As I was walking, I noticed a large group of children walking towards the museum again.... I walked faster in hopes that I would make it in time and they were really going somewhere else. I arrived in the museum right as they were supposed to give a tour, but once again the damn children were first. Luckily it wasn't the last tour this time, so I was able to come back in an hour or two and take one later. I decided that this was okay since I had brought my laptop to putter in a cafe.
I found one with wifi right down the street. It had nice atmosphere, and the waiters were very dressed up in suits. They poured my afternoon beer very daintily and I enjoyed some Greek salad, bread, and beer while I updated this very blog for almost two hours or something. These things take time!
I went for the 4 o clock tour, and I was surprised how fast it went! The guy just walked around to a couple demonstrations and turned on switches so we could see what his different inventions did. The models were actually cool, and you could see lightning! I learned more about his life than I had already known, so I was happy despite the smallness of the museum and the quickness of the tour. They claim to have his cremated ashes after his body was exhumed, and I looked at his apparent ashes and urn. I have no idea if it was real though.
The museum didn't take up as much time as expected, so I made it to the train station a little earlier than expected! I was happy to find an international travel desk open, but there was a line. I ended up waiting in line for over 20 minutes I think. I wanted to know about train prices, and once I found out I couldn't even buy it because I didn't have my passport on me!
At least I knew though. I came back after stopping by the mall to look for Indre. The mall was massive! Hogar was home and we chilled and got ready for the party. I changed my mind and thought about going to Nis in the day tomorrow, then taking a train late at night? I wasn't sure. I went to get some food and beer and then people started showing up! Soon enough the house was full of people and music and good times. I attempted at Foosball, which ended up being tons of fun! The party continued but then it was time to check out some other Belgrade nightlife. At some point apparently I took a photo of his wall:
The first place we went to wanted cover charge even so late, so we went to another one that was full and smokey and lively. It was a good taste of Belgrade, and a fitting way to spend my last night. By the time Filip Indre and I were leaving, the buses were running again so we made it back okay. Hogar had been cleaning and my bed was already back down in the living room which was awesome! I was able to drink as much water as possible and go to sleep.
We all woke up very late though. I had a headache but no stomach issues, so I assumed it was from the smoke in the bar more than the alcohol since I had lots of water before bed. I ate some food, and decided to not go to Nis on the way, but just rest and watch Law and Order then take the night train after all.
Indre was going to go to a movie festival with international movies, and I wasn't sure if she would be back in time, so I packed my stuff quickly and hopped out the door with her. It was still raining, so we hid under an umbrella and ate before watching a quiet movie about migrant workers in China. I wanted to stay for more, but it was time to go to the train station!
I managed to buy a ticket in time, then went to a store to get food for the ride. I found the train no problem, but when I got on I decided I wouldn't eat on it really. It was very old, and a little smelly, and dirty. I found what I thought was an empty spot and laid down my scarf to lie on and tried to sleep. There was one other person in my compartment after all, some old guy that I guessed didn't speak English and he just sat there then lay down on the opposite chairs and went to sleep as well. Further on an old lady with a headscarf and everything came and slept while he sat there and eventually left.
Before I knew it, it was morning. It went by surprisingly fast. The Serbian border people came and the old lady left. They didn't even stamp me on exit! They just looked at my passport, bored, and gave it back. Next was the Macedonian border which thankfully stamped me in so it didn't look like I stayed in Serbia too long. I woke up a couple hours later and I was amazed at what I saw!
It was so beautiful! It totally made the oldness and slight smell okay. Now that it was daylight, the train actually didn't look aaaas shabby:
The train stopped at a random station and everyone was told to get off. I wasn't sure what was going on until someone explained that there was flooding on the tracks near the border, so we had to go by bus the rest of the way to Thessaloniki.
While everyone was getting off, I noticed a guy lugging around a serious backpack. He looked to be a fellow dirty traveler, so I walked up to him and started talking. He was Aussie, and was going to Thessaloniki from Skopje where he had worked for a few months. He was going to start school in Munich! We sat together on the bus and enjoyed the lovely border crossing delays, and a flooded squat toilet thing at said border. Finally, we arrived in Thessaloniki.
I was 15 minutes late for the train I wanted. It would have taken 4 hours, but the next one was in an hour and a half and would take 6! I would arrive in Athens at 10:46pm. I was not impressed. The Aussie was catching a flight to Munich, so he had to go to the airport. I waited around and took a MUCH NICER TRAIN. I was feeling like I was back in Europe.
I arrived in the night, but it was easy to find the metro. I had instructions written on how to get to Alexia's house, so I found the subsequent bus stop easily too. It was raining, so I stood there figuring out the bus schedule with my umbrella and pack. One out of three buses were still running, and the very last one for that was coming in 20 minutes.
I was almost there! After over 24 hours straight of traveling!
The bus was starting to annoy me after it was over 10 minutes late. I had been standing there over half an hour, and it was past midnight on a Sunday. I didn't want Alexia to have to stay awake waiting much longer! People at the bus stop had been very helpful though. One girl assured me I was going the right way, and looked up the schedule to make sure. A second girl was waiting there ages as well, and asked me where I was going. Turns out we were impatiently waiting for the same nonexistent bus, and getting out at almost the same place!
At this point I had literally one euro to my name. I hadn't had a chance to take out Euros, and I had run out of Dinars in Serbia too. I had found a 2 Euro coin, and used one of it to buy a ticket for the metro. She was going to take a cab and offered to take me with her. I told her I had no money at all, but she said she was going the same way anyway so it didn't matter.
We chatted in the cab, and it turns out the girl had some family in Whales as well, so she had an accent when she spoke English. She was really nice, and together with the cabbie we found the address where I was staying. I was soooo grateful since it was pouring and I was very tired at this point. I was looking forward to a shower and a bed, and of course to see me friends!
They were happy to see I'd made it okay! I also had no functional phone while waiting at the bus, so I had no way to reassure them I was alright. Dimitris made me a snack, then Alexia, Dimitris and I talked a while before I hopped in the shower. There was a nice guy from Taiwan staying with them as well that had gone to bed earlier too. I was SO HAPPY to be clean, and in a bed instead of on a train!
2 comments:
Well... look it on the bright side -- at least you got there.
I can think of much worse cases, such as passing trough Bulgaria and Romania on the way to Greece.
haha I was actually thinking of passing through that way on the journey North back to Berlin!!
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