Easter Sunday

As I write this Bronwyn is popping out to buy something, for someone... can't say more just now other than it is of this place, and of this time. We've just ordered dinner in yet another Italian restaurant, drinking yet another Czech beer (in moderation, of course)... I have to admit, since Bronwyn got me onto these dark ales... : ) ... I'm starting to like them ― and me who doesn't really like beer.

We won't be here for dessert though. We've found a place that gives you 15 minutes of free internet access if you spend 60Kč on food (c. £1.35). I see a slice of cake or two in our future... [They also currently have a free WiFi trial... again, where is that laptop?] So whatever you read here was typed in 15 minutes! (with a bit of pre-planning.)

We've earned all this, let me hasten to add. We negotiated our way out to Karlštejn today, a village 29kms west of Praha. Return tickets for two broke the bank at 100Kč (£2.20). There we saw and dutifully photographed Karlštejn Hrad (castle), apparently the most photographed in the country after the one here in Praha. Impressive cliffs surrounding this fortress would have made it impossible to successfully attack in the past I would have thought. We hiked in the woods for a couple of hours, moving from road to path to practically bushwhacking to reach our desired ridgeline ― and a still-obscured view of the Hrad! Saw a single jet-black squirrel, the only non-domesticated mammal we've seen here, though there are plenty of dogs on the trains... as well as a few birds. Few leaves on the still-wintry trees. From our ridge down to civilisation again, the difficult route!

We'd not been able to locate an English-speaking Christian community to join with in Praha today. Where we stopped on our hike however we read more of John's long account of Jesus' teaching at the Last Supper ― we've been reading this over the last few days. Remarkable words of reassurance and support to his followers, when Jesus knew what was ahead (that very night) but they did not.

The countryside and townships we travelled through on the train today told the story of years of communist-era neglect ― while the tourist centre of Praha may be looking polished 15 years on, there is clearly a long way to go. So come on over, spend some Kč, and help them out.