Day 12 - Krakow to Prague

09.42 - Today is a travelling day. We are getting more used to early starts and treks to the station with our bags. This morning was different, luxury. We didn't have to wake up until 7.30 and we had a taxi booked for 8.30 (because the station is too far to walk). We all posted some postcards, I ran out of stamps so the rest of mine are getting posted in Prague. SORRY.

We are now on the train. An old, fag-smelling, rickety train. We are only on here for 2 and a half hours before we change, but I doubt we will even last that. There's graffiti inside the train, rust everywhere and I think I may have motion sickness. An ICE train was next to us at the station and it was all shiny and safe-looking; we had train envy. Then, as Dee quite rightly pointed out, we realised we had no reason to be complaining about this train after seeing the cattle carriages used to transport people to Auschwitz-Birkenau during our tour. Those poor people were even duped into buying tickets for those trains. Therefore, we are still in luxury here. It will get us to Katowice for our train to Prague, and that's all we need.

12.16 - Just got on the train at Katowice to take us to Prague. The last 3 stops of the last train were an experience. We were happily bouncing down the track when we arrived at a station in the middle of nowhere. The platform was heaving with men, all with shaven heads and red and white football stuff on. Oh no, it's match day. Now we have all seen Ross Kemp so we were immediately a tad worried. These worries were further heightened when about 20 riot police, complete with guns ad shields, all boarded the train and landed in our carriage. They had helmets and bullet proof vests and one of them had a camera. There were more fans on another platform who were shouting over to the ones on our train and people were just stood around the tracks watching what was going on. Not gonna lie, we were a bit scared at this point. We only had another 3 stops to go tho so we sat in silence, surrounded by the Polish riot police, trying not to make eye contact with each other and giggle. We finally got off the train, waved goodbye to the hoodlums (we never really, I value my life), and we found our platform. The real one this time, not just the track. Whilst waiting for the train, a nice lady approached us to ask if we were ok and to help us check we were on the right platform. 'What a kind lady!' we thought. But oh no, she had ulterior motives. She then handed us an invitation to a Bible group, some magazines, and told us she was a Jehovah's Witness. Dee and I informed her we were good Catholic girls and we put the magazines in the bin when she wasn't looking. Two complete extremes in the space of half an hour. We are now on our second train, in our reserved seats, right by the buffet cart. Score.

18.58 - That was a long journey. I slept for the majority of it like, but still a long journey. They like exerting their authority over here, sending army men on the train with a dog to check passports was a lovely experience. That was our final brush with the law for today as long as we dont make any noise after 10pm as it is against Czech law to do so. This national curfew has messed up our beer plans, so we are just going to stay in the hostel bar tonight. On the subject of the hostel, the area is slightly dodgy but the hostel is amazing. It's bordering on a hotel. We went to check in and the girl on the desk was from Liverpool. Never been so glad to hear a scouse accent. She was really lovely and said she never hears scouse accents over here and was made up. After a brief conversation about home and her being from Anfield, we went to our room. Dear me, we are living the life here! €9 a night and we have a gorgeous room. Double the size of previous rooms and we have our own bathroom. OUR OWN SHOWER AND TOILET JUST FOR US FOUR!!!! We have skipped around the room with glee and allowed our bags to explode all over the place. Katie and Dee have gone for a swim and Sarah and I are pressing different buttons in the room to see what they do.

Tomorrow, we explore Prague. I am excited. Sarah has just informed me there is both a beer museum and a communisim museum here and our Prague map has 'useful' phrases on the back like 'please do not kiss me' and 'do you have any available sisters or brothers?'

My cover image for this blog may need an explanation. We were experiencing 'cabin fever' on the train and arrived at this station named Kolin. The man sat under the sign, we presumed was the Colin who owned the place. He had a ponytail. We were amused.

PS, Mother, please do not worry about the police thing. It was all very safe and actually rather exciting. The police had giant guns with rubber bullets and I'm pretty sure they would have used them on any stray football hooligan who may have approached us. It wasn't as bad as the time Joseph had his passport taken off him by armed guards. It was more like a Ross Kemp programme or that Panorama thing we watched about the Euros.

PS, Jade, Prague is deffo off the list for NYE. I was talking to the girl on the desk and the 10pm noise curfew is still enforced and if the police suspect you are drunk then they will just put you in a cell until you sober up. I don't know about you, but I don't fancy bringing in the New Year with a drunken tramp in a Czech police cell.