So this is Poland.

---

I'm in Krakow now. It's not pronounced like "crack-cow" or "crack-cov", it's more like
"crack-koo-f". Ooookay...

I left Tallinn, Estonia by bus last Saturday and we bumped, swayed, and finally rolled our way into Warsaw (which sounds like var-zah-va??) after 16 hours. 16 hours!! That's longer than the flight from Thailand to Finland!

I was feelin' so icky when I finally got off the bus, but it wasn't like, oh yeay, let me kiss the ground, I'm finally in Poland, it was more like, oh crap, so this is Poland?

Oops. I'm already knocking Poland in my first post, my bad.

So during that 16 hour ride, let me tell ya, a lot of NADA happened. First of all, the Lonely Planet guide book was wrong. There's noooooo food being sold on the bus. One's gotta be prepared else it's a long and hungry 16 hours ahead. Like it was for me. But I thought there was going to be food! To make matters worse, I didn't have lunch that day before I got on the bus. >:-(

All I had with me was a handful of almonds, 4 fake crabmeat sticks (don't ask), and a yougurt sized thing of potato salad. And a bottle of water. I knew to ration my food when I realized that I couldn't buy anything on the bus, but I made the mistake of eating the crabmeat stick first instead of the potato salad. The longer the potato salad stayed in my bag, the more I didn't want to eat it b/c having ahem intestinal problems on a 16 hour ride was the last thing I needed!

We did stop 3 or 4 times for the smokers and folks who had to pee, but none of the stops were at food places. (I sure like to bore everyone with the mundane details, don't I)

Anyhow, I collected 3 new immigration stamps during that ride.

And when I arrived in the Warsaw bus station, I still couldn't buy anything to eat because I didn't have any Polish money. It being a Sunday, the only money changer in the bus station was off. All I had on me was some Euros and some Kroons. Fine. That's ok. I can hold out until I get to Krakow...

So I went to the bus information place to ask about the next bus to Krakow.

Why didn't I go ask for a train? Because I'm stupid and I forgot that there are trains and they are faster. At times like that, it's best to be traveling with another person b/c that other person would probably say,"hey what do you think abou taking a fast train instead?" of another butt numbing 5.5 hour bus ride?

But I was by myself...

Now to the bus info lady. She was very pretty.. But that's about the only thing I could compliment on. Man, she was like Terminator 3! Not very customer service orientated, is what I'm trying to say, and quite scary with her icy stare.

Anyway, the bus from Warsaw to Krakow wasn't leaving for another 1.5 hours. I wanted to put my bag into a locker but the locker only took Zlotys. Figures. Then I sort of panicked because I didn't have any Zlotys to pay for the bus ride either (you pay the driver) and what if he didn't take Euros... So I came up with this brilliant idea of walking to the closest bank/atm and getting some zlotys. But I had no where to put my bags. :-/ Here's another instance where a travelling partner would've come in handy.

What could I do, I headed out of the bus station with all of my possessions to look for a bank/atm.

I turned left (like you'd know where that is...) because according to my guide book (which I really should not trust so much), there are banks near the center of town and the center it to the left.

I walk and I walk and I walk. I walk for about 20 minutes and it was no walk in the park; it was more like walking along the side of the expressway and overpasses... Dreadfully industrial looking place. 20 minutes and I was still no where near center (calculating....); I had to turn back or else I might not be able to catch the bus on time. So I wasted 40 minutes just walking, with my packs, and without having had real food in 20 hours.

I made it back to the bus station, zloty-less. I see a Chinese/Vietnamese food place and thinking a couple of things.

1. dang, we're everywhere!
2. maybe those people will feel sorry for me and let me pay with euros for a bowl or soup or something...

I walk in.. There were no customers but it smelled smoky. I approached the counter and see my hopes of a hot meal diminish. Two Polish ladies were behind the counter. Neither was as pretty as the terminator 3 lady, and both had "nie" (sounds like nee-ah) written on their faces. :-/ So I ask anyway, if I can pay with Euros, and just as I expected, NIE.

Figures that's the reception I get from Warsaw!

I trudge back inside the bus station. Then I came up with another brilliant idea.
I'm full of them, aren't I. I can take a taxi to the bank/atm and have the driver drive me back! This way I won't have to walk and I will have zlotys for the bus to Krakow.

So I look through the back of my Lonely Planet Guide book to see what the word is for ATM (because I don't think in Poland they call it ah-tay-m, or anything like that visa commercial where the good looking couple loses their credit cards in the middle of the desert and a little boy yells out AH-TUM and then leads them through winding streets paste camels and donkies to the ATM machine).

Ayway, ATM = BANKOMAT

I pulled out a piece of paper, draw a circle with a cross in it to denote "here", drew an arrow to the word "BANKOMAT" and then another arrow back to the circle with the cross. See, you don't need to speak Polish to get by, you just need to know how to draw.

Then I headed out to the taxi stand to call a taxi. And here's where I should've trusted my instincts instead of just being lazy. The first taxi guy called out to me in English "you need taxi?" so I said yea, even though earlier when I passed his taxi I didn't like it bc it looked dirty and I liked the other one behind it better. But what the hell, he spoke english, I needed a ride, he's the first in the que, it would be rude of me to skip him to go to the second taxi.

Long story short, I got ripped off. He gave me some bullshit and said the trip would be 40 zlotys (about 10 bucks). It can't be that much, I thought, but having already spent 40 minutes walking and trying to find an ATM myself, 10 dollars didn't seem that bad. See, my laziness cost me 10 bucks. The ride actually cost 49, and later on I found out that it should've been more like 20. Fucker.

