Day 11: Zamość
The Orbis hotel ("Hotel Zamojski") was the nicest and probably the most expensive hotel in Zamosc. It had recently been totally renovated and was very classy. (And a good value for $75 per night for a double room.)

The breakfast was interesting. We could eat from the buffet and also have a warm item. Chase wanted pancakes. I told the nelly queen he could get them back in NYC. They wouldn't have them at the hotel.

So, I ordered some "Vienna style eggs" for both of us. Who would have known that "Vienna style" means "prepared in a really, really yucky way?"

Now, eggs are undeveloped chicken embryos. "Vienna style eggs" really make this demonstrate concept well.

Understand that I'm a very adventuresome eater and will eat almost everything that is put in front of me. Even I agreed that these eggs were "f'nasty." Damn valley crappers (i.e. Austrians.)




BUS ADVENTURE

We decided to check on our train possibilities, as the train we had planned on taking was to leave at 5:00 am, which was not very friendly.

The bus station was a good ways from the center but we decided to walk it, to see a bit more of the city. There were a lot of interesting shops, etc.

The bus station was crowded and chaotic, with several lines

Eventually, we found a line. The man sold me two tickets to Kraków. It would leave at 8:10 am, which was a lot better than the 5:00 am train. But then I asked him when the bus would arrive in Kraków. He said 16:10. What??? 8 Hours? Could this be correct? He motioned yes.

I was mildly annoyed, but was willing to travel in a bus for 8 hours.

Chase insisted that there had to be a better option.

After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to find express busses, we decided to try to return the bus tickets, then go to the train station to go with our initial plan, by train.

Amazingly, the guy refunded us money for the bus tickets!





LUNCH

We had a late lunch at an Irish pub themed restaurant. I ate Zurek (clear soup with sausage and a boiled egg) with a sandwich and Chase had a compote soup and friend Camembert.

I had wanted to check my mail and etc, so we returned to the hotel and made use of their wireless hotspot, much to my delight. Germany didn't have such places, even Zamosc, a town of 65,000 people had a couple of options.

We walked around and did the tourist thing, taking pictures.



We had some tea with rum and surfed the net, etc.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Chase suggested a pizzeria and that sounded good.

Chase got a standard Hawaiian pizza, which had ingredients I knew in Polish. I ordered something different. I knew my pizza would have ham and onion, but there were two mystery ingredients. You got it! Pickles and bacon! It was good!

I had pondered going out for a beer or two, but I was tired, so we went back. After showering, I promptly passed out. (with almost no alcohol in my system, I might add.)
- posted by Matt @ 12:54 PM