This post has been uploaded as a blog post retrospectively from the diary written at the time.
On the seventh day I decided that my feet truly stunk and I decided to wash them. I shuffle around our couchette with nervousness, hoping no-one can smell them. Even so, the Italians have locked up all the washrooms and I am destined to enter Munich at 6.33am smelling like a bear’s ass. At least I can wash in the DB train to Prague.
The Munich/Prague train is a funny one. It splits halfway through and you are constantly interrupted and told to hand over passports. However, I do get my first stamp. This train becomes incredibly tedious as it goes on. More people get on and I am forced to move. One guy is particularly annoying. He is an old Slav wearing a Chaos AD Sepultura shirt and smoking homemade fags which kill us all, not just him. His face looks as if it has been smacked solidly with a shovel and he listens to Naval accordion music on a shitty Walkman. Close friends of mine would know how much this is likely to piss me off.
When I arrive in Prague I am initially worried. There isn’t a word of English to be seen and no-one understands me. However, within fifteen minutes I have booked a bed for Budapest and the final leg from Budapest to Paris. The fact that both are paid for takes the weight off my mind. I stroll into Prague with a mile-wide grin on my face.
All I need now is socks. First though, food. It was noted that there was no breakfast this morning on the train. Not happy in the slightest. I head to a restaurant where you head under St Wenceslas Square. It is dark but the food smells good and is cheap. This is perhaps my most adventurous meal to date. Imperial chicken with a fruit salad pancake for pudding. The meat comes to 154 Kc, about £3. I tip the lady another 100Kc as she spoke excellent English and the food was perfect. The beer almost knocked me out.
I then wander around doing the tourist bit. Um and ah about a concert then decide no, as I haven’t enough time. I sit by the river Vltava, meet some Dutch then have some lemonade. My mission for the evening is to head over to Prague Castle and then head back over St Charles Bridge.
Yesterday I managed 20 mins in the internet cafe at Roma, today I manage 30 in Prague. My correspondence with home has been incredibly successful. Prague’s Castle has an amazing view over the city. I sit and have a beer while admiring the view. I then head down through the park, past the American Embassy, over St Charle’s Bridge and through the backstreets to St Wenceslas’ Square. I stare at some shops then decide on a meal at Buon Vito, a health food restaurant. I have bacon and green bean salad with more chicken. No beer though so I have a Sprite.
I contact my Dad who is embroiled in the petrol crisis back home. Apparently Nic felt my emails were boastful, which hurt a little as they weren’t intended that way.
For the first time so far, the cabin seems to only be me. I’m so happy, except that I am not. Frankly, after 10 days of travel, no constant friends, I am lonely and miss the small talk. I hate sitting at restaurant tables on my own and seeing all these things by myself. I am ready to go home.
