My first trip to the Czech republic

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This is not only my first visit to the Czech republic but also my first enter into Travel blog. I have meant to blog about my travels since I read Judy Lay's blog but without success until now. (Judy Lay is my role model on this, we met in Crakow in 2006 - then again in Iceland but unfortunately I lost connetion to her, which I am so sorry for).

As for my visit to the Czech republic- I am staying in Ostrava. I have a meeting here for two days, otherwise I would probably have chosen Prag (Praha). My trip began at Keflavik international airport yesterday and I flew to Copenhagen. I managed to sleep all through the flight so that was an easy one. I went into the city of Copenhagen and checked my family into Wake Up hotel, which is nice and neat, but the rooms are small like a wardrobe. Close to the hotel is the mall Fisketorvet where we had lunch in a restaurant I believe is called the President. It had pictures of all the american presidents hanging on the walls, and it was very americanized. I had a Nixon burger which was tasty and the bread was made frome wholewheat.

Well, later in the afternoon I took a taxi to Kastrup airport - it only took about 15 minutes, I don't remember the price but I think I paid 300 kronur. I then checked in with air berlin and the man at the desk was most helpful and nice. He told me not to worry about Berlin-Tegel airport which he said was small, and gave me a map to find my way around. The flight was about an hour and was easy. I managed to sleep at least 2/3 of it. The man was right about Tegel, and I found my way quickly to the Crakowian flight- also with air berlin. I had to wait though for an hour and a half. The plane to Crakow was smaller and a lot noiser than the one before. I couldn't sleep and I took a coffee, while my seat mate took gin and tonic. The flight was maybe an hour and a quarter and I was bored. I was really relieved when we landed.

In Belize airport things went very smoothly and I soon got my luggage and was out. I took a taxi to the hotel down town - Andel's hotel Crakowia, (The taxi driver was very nice and offered to drive me to Ostrava for 200 euros, but I declined). This hotel I had chosen especially because it was so close to the railway station where I was supposed to take a train at 6:10 next morning (today). After checking in I asked the concierce how to get to the "train" - called Tiger-express. He got on line to find out and told me I had to go through the galleria Krakowska and to the train station and probably to the top floor to the parking lot and it would not be a train but a bus. I went to sleep utterly secure, but I was very hungry because I hadn't eaten since I had the Nixon burger. It was already midnight and all restaurants were closed. But when I unpacked my luggage I found dry fish (harðfiskur) which is a traditional Icelandic food, in my suitcase, which I had intended to bring to the meeting. I didn't eat it all but it definitely saved my life, like it probably did for people in Iceland for centuries.

I was really stressed when I got up, and knowing the timelessness of my self I was out from the hotel 45 minutes before I had to catch the bus. That means 5:25 am. But here comes the confusing part of my travels. Because I was so early, there were no Information desks open yet. And the people I asked for directions to the "parking lot" gave me either no information or wrong information. At 6:10 and I still hadn't found Tiger-express I was about to burst into tears. Then a miracle happened. The bus driver called me and told me they were waiting for me (in the parking lot). But he wasn't any good in giving directions so I asked the first guy I saw to help me and put him on the phone. He apparently knew where to go so I followed him. Yes, that's me, trusting strangers! I felt really embarrassed when he asked me if this was my first time in Crakow. Although I didn't tell him this was my 15th time, I admitted being there before. Finally we entered the "parking lot" and I said goodbye and thanks to the gentleman who escorted me there without even getting his name. Turned out the "parking lot" of Tiger-express was right across the street from my hotel and I could have slept until 6:00.

The busdrive was maybe 2 hours, who cares? I slept all the way in a Tiger-express bus with 4 other women. And I made it to Ostrava on time!

I didn't see much of Ostrava today, as I was busy at meetings all day. But the prices here are NICE, even better than in Poland. And the currency is called krona. Let me get back to you later!

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