Monday found our group splitting up to head in different directions. The majority of the group spent some time in the Centrum as well as driving into the villages.
Debbie, Randy and I, along with Slavo drove first to the small village of Ondavka where grandfather came from. The village is bankrupt and fairly deserted. We came across a man parked in the street and as we asked where Peter Kalina's house was he pointed to the house we were standing in front of. Sadly, the house is falling apart and we later learned has been unoccupied for the past 30 years. We asked if we could take a closer look and the man indicated that we could. What we found was unbelievable. It was like something out of Great Expectations. Everything was left in this house at the time Peter died. His offspring have also died so the house sadly, just sits there. As we carefully walked from room to room we saw icons hanging on the wall, perinas on the beds, clothing hanging in the wardrobe, a cookbook, utensils, etc. It was very sad to see this.
Ironically, Debbie had photographs of her parents' visit here in 1984. We realized the photos were taken in the same house. It was quite evident the family was well-to-do. But now the same house was abandoned two years later.
After meeting the former mayor and ensuing some humorous moments there (Debbie "watering" some plants with her vodka shots at 11:00 am) and then realizing there was a security camera directly overhead...some "special" male oriented posters in the mayor's office, etc. we then departed for Sobos to meet the last Dzubay family in the village of Sobos.
We were able to go inside both the Greek Catholic and Orthodox churches. The Orthodox one is new, dating from 1998. In iconography was exquisite.
The Dzubay family took us to the cemetery to find the gravestones of relatives and then warmly invited us into their home for a meal. Debbie and Randy are not totally sure of the connection but are trying to determine exactly how this family is related to them.
We arrived back at the pension later in the evening after a very emotionally exhausting but fulfilling day!
Debbie, Randy and I, along with Slavo drove first to the small village of Ondavka where grandfather came from. The village is bankrupt and fairly deserted. We came across a man parked in the street and as we asked where Peter Kalina's house was he pointed to the house we were standing in front of. Sadly, the house is falling apart and we later learned has been unoccupied for the past 30 years. We asked if we could take a closer look and the man indicated that we could. What we found was unbelievable. It was like something out of Great Expectations. Everything was left in this house at the time Peter died. His offspring have also died so the house sadly, just sits there. As we carefully walked from room to room we saw icons hanging on the wall, perinas on the beds, clothing hanging in the wardrobe, a cookbook, utensils, etc. It was very sad to see this.
Ironically, Debbie had photographs of her parents' visit here in 1984. We realized the photos were taken in the same house. It was quite evident the family was well-to-do. But now the same house was abandoned two years later.
After meeting the former mayor and ensuing some humorous moments there (Debbie "watering" some plants with her vodka shots at 11:00 am) and then realizing there was a security camera directly overhead...some "special" male oriented posters in the mayor's office, etc. we then departed for Sobos to meet the last Dzubay family in the village of Sobos.
We were able to go inside both the Greek Catholic and Orthodox churches. The Orthodox one is new, dating from 1998. In iconography was exquisite.
The Dzubay family took us to the cemetery to find the gravestones of relatives and then warmly invited us into their home for a meal. Debbie and Randy are not totally sure of the connection but are trying to determine exactly how this family is related to them.
We arrived back at the pension later in the evening after a very emotionally exhausting but fulfilling day!
hello! not sure how I got here.. I was searching some informations about village Soboš.. and then I found this article and a picture of my family (my grandparents).. I am quite surprised :D can you tell me more about connection between you and my family? I'm a history student on the university in Košice so this is quite interesting for me :D
ReplyDeleteHi - I am distantly related but if you can provide me with your email address I can put you in touch with my friends that are Dzubay family. They are the two pictured in the middle.
ReplyDeletehey, thanx for reply! my email address is in my blogger profile, just click on my name you'll find it :)
ReplyDelete