Luck Runs Out

So I arrive in Krakow after a 10 hour train ride pretty much on time at 0540am. Damn it! I was hoping it would be late as most hostels usually don't like you rocking up before 11am let alone this time. So I just hang around the station for a couple of hours updating my journal and generally killing time.

Eventually decide to make a move for it. Now I've turned up in Krakow with no real map and clue apart from a hand drawn one I put together using websites. So I come along to the plaza like area, it is on my map and head down the road. Takes a while to get a street sign and it isn't the name I have.

When it comes to maps and European cities, it can be a little bit of a lottery. Seems that they either rename streets, or the name changes after a couple of blocks, don't have signs, have the 'native' tongue name on the sign post, people change signs as a 'joke' or any of a myraid of other reasons for not having the correct name. The street is generally following the dog leg layout that I have and cross streets roughly in the right place.

So I get a little worried when I keep heading towards an industrial area but sure it is 'just around the next corner'. The whole time I'm meant to be a stones throw from a medieval old town. I was told that a number 4 tram would get me there and I kept seeing number 4 trams. Get around the next corner and it is a university.

By this stage I realise something is very wrong as I can get lost at the drop of a hat. I can't find a map but at the tram stop it loosely mentions some streets. Turns out I've gone east instead of west ... 4km too far.

One of those feelings of extreme frustration that you can only laugh out. The only thing worse than realising you've just walked 4km in the wrong direction with a 30kg back pack, is that you have to go all the way back and head another 3km in the other direction with the same frickin' backpack.

Some times I'm glad I'm not travelling with someone, as I'm sure right about now they would have killed me for the amount of extra walking. On the other hand, they might be a little more organised and not get as lost as easily. It was great when in Rome with Melissa as she always had a good idea of where we were so I just relaxed and 'hooked it' at the appropriate corners.