#for the most part the listing of items was solid with no argument until poor Meyrin

[utenixx]

Cagalli and Athrun writing up a prenup and fighting over who gets to keep Meyrin in the case of divorce

[tzdkh]

@immolatic​ is once again, in my askbox, asking for two masked hackers [ meme ]

Their first kiss had been a hot mess, but still a solid seven in Reggie’s book. He’d been high at the time, and probably suffering from a concussion thanks to a semi-poor decision - not to say that Jay had taken advantage of him (Although he could, at any point in time. Back then Wrench was beyond caring as long as he felt something.) but rather that the whole thing was a fucking mess. And, at a seven, it’d been the cause for many a spank bank session after, even long after the marks had faded.

However, a seven was still a fucking seven, and Reg has grown since then. There were things he wanted now in life - a little dose of anarchy, some violence, but most importantly stability and someone to not look at him like he was a constant fuck up. His ego, already as small as it was, had taken one too many beatings in far too a small a time, and for fucking once he wanted something normal, something not-a-seven but maybe an eight, or god fucking forbid a nine.

What he got instead of any of that, at the end of the entire Rampart affair, is a fucking smirk and a ‘you should have killed him.’ Even the Pearces, who had moments before been congratulating him on not murdering his traitor of a business partner, had blinked at that, in unison, and then looked between them before quickly exiting stage left. (And by that, they ducked out the front door after making excuses to talk to them later.)

So, to say that Reginald ‘The Wrench’ Blechman is steaming is an understatement. He’s furious. And weirdly hurt, left in the end of the entire affair feeling like his chest has been crushed in. And he’s fully aware, because he’s not a fucking idiot, that it’s his own damn fault. He had attachment issues even therapists were hesitant to touch, he had trust issues that were only outweighed by Jay’s own trust issues, he was divorced and sad and alone in a country full of people that were teaming together.

He’s also rapidly losing time and excuses, to avoid going home, which was a whole other issue on it’s own, one that he’d put second on his checklist of things he’d put together shortly after Jay’s arrival.

The checklist, for anyone curious, ran a little something like this:    ✓  Murder Fuck over Thomas Rempart    ✓  Avoid going home until he’s ready    ✓  Convince Jackson Pearce to let him be his second uncle    ✓  Give London a little bit of a boost to put itself back together    ✕  Not fall back into like-like (or rebound crush) with JB Markowicz    ✓  Contact Sitara and apologize for being a prick    ✓  Warn Raymond that Jay was very much so still angry about the whole blackout thing

For anyone still hanging on that might have missed it, he’d failed checklist item number five pretty miserably, and that was arguably the most important thing on said list, minus revenge thing. 

Which left him where he was: Chain smoking outside his apartment in the middle of the night, nursing one hell of a hangover, and trying to remember what exactly had been said during his drunken argument with Jay hours before. He’s pretty sure he’d spilled some important figurative (and literal, maybe) beans, but Reggie isn’t quite sure. Hard to be sure when the last thing he remembered was slamming into the apartment like a bat outta hell (which also, what the fuck did a bat outta hell look like, Meatloaf?) and yelling. A lot.

Pretending not to hear the door opening behind him, Reggie kicks his legs over the brick half wall he was sitting on, the picture of absolute ignorance (he hoped) and focuses instead on the smoke in his lungs, and the nicotine he could taste on his tongue.

“Wrench.” Reginald doesn’t turn around, thank you very much, because he’s the peak of maturity and also he wasn’t wearing his mask, ergo, he was not Wrench. He takes another drag of his cigarette, the smile that curls his mouth small and self serving as he hears a sigh and then his legal name. “Reg, you can’t avoid it all fucking night. Again.”

Yes, he could, Mr. Markowicz. Avoidance of subjects such as ‘going home’ and ‘you got your revenge, it’s time to go’ and ‘Marcus hired me to bring you back’ was a fucking skill of his at this point. In fact, it was so high up on his skill list, it was right under ‘Getting inappropriate crushes’ and ‘Breaking (important) things.’

