view of the city. Single-handedly he hauled two of our 22-kilo/50-pound bags up to the fifth floor flat in one journey.

He refused to let me carry anything, declaring “women are not meant for manual labor but are to inspire us to greatness.” (This really is how he talks.) After our 19-hour journey, I was happy to kick Betty Friedan to the curb and ascend the stairs bag-free.

As soon as our family and luggage were secure in the apartment, Vašek took off for Billa. He returned 30 minutes later with an enormous box of supplies and niceties: meat, vegetables, fruit, eggs, milk, flowers, beer, ice cream, bread, cheese, müsli, cream, wine, toilet paper, tissues, and even more. It was a stunning array of provisions and treats to ease our transition.

But wait, there's more! After he unpacked the box and stored the food, Vašek inspected our apartment. Did we have everything we needed? We thought so. But upon reviewing the bedding supply, he recoiled.

“No! This won't do!” Again, he was off.

He returned another 40 minutes later, this time arms overflowing with duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases, and a couple of pillows. He'd bought (Lord knows where at that hour) fitted sheets to go on the boys' beds. And he'd borrowed all the rest from his ex-wife.

“Jiřina lives nearby and is very much looking forward to hosting you for dinner soon!” he noted.

(It's a small country. Best to keep the peace with old acquaintances, no matter the relationship.)

Vašek is a force of nature. He's affable, energetic, and cheerful. And we are lucky he took us under his wing. He and Madeleine, his partner of 25 years, were our first friends here, our only friends for much of the fall actually. But if you're only going to have a couple of friends, these are the ones to have.

Karl and I have been out with them for meals and concerts. We've had them at our apartment for dinner. They've indulged the boys with attention. And we've spent time at their country home, Bída.

When we had cake for Garrett's birthday (the night before the actual event), they had to send their regrets. They were returning too late from Bída. Vašek, however, showed up the next evening, Garrett's actual birthday, with hugs for the boys as well as a recorder, a kid-sized guitar, and a remote-controlled backhoe toy.

In those first few weeks, as we plumbed the depths of Vašek's hospitality (he took me shopping at IKEA, brought us extra furniture for our apartment, supplied us with four bikes -- two for adults, two for children -- extras that he had on hand), I wondered: is this how everyone is here? are all Czechs so warm and welcoming and vivacious? Before the answer to that became clear (um … no), we connected with Edita, a harpsichordist friend of Karl's from his days in Plzeň. She met Vašek when Karl visited in January last year, and, as a musician, she landed on Vašek's list of potential concert-goers. Vašek buys Edita's CDs, praises her musical talent to the heavens, and texts whenever he and Madeleine are attending concerts he thinks she might enjoy, too.

“Vašek?” Edita said, with a smile. “He is an amazing creature.”

We have to agree.