Puhoi, nearly 150 Years Later
The sleepy little town is still there, along with the church, hall, and one Hotel, the school has closed and is now a museum, also the blacksmith and general store long gone. The remaining hotel has a collection of passed relics that the early settlers used, along with photos which tell a story of hardship and sweat, but also relates their freedom of persecution in the country which is now called Czech Republic, surviving two world wars and lots of suffering under communist rule.
Puhoi has become a getaway for city people and tourists alike, despite this it has remained very much a Bohemian settlement many of the old villas being turned into bed and breakfast motels or home stays. There are some lovely small specialty cheese factories, craft and historical buildings, and a museum housing some wonderful memories of early pioneers who moulded this bush clad hilly areas into profitable farmlands.
Music, singing and dancing is still around; it only needs a wedding or birthday to bring out the rhythm in the blood of today’s generation. The landing of the first pioneers is celebrated every 29th of June with a church service, and much festivities.
The old wooden church is still beautiful after many decades, with it’s stunning stained glass windows and lovely oil painting over the alter. Bohemian families can relate to stories about their great grand parents being christened, married and then buried from it.
A few years ago an American movie was made in Puhoi, lots of building frontages were built, landscaping done and it all looked so real. Once the movie was completed the town was returned to its original picturesque beauty.
Sadly a lot of the Bohemian generations have sold up and left the district but there are still enough of the bloodline to keep up traditions and pass on to their families. It will always be a special place to me having been born there and spent the first years of my life among these wonderful people.
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