Funny story from Moravia

So we went to Southern Moravia this past weekend. It was quite a trip. More on that later.

I was just lying in bed attempting to fall asleep when I was replaying a moment from the trip in my head. I had just eaten a delicious dinner at a restaurant with Patti, Amanda, and Stephen and we were going through the payment process. The thing about Moravia is that most people DO NOT speak English, and this guy was one of them. So Stephen and I, being the only ones in this particular dinner party who are studying Czech language, had been relying on our good education from Jitka to navigate the menu and communicate on behalf of the other 2 girls. Up until this point we had done quite well despite my issues with "stage-fright" and Stephen's issues with pronunciation. I ordered something unfamiliar that seemed to have chicken and veggies in it, and it turned out to be a delicious sort of stir-fry.

So, the waiter made his way around the table counting up our separate tabs, and when asked what I ordered, I began to list things:
Me: "Pivo.."
Waiter: "Pivo."
Me: "Ryze.."
Waiter: "Ryze."
Me: "Em.... Kure.."
Waiter: CRACKS UP. "Kure.... haha... ano.. to je vsechno? sto padesat."

So now I am lying in bed wondering what exactly he was laughing at, and it occurs to me that Czech is a very very complicated language which involves 7 forms of EVERY SINGLE CZECH WORD. We've gotten to the 5th of the 7 in class and I'm getting to the point of confusion. In my haste to supply any word I could for "chicken," despite the little voice in my head telling me to put some sort of ending on the basic form of the word, I gave him the word "kure," which literally means "a chicken."

So, the translation would be:
Me: "Beer.."
Waiter: "Beer."
Me: "Rice.."
Waiter: "Rice."
Me: "Em.... and a chicken."
Waiter: "Ah, a chicken. haha... yes. Is that all? 150."

Hilarity at its finest.

Ossuary/Kutna Hora trip!

So it has been a few weeks or something crazy since my last post. Due to the excessive amounts of experiences that have occurred between then and now, this post is going to be guided by pictures, cause you know what they say about pictures and their ratio to words....

A street near our hotel. Pretty view in the background was what I was trying to get... better shot in the next pic but this one is a typical Prague street.

Look at that pretty view! Most buildings here are cream with red tops.

Jitka, our Czech prof, in class. She is one of the most spirited women (and teachers) I have ever met. She has more energy than I do. Really.

His name is Graham Hunter. No kidding.

Stephen pretends he is a car dealer outside of CHP, our college. Rob and Peter look on.

Cool architectural shot (i thought) outside CHP.

Ditto.

Neat building...

This was when Jitka took us on a field trip to the Billa grocery store to show us all the things for which we had just learned Czech names. I took this pic to remember what her favorite wine is. Shhhhh. :)

Look, Val! Mozart balls!

The FIRST naked ladies I saw in Prague.....

Samuel is looking snazzy, and ready to purchase some new sandals in Tesco.

Samuel did NOT purchase these sandals.

Hehe... say it out loud.

Samuel wonders what size he is in the Czech republic.

This statue is a representation of how Samuel felt in his brand new Tesco sandals.

A noteworthy billboard. I have no idea what it's advertising. Possibly a Thai Massage?

Pretty statues at the first stop on the way to Kutna Hora. Saw these on the way to the WC. (Or water closet.) They are everywhere here- a normal occurrence- found on every corner. Like Starbucks is to New York.

A closer view. Hello, friends.

Brittany and Claire aren't quite sure what to think of the Ossuary. (btw this pic happened to snap right as the flash from another camera went off.)

Stephen and I liked the Ossuary.

This is Anca (Ahn-cha), one of our Czech student assistants. She was a little creeped out by the bones...

Coat of armbones.

Hey, I have one too!

40,000 bodies' worth of bones and like 4 cherubs.

And Jesus.

This is the artist's signature. He had to stick with the theme... I guess he had a few leftover.

Hey, Neverwhere! I found Croup!

