Krakow the first hours

It was such a relief to find the hostel today. Polish people at first experience do not speak much English. From the airport I had to take a free bus to the train station. Actually it wasn't to a train station but rather a train stop were something between a train and tram took us to the train station. It was confusing and I was hoping I was in the right place. Luckily the people I sat next to spoke English and had done this before. At the train station I somehow missed the "information" desk and ventured out to the street to try and find my way to the hostel. This is where it became so clear to me that English wasn't my friend. A mother and son attempted to help me with no success. The lady at the tram ticket stand, who I bought a ticket from but never used, was in no mood to deal with my English. When I showed here in written form what I needed she backed away from the low window. I thought at first that she was going to come out of her ticket booth to help me but instead she was trying to get away from me. In truth she just ignored me. I stuck my head down and peered in close to the little window, stared her in the eyes and she looked back waving her hands and me to say get away I wont help you. I finally decided to not take a tram and to just try to walk to the hostel. I luckily asked a man for help and he spoke enough English to help me. Or maybe it was that he recognized the written street name I showed him. He said, "I'm going there. Walk with me. I will point." He picked up his pace almost testing my safeness or something. He looked at me with an inquisitive glances. We walked in total silence and alas he pointed and said "you must go two more streets". That was only half of the way. When I found the first street I needed I had to again ask for directions. This time I decided to enter a book shop and ask the young lady working the desk. She spoke some English! She pointed me in the right direction and as I was walking out the door a grandfather like man followed me and walked me to the right street. Coincidentally he so reminded me of granddad (my mom's grandfather). It was so cool.

So my first hour in Krakow was stressful to say the least but I made it. After getting settled at the hostel I went out to explore and find a proper meal. I took a walk in the streets, bought a warm pretzel, visited an old church and walked some more. I love just taking in the sights. Tomorrow I'll actually find out what I was seeing! I feel like I'm at Disneyland because the buildings remind me of Main Street. Yet, these buildings are original and real! I had an amazing dinner. I ate this polish sour soup recommended to me by the hostel receptionist. I ended up doing dinner with a total stranger. He was at least my parents age and was from London. We had great conversation and after dinner he gave me his card just in case I ran into trouble here. He is visiting his polish friend here who he said could be of help. I've met some really cool people as I've traveled. It is always so random too. There is something for me really great about not traveling in a group. I meet talk to other travelers! Tomorrow Yoni and Ken arrive and I look forward to experiencing the next few days with them. I'm glad to be going to Auschwitz with people I know!

Oh and for those who know how much I hate the winter. It snowed today and it is very cold. Somehow being here the snow and cold is not as bad. The newness of location and the great gift of travel far out ways the cold. Oh..and this winter is unseasonalby warm here. It is just at freezing here but usually it is way below freezing in Jan-Feb so I'm lucky.