01/01 Day 14 NEW YEAR’S DAY
I set my Wal*Mart alarm clock for 8:45 am and naturally, it did not go off. Head hurting, I woke up on my own at 10:00. Darn. I need some food. I threw on some smoky clothes and went to the breakfast buffet downstairs. Management, thank you for extending the hours for me.

I shoved all my stuff into my suitcases. And because “train station anly shart 10 minute walk,” I opted to hoof it the ½ mile stretch.

On the train to Warsaw, I met two friendly, attractive Dutch people. We gabbed, although I got the impression that they wanted to rest and not talk, so I tried to be non-intrusive.

WARSAW

Ah, Warsaw’s main train station. I have such fond memories of it. Later that night, a Warsavite had the following to say about it:

“We have in Warsaw special treasure, special award. Our ‘Warsawa Centralna’ train station is getting every yar the prize for the most agly train station in Europe. With exception of Asia, it is probably the most agly train station in warld. Not pratty.”

The taxi driver dropped me at the door of my hotel. The guy at the reception desk was in his late 30s. He looked tired and thoroughly bored. It was very quiet.

After some discussion, he told me that he had been up all night then reported to work this morning after partying. He was tired. I told him that he needed a beer to get over his hangover (or his ‘head harting,’ as he put it.) To make things worse, he also has a cold.

Sometimes I just get these ideas… I decided to go on a mission to buy him a shot of hard alcohol and something for his cold. I walked from central Warsaw all the way to the old town. Most shops were closed, being new year’s day.

I laid the Halls on the desk and I told him that I had brought him something for his cold. He thanked me. I then laid the bottle of vodka on the table, which was conceiled in paper. The form was obvious and he smiled. I mentioned that that would help to get over last night and his cold. He said he could not drink it now. But, well, with Halls and vodka, one never knows what he did…


Warsaw’s Old Town


More of Warsaw’s Old Town

Oh, during my walk around Warsaw, I managed to get lost. I mean, the towering Science & Technology building makes it hard to be really lost as it is an obvious landmark. Still, I didn’t know which way back. So I asked directions. And, in every case, people stopped and helped me. In two cases, the people spoke to me in English and smiled. I give Warsavites a hard time. They really are nice people. Polish people, in general, are educated, nice, down to earth people.


Science and Technology Building, Warsaw (It's a bit obnoxious, but I like this building!)

You got to love people who have “bitch” (well, technically “byc”) meaning the verb “to be.”

I ate at Café San Marzano, a Spanish owned pizzeria. The pizza was simply delicious.

Although I was totally tired, I decided to go out for a couple of beers. I was in bed by 11:00. I set my alarm on my cell phone as this way works. As mentioned, the Wal*Mart alarm clock is just hours away from meeting its maker. Well, not the Chinese, I mean. Well. You know what I mean.
- posted by Matt @ 4:46 AM