A Slovak Odyssey of a Mother Love, Loss, and Journey: The Author's memoir of his search for his mother, who disapeare behind the Iron Curtain

Join John Kudlas and brother Bill as they travel to Czechoslovakia in search of their mother, who disappeared behind the Iron Curtain. The book will include how she and her husband immigrated to the United States, raised a family in Chicago, moved to Wisconsin, and lost family coherence. John and Bill spent some weeks in Slovakia, finding unknown relatives, where their mother was buried, and about her life in a tiny village, Velky Lipnik. A daily journal includes exciting descriptions of challenging peaks climbed in the High Tatras, fly fishing mountain streams along the Polish border, and presenting at schools and universities. Highlights included climbing Krivan, a revered mountain their father climbed before leaving for America, and visiting the president of Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel's mountain chalet, as a special guest. Included is health and safety information for trekking and climbing high-altitude trails. Friendships and experiences were overwhelming. Read more