Post by Kim on Jan 14, 2002 10:51:57 GMT -5
14 January
Going to combine a couple of things into this message. On Saturday I decided to just do the long trip at once and get it over with. Not such a great plan in hindsight, but oh well. Left 's-Hertogenbosch on the 0650 train to Ultrecht...waited 30 minutes, caught the train to Amsterdam. Waited an hour, caught the train to Duisburgh (German border), then 45 minutes till the train to Berlin. Got into Berlin at 1551 and caught the train to Dresden at 1741. Got to Dresden at 1941 and waited till 2210 for my overnight trip to Warsaw.
Had 'splurged' and booked a sleeper car on that last leg as it did not get in till 0910 the next morning. Well, it was not a German train, but a Polish one....and I quickly found out that was a big mistake in itself. Talk about old! Anyway, no one else in my 'room' so got settled and into bed, I was one tired girl by that time.
Finally got to sleep, barely, when about midnight the train is stopped and someone is banging on the door. And attempting to open it I must add. Grabbed my pants and still in my pj top opened the door. German border guy, checking passports. I gave it to him, he flipped carefully through every page, looked very hard at the pic and then me, finally gave it back and said good night. No sooner did I get my pants off, when again, someone is almost hollering and trying to get the door open. This time, it's a Polish border guy, and he was intimidating to say the least. Came in, looked through all my stuff, spoke no English, but made it very clear he wanted to see my money. I had about 70 euros on me. CAREFULLY checked every page of my passport, kept almost hollering in Polish, finally flung my passport at me and slammed the door. Most unsettling I can tell you. This time, I was smart and just sat there in my pants waiting for the train to start. Again, knocking on the door. Now it is two German guys, wanting my passport. I asked them if they spoke English, no, says he, Chinese though. I asked what was going on....no English. Again, every page, then the second one asks me 'business or tourist'? Tourist I repled and he said for how long. I said please tell me what is going on. No reply, just flung the passport back and off they went. After about 15 minutes the train finally left. I got little sleep the rest of the night.
My antennas were up on this ride I have to say! My biggest worry was that I couldn't talk to anyone to find out was this normal procedure or what. Can't say I was really 'scared' but was sure apprehensive about the whole thing. And to top it off, my sleeper was composed of crushed rock I am sure! What a day, but at least I had the big travel done and was ready to move along.
Warsaw next......I'll post it in a bit. Hope all are well.....
ging
Going to combine a couple of things into this message. On Saturday I decided to just do the long trip at once and get it over with. Not such a great plan in hindsight, but oh well. Left 's-Hertogenbosch on the 0650 train to Ultrecht...waited 30 minutes, caught the train to Amsterdam. Waited an hour, caught the train to Duisburgh (German border), then 45 minutes till the train to Berlin. Got into Berlin at 1551 and caught the train to Dresden at 1741. Got to Dresden at 1941 and waited till 2210 for my overnight trip to Warsaw.
Had 'splurged' and booked a sleeper car on that last leg as it did not get in till 0910 the next morning. Well, it was not a German train, but a Polish one....and I quickly found out that was a big mistake in itself. Talk about old! Anyway, no one else in my 'room' so got settled and into bed, I was one tired girl by that time.
Finally got to sleep, barely, when about midnight the train is stopped and someone is banging on the door. And attempting to open it I must add. Grabbed my pants and still in my pj top opened the door. German border guy, checking passports. I gave it to him, he flipped carefully through every page, looked very hard at the pic and then me, finally gave it back and said good night. No sooner did I get my pants off, when again, someone is almost hollering and trying to get the door open. This time, it's a Polish border guy, and he was intimidating to say the least. Came in, looked through all my stuff, spoke no English, but made it very clear he wanted to see my money. I had about 70 euros on me. CAREFULLY checked every page of my passport, kept almost hollering in Polish, finally flung my passport at me and slammed the door. Most unsettling I can tell you. This time, I was smart and just sat there in my pants waiting for the train to start. Again, knocking on the door. Now it is two German guys, wanting my passport. I asked them if they spoke English, no, says he, Chinese though. I asked what was going on....no English. Again, every page, then the second one asks me 'business or tourist'? Tourist I repled and he said for how long. I said please tell me what is going on. No reply, just flung the passport back and off they went. After about 15 minutes the train finally left. I got little sleep the rest of the night.
My antennas were up on this ride I have to say! My biggest worry was that I couldn't talk to anyone to find out was this normal procedure or what. Can't say I was really 'scared' but was sure apprehensive about the whole thing. And to top it off, my sleeper was composed of crushed rock I am sure! What a day, but at least I had the big travel done and was ready to move along.
Warsaw next......I'll post it in a bit. Hope all are well.....
ging