Ashing his cigarette, Reginald turns to give the man a mild look, blinking only once in surprise when it occurs to him that Jay is far closer than he’d thought. One could say, too close. “What?”

“Reg.” A puff of annoyance, and then a glare. And then -

The hackervist had wanted at least a seven-point-five - and maybe a normal fucking kiss - but this was at least a nine and, well, he’d had a mouth full of smoke and Jay to his credit doesn’t even seem mildly put off. In fact, he pulls back, exhales smoke with a raise brow, and then grabs the front of Reggie’s sweater and pulls him back in for a part deux. All teeth and clever tongue and knowledge of things Reggie liked and things Reggie really like-liked.

“Come inside.” Jay says when they part, with only the smallest of bites to Reggie’s poor mouth. “We need to talk and you need to stop fucking sulking.”

In the shuffle to get up, Reggie drops his very expensive imported cigarette. 

He doesn’t even look at it.

(Later, much much later he tells Jay ‘ten point five’ without context, but Jay smirks. Because he knows him in far more detail than anyone should. And then, Reggie tells him ‘First one was a seven’ and he gets punched, which was also fair.)

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

10 Times Arnav Singh Raizada Crossed The Line (Part 1)

Arnav Singh Raizada is our perfect, tortured Mills & Boons hero. Sometimes it’s unfortunate when recent shows have aped his behavior and not the layered characterization that he had. However, sometimes (according to my own opinion) I felt that his character might have crossed the line. 

It’s moments where no explanations justify his behavior. 

Please remember this is all my crazy opinion so feel free to add your own in notes! Oh and don’t worry, a similar list is coming for Khushi as well as they’re truly made for each other. After all, aren’t they our favorite ‘will-they-won’t-they’ idiots?

Tearing the dori.

Arnav Singh Raizada does not apologize.

Blasting at Khushi for pranking, PRANKING him.

Telling Khushi her anklet, their almost kiss & she, does not matter.

Arnav Hypocrite Raizada - forcing an engaged Khushi to confess her feelings when he’s unable to do so.

Reminding Khushi of her broken engagement cause he can’t handle jealousy.

Manipulating & frightening Khushi with Akash & Payal’s divorce papers.

Telling Khushi he ‘faked’ his sickness to get rid of the ‘Swami’ tag.

Refusing to believe Khushi’s version of events.

Becoming Khushi’s landlord and blackmailing her (emotionally and financially) to get her to come back home.

Bonus

Telling Khushi that she does not have the brains, courage nor talent to face the real world.  

#1 “Badtameezi toh maine abhi shuru bhi nahi ki.” (S1, E2)

“I haven’t even started misbehaving.”

First Reaction: No Arnav bitwa, no. That dialogue never has and never will make sense.

What’s wrong with it: 

Almost everything. First of all when someone is in a position to abuse his/her/their position of power and authority, they don’t get to make rules on what counts as misbehavior. Secondly, just because one hasn’t sexually harassed a person does not mean one’s harassment hasn’t been “bad enough”. 

Arnav’s behavior crossed the line the minute you tell Khushi that she and her sister are the kind of women who can easily get another man - and none of us are kids here to know what the thinly veiled insult meant to Khushi & Payal’s character. 

What makes this entire situation problematic is that he accuses her with certainty based on assumptions and Khushi, really, has not warranted any sort of behavior from his end - she actually makes a compelling argument. This kind of a situation, unfortunately, keeps happening in the future where Arnav accuses her based on half truths/assumptions.

Of course there’s a part of me that always wonders what idiots as staff does Arnav have because they; (1) let a newbie go on the ramp (can’t imagine that happening at a Sabyasachi / Manish Malhotra fashion show), (2) are incompetent enough to not be able to procure and verify any information about Khushi.

Track Rewrite: 

First of all, this is perhaps the only terrible moment that I want to leave untouched. It’s perfect. It sounds ludicrous but this level of animosity was required to create a hatred the two had for each other until love and lust suddenly stormed into their thoughts. 