But I got my zlotys.

I made it onto the bus to Krakow. They didn't sell food on this one either.

We started going. I had no idea if I was on the 'express bus' or the kind that stops at every one horse town, I just knew that I paid approx 38 zlotys and that was less than the taxi ride.

It turned out to be not the express bus, but it did stop in 3 or 4 different towns to pick up more people. At each stop it was possible to get off and grab some food from the stalls but I couldn't figure out what the driver said about the stopping time and so I was afraid to get off. What if it took off withot me.

So count that, another 5.5 hours of no real food. I drink more of my water (since I knew the end was near, I could almost finish the bottle). I eat some more almonds.

5.5 hours later, I made it into Krakow, yeay.

But I wasn't about to kiss the ground there, either.

When I got off the bus, it was another, omg moment. All the signs were in Polish, and we were unloaded in the basement level of the depot so I didn't know how to get out!

I sure sound pathetic.

But I did find my way out and make it, again, to the information desk. It was an older lady, think grandma-ish age. So I thought, well, she can't be mean to me! She's gonna be grandmotherly! Wrrrong. I go up and not even really trying to do complicated sentences, I just say (and also gesturing with my hands at the same time)


"map?"


And guess what she said.


"No. "


Oh. Thanks. FOr nothing! How can a tourist information place have no maps?? We're supposed to draw circles and lines and make our own maps??

Maybe I take these things too personally. They're just being themselves. They can't help it but be totally against helping helpless tourists. Even though they work at information desks .

ok, whatever. I've made it this far...

I wasn't even going to TRY and figure out how to get to my place by public transport, I was 100%!r(MISSING)eady to just jump into another taxi. Though this time I was going to pick my own ride instead of having him pick me.

I found the taxi stand. There were 2 taxis. Neither tried to approach me, so that was already a better sign than Warsaw. I go up to both and I said "taxi"? And then the first guy, who's the first in the que, helped me get my bags into the trunk. And then he drove me to my place... It was only 20 zlotys, about 5 bucks.



* * *

I'm living with a family right now in a pretty suburby place. If you have google earth, here is where I am:

ul. Lea 244
Krakow, Pland


ul. is short for street (which I forgot how to spell) and 244 is the building number.

I'm on the 5th floor, no elevator, and about 20 minutes walk away from the school. If I speed walk it. I'm situated between two streets which have tram/trolly lines but to walk to each would take me about 10 minutes, so in a way, I envy the students who live 20 minutes away by tram. At least they can tram it all the way!

I had 2 days of Polish lessons already. It's definitely harder than German. I can't even count to 10 properly. Like their three is spelled

trzy.

Hello, where's the vowel. (it sounds a bit like the chinese sound for cut, or the first sound of eggplant)

And their 19 is spelled (get ready)


dziewiętnaście

which to me sounds like

jay-van-nashtray


It's hard. What can I say.

Ok, time to go home. No pics. I'm having no luck finding good internet cafes.

---

Comments

[Wendy]

zdhuykeumgn scieni
Did you get the subject line? that's Polish for, "the heck are you going to do with Polish lessons?"

[alex]

You are a jerk
I spent two weeks in Poland last autumn. Had a great time, great food, easy to get around, wonderful people and most speak English. You are a jerk for not as you said not taking a train to Krakow from Warsaw. Warsaw is wonderful, the old town is spectacular and the history is very interesting, Krakow is old, beautiful, well preserved and they are both very friendly places to visit. Since you are a jerk, remember, this isn't your local neighborhood, but two international cities, not your local-yocal town. If you want rude go to london, Paris, and Rome.

[judylay]

Chill, Alex
you spent 2 weeks in Poland, I'm about to spend 5 weeks. If I really can't stand it at all, I'd already be on my way to Germany. There are rude people everywhere, include on the internet, and since this is MY blog, I can bitch about them if I feel like. I don't see what your point is for calling me a jerk for not taking the train. I didn't think of it. Like I said, I was hungry and tired and had no one to remind me of that obvious fact. I admitted it was stupid, but you think it's necessary to call me a jerk? Sheesh, rude people everywhere. My local neighborhood is "international", more so than Krakow or Warsaw if you are referring to the sheer number of foreigners and international recognition. And I have been to London, Paris and Rome. I didn't have a blog when I toured those places but I'm sure if I did, I'd complain about those rude people, too!

[Interesrted]

Ahh, travel
Lol, sounds like you had an interesting time in Poland - but really i do have to point out, that it does seem you are maybe travelling alone for the first time :) - don't get offended, but seriously, not being able to find a ATM near the bus station in warsaw!!!! i mean, that actually takes talent- there are ATM's (not to mention money changing places) EVERYWHERE. Plus, almost all restuarant, fast food places take visa. Plus, all the hotels areound the palce take dolalr/euro - and theuy all have restaurants.... plus there is a mcdonald, burger king, kfc, kebab store etc, tat also takes visa.... anyway, I shouldnt bitch, I had a very similar experience in new york, except that the taxi driver didnt rip me off for ten bucks, but stole my 2000 dollar laptop... But i wtill love new york ... Good luck with your travels :)

[jean- pierre (it's my starbucks name)]

its actualy somthing like " co masz robic na lekcjah polskiego"
Great blog entry Judy, It almost feels like you enjoy bitching so much that will keep you in poland for a while dont mind the ...... keep learning polish , you never know when its gonna get handy ;) yes keep practising: raz dwa trzy cztery

[judylay]

Not my first time traveling alone..
just my first time in Poland! :) I really didn't see any ATMs in the bus station... can I just blame that on my bad eyesight? Thanks!