Třebíč

Třebíč was a nice little town where I had my first adventures in communication. My guide book says that the train station has luggage storage, but I couldn't find it and the woman working the ticket desk spoke less English than I do Czech. So I trudged down to the info center, and there they told me to go to the bus station. Once again, I have trouble finding it, but I ask around and I think I've found it. I say think because they guy who seems to be in charge speaks even less English than at the train station and is using sign language that makes absolutely no sense to me. Well, my pack is kind of heavy, and I was beginning to come down with a cold, so there was no way I was going to haul that thing around all day. I persisted with this guy, and eventually, he leads me to a locked room, and it looks like he's pulling out a receipt book thing. So I pay him 30 crowns, and leave all my belongings with him. As I'm walking away, I think, "Hopefully I'll still have clothes at the end of the day."

Like every other town here, Třebíč (the i is made long and the č is like a ch, the ř is a sound unique to Czech, somewhere between a rolled r and a zh, so good luck with that one) has a cool square lined with shops. One had whole pheasants hanging outside for sale. However, the main attraction here is the nearly intact Jewish ghetto. It's difficult to tell from the picture above, but it is a crowded, tight little place. Really enlightening to see how the Jews were treated for so many years. As the city across the river spread out and prospered, the Jews were forced to stay here in tight quarters. With a peak population of 1500 Jews late in the 1800's, only 10 Třebíč Jews survived the Holocaust. This place was left pretty much as it was when the Jews were forced out, and now is a great source of education and remembrance.

This was a great stop on my way to Telč. At the end of that sightseeing, I went back to the bus station, showed my receipt, and got my luggage back. Good day.