I had a great nights sleep in that hotel, and went to check out the “free breakfast” it was the usual crappy bread and jam and I would hardly call it a breakfast.
20-Mar-2011 11:06, Sony Ericsson U20i, 0.001 sec, ISO 40 |
The poprietor was overly friendly, he seemed mad keen on the hospitality nonsense which usually wouldn’t go down well with me. He didnt speak a word of English though so he just kept trying and trying.
We sorted our rubbish and went to pay, could have easily walked out but we have morals.. Obviously. They tried to sting us for the breakfast, we argued, won and headed off to the station.
20-Mar-2011 11:21, Sony Ericsson U20i, 0.003 sec, ISO 40 |
The next train back to Lichkov would mean missing the train to Wroclaw and delay us by 6 hours or so, we werent in a rush but didnt fancy the wait.
We wandered away from the train station and saw a taxi parked, we figured it must have a number on it and had 40 mins to make it to Lichkov. Randomly (as always) there was an old geezer standing on his balcony smoking (right balcony no 3 in case you’re interested). After another incomprehensible exchange he came down and agreed to take us. We even got an inflight snack, though Bryan (the yank) didnt trust him and pocketed it using me as the poison guniea pig. I had similar thoughts… But also didnt care.
We arrived back at lichkov, he pointed out the boozer where we had already been and he went back to his balcony i presume.
20-Mar-2011 11:38, Sony Ericsson U20i, 0.004 sec, ISO 40 |
We waited for the train to arrive and jumped aboard, we managed to just pay for a ticket into Poland and went in search of a bankomat at the first stop “i dont have polish money” this phrase turned out to be invaluble as there was no way of getting cash at the next station.
We had a chat in the front of the train with the conductor, driver and some other geezers in half polish half nonsense and he just ushered us away eventually. On his return we managed to make a strange deal with what cheque korons and polsih zloty we had.
20-Mar-2011 12:25, Sony Ericsson U20i, 0.003 sec, ISO 40 |
We continued into Poland and felt an over whelming sense of relief to be back in such a great country.
In general we found the Czechs to be a bit cold and closed and generally unhelpful which is quite a contrast after being in Poland.
On our final train ride we realised we were starving hungry and without any cash or food. Luckily I had stolen a small tub of strawberry jam from that pathetic breakfast. I lapped it down and then simply said “i am hungry” a few times in polish. Before our nearest passenger departed he said, “I heard you are hungry, this is all i have, please take it” Perfect example of a Pole.
So good to be back!
Riding trains gives me plenty of time for tapping away but I will be staying in Wroclaw for a while now… Im off to explore!
P.S. Intercity trains are rubbish. It cost exactly the same to go stop half way in Lichkov, stay in a hotel, go out for dinner,beers and hire a taxi as it would have cost to travel directly from Brno to Wroclaw!
