Hello loved ones, Today we are laying over in a city called Benešov 40 miles from Prague. I am very happy you all speak such good English. To review our journey so far, so I don't forget... we walked 10 miles to Pruhonice Monday 7/14 our first day out of Prague. Pruhonice is a very wealthy beautiful small town with a famous Brewery we stayed above. It was the best beer I have ever had and two glasses is all we could take before stumbling around town taking pictures and then going to bed ... but not before having one more regular strength beer at Cow Cow Boogie. Thankfully the waiter and host at the Brewery spoke some English ... the room was expensive but it was the only accomodation we found with a vacancy and a big delicious breakfast was included.
On Tueday 7/15 we set off to Velké Popovice, a small town. The red, yellow, and green trails we are following are so beautiful. They take us through forests, gardens, and almost right through people's back yards. It has mostly been drizzling and cool with very little sun. We don't mind because it keeps the bugs to a minimum and is more comfortable when hiking. (I did find myself covered in Czech ticks yesterday) We were welcomed by many free range chickens as we entered the town of Velké Popovice and walked past a big Kovél (brand of beer) factory and restaurant to stay at a very 80's style Hotel for the night. We ate and wrote post cards at the restaurant next door and the next morning posted them and ate at the bakery that I e-mailed you from last.
On Wednesday 7/16 we then walked another 10 miles to get to Vysoká Lhota. We intended to stay in a town several miles before this but all accomodations were full and people were cold to us. We don't know what was going on in this small town but people were in their bathing suits wearing plastic flowers and ribbons indicating some traditional dress. It was clearly a private party so we walked on. We were weary when we got to Vysoká Lhota and found a house that rented rooms and a young woman who spoke fluent English (a rare find.) The two rooms were already rented by railroad workers but the hostesss (who spoke no English but talked our ears off anyway... with many gestures) squeezed us into a spare room on her and her husband's floor of the house. This woman who's name we never understood was the epitome of a grandmother. We have many stories to tell from this night and morning. The highlight was the evening Barbeque when Michael played the fiddle and guitaro and I tried out phrases from our Czech language book to get some laughs. Our comrada dug potatoes from her garden just for the event and the two railroad workers joined us with beer, vodka, laughs. It was a great party. In the morning we met our comrada's husband Vladamir and had a wonderful breakfast. After some pictures we headed off to Benešov.
On Thursday 7/17 we walked another ten miles to Benesov. Again when we arrived we had difficulty finding accomodations. We found a man that spoke English and helped us talk to his friend who owned several houses with acccomodations. His homes were also full of road workers. We are a mile outside of downtown ("off the beaten path") staying in the attic and sharing a kitchen and bathroom with the road workers. I came out of our room to go to the bathroom last evening to find a freshly washed man in his underwear frying potatoes and meat in the kitchen. They have been very polite although no one knows what the other is saying. Last night Michael and I walked across the field to the grocery store to buy a few items for the kitchen. We slept in today and then took our baths with a road man's soaking underwear and socks. At least now our accomodations are within our budget. Now we are down town and may go bowling later since we found a bowling alley!
Tomorrow we are starting out toward Tabor. It will take us several days walking. Michael is working on getting more pictures uploaded to the Blog but it is hard to figure out how to with the Czech Word program. We are taking many many pictures to show every one. Love to you all!!! Annie will you forward this to Angie's e-mail ... I forgot to bring her address. I hope you are all well ... we miss you ... kiss the children and animals for us!!!
Love, Michael & Bird
