It's Saturday and I'm at the Groths..... let me fill you in on the past few days.
Tuesday I woke up and it felt really natural to be hoping on the plane to Poland. Despite my bags having to go through scanners 12 times and having to completely empty them out, delayed flights and swollen feet the trip went really well. The shorter flight I got the best seats on the plane. Heaps of leg room and a great view. The two following flights (both approx 7 hours) I sat next to a Christain family of 6 from Thornlie, it was a lot of fun and games! A highlight was watching the sunrise-it lasted about 4.5hrs.
I had 10hrs to spend in Gatwick airport and I was tired, smelly and grumpy. I though all I needed was a bath, some fresh food and some decent sleep. I was wrong. I found the airport chapel and met Robin-the airport chaplin. After some fellowship from Luke and prayer with him I felt 100% better. It was a double blessing as Robin helped me find somewhere I could shower and bought me lunch!
Next was the trip to Brussels, the flight seemed to be over in no time! This city didnt give off a good first impression..... it smelt bad (I have decided like rotten brussel sprouts) and had intermitent announcements to beware of pickpockets, plus the walls where lined with missing people posters! I trusted a train guard to direct me to the correct train and after saying something I didnt understand he chuckled to himself and left me on an express train to the countryside!
Luckily the station master here spoke English and was friendly. He took me to have beer with the locals while I waited for my train. I got to my backpackers about 11:30 at night, tired, worn out and glad to read my letter from Sarah.... "when things get tough, toughen your faith!" good advice.
The next morning was spent with Corinna (an Aussie backpacker) we saw the palace, cathedral, bought chocolate and visited the Comic museum (Brussels created Tin-Tin and Asterix). I got very lost again on my way back to the backpackers so the police drove me there-but I got lost again on the way to the airport. Lesson learnt... never ask a Belgium for directions. They point and seem friendly enough, but I think they where as clueless as me! Thanks Debbie for your advice-it's all part of the adventure. I just caught the train but without a ticket...... luckily the train guard didnt check the date, I made it to my flight with about 2min to spare.
I love Warsaw! There are trees everwhere, parks with awesome play equipment and it is really easy to get around. No getting lost here! I must remember to be careful crossing the roads-I have been forgetting to look the opposite way. Every country I have been in has reached at least 30degrees and been humid. Europe is not designed to handle this heat. Lucky I'm an Aussie...... My room is really nice and I discovered I can climb onto the roof of the building. It's a great view.
Friday I walked everywhere! My whole body ached but it was worth it. The Polish I learned helps, but I have to make it clear to people I only speak a tiny bit of Polish or they rattle on for ages.
My jaw dropped at the art and extravagance of Old Warsaw, the palace and Cathedrals. There re stunning building everywhere, also statues and memorials. I also visited the Chopin Museum-he is Mums favoutire composser. It made me laugh because they must have had 30 busts/statues of the guy in one small building.
Food here is really cheap. I got 1/2 litre of rasberries for AU$3 and 2L juice for AU$1. Not so sure about other things.... they have amazing clothes no wonder all the girls here look stunning. I did lots of window shopping-would have been so easy to spend!
Today I took the train to Krakow, I accidentally sat in first class. It was really cosy. The conducter moved me when he checked my ticket but I was glad to be sitting with the "plebs" they where more interesting. I told them about ECM and the summer camps. They where very encouraging. We saw cabbage patches over hills and sunflower fields and other amazing, non Australian things.
When I got to Krakow I tried to call Doug but couldn't work out the phone. Thought I was stranded but about an hour and a half later Gods perfect timing worked once again and we crossed paths. Doug had been looking for me and I was just leaving and we saw each other.
It poured with rain on the trip to Rabka. I had dinner with Doug, Lila, Natalia and Phillip and met Lou, their dog. The house is gorgeous and surrounded by forrests and raspberry bushes. I am going to go play badmington now. Love you lots!! God Bless :-)
