Prague
In 1987 I was one of 10 blacksmiths selected no our national organization to study with a master smith in Prague, Cz.
We went in two different groups, so it was a very personal one on one experience.
I flew to Frankfort and took the train to Prague instead of flying. I had some time so I located two blacksmith brothers who were restoring the Great Screens for the Frankfurt cathedral. I spent 3 days with them and another 4 on my way home. These screens were restored every 100 years, so timing is all. I spent a day in the fire with them working on some small details. I can't even begin to explain the feelings this caused within me. And to know in this small way I was forever tied to these massive,beautiful,9th century pieces.
Onward to Prague.
This man had demonstrated at our national conference and decided that we American smiths had a fine grasp of technique, but severely lacked connection with our historical roots. He called this 30 day workshop "Art History for the architectural Blacksmith".
We would spend a day walking the streets of Prague studying first hand each of the art history periods. We started with Gothic. The following few days, we made appropriate tooling and forged a representative scroll,leaf,detail of that era. We hit them all from Gothic to contemporary.
We as a group became very close. Our discussions were deep. This was a time when Cz was nearing the time to off the yoke of Communism.
The journey was intense. I arrived in Prague a week early and was able to have another adventure that focused on my interest in military history, particularly the time of Frederic the Great and Maria Theresa. I got off the train and headed for the bus station. I found a schedule and figured out my destination,time and cost. As we rose out of the Moldau valley to the plain above I imagined the the sights sounds of an army of this era, in all their opulence dressed to kill, cuirasses glistening in the sun, the colors raised high flashing the Hapsburg eagle to one and all.
As night approached reality began to set in. I wondered if it were " legal" in a communist country to sleep under a tree at night. To say the least, it "were" high adventure at its best. I learned a lot about people,communism,and the coin of the realm. I stayed with an older couple and we did a personal tour of the battlefield. I also ended up being the main attraction at an English class. These people were learning English via the BBC and wanted me to just talk so they could learn "real" American colloquialism.
At the end of my workshop I headed east and spent a week hocking in the High Tatra Mountains.
The journey, other than the workshop was rather intense as I had no "official" permission from the Communist government. I found out later it would have been much easier if I had, but not near the experience.
what's your greatest adventure? details if you please.