Sometimes when traveling for this long and no break, your body decides for you that it gets one. I woke up this morning with a head cold and my body was exhausted. I asked for directions to the pharmacy, which was 50 meters down the street. Obviously, I did not get lost this time. By the time I reached the pharmacy, I was out of breath. That short distance was enough to steal away all my energy so I knew what that meant. I was due for a day of rest. Inside the pharmacy, the clerk asked for my symptoms and told me he had just the thing. He walked behind the counter and brought back a box. "This will make you feel very sleepy but will cure you. No driving automobile!" I thanked him for his help, walked back to my hostel and jumped online. I needed a day of rest and not in a hostel. I logged on to hotels.com and used my accrued points from work travel to book a beautiful five star resort in the center of the city. I was due for a day of pampered rest after nights of hostel world.
I quickly packed up my belongings and hugged Alessandro goodbye. The front desk called me a taxi and I headed to the Hotel Das Triest. I felt like Pretty Woman when I walked in with my oversized backpackers bag and disheveled hair in this classy hotel. I got the impression when I walked up to the counter she didn't really believe I had a reservation. After she found my name in the computer, she said "Ah ha, Miss Kastler? I have you for one night" as if a little shocked. She handed me a key and I couldn't wait to get in a real shower and have a big bed all to myself.
I opened the door to my room and sighed. It was a beautiful modern room with a picturesque view of a courtyard. Classic Vienna scenic view.
I jumped in the shower, rinsed off and wrapped the oversized hotel robe around my body as I crawled up into the soft sheets. Just from the taxi and shower, I was exhausted so knew it was smart to book a day to rejuvenate. My room had an Apple computer so propped up next to the window overlooking the courtyard and caught up on my writing. If there was a place a writer would want to be stuck for a day and write, it would be Das Triest. It was a very inspiring atmosphere.
I poured the packet of medicine into a glass of hot water and after drinking it, I quickly grew tired. I crawled into the soft white sheets and pulled the down comforter around me. This bed felt like a dream after all the places I had slept. I woke back up 8 hours later. It was nearly midnight and my stomach was growling. I had not had anything since breakfast. I called down to the front desk and asked if they had delivery. "It's nearly midnight Miss Kastler! Everything is closed!" I emptied another packet of medicine in warm water and fell back asleep until the next morning. I had slept for nearly an entire day but I guess my body needed it badly.
In the morning, I decided it would be best to head back to Zagreb. My flight left for San Diego in only two days and I didn't want to wait until the day before to head to Zagreb. With my luck, I would miss the only train to Zagreb Friday and then not be able to get on my flight home Saturday. I looked up the train schedule and there was a four o'clock train to Zagreb today. I shut down my iPad and decided I would go for lunch and then shop today in Vienna. I was beginning to feel like Pretty Woman, so why not spend the day like her too. I quickly showered and used a blow dryer on my hair. This was only the second time on the whole trip I had access to one. So I curled my hair, put on a long red dress and hit the streets of Vienna to the fashion district.
I found a restaurant with a beautiful patio so ordered the owners recommendation, monk fish penne pasta. It had been over twenty fours since had a meal so ate every bite. While waiting for my bill, a man walked into the restaurant and made quite the entrance. He waved to everyone in his yellow Raybands and flashy European clothes. He sat at a table near mine and we were the only ones in the restaurant. As his dish was placed in front of him he asked, "You eat alone? You eat with me!" Going along with my theory from earlier, only fellow hostel travelers join each other for meals. This to me was strange, because we had no common ground and I did think it was a little too much for a complete stranger to ask to join him for a meal. I shook my head no. He asked again and I told him I was leaving soon and just collecting my bill. He continued the conversation across the restaurant. Apparently, if I was sitting with him or not, he was going to have this conversation with me. He asked where I was traveling from and I told him California. He told me that his sister lives in North Carolina and he goes there often. The waiter came back with my bill and he waved him over to order me a cappuccino and tiramisu. I told him it was not necessary because I was leaving. He said, "Nonsense, it's the best! You have time! He picked up his plate and said "Should I move to your table or will you be moving to this one?"
Seeming that I didn't have a choice, I moved to his. He shook my hand and introduced himself as Norton. The owner placed a hot cappuccino and a piece of tiramisu in front of me with a big grin. Norton glanced at his watch and I asked if had somewhere he had to go. He went on to tell me he is the owner of a fashion shop within the gallery. I asked him what his shop was called and he said he could not think of a name so named it after himself, "Norton." He told me all about the clothes he sells and that he is the fashion
buyer. He flys to Milan, Paris, London and buys the fall clothes collection a year in advance. He grew very passionate when he spoke about his shop. As it approached two o'clock, he told me he must return to the shop but I must stop by. I thanked him for the cappuccino and tiramisu and took his card. I told him I would make the stop by his shop soon. As I made my way through the gallery, I read the name "Norton" stretched across a beautiful store front. I walked in and he clapped his hands together. It was a very glamorous shop. He guided me through and showed me his entire collection from Italy, France and The U.K. I picked up a white lace skirt and told him this was very popular right now in the states. He said he fell in love with this skirt at a fashion show, but its not selling here in Vienna. The clothes were very high quality and now he walked me through his collection asking my opinion on each piece like a friend does after they shop. He was so excited as he raised each piece. "Now for you to try on!" He picked several pieces and shooed me into a dressing room. Nothing in his store was less than 100 Euros. Each piece was so beautiful and fun to play dress up. It was ironic to me that the one thing I wanted to do today was have a shopping day in Vienna and here I was having a fashion show with the fashion buyer, himself as he threw over the dressing room door, 200-400 Euro dresses for me to try on. I loved every piece but it was a bit out of my budget. He brought over a piece I fell in love with. A brown leather biker jacket straight from Italy. It was 899 Euros, so obviously spending over a grand in American was out of my range. However, I did have a great time in Norton's shop and while trying on all the clothes I completely forgot I was sick so felt like I discovered the cure for the common cold: Shopping in Vienna. I hugged Norton goodbye and thanked him for letting me try all of his fabulous clothes.
I retraced my steps back to the hotel to retrieve my bags before heading to the train. The hotel called me a taxi and a Mercedes E-class was waiting on the curb. Now I really did feel like Pretty Woman. I noticed that most taxis in Europe were Mercedes or some sort of fancy car. I asked the driver if this was pretty standard in Vienna. He said most taxis only use Mercedes because they are the most reliable. Can someone please pass that tip over to the U.S?
I arrived to the train and purchased a ticket to Zagreb for 70 Euro. This would be my last train before I head back to the U.S. 6 1/2 hours later I arrived to Zagreb and made two new friends on the train Annelies and Lynette, from Holland. They asked what hostel I was staying in and I told them I wasn't sure yet. I had only bought my train ticket an hour prior to leaving Vienna. I planned to find a hostel once I arrived to Zagreb. It was now close to 11pm and they asked If I wanted to join them to their hostel so I didn't have to walk alone. We walked thought the busy city, Zagreb was still lively at night. Fifteen minutes later, we checked into Hostel Swanky Mint and they had a bed for me in the girls dorm.
So it's back to the hostel life for me. My Pretty Woman days are over but I can't stop thinking about that brown leather jacket.