Budapest and Krakow - The Journey Back Up
It is getting close. Way to freaking close. At this point Im actually stannding in the hostel lobby in Berlin about to set out for my last proper day before I fly back.
After Belgrade it was time for me to make my way back up the continent. Europe is small but it still takes time getting from place to place (especially with these darn night trains where you can legit see cars passing you on the street). I thought (you can already here the mistake I made there) I would spend a nigth or two in Budapest before heading to the Tatras mountains in Slovakia for a couple of days to do some hiking and chill out, but nevertheless Budapest persisted and insisted I stay another three nights instead. Curse you! I stayed at my favourite place ever again, Meander, and saw all the lovely, amazing people who work there like Naomi, Billy, Sky, Lil B, Dopy, and my favorite, Tej. The main reason I extended for so long was because my beloved friend Adam, who I met on Base camp trek, just so happen to be in town. We were in for a treat. I also got to meet his mates Josh, Abbot, and Jack who were all such delights. I did what I usually do in Budapest, just have a good wander around admiring the beautiful architecture and sample Pest's manz coffeeshops. The highlight for me was when we all rented a bike scooter to take around Margaret Island (there were some agressive overtakes of families on these bikes which I wasnt quite ready for). As fun as it is travelling solo it is so nice having people you know and love to check in with. It made me so excited to see all my friends at home!
I finally decide to escape that place and head off for Slovakia, or so I thought. I said goodbye to the boys (thanks for putting up with my hyperness and hope you guys have the greatest trip!) and my ray of sunshine Adam. Accodring to Rome2Rio there were two trains I needed to take to get to Kosice and then a bus I could take to get to Tatras in Slovakia, so off I went taking the trains. The trains got dodgier with each switch. By the third train It looked like this one had really gone through the European train ringer. The train stopped at the last station which didnt even have a sign and an old man appears. I was trying to look for any sign of a schedule but only the guards and the conductor (apparently the old man who lives at the station) said that I needed to go to the bus station which was a bench on the other side of the street. Well I had missed the bus and the next one wasnt until 8:30pm. I asked how do I get to Slovakia and I kid you not the guards just point me down the street and tell me to walk there, about 8 kilometers. Not so bad but what do I do once I get there. I couldnt stop laughing. This whole situation was thoroughly entertaining but also I knew that Slovakia was not happening at this point, so I hopped back on my lonesome train all the way to Budapest. You have fooled me yet again. I was so zonked that I fell asleep as soon as I sat down in the station. These were just one of those travelling days where nothing was going the way I wanted it to go. It was tough and exhausting but you have those days. They make all the other 179 days of travel worth it.
I left for Krakow the next morning. Poland is such a gem. I couldve have spent quite a bit of time here but I guess you got to save a little for next time. The hostel I sayed at was really a deal breaker. It fullfilled every hostel dream a backpacker could want mainly because they had free breakfasat, dinner, and beer. The first night there I was have a little stroll through the old city when I came across a church (shocker). They happen to be holding a chamber concert of Vivaldi's four seasons that night. It was out of my price range but at this point I was like sod it, when in Krakow and wow Im so glad I did. The first song was cello suite no. 1 by Bach which is my favorite classical song. I started balling right then and there. It was just so beautiful. My next day was not so beautiful but so important. I wen to Aushwitz and Birkenau. I am quite awkward when it comes to sad things. I have trouble fully comprehending them until much later, like I will be sitting on a bus weeks from now when the idea that I wen to a death camp will hit me. It also is hard to take in because its just so empty and barren. Theres really no sign that human life was ever there. I would say the thing that stuck to me was how scientific these camps were. The nazis had it down to an absolute tee on how to dehumanize and kill these people, a total of 1.1 million. They collected the prisoners hair to be used to make german military uniforms. They told kids that they were going to take showers. Every single thing they did took these people further and further away from any type of identity that they associated themselves with. After having seen and experienced some of the most beautiful things that the world has to offer it was impossible for me to understand why someone would try to cause so much hurt. The world is full of the most beautiful people and places. Why would you try to take that away?
I spent my last few days just walking. Oh man Im going to miss walking so much. I took a brilliant walking tour around the old Jewish quarter that enlightented me on Oscar Schindler (hes a good guy? mostly?) There are always controversies in history. A true history mystery. My last night there was one of the funnest nights ever. I needed some good fun after having digested that much Polish history over the last few days. A group of us at the hostel attempted to lead our own pub crawl and I have to say we crushed it. In Krakow, they are known for like shot cocktails and one of them is hazelnut vodka witha splash of milk. I know, odd, but man it was tasty. We ended up meeting some Polish girls who sent us off to this cool beer garden place. It was just the most perfect night to round up my time in Europe. I spent my last day in Krakow sampling some potato pierogis, fried cheese with cranberry sauce (the tastiest thing I have ever put in my mouth) and beetroot soup (a cup of straight health). It was now time for Berlin. My last stop.