Khushi looks perfectly devastated and Arnav’s anger rises because his fashion show in Lucknow (out of all cities) has been ruined. The less can be said about recent shows where there’s very little logic to the hatred shared between characters.

It establishes that Arnav has been very aware, right from the start, how beautiful Khushi is. And not just the delicate beauty like Payal, but the beauty that can make one lose their path, their calm, their temper and tempt them out of their stupor. 

It’s this opinion that he forms about Khushi that he subconsciously carries for the longest time - (it’s what makes it easier for him to believe Shyam’s version of events because this assumption of a tempting, young, poor woman out to seduce the rich never really leaves his mind).

Head-canon: 

This was the only time Aman Mathur took a vacation. Poor Arnav, he really needed efficient staff. 

Public Service Announcement: 

Ladies and gentlemen, this does not mean that hate, pain and misbehavior is necessary for love to bloom. No, love does not have a template and this is a love story that happens despite the hate, not because of it. 

Also, just so you know that Khushi - or any person - is not responsible for the things that happen to them. If a person’s self respect, dignity or agency is threatened - you go ahead and bash the attacker and not blame the person! *phew*

#2 “Arnav Singh Raizada kabhi kisise maafi nahi maangta.” (S2, E19)

“Arnav Singh Raizada does not apologize to anyone.”

First Reaction: Screw you Raizada! How dare you? Buaji - throw your infamous damned belan over his head! Raizada, do you realise you’re saying this while standing on someone else’s property?

And…

Why do I find it hot that Khushi opens the door to an impatient Arnav who’s dressed as dark as the sky, his temper matching the thunder in the background while they lock eyes? *i need help* when I watched this show for the first time I totally expected another scene like this would occur where Arnav asks her back or confesses his love. Yeah I trusted him enough to make another mistake where Khushi’s left home and he needs to get her back.

What’s wrong with it: 

The things he said to her before he came to her house. The insults he levied on her are based on an accusation which is baseless. We get to know that until Akash’s public proposal to Payal that Arnav never bothered on learning the truth about what happened that night. 

Hence it reveals another trait that Arnav never double checks his assumption until he’s faced with a confronting reality. But, in the length of time he’s gotten to know Khushi until that point - the things he tells her is way out of line. 

And when he reaches her home, slapping that money on her table and insulting her in front of her family… yeah it’s difficult to watch that. Especially after all the Rabba Ve’s they’ve had and his difficulty & helplessness on learning that this same woman was going to leave for Lucknow forever.

Track Rewrite: 

Arnav’s anger is really a projection of his frustration on himself for hurting Anjali and a terrible act of him confirming to himself that money can get him everything - even his sister’s happiness, which he attributes to his ability to get Khushi back into the house using money because he only knows the language of money. 

So my problem isn’t much with him… it’s with Khushi’s inaction. This is one of my least favourite scenes in the show because once Khushi stops (mostly) retaliating to Arnav from this point - she never really retaliates ever again. It’s like they kill that intellectual and mature aspect of Khushi who really knew how to debate (ah, don’t I love the resignation scene and her moment with Lavanya, Sim & Pam in the office).

Of course, Arnav and Khushi argue bucket lots in the future but from this moment on they really amp up Khushi’s silent crying and reduce her logical arguments to her emotions. Hence, if there’s anything I would have changed then I would always give Khushi the final word - the logical final word because who doesn’t like a solid rebuttal.

Quick note; Arnav does amend from saying “women like you” to “people like you”. So there’s a shift from his belief of her being a gold digger (and hence, lack of character) to a middle class greedy person (like his uncle).

Head-canon: 

I believe she doesn’t give Arnav a chance to gloat that he got her back with his money. Hence, the following exchange takes place in my head…

--

Arnav: “Mujhe pata tha tum paise ke liye kuch bhi karogi.”

Khushi: “Hum aap se ek baat kahe? Aap ghalat hai.”

Arnav: “No, main tum jaiso ko achi tarah se jaanta hai.”

