Marni and I went to class this morning and then headed home at 11:30 to get our stuff for our trip. We allowed ourselves an hour to get to the bus, so we were plenty early. It was so nice for once to just sit down and chill, waiting for the bus to board, rather than arriving totally flustered and sweaty! (I should be on time more often!)
The trip to Berlin was on Meinfernbus, which I've taken every time I've gone to Berlin. They are great--free wifi (which Marni loves), with trips that always leave on the same scheduled times and almost always cost 14 or 15 euros. (I think we had the same driver this time as last time when we were coming back from Kraków . . . I recognized his voice when he greeted everyone on the PA.) I took a nap and then spent the rest of the ride drawing and listening through both Mumford & Sons albums. (Usually when I put on one of their songs I end up putting on the whole album and proceeding to listen to all their music repeatedly for two or three days in a row.)
Berlin was sunny when we arrived at 5. Thankfully this time our bus was leaving from the bus station this time, not the train station like that confusing one to Kraków! We had till 7, so we walked a few blocks to the little Mediterranean market shop that we had found last time when we had accidentally taken a wrong turn. It was SO FRESH. Cost me 7.50, but It was worth every cent. You just don't find food this fresh in the States, and if you do, you have to pay a lot of money for it, probably equal to a lot more than what I spent. I got some couscous salad and cilantro/feta salad, with a feta-filled sun-dried tomato and some black olives in spices to go on top. The feta was so rich, sweet and tangy; the couscous was seasoned with fresh minced chili peppers, which added a nice zing; the olives were big and meaty. (Canned olives are not a good representation of a truly good olive texture, I've realized.) We found a grassy park area on a big island in the center of a roundabout near the bus station and ate on a bench in the shade. It was food perfection. Marni likes to close her eyes when she eats good food--I was joking with her about it and she said it helps her more fully enjoy the experience--and as I was eating my olives and feta cheese I told her, "Now this is food to close your eyes for."
Right as we finished eating, we saw a guy who we thought was stealing another guy's bike, so we walked over to a trash can by him to "throw away our trash" so he would stop. It turned out that he was friends with the other guy whose stuff it was, though, so it was a false alarm. But better safe than sorry!
Right about then, thunder rumbled and dark clouds came over. There was an Aldi grocery store across the street and Marni wanted to buy a water bottle, so we ducked inside just as the raindrops started plopping down. Marni bought water and of course chocolate, and by the time we had gone through the line the heaviest part of the rain was letting up. We walked back to the bus station, trying unsuccessfully to share my rather small umbrella. Thankfully it wasn't far and the rain had lightened to a misty drizzle by the time we got back to the station. The sun broke through the clouds again and backlit the falling rain. It was so pretty.
We hung out for about fifteen minutes until our connecting bus came. I had booked that bus because we were able to get a student discount, but it turned out this was the "business class" bus and we got a complimentary water bottle and package of snack cookies! Plus wifi, which both of us gladly used. "What more could we ask for?" I said to Marni. She thoughtfully smacked her lips, and we looked at each other and said quietly at the exact same time, "Free chocolate!" and then started cracking up.
The drive to Prague took four and a half hours total. We went through Dresden just as the last of the light was disappearing, and the buildings on the river were lit up yellow against the dark blue of the sky. It was all reflected in the water too. So beautiful! I definitely have to spend a weekend there!!!
It was 11:30 when we arrived. Took us a few minutes to find the train that would take us to our hostel. This train is super deep in the subway system, with a very steep and fast escalator. It was slightly disorienting to go up and down it, like being in one of those mystery house things where everything is on a tilt and you can't tell which way is up! I had to concentrate to not fall over with my heavy backpack! The train ride was short, but I was glad we were together because it was late and there were some very drunk people out. Marni kept telling me to pay attention and to stop looking like such a target. That's one really bad thing I do--when I'm trying to figure out directions, I think I always look super naive and lost. I try to stay focused and to watch my surroundings, but I don't think I do a good job of it at all.
Anyway, once we got off the train I had the directions to the hostel and we found it without any trouble. This one is called Mosaic House and it's big, with multiple floors and a huge bar on the ground floor. Marni and I have the big dorm on the basement floor, and right now I can hear the music pulsating. Well, that's what earplugs are for!
Tomorrow we're thinking we will just walk around and explore--we're in the city center and everything is really close. Marni is currently looking up massage places since both our backs are out. She says that one-hour back massages cost the equivalent of only 20 euros! We might try that tomorrow too!
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