Krakow and Prague

I found out that there is no train from Riga to Krakow or even Riga to Warsaw. I was warned that I would start seeing lots of nuns from the time I entered Poland. Not only Poland, but the several nuns boarded the bus with me and a few other lay people. I boarded a bus headed for Warsaw, Poland. Leaving at 9:30 PM, it was due to arrive in Warsaw at 8:30 AM. Hmmm, eleven hours on a bus, I wasn't sure that I could endure an all nighter of that nature. Nevertheless, my dear wife left me with just the drug to deal with the situation- Ambian. I popped it almost immediately as I sat down on the bus. There were two bus drivers and no potty on board. The alternate bus driver had just the anti- sleeping potient to combat my secret elixer. He pops in a copy of "Big Stan" in the DVD player on the bus. (Short review: Don't waste your time!)

You must experience this. An American movie plays with barely audible English and a huskey voiced Pole translating the whole movie, dialogue by dialogue, word by word. It was hard to endure and kept me awake more than an hour even with the Ambien. But finally sleep ensued.

I work to bright sun in my face and looked at my watch. It said 2 AM. I feel asleep again and awoke to the bright sun and my watch still saying 2 AM. As you may have guessed, my watch stopped. My train was to leave the main train station and the person who sold me the bus tickets told me to ask the bus driver if he would stop at the main train station before driving a mile farther in Warsaw to the main bus station. I tried to talk Polish to the sister sitting next to me. (Really, I know no Polish- only a little Russian- and I hear Russian ticks off the Poles.) With the aid of a map she communicated to the bus drive and he answered with a firm "Ney!"

Consequently I had to board a rush hour bus and tool it back to the train station. The train station in the center of time is just left of arguably the ugliest building in Eastern Europe. Designed by Stalin in the mid- 30's, it is the tallest Soviet pre- modern "Ugly" monstrosity. A building that the Polish have a love/ hate relationship with, I am told. They love to hate it.

I arrived in Krakow about 2 PM, quickly found my cute hotel in the Jewish Quarter. Introduced myself to the famous Kristine with whom I have had an intermittent email correspondance with. "I will arrive on.... stay for three nights..."; my next email: " I will arrive on ... and stay for two nights..."; my next email: "I am sorry I underestimated the time it would take me to travel to Krakow.... I can only stay one night..." And Kristina write to me, "and you can only find the time to visit our beautiful city for one night?" I gave her one of my California key ring gift (Made in China) to try and sooth the hurt feelings.

I am torn. There is a line to use the Internet here at the hostle in Prague. I must tell of my whirlwind tour of Prague, then the hazzardous trip on the train from Krakow to Prague. But I think that you must wait for that story for another time.

Bye.