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I'm back home now (since Tuesday evening) from the meet in Cork, Ireland, followed by a another week in Ireland and a subsequent week in Prague, in the Czech Republic. All in all, a fantastic time! For those of you from North America who have attended meets in Ireland or Britain, you know the differing perspectives of the sign trade there, and the warmth and hospitality which make these truly special experiences. The Cork meet was a relatively small gathering, in the setting of the FAS vocational training center, which has a world-class signwriting and decorating course. Great fun, great learning and sharing; time spent in the company of old friends and new, the highlight of which was an evening in Clonakilty in the company of the legendary Tomas Tuipair (did I spell that anywhere close to right?) who has made this lovely little Irish town a showpiece of gorgeous signs and shopfronts, and who is a true gentleman and Letterhead of the first order.
Following the meet I spent several days in Doolin, County Clare; a magical little town on the "wild west" coast of Ireland, known world-wide for it's traditional Irish music, great "craic" and otherworldly scenery (the magnificent Cliffs of Moher and the stunning wilderness of the Burren).
And after that, 8 days and nights in Prague; truly one of the most beautiful and enchanting cities in Central Europe. Time and space don't allow too many details of my time there, but I did take lots of sign pictures, and once I get squared away with this new digital camera, I'll post some of the highlights. I visited there briefly last year, and this trip was even more fascinating.
There's no substitute for this kind of vacation. I've returned relaxed, energized and inspired, and with several top-notch sign projects in the pipeline, I'm really looking forward to getting back to work with renewed vigor.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Welcome back, Cam. Been to Prague a few years ago and was very fortunate to have relatives show me around every day. Being into carving and sculpture, we hit all the places where the majority was. It seems as though there is hardly a building without some statues on it. Real beautiful work.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Cam, I read of your viewing old world arts and attitudes and am challenged just by your mention of it. Thank you. I've only been there with pictures in books and they don't go very far at asigning a personality to the work. I'm looking forward to seeing your photos.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6842 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Glad to hear you had a mahvelouuuus time! That is exactly how we feel about Quebec! Woo Hoo!
Can't wait to see the pics you have!
Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6468 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Nice to hear you had a good time. I really wanted to make that one but. . . .can't wait to see the pictures.
-------------------- John Arnott El Cajon CA 619 596-9989 signgraphics1@aol.com http://www.signgraphics1.com Posts: 1443 | From: El Cajon CA usa | Registered: Dec 1998
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Cam it was a pleasure to see you again even though you come over here and start stealing my work on the first day you arrive.LOL
yes folks he did! the lady who ran the guesthouse that Cam was staying in was trying to get her son (with no experience) to re gild some letters for their sign. I had called 3 times to the lady and had her waste my time but boy Cam gets there and clinches the deal and then gets other letterheads to gild them at the meet.
hey Cam did you get any of the paper stuff for the work? you come back and poach any time. again i say to all who travelled to Ireland thanks for coming! it wouldn't be the same without you.
[ August 30, 2003, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Miles Cullinane ]
-------------------- Miles Cullinane, Cork, Ireland.
From the sometimes sunny south of Ireland, Posts: 914 | From: Cork, Ireland | Registered: Jul 1999
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Ah, now, Miles, allow us to recall the conversation we had BEFORE all this happened... The lady said she'd spoken with you. You said she was a "right royal PITA" or something to that effect. So, in the True Letterhead Spirit, I gallantly offered to take the letters to the meet (that's m-e-e-t, at FAS, not m-e-a-t, as in a factory in Bandon) and see what we could do. A couple of the lads graciously offered, in the True Letterhead Spirit, to gild the letters, so I graciously assented and got right out of the way. I only took one night's lodging as payment, really. And yes, I owe all the lads involved a round of pints (actually several) again offered in the True Letterhead Spirit.
Miles, what was the term Gerry applied to me? A "foxy something-or-other" I seem to recall... I don't seem to be able to attend a meet in Ireland without getiing involved in some sort of odd goings-on, the details of which are frequently enhanced by memories filtered through pints of Guinness. Ah well. It's not easy being me.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6842 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Always thinking of traveling to other countries, as my relatives go quite frequently.
I've heard so much about Europe, the people, the food, attitudes, appreciation of life and others, as I always planned a trip but couldn't seem to go without my all of my kids, and one of them is always too busy, so I'll just keep trying. It just seems selfish to go out of the country and experience something that wonderful without including them. Prague sounds as though it is mystical of what I have heard also, seen pix and such, heard the stories (along with parts of the UK and France, Germany, and Italy). To be in Europe, amongst the colorful folk, and among the beginnings of much civilization must be a real thrill to foreigners, especially Americans! Then to add some signmaking and mingling with others with a lot in commone has to be the ultimate history lesson topped with a lot of fun!signfolks, with all that history. Glad you had the experience, thanks for sharing, Cam;waiting anxiously for the pics!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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