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an accidental stop over in Warsaw

Berlin was so grim and the prospect of sitting inside for another day or dodging puddles was driving me batty. I went to book on the late train to Krakow and discovered it was full....so my only option to get to Krakow was to leave at 2.40pm and ask the conductor if I could possibly connect to Krakow without making a reservation. Alas the conductor waved me on without understanding my situation. So it was to Krakow via Warsaw that I set off.


I found my way into a 6 seater cabin with a Warsaw Doctor  who works with an Aucklander and two Polish men all looking forward to a weekend with their families. The 7 hour train journey was their regualar Friday commute it seems. We stopped 10 minutes on and were all shuffled by a Electronic Cigarette smoking mother and her grim son for their designgated seats. As I had not reserved a seat I made a fast shuffle and was just grateful for a place to rest in the dry.


We had a nice journey through rainy countryside with dilapidated train stations one after the other. Before reaching Poland the Mother and Child departed and the fight for seats was on from Poznan Glowny where huge groups boarded the train. With little fuss we ensured no-one in our compartment moved and I was later told by The Doc that this is typical Polish - book a seat but not bothered where they finally end up nothing like the Germans!


Shortly before we were to arrive in Warsaw the men all asked when I would arrive in Krakow. When I replied 3am they convinced me to seek alternatives suggesting this would be silly especially when the train was to take 6 hours and it usually takes 3. So I took their advice and ended up embarking at Warsaw for the night.


After 3 hours walking searching for a hostel I have secured a room in the Wilson Hostel in the Venus room. Everyone here is so very friendly and many people were helpful giving directions. I like this city. It has a professional like vibe  and a few stunning buildings taken in enroute (but not on my camera!). I'm settled  now after having a good chat with a Polish woman who is fast convincing me to ditch the SEA part of my tour and head straight to India where she spent a year!


My train leaves at 7.12am so I should really get some kip.


Other items of note. My mobile number is no longer working so refrain from texting me as I may never receive them and I have lost the sim card which Liz is trying to reconnect my number with...my headphones have died and I am surviving on little food. Me thinks the lows at the start of the trip can only improve my experience.

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