Road back to hometown

　　One autumn afternoon, we drove down a small road in southeastern Slovakia to visit a small village called Rejdova. Under the blue sky, the log cabin is as described in fairy tales, quietly indifferent to the world, the roosters and dogs are wandering around the old people in the garden... Everything seems to stop at a certain moment in the past. This village hidden in the deep mountains of southeastern Slovakia is far away from the hustle and bustle, like a paradise. Slovakia is rich in forest resources, and wood has been a commonly used building material since ancient times. I saw that in addition to the white patterns on the outer walls of some wooden houses, saddle-shaped shingles were used on the roofs, and the curtains were all kinds of pure white lace, which were like gingerbread houses. Small flowers of various colors decorate the outdoor space of each household. Maybe a single flower is not very good-looking, but when gathered together, the colorful colors are pleasing to the eye. These traditional wooden houses are unique in shape, like a top hat, about one-third of them are habitually occupied, one-third are only used for summer vacations, and one-third are abandoned or destroyed by fire. The decorative patterns outside the wooden house are very similar to the traditional embroidery craftsmanship of the village, which can be seen to be inspired by it. In fact, aside from the aesthetics, the decorations on the wooden houses have unexpected uses: the decorations on these wooden houses are painted with pigments made of vanished limestone, which acts as a natural protection for the wood material and protects the wooden houses from decay. . These wooden houses are like living fossils, telling the ancient traditions of the small village and the original ecological model houses with real life. However, by the river not far from the village, I also saw some shabby and dirty houses, which are said to be the residences of gypsies, although these people who are outside the mainstream society have come to settle here for hundreds of years or even For thousands of years, it has always had a bad reputation.

　　The earliest records of the small village can be traced back to the 14th century. Due to the discovery of coal mines, the main gates of the surrounding German, Czech, Austrian and other countries flocked to the village, bringing their families and lace weaving technology, the axis of the village. Lace art was developed at that time. Men worked in the mines, and women supplemented their homes by weaving lace fabrics and rugs. It is said that Venetian merchants first brought lace technology from Arab countries to Europe. The earliest lace weaving in Europe originated in the 4th century AD, and the earliest lace was left in the Dubrovnik Castle in Croatia in the 14th century. Gradually, lace became an ornament for the privileged class with its luxurious appearance. Venice in Italy, Brussels in Belgium and Wan Burke in the Czech Republic once became an important lace production center in Europe. In contrast, the axis lace art of Slovakia developed relatively late but has strong rural characteristics. Here, lace fabrics are no longer aristocratic costumes but ordinary people's works of art. When spring is blooming, it is a common sight for village girls to sit on wood and weave lace art, either for clothing or just for decoration. In the village of Rejdova, I saw an old grandmother in a lace dress, nearly eighty years old but in good spirits. Seeing us visitors from afar, she happily took out the traditional spinning shaft tools and got busy. The lace thread was fixed on the cylindrical cushion by small nails and held by several small wooden shafts. It is said that the complex weaving method requires several Ten such small wooden shafts. At present, the grandmother only occasionally makes up some entertainment, or presents it to relatives and friends, or sells it to tourists. There is an elegant lace painting in the shape of a woman that is very eye-catching. The grandmother said that it was reserved for her granddaughter-in-law, and she refused to sell it.

　　As the twilight darkened, we said goodbye to the old grandmother and went to another house as a guest. Along the rugged mountain road, we could smell the fragrance of wild chrysanthemum. This is a newly built log cabin, not as big as a traditional log cabin, and the owner's son works in China and is a diplomat. Drinking absinthe and then serving a piece of goat cheese is really comfortable. I have never tasted such soft and refreshing cheese. It tastes almost like tofu! The owner said that goat cheese is also a speciality of Rejdova Village, and it needs to be extremely Fermentation in a special temperature place, with very little salt, is a delicacy that has been passed down for hundreds of years. Generally, housewives in the village will make it, but other villages may not have it! The decoration in the house is still classical, axe, blanket, sheepskin, Pumpkin, continuing a certain hunter spirit in central Europe. As the moon rose, we took our leave and walked down the country roads, feeling a sort of spiritual return.