Khushi: “Haan, shayad aap hum jaiso ko jaante hai. Par humein nahi. Aur rahi baat humara yaha aake kaam karne ka, toh humein nahi lagta ki humein kisi ko bhi safai deni ki zaroorat hai. Khaas kar ki aapko.”

- -

Arnav: “I knew you’d do anything for money,”

Khushi: “You know what? You’re wrong.”

Arnav: “I’m not. I know people like you.”

Khushi: “You may know people like me, but not me. And as far as me choosing to work here, I don’t find it necessary to give anyone any explanation. Especially you.”

--

Public Service Announcement/Crazy thought: 

The old 500 rupee notes are banned post demonetization. So don’t use those notes.

Check out my crazy version of this episode. 

#3 “Di isse sorry bolne ki koi zaruri nahi hai. Yeh aapki naukar hai.” (S3, E1/E2)

“Di you don’t have to apologise to her. She’s your servant.”

First Reaction: Oh no you didn’t… you didn’t!

What’s wrong with it: 

I think it gets on my nerves how rude he is and that he constantly measures her to her financial and societal status. And all of this is because she pranked him. Like she literally put sugar crystals in his petrol tank, changed his phone ringtone to a silly item number and put juice in his shoes. And he responds to that with some pretty damaging words. He literally tells her that lying and cheating is in her blood. 

Yikes! Flashback time Arnav - when she just alluded how he would feel if his sister’s marriage broke he tore her strings, and he legit just insulted her parents. All because she played some childish pranks. 

I have to say Khushi does put up a good fight, for most of it, and I love Anjali trying her best to intervene but yes… the way Arnav just flares up here - he crosses quite a few lines (hence I am not at all sorry when Khushi flings the hot tea on him, sorry I’m a sadist). I think his continuous push to show his authority, superiority over her is not really healthy. 

And that last Rabba Ve (although the tune is beautiful) which is evoked by her tears, and previously evoked by the impressions of his fingers around her wrist, gives a very wrong message to the public.

Track Rewrite: 

I never, ever want to change their essential characteristic. I’m pretty satisfied when he’s literally burned after he’s burned her with his words. Karma always gets him...

But, I really wouldn’t mind a strong, confident, and angry “ENOUGH” from Khushi as well. Or even a quiet, deadly, whisper of an “enough” that would stop his nonsensical tirade. It’s important for him to know when he’s crossed the line, before Khushi starts crying.

Really, it wouldn’t hurt if he was taken aback by her burst of anger or the threat of anger instead of tears (remember the Guesthouse incident… he was turned on by her fury, and then he simmered down and felt guilty - that’s a good cycle to follow when there’s an argument. No, not always the turn on side but the ability to give both the parties anger).

Because of late there seems to be an obsession of male heroes getting the ability to insult their “soulmates” and then stopping because of her tears and then never following it up with an apology. There’s a lot of context in the case of Arnav and Khushi… but I always relish when he’s flabbergasted and silenced by her retaliated anger more than anything else (cue, the resignation scene again).

Head-canon:

Arnav: “Di you don’t have to apologise to her, she’s your servant-”

Khushi: “-enough.” / or / “ENOUGH!”

Arnav and Anjali stand, silenced by Khushi’s anger.

Khushi (to Arnav): “Do yourself and your status a favour. Don’t open your mouth. Especially in front of me. I may fall before your eyes, but you dig yourself a grave.”

Khushi walks away, leaving Arnav stunned.

---

Arnav: “Di isse sorry bolne ki koi zaruri nahi hai. Yeh aapki naukar hai-”

Khushi: “-bas.” / or / “BAS!”

Arnav and Anjali stand, silenced by Khushi’s anger.

Khushi (to Arnav): “Aap apne aap aur apne aukaad pe ek ehsaan kijiye. Apna muh mat kholiye. Khaas karke humare saamne. Shayad hum aapke nazro main gir jaate hai, par aap toh khai khodke apne aap ko giraate hai.”

Khushi walks away, leaving Arnav stunned.

