rybnik
12 Nov 2011
USA, Canada / Going back to the Old Country of Poland after more than 25 years! (from USA) [249]
You're both right. My ex-wife would've frowned on it. I've been a busy soccer Dad lately.
Anytime I travel to Europe upon arrival I always want to sleep. This time was no different. However, with the help of my trusty melatonin I didn't sleep long- only one hour.
I woke up with a start to some noise above me. The banging and clunking sounded like a vacuum cleaner doing its thing. I got out of bed thankful that I had only slept an hour. On previous European trips I've slept over 8 hours and wasted a day!
Splashed some water on my face and out the door I went. Thought about asking the receptionist where to the nearest tram stop but then pussied-out - lack of confidence. MY POLISH SUCKS! So, out the door I went into the Krzyki suburbs hoping to find the przystanek tramwajowy (google it) that I thought I remembered. Luckily, I found it without any problem. On my way there, I noticed that the villas I had passed, were ALL clean and shiny. In my day the facades AND the sidewalks were covered in a dark, dirty film( have the Poles stopped burning coal?). Now they were clean, bright and shiny!
Once at the tram stop the question remained how do you buy a ticket? Back in the day, one went to a ubiquitous number of "RUCH" kiosks and simply bought one. Now, who the fu*ck knows! Luckily, there was a young lady already waiting. In my very rough and un-polished, not really spoken in over-20-years Polish I ask "How does one buy a tram ticket?" I was very surprised to hear English coming back at me. " You purchase yor ticket on the tram. I'll show yo if you'd like". ???? I took the longest double-take in history!! HUH? I thought I heard English. Could it have really been English?? She spoke it soooo effortlessly!! (in my day NO ONE spoke English).
The #17 tram arrived and we all jumped in. Without any prompting my tramwaj-angel took me by the arm and led me gently to a grey box hanging on the wall. She told me I need a credit card, swipe it and pick the ticket I wanted(day, 24hr, 48hr, etc). I did what she advised, a ticket was spit out and I placed it in my pocket. I was grateful and I let her know it.
I had no idea where exactly the #17 tram takes you. All I knew was that it takes you in the direction of the Rynek and that was where I wnated to go.
You're both right. My ex-wife would've frowned on it. I've been a busy soccer Dad lately.
Anytime I travel to Europe upon arrival I always want to sleep. This time was no different. However, with the help of my trusty melatonin I didn't sleep long- only one hour.
I woke up with a start to some noise above me. The banging and clunking sounded like a vacuum cleaner doing its thing. I got out of bed thankful that I had only slept an hour. On previous European trips I've slept over 8 hours and wasted a day!
Splashed some water on my face and out the door I went. Thought about asking the receptionist where to the nearest tram stop but then pussied-out - lack of confidence. MY POLISH SUCKS! So, out the door I went into the Krzyki suburbs hoping to find the przystanek tramwajowy (google it) that I thought I remembered. Luckily, I found it without any problem. On my way there, I noticed that the villas I had passed, were ALL clean and shiny. In my day the facades AND the sidewalks were covered in a dark, dirty film( have the Poles stopped burning coal?). Now they were clean, bright and shiny!
Once at the tram stop the question remained how do you buy a ticket? Back in the day, one went to a ubiquitous number of "RUCH" kiosks and simply bought one. Now, who the fu*ck knows! Luckily, there was a young lady already waiting. In my very rough and un-polished, not really spoken in over-20-years Polish I ask "How does one buy a tram ticket?" I was very surprised to hear English coming back at me. " You purchase yor ticket on the tram. I'll show yo if you'd like". ???? I took the longest double-take in history!! HUH? I thought I heard English. Could it have really been English?? She spoke it soooo effortlessly!! (in my day NO ONE spoke English).
The #17 tram arrived and we all jumped in. Without any prompting my tramwaj-angel took me by the arm and led me gently to a grey box hanging on the wall. She told me I need a credit card, swipe it and pick the ticket I wanted(day, 24hr, 48hr, etc). I did what she advised, a ticket was spit out and I placed it in my pocket. I was grateful and I let her know it.
I had no idea where exactly the #17 tram takes you. All I knew was that it takes you in the direction of the Rynek and that was where I wnated to go.
new apartment building in Wroclaw
apartments
my nocleg
my first tram stop since returning
