Traveling Isn't Easy

As I told you in my last post, Andrea and I are traveling to Vienna for the weekend, some fun and for me to apply for my long-term Visa or else I will be back in the US with you in a month or so. Hold this is going to be a long one. Well, we ended up getting on the train to Vienna, leaving Andrea’s city, at 3:05. Despite us hopping abroad the 3:05 train with no problems, neither Andrea nor my adventures to Vienna began at that point.
So far it is truly what one would call an adventure. On Fridays, I only have two classes one starting at 7:55 and the other ending at 9:35. I got out of my last class quickly, rushed to one of the computers in the school and checked the times for the bus to Andrea’s city although our train was not scheduled to depart until 2:05. I found a bus that was leaving at 10:40. I booked a hostel in Vienna on the school computer and I was off to my apartment to pack in hurry. As I was getting all my things packed and preparing to leave I check the time, I saw it would be nearly impossible for me to make the 10:40 bus. I had forgot I needed to go by the bank to deposit some money into my new Czech bank account and to receive my new bankcard. I could not leave the city with out getting my financials in order for Vienna. With checking the bus out of the question, I walked to the local café with the Internet and looked up what time the next bus or train to Andrea’s city would be leaving. I found out there was a train, a little more expensive, but quicker, leaving in about a half hour. I had plenty of time to run to the bank to get that business taken care of and still get to the train with plenty of time. I walked the café and leisurely walked over to the bank, I had all my bags on me and there was an outdoor market happening in my city’s town square. I looked around a little, my backpack strapped tight, my laptop, and other little things in my shoulder bag, found nothing, and then I headed to the bank just a couple blocks away. I set down my shoulder bag and laid down my heavy backpack on the bank floor, reached into my back pocket for wallet and the money I was to deposit and, of course, I left my wallet in the jeans I had worn to school, that were at that moment lying on my apartment floor. The people in the bank knew me, as I am the only fluent English, non-speaking Czech person who lives in this town of 7,000. I, using broken English and a few hand signals asked if I could leave my things on the bank’s ground as I ran back to my apartment to grab my wallet. Backing out of the bank in a hurry, repeatedly saying, “Dekee, dekee, dekee.” Thank you in Czech. I must have looked a mess as I ran flustered across the street and probably ten blocks to my apartment. And I mean, literally, ran, maybe I stopped to walk fifty feet or so a couple times, but most of the time I really did run as surprising as that may sound for me.
I reached my building, taking the stairs two at a time to my fourth floor apartment, and quickly flung open my door. Realized I had not just forgotten my wallet, but I had also forgot all my toiletries. Maybe it was a good thing I forgot my wallet, I couldn’t go a whole weekend without a toothbrush!
Grabbing my wallet out of my jeans back pocket and throwing toiletries together in a bag I raced down the stairs. Knowing I could run no further, I took the bike, the bike which has been lent to me for the school year by one of the teachers at my school. I rode the bike like I was 12-years old again. Flying through the streets with no regard for any pedestrian. I pumped the bike from side to side, probably going somewhere near 30, maybe 40 miles per hour. I was a maniac riding through those cobble stone streets of my town, past the movie theater, only open on Tuesday and Thursday, and skidding up to the banks entrance with 15 more minutes till my train was to depart. I didn’t actually skid, but I do wish I still knew how, that would have made a grand finale to my dare-devilish ride through my town. Regardless, skid or not, I still left this old woman frozen. She stood absolutely still as she watched me rush into the bank after flying myself across the street with very little caution. Anyway, with the old lady still motionless I walked breathlessly through the bank doors. There I quickly pulled out my wallet and at the same time moved toward the bank teller, luckily, no wait. I tossed my money down on the counter and the teller took her time as I waited obviously impatiently. Given my receipt and my new card I made the same mad dash to the door I had just minutes before. Once again, shouting behind me, “dekee, dekee, dekee.”
Outside I jumped back on the bike and made my way to the railroad station. I had about ten minutes to make it there, buy a ticket, and figure out exactly what I was doing with the train. This was the first time I was to take the train. All my previous experiences had been on buses. I slashed through the town center’s traffic cut down the street the railroad station was on, locked up the bike, and ran into the train office. Of course I always have trouble saying the name of Andrea’s city’s name and the communication with the attendant was not good. Despite all that had happened I walked out onto the platform and the train had yet to arrive. I stepped onto the train when it arrived with one of the biggest sighs of relief I had ever had. At that point I had no idea what was left for me the rest of the day.
I arrived in Andrea’s city, Hradec Kralove, at about 12, 12:30 with plenty of time to make the train and plenty of time to spare. Andrea did not get out of school till 1:30 and then we were going to meet at her hotel and rush to the train. In the mean time, I ran a few errands for Andrea. I spoke with the person renting out her apartment and it does sound like everything is going to work out for her move. Her hotel staff has not been the most pleasant about the situation. So, if you ever find yourself in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic do not stay at the Hotel Cernigov. I ran the errands for Andrea then I sat in Andrea’s hotel lobby waiting for her to catch the train to Vienna. They had told Andrea they would have someone watch her final class for the final ten minutes, but no one showed. Andrea walked through the lobby doors of her hotel about 1:45. The train was leaving at 2:05. Instead of us rushing at first, probably my fault, we talked for moment then I realized the time. I asked Andrea to run upstairs to grab her things and said I would go purchase our train tickets. I said I would meet her out front of the train station with the tickets.
I walked up to the booth to purchase the tickets to Vienna, no problem. I was handed the tickets to Vienna, no problem. I was asked to enter my PIN for my new card from the bank, which I had received in the mail just a few days earlier, problem. I ran sacked my backpack for the letter with the PIN to no regard. Attempted to give the cashier a different card. She would not take it. I rummaged through my bag again, all this while a line of people behind me looked anxiously at me, no avail. I pushed the other card again at the cashier and the second time she took it grudgingly. Ran it and gave me my tickets. My belongings lay askew all over the ground in front of the cashier. Profusely apologizing to those waiting, who probably had no idea what I was saying because I could think to say “dekee.” With the tickets in my pocket and my stuff shoved into my backpack I ran and grabbed Andrea.
She said, “Where have you been?”
I didn’t have time to explain. I just told her to hurry and we ran through the train’s central station only to watch the back of the train pulling away. There is much more to come tomorrow, but it is getting late here in Vienna. So, at least you know the end of the story, but stay tuned for the in between stuff. I think you will enjoy it.