--

Too harsh? Too unlike Khushi? Sorry, I’ve been watching that scene on repeat way too many times and I may have vented out a bit - it gets crazier when I list out Khushi’s antics!

Public Service Announcement: 

Don’t break laptops or play pranks on people who might explode on you. Also, don’t waste mango juice on pranks - it’s delicious consumed. Probably that’s why Arnav was angry - one, he cannot drink mango juice due to his diabetes, and two, she wasted it on shoes!

#4 “Mere liye uss baat ki, ya tumhari, koi ehmiyat nahi hai.” (S3, E40)

“For me, that [the almost kiss], or you, don’t mean a thing to me.”

First Reaction: YES THAT’S WHY YOU KEEP ON THINKING ABOUT IT! LIKE OF COURSE BABUA ALWAYS SAYS THE TRUTH AND SAYS THE THINGS HE MEANS. LIKE OF COURSE YOU DID NOT INITIATE THE KISS OR PRESERVE HER ANKLET IN THE KHUSHI SHRINE OF YOURS! What the fu-dge Babua, literally?

What’s wrong with it:

Actually nothing. I just want to mentally slap him, that’s it. This needs to happen. Because honestly at this point of their relationship if this hadn’t happened - if they had kissed, chosen to break up with their partners (more like Khushi absolutely refusing to get engaged and even end up giving an ultimatum to her family) - then they would technically end up together and the most unhealthy point of their relationship.

Arnav is not at all ready for marriage but he would say yes because it’s the only way Khushi would be with him? Khushi, although in love with Arnav, still really has no actual reach to his depth and emotions. 

And really all her fantasies of Arnav are really fantasies, she loves him for what he evokes in her more than what he truly is. He is unable to get her out of his system. It would be a bad place to begin a relationship.

So although nothing is wrong with this scene and it’s like a bitter pill that needs to be swallowed, I still want to say he crossed a line by reinstating that she means nothing to him even though he led her on the entire foreplay of a Diwali. And like… wow, he’s asking what he means to her after he just declared that he’s going to get engaged to his longtime girlfriend who is also now Khushi’s closest friend? Like why… why would Khushi tell you what you mean to her?

Track Rewrite: 

I would rewrite Buaji’s pressure on Khushi. It’s regressive, painful and terrible to watch. I know it’s necessary… and if not rewrite this scene then I would just add a scene in the future where Buaji truly apologises for ruining her dearest Sanka Devi’s life. She owed this at least and it would be nice to see elders recognize their own mistakes at times.

Head-canon: 

Lavanya is in a happy relationship with NK <3.

Public Service Announcement: 

If you have a difficulty in saying what you want to say, enroll in Jalebi Teaches Feelz Expression classes.

#5 “I hope tumhe koi farak nahi padta.” (S4, E8 - S4, E14)

“I hope it means nothing to you / I hope it doesn’t affect you / I hope it doesn’t make a difference to you.” It = me, Arnav, our relationship (or whatever it is).

First Reaction: wherefore art thou asking questions yond thee cannot answ'r?

What’s wrong with it: 

This is where Arnav’s moralities really turn grey. Over here any affection, concern or committment to Lavanya is literally forgotten. Almost possessed, Arnav has three goals; 

(1) Make Khushi admit what he himself cannot admit - that he, them, everything matters to her (2) Prove to Khushi she won’t find a better match than him, that he’s her equal and he’s the only one who can provide for her and give her everything she desires (3) Make her breakup with her undesirable and unworthy fiance (he hasn’t met him but he just knows that her fiance does not deserve Khushi and I have to agree with Arnav, he’s right) and probably end up getting engaged with him.

The epic part of the Raizada plan is - he doesn’t have an idea what would happen if Khushi actually gives a farak. It’s not that Arnav is right or justified, he just stands the way he has always been - in all his fifty thousands shades of grey (not I’m not a fan of that book, pleej no).

Track Rewrite: 

A bit more time for Arnav, Lavanya, his apology and their break up. I love it that he does it instantly, but I also wish he spent more time talking to Lavanya. Just some more Arnav/Lavanya scenes, we really never got to see more of their friendship and her understanding.  