This is a craaaazy history professor who took us on the Kutna Hora tour. He is soooo interesting. And I am not being sarcastic. The history class-ers all can do a perfect impression.

Pretty.

Hey look, a pigeon hole!

Stephen and Brittany enjoy some pictures while the professor accentuates his vowels.

We are learning.

So many statues in nooks..... there must be one for every Praguer.

This building was so cool- it's like a private castle stuck in the middle of Kutna Hora. That sticky-outy part is a chapel where they'd have a priest come in and do a private mass for them.

You know these guys. This is on the outside of that house.

The fruit tree...

I've dubbed this "the waiting statue" cause we waited here for everyone to show up. It's pretty amazing though. I was fascinated by the gold arrows sticking out of the guy on the right.

Sam enjoys the sunshine.

Once again. "The waiting statue."

Pretty flowers!

Jesus! You're so shiny!

Big tower of a cathedral we looked at and talked about for a while but didn't go into.

This pigeon flew right at my camera while I was taping him.

Cool statue.

Okay so Kutna Hora has a way to go in terms of being tourist-friendly... the most direct path to this area leads us to this glorious view of this important man's butt. This statue and its presentation to us gave rise to the most comical performances of history professor impressions.

The front view. I don't remember his name.

Spastic fountain!

Pretty drippy fountain.

There are so many secrety, mysterious archways and spiral staircases like these here. I took this right before we took the tour of the Italian Courthouse.

Piano inside the minting room.... I wanted to play it.

Mural in the ancient courtroom.

Okay this doorway was built specially for the king (or governor?) who was very tiny. I was one of the few in our group who could go thru without ducking or hitting my head.

Stephen^ and Peter^ embrace their bright futures of long-life and prosperity. (or so the legend goes.)

SNAP. "No pictures inside the chapel." oops...

Neat plants and statues in the courtyard.

Neat.

Cobblestones. (Tasha: I love the gold heels- but it's been a challenge getting around in them! I've managed to get a hang of it though.)

Stephen likes my camera.

Peter on the other hand sees a lens and is sent spiraling into oblivion. This is something like number 2 in a series of "what are you doing with that camera?" shots.

Neat.

Stephen aspires to be a statue who greets you with his bum.

Pretty cathedral.

Another statue in a nook. It must be nice to have a snug little place made just for you...

Dogs love Prague. Whenever I see one, I think of Jack saying with great determination, "I'm going to pet that dog." And the dogs here mostly look at you with a similar determination and seem to say, "You are going to pet me."

Sign advertising an artsy shop.

Once more- in English!

I like the gates and archways.

Cool tower. We're heading to St. Barbara's Cathedral.....

There she is! But first, look at all these neat statues!

View from the bridge thing leading to St. Barbara's.

Under some construction, but still pretty. St. Barbara is the patron saint of miners (like the many in Kutna Hora) because they all fear sudden death, and they pray to her for a death like the one she had, which was that she was locked in a tower to starve and wither away.

Stephen: "Can you imagine back before there were all these big buildings around, when you've only got these small buildings, and then this comes up out of nowhere? No wonder people were religious."

Let's go in!

Oh, not yet. First we learn. Everyone is fascinated. Except for Rob, who looks bored, and Chris who thinks I am taking a picture of him. Well I guess technically I am...

I seized the opportunity. He tried to slink behind Kyle.

God lives here. :)

Poor Rob...

Hey check it out- it's all Gothic-y.

Incredible.

I like windows.

Dad- wouldn't you love to play this organ?? It comes standard with a host of angels!

Neat! I got a cool video of everyone walking up these steps.

Poor Anca's glasses are broken!!

Even the old, decrepit buildings are beautiful.

Whazzawahaat?

Pole-vaulting in Prague!!

Must've been a big meet...

Incidentally, a cool statue.

I thought of you, Steph!


Okay so that's it for now. My blog just decided to underline everything I type.
Strange.

More pics when I get a chance, which isn't now because I have to shower and write a paper before the 7.5 hours of class I have today.

It's a beautiful day in the city. Email me!