After Belgrade it was time for me to make my way back up the continent. Europe is small but it still takes time getting from place to place (especially with these darn night trains where you can legit see cars passing you on the street). I thought (you can already here the mistake I made there) I would spend a nigth or two in Budapest before heading to the Tatras mountains in Slovakia for a couple of days to do some hiking and chill out, but nevertheless Budapest persisted and insisted I stay another three nights instead. Curse you! I stayed at my favourite place ever again, Meander, and saw all the lovely, amazing people who work there like Naomi, Billy, Sky, Lil B, Dopy, and my favorite, Tej. The main reason I extended for so long was because my beloved friend Adam, who I met on Base camp trek, just so happen to be in town. We were in for a treat. I also got to meet his mates Josh, Abbot, and Jack who were all such delights. I did what I usually do in Budapest, just have a good wander around admiring the beautiful architecture and sample Pest's manz coffeeshops. The highlight for me was when we all rented a bike scooter to take around Margaret Island (there were some agressive overtakes of families on these bikes which I wasnt quite ready for). As fun as it is travelling solo it is so nice having people you know and love to check in with. It made me so excited to see all my friends at home!
I finally decide to escape that place and head off for Slovakia, or so I thought. I said goodbye to the boys (thanks for putting up with my hyperness and hope you guys have the greatest trip!) and my ray of sunshine Adam. Accodring to Rome2Rio there were two trains I needed to take to get to Kosice and then a bus I could take to get to Tatras in Slovakia, so off I went taking the trains. The trains got dodgier with each switch. By the third train It looked like this one had really gone through the European train ringer. The train stopped at the last station which didnt even have a sign and an old man appears. I was trying to look for any sign of a schedule but only the guards and the conductor (apparently the old man who lives at the station) said that I needed to go to the bus station which was a bench on the other side of the street. Well I had missed the bus and the next one wasnt until 8:30pm. I asked how do I get to Slovakia and I kid you not the guards just point me down the street and tell me to walk there, about 8 kilometers. Not so bad but what do I do once I get there. I couldnt stop laughing. This whole situation was thoroughly entertaining but also I knew that Slovakia was not happening at this point, so I hopped back on my lonesome train all the way to Budapest. You have fooled me yet again. I was so zonked that I fell asleep as soon as I sat down in the station. These were just one of those travelling days where nothing was going the way I wanted it to go. It was tough and exhausting but you have those days. They make all the other 179 days of travel worth it.
I left for Krakow the next morning. Poland is such a gem. I couldve have spent quite a bit of time here but I guess you got to save a little for next time. The hostel I sayed at was really a deal breaker. It fullfilled every hostel dream a backpacker could want mainly because they had free breakfasat, dinner, and beer. The first night there I was have a little stroll through the old city when I came across a church (shocker). They happen to be holding a chamber concert of Vivaldi's four seasons that night. It was out of my price range but at this point I was like sod it, when in Krakow and wow Im so glad I did. The first song was cello suite no. 1 by Bach which is my favorite classical song. I started balling right then and there. It was just so beautiful. My next day was not so beautiful but so important. I wen to Aushwitz and Birkenau. I am quite awkward when it comes to sad things. I have trouble fully comprehending them until much later, like I will be sitting on a bus weeks from now when the idea that I wen to a death camp will hit me. It also is hard to take in because its just so empty and barren. Theres really no sign that human life was ever there. I would say the thing that stuck to me was how scientific these camps were. The nazis had it down to an absolute tee on how to dehumanize and kill these people, a total of 1.1 million. They collected the prisoners hair to be used to make german military uniforms. They told kids that they were going to take showers. Every single thing they did took these people further and further away from any type of identity that they associated themselves with. After having seen and experienced some of the most beautiful things that the world has to offer it was impossible for me to understand why someone would try to cause so much hurt. The world is full of the most beautiful people and places. Why would you try to take that away?
I spent my last few days just walking. Oh man Im going to miss walking so much. I took a brilliant walking tour around the old Jewish quarter that enlightented me on Oscar Schindler (hes a good guy? mostly?) There are always controversies in history. A true history mystery. My last night there was one of the funnest nights ever. I needed some good fun after having digested that much Polish history over the last few days. A group of us at the hostel attempted to lead our own pub crawl and I have to say we crushed it. In Krakow, they are known for like shot cocktails and one of them is hazelnut vodka witha splash of milk. I know, odd, but man it was tasty. We ended up meeting some Polish girls who sent us off to this cool beer garden place. It was just the most perfect night to round up my time in Europe. I spent my last day in Krakow sampling some potato pierogis, fried cheese with cranberry sauce (the tastiest thing I have ever put in my mouth) and beetroot soup (a cup of straight health). It was now time for Berlin. My last stop.
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