As far as everything else, Khushi’s inner battles and silence is really amazing - it’s what gives her dignity and it’s her self preservation. Arnav is redeemed by the fact that he genuinely is Khushi’s soulmate and he can feel her distress and is the only one who accurately senses that Khushi might have been pressured to agree to this marriage. Who knows Khushi cannot live in a loveless marriage. It’s something he can now guarantee, after a whirlwind of denial.

Although his actions are dubious, he’s the only one who senses the lack of joy and passion. So, rather terribly, he tries to put it across that he can fulfill her needs.

This comes to a halt when Payal refuses Akash in the first proposal. It sheds light on his earlier mistake and he realises that he has been wrong about Khushi all along (so he does not bring up her financial/societal status in insults post the event because Khushi really did end up in fashion show by mistake and more than that - her sister’s marriage did break because of him - not until the hate marriage).

And he realises his error with Lavanya that brings him out of this “I need to possess Khushi” phase.  

So I liked that we saw the ugliest side of their love, the irrational jealousy and demand of possession. And I love that Khushi did not budge in, no matter how much it hurt.

Head-canon: 

Lavanya knew all about it. Hence, she never holds Khushi responsible and instead guides Arnav to making better decisions. 

Also, Khushi went through a similar, crazed phase. Except we never see it because Khushi grows increasingly quiet when her heart is suffering. She uses words to express and choses silence when she does not want to acknowledge.

Public Service Announcement: 

Remember, it’s a good thing that they show us the unhealthy and healthy phase of a relationship between two people who love each other. This phase was decidedly toxic between Arnav and Khushi - when love is jealous, causes pain, is insensitive, is madness - see the signs and don’t go in deep when it’s at this phase. Every love has its time to mature and grow. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Read Part 2

[renegade-is-in-my-blood]

I’ve spent most of my childhood in America. Good times I must say. 3 years ago I returned to have a summer of my life in the states exploring the beauty of the east coast and oh boy did I have a great time. My American travels are all listed in my travel section. This time I took a bit of America to explore my current homeland Czech republic. Our first stop was Kutna Hora and here is everything you need to know about this trip.

Slovak and American exploring the Czechia.

Backstory: When I was in states I met Kevin.

Good guy. Nephew of a guy I was staying at. Since we were close in age he was kind enough to show me and my cousins the best of America. He was our personal tour guide and we’re forever grateful for that. We all grew pretty close. Two years ago Kevin visited Slovakia and it’s capital city Bratislava and my cousins took the opportunity of being his tour guides for a change.

This year on Kevins travels over Europe he made a stop in the Czech Republic and its capital city Prague where I currently live. We had 5 days together and we wanted to use them to the fullest.

Months ahead and we were already getting together a basic plan of what to do with our time. Since Kevin visited Prague before we didn’t want to spend all of our time just in Prague even though there is definitely plenty to see in 5 days.

We decided we were gonna explore the Czech Republic together.

I was so excited because even though I’ve been living in Czechia for over 4 years now, I visited like 3 places altogether. That’s so lame.

This trip showed me the incredibly beautiful places, I had no idea were actually in Czechia. Kevin is a wanderlust at heart. I was so happy I’m gonna travel and explore new places with him again.

Kevin has a friend who was born in Kutna hora and from what she told us, we just had to visit the town and I’m so pleased we did.

Kutna Hora is a small town with around 21K population in close proximity to Prague.

I like to consider myself a bit of a traveler.

I’ve traveled quite a lot for my young age but never have I ever visited a place with such a perfect organization structure as Kutna Hora. There is so freaking much to see and every attraction is in a few minutes’ distances from the other. Not to mention the cutes streets and honestly the nicest people ever.

We started our journey early in the morning when we took a train to Kutna Hora from Prague. It took us 40 minutes. It was basic Tuesday so I was not expecting many tourists.

I was mistaken.

On the train, we were sitting with a group of chines people and let me tell you a quick story of what happened.

