Polyglot Gathering 2026, 27 May - 1 June.

 It was a good plan to wear a Polyglot shirt from last year when travelling to Brno, as it attracted people, like bees to a honeypot.

I had a brilliant trip from Vienna in first class, which was cheaper than 2 nd class on an earlier train! I so enjoyed the lounge at the station, I lost track of time and ended up racing for the train. 
Wow, the hotel was many steps up from last year’s accommodation. It was fantastic.
The Polyglot Gathering was massive. 910 people from 67 nations. I was the only person from New Zealand, and certainly it was never hard starting a conversation with someone new.
Books galore, in a multitude of different languages.
I always enjoy the display of interesting linguistic features.
The opening ceremony started late and was horrendously noisy. The floor was sticky from spilled‘pivo’, beer, that everyone squelched along. Pretty gross really. However, it was good to pick up information for our subsequent days.
We certainly built many bridges. Perhaps none so lasting as my friendship with Sergio, and also Victoria and Frank who visited me in NZ, but nonetheless some good friends.

I went back to the restaurant where I had eaten last year, but the food wasn’t great unfortunately. We did meet a lovely Czech couple, who were intrigued by the PG.
As we did last year, we all filed down to the Arboretum for a photo. I haven’t got it yet, but it will arrive.
In the evenings, I made the most of the amazing facilities and went upstairs to the 9 th floor and the pool. It was simply beautiful there and nobody else on my first night!
As the sun set, the hills were lit up. It was super.
By the time I left, the full moon was magnificent.
The Czechs love their meat! I went out with Victoria and Frank and we each had plates overflowing with food! Fortunately, doggy bags were acceptable!
I had booked two tours. The first was to the Arboretum, the University gardens. I had left my phone at the hotel and so have no photos. The plus was that I could fully engage in what we were looking at, but I would have loved a few photos, especially in the orchid greenhouse. Next year!
The following day, I took an afternoon tour of Brno. It was really hot and very long, so unfortunately I suffered a bit, limping around by the end of it. It was very good, however.
I love the main square. The weird shape, like a huge bullet, is actually a clock!
We went to some interesting areas which I probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
I love this statue in one of the many squares.
Not sure if this guy on the window sill would still be there in 
Christchurch!
I love the relaxed feel of Brno with all the deck chairs everywhere. The coloured buildings annd umbrellas are fantastic.
Our final stop was the Cathedral. Another huge inexplicable structure.
A final full moon and time to say goodbye for another year. It’s been an incredible gathering and I’ve used all my languages along the way, particularly French, Spanish and Italian. Undoubtedly, they all improved in this wonderfully relaxed, accepting environment, where all of are there with the express purpose of making new friends and connecting with other cultures. I can’t wait for the next one, wherever it might be.







 


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