Day 17: KRAKOW AND WROCLAW
Chase was feeling a bit better, but was a bit tired. I let him sleep and showered and went downstairs to get some breakfast. I brought some tea and toast upstairs.

TRAIN ISSUES & UNEXPECTED GOOD DEED

I told Chase we needed to leave by 11:00 to get the 11:30 train. But I was mistaken on the time. I double checked online.

I told Chase to get a move on. I paid for the 5 nights and brought my luggage downstairs. He soon followed and we got into an elderly taxicab.

It was 10:48 and the train was to leave at 11:15. The taxi took every side street he knew to get us there. We waited five valuable minutes at one side street. The cab driver was bored and pulled out a small notebook, which he started reading.

Don't worry about us, buddy!

We finally got to the train station at 11:05. We had 10 minutes to walk to track 4. When rushed to get to the platform. When I got there I realized I was missing a bag!

My beer for the train! Kurwa!! Also in the bag, was my Old Navy scarf. Oh, well. It'll be a pleasant "tip" for the taxi driver. A goodwill gesture to the man that took the long route to get the most money from us. I bet those beers will be gone by noon.

So, it was 11:08 and the train had not yet arrived. Although it was possible to buy a ticket on the train, the conductor people hate this and often will charge you a fine for this. We had 7 minutes, so I thought I'd try it. I ran past some ticket booths with 4-6 people in line. No chance.

Finally, there was one line that had only one person. The booth was apparently only for information. I acted a bit dumb, even though I had an idea that it was.

I made a disappointed look, pointed to my watch and said "Wroclaw."

Much to my delight, the woman that was standing at the back of the booth decided to open up a new window just for me, apparently feeling bad for me. Thanks, honey!

It took a few minutes for her computer to boot. I ran back to the platform where Chase was waiting with my baggage, getting ready to board the train. It was 11:14 am and we lifted our heavy baggage onto the train and found a compartment with two men in their 60s.

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

On the train ride, I blogged, then turned off my computer and listened to the audible.com version of Brokeback mountain on my iPod, while watching the snowy landscape fly by.

Powerful stuff.

I can't wait to see the movie, but I'm a bit afraid to watch it. Amidst the rugged picture in my mind, there was a certain tenderness and subtleness in the book, which I would be hard to transfer to the big screen. (Many times filmmakers make things very obvious to suit the lowest common denominator of the general American moviegoer. Said differently, if things aren't obvious, people won't understand it, and it'll flop.)

Not to be overdramatic, but it's been a long time that a story has touched me so profoundly.

Meanwhile, back in Poland...

ARRIVAL IN WROCLAW

We arrived at the bustling train station. Damn you, heavy suitcase! Since I had left my beer in the taxi in Krakow, both Chase and I had nothing to drink on the 4 hour ride. We had nothing to eat either. My blood sugar level was really low.

Chase wanted to stop and get a Sprite. I was a bit rude and asked him if we could wait and get something back at the hotel. He agreed.
- posted by Matt @ 2:43 PM