The Chinese people bought an online ticket for the group so they’ll spend some money. What they didn’t do was read the terms and conditions of e-ticket just hit the agree button.

The conditions state that the e-ticket is only valid with an ID. The Chinese people didn’t have one on them and they went into major fight with a ticket collector. We were literally in the middle of the argument. Just sitting there. Minding our own business in a very uncomfortable situation.

The ticket collector explained that their ticket is invalid and they either need to buy a new one or they need to leave the train. Chinese people felt it was unfair they need to pay again just because they forgot their IDs. But you know, the rules are the rules. So after like 20 minutes or desperate arguing over who’s right, they had to pay for the new tickets anyway.

Moral of the story: Take your ID with you when you travel and read the terms and conditions all the time.

We had a list of what to see in Kutna Hora and that was it. We didn’t know how to actually get to those places but we were sure we would figure it out once we get there.

So there we were. Standing in front of Kutna Horas train station with a phone in my hand rotating the google map to see which way we need to turn first.

Suddenly, I was approached by a middle-aged woman. She asked me if we’re headed to the Cathedral. I was like: “Yeah I’m just figuring out which way to go” to what she replied: “Come I’ll drive you”.

This lady we literally never met before just selflessly offered to drive two random tourists in her own car. I was so struck by her kindness so I agreed.

Poor Kevin had no idea what was going on cuz I was speaking Czech with the lady. Only later on I realized how crazy and dangerous it could have been and I swear I don’t usually get into the car with strangers.

The lady was so nice it was unbelievable.

Not only did she drove us to the Cathedral, but she also told us what attraction to see next and what roads to take there, what restaurants to eat in and the basic history of the city. The car ride took like 5 minutes and her explanation of her good deed was, that she just hopes we have good time and that when she’s the tourist in some new place someone will help her too.

There are still people who spread kindness for kindness sake.

The first thing Kevin said after he got off the car was: “Why did she drove us?”

Well, because she was good and this trip was looking up to be incredible.

We were standing in front of St Barbara’s Cathedral from the 14th century. The size was enormous and I was already astonished by the architectural beauty. Photos captured what we saw better than I could ever describe it.

#gallery-0-29 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-29 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 20%; } #gallery-0-29 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-29 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

We were literally only ones inside the Cathedral. There was something magical about walking through the old majestic cathedral all alone. So peaceful.

There was just the nicest guy at the ticket booth and he explained that it’s cheaper for us to buy the ticket for 3 Kutna Hora’s attraction together rather than separate ones. So for 220kc, we got a ticket for St Barbara’s Cathedral, famous Ossuary and The Cathedral of our Lady of the Assumption and St John the Baptist. He also got us a map of Kutna Hora with every attraction numbered and described in both Czech and English and he gave us a text in English explaining the history of the cathedral we were standing in.

Pretty nice guy right?

After a tour inside the cathedral and several photographs, we were headed out when the nice ticket guy reminded us that there is also a balcony we might have missed and there is a lovely sight from up high so we went back once more. Still, we were the only visitors.

Right next to the St Barbaras cathedral is Corpus Christi Chapel originally designed as an ossuary and right opposite is the Jesuit College and the GASK gallery.

It’s a beautiful Baroque building that contains the Gallery of Central Bohemian Region. As we got in and were aimlessly searching the halls we met another nice lady who told us something about the history of the college and told us that the regular exhibitions are for free. Once again we were only tourists there and it was much different from the cathedral.

Old gothic cathedral was in great contrast with fine arts of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Besides us, the only people there were actual students and professors – or at least they seemed like the part.

#gallery-0-30 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-30 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-30 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-30 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Our next stop was Museum of silver, Hrádek and medieval mine and trust me it’s not as boring as it sounds. There are 2 tours you can choose from. The first one is basic museum but the second one is way more interesting. It’s called the Road of the Silver and you’ll be heading down to the mines.

The next English tour of the mines was available in like three hours so in meantime we got lunch and explored the town some more until it was time for us to get down to the mines.

