a tale of two villages

Last two days in Prague we've been very adventurous. We decided to get out of the city, so yesterday we took a train to Karlstejn Castle which is about 45 minutes (by train) out of Prague. Then when we got back we took the metro to the Palace here in Prague. We managed quiet well which surprised me, (we're practicing for Paris :) I loved the train ride into the countryside. When we arrived in Karlstejn, it was a 2km hike pretty much straight uphill to the castle from the tiny little train station where we got off. It was like in the movies. You get off and there's noone there but you and you just start walking. I loved it. We also had a reprieve from the intense heat. It was only 28 degrees yesterday which makes a big difference when you're walking around outside in the sun for hours on end. Today was back up to almost 40 degrees. We went outside Prague again today, but this time we drove. Went out to Kutna Hora which is a UNESCO world heritage site. I didn't like it so much. There was a huge gothic church and it was an old silver mine there. It is also the site of a "bone church". Literally the church is decorated and made up of the bones of 40,000 people who died back in the 14th century when they were hit with the Black Plague. We toured that "ossuary" after visiting the "torture museum" (Aidan's pick). I don't know, but it left me with a bit of a creepy feeling and I was happy to get out of Kutna Hora (UNESCO or not, it wasn't my cup of tea.) What I found a bit disturbing was reading all the history about the trials and judgements and torture that was meeted out to people back in the day while at the same time, they were building the most extravagant church out there. The two extremes juxtaposed together were a bit jarring for me today. It didn't help the waiter we had at lunch was very rude. I almost started to cry when he brought me my lunch. It was a plate of fried kidney beans with onions...I ordered vegetarian bean goulash and I had no idea what I would get. That seems to be the order of the day around here these days. Ordering food in Germany and Prague has been a bit of a crap-shoot. Sometimes you luck out and it's amazing (you really have no idea what you're ordering sometimes) and sometimes you just look down at your plate and wonder how you'll be able to eat it. Ah, the joys of travelling. Today was the first day that I felt a bit homesick. Looking forward to Venice. Off first thing in the morning and will overnight in Salzburg before heading to Italy. :)