We awoke with Ann feeling much better. We are hoping the train ride out of town will happen today.

As luck would have it today is different. The sky is deep blue and the city is sparkling. It’s a much better day for our “road trip”. Z took us on the train east for about one hour. The town is, Podebrady, a spa town. The train station is in front a 1/2 mile long grass and tree lined promenade which leads into the quaint little town with the requisite castle in the center - simply beautiful in a Czech sort of way. This is a spa or wellness centered town because people come to take the water. A lady dispenses this health nectar from a tap free of charge (But the plastic cup costs 1kn – about 4 cents). The water can best be described as slightly carbonated with much more than a trace of iron, sulfur, [fill in the blank of any nasty tasting metallic element] and I am sure mercury and lead. I agreed about the wellness aspect. I felt MUCH better AFTER forcing it down and getting the horrid taste out of my mouth. Anyone would feel better getting that taste over with!

We then went to a pastry shop and had a sweet with coffee. We felt REALLY well after that. As an aside, Z got another “dose” as we left town. Amazing.

We got back into town just in time to ride the metro to the apartment, wash our faces, change clothes, ride the metro to the restaurant, and eat before going to the Czech National Theatre. Laterna Magica is experimental theater developed in the 1920s in Czechoslovakia. It has been playing since, updating performances each year. We saw Casanova - part multi-screen cinema, part ballet, part cabaret all weird.

Lesson for day 5: Experimental Theater is, well, not traditional, that is for sure.
Secondary lesson: Cake is better medicine than stinky well water.