As I was wearing a white coat and a protective helmet with a light on my head, walking down hundreds of steps underground to the silver mines, I realized this was not how I thought this day would go.

I was aware that Kevin mentioned some mines. I assumed it’s gonna be like pictures or maybe a video of the mines to see how people back then used to get silver. But as the wather from the mines was wetting all of my clothes I figured out this is a much better way of learning.

It’s important that you’re not claustrophobic or suffer from heart or lung diseases when entering the mines. Also, there were several breaking points when the mine halls get so narrow or small we literally had to crawl or walk sideways. It was pitch dark when we turned off our lights and I was high on adrenalin rush all the time. Most of the time I was so freaking grateful for the helmet cuz I was bumping my head a lot.

It was honestly one of the greatest and most unexpected experiences ever.

Besides actual mines, we got to see how they extracted the silver or how they processed it afterward.

The whole tour cost around 200kc per person including the 50kc for photos and it took something over one hour.

#gallery-0-31 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-31 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 20%; } #gallery-0-31 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-31 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

In between as we were just exploring Kutna Hora we wanted to visit the Italian court where the Museum of Legends and Ghosts is located. Unfortunately, they started reconstruction the same day we were there. Pitty.

Both the car lady and Kevin’s friends recommended this restaurant that also has great ratings at TripAdvisor called Dacicky. The whole interior was just incredible and the waitresses wore old bohemian costumes and were very friendly. Kevin got long-expected Czech beer and our lunch was spectacular. It’s in a great location and it totally meets the hype.

#gallery-0-32 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-32 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-32 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-32 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

I was surprised at how clean and well organized the town was.

Everywhere we turned was these incredibly cute buildings and even the weather was perfect for an October day. Well, so far cuz we would get rained on later that day. Kutna Hora is the sight like no other.

#gallery-0-33 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-33 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-33 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-33 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

The next stop was something I was the most excited about. The Sedlec Ossuary. This one is actually on the other side as all of the atractions so far. It’s much closer to the train station and from the museum of silver, it was like 30 min walk. You can take a bus or taxi but we wanted to walk as it was such a lovely day.

We were headed to the Roman Catholic Cemetery church of all Saints with an Ossuary.

It was hands down one of the creepiest and most awesome places I ever visited.

Basically it’s a small church with shit tons of skulls and bones arranged into different aesthetical shapes. The remains of about 60 000 people who died of plague or war are exposed in the ossuary since 16th century.

I’m sure you’re wondering what is the point of such a morbid place?

MEMENTO MORI

It’s a simple reminder that you will die.

#gallery-0-34 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-34 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-34 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-34 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

I will never get over the spectacular photographs I took in there.

There were only a few other tourists in the ossuary and judging from the visitors I saw I think the place is very popular among metalheads and rockers. I was particularly interested in the group of Mexican guys who looked like they definitely play in a heavy metal band.

We even went to a gift shop with them and got some pretty cool stuff.

As we stepped outside from the ossuary we found out it was raining. We quickly ran into the next and last stop of ours we already purchased tickets for in the morning. The Cathedral of our Lady of the Assumption and St John the Baptist is a beautiful cathedral in High Baroque style. Back in the days, it used to be the largest sacred building in Bohemian and Moravian around the year 1300.

I was fascinated by the boldness to display the remains of the saints right out there. You can see it in the photos. Also, I was particularly interested in the images mapping the reconstruction proceses done on the cathedral. The whole place was rather empty by the time we arrived, which was around 5 o’clock in the evening.

#gallery-0-35 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-35 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 20%; } #gallery-0-35 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-35 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

We successfully managed to spend a great day in Kutna Hora.

The kindness of the residents’ people was breathtaking. Just like the beauty of the whole town that has so much to offer.

Kutna Hora is, in my opinion, the top 2 places to visit in Czechia.

First being my beloved Prague.

  Exploring Czechia with an American: Kutna Hora edition I've spent most of my childhood in America. Good times I must say. 3 years ago I returned to have a summer of my life in the states exploring the beauty of the east coast and oh boy did I have a great time.