Friday, October 19, 2007

Hitch-Hiking in Czech.....




Ever since I started planning this trip and reading about the Czech Rep. I wanted to go hike/climb through these amazing rock formation mountaind near the border of Poland great, sounds simple right? Yes actually. Went to bed early, had everything organized set my alarm for 7:30. Out the door by 8:00. Caught a tram, boarded the subway, transfered subways, found my bus.... through much sign language and a nice girl who spoke english on the bus and finally got up to help, I was on my way. I knew that the bus was taking me to Trutnov (sounds simple to say, guess again!). From Trutnov I know nothing other than what these mountains are called. I look at all the signs and go to the appropriate number station. On the bus.... for an hour......maybe close to two. All the while it is going in and out of thick, fast, huge snow flakes and then clear skies and sunny(not warm, but sunny). I get off at the right stop, great. The head to the trail is right there- buy my ticket off I go. Smooth sailing. I hurry a little more than I wanted just to make sure that I got back to Trutnov to catch my bus back to Praha in time. I knew there was a bus at 4:00, 4:55, and 5:45. So I hike. It was beautiful and pretty clear the whole time with one 10 min snow storm which was very pretty actually. So there I am waiting at the tiny bus stop to take me back to Trutnov..... Perfect! here it comes, such great luck today, maybe things are turning around for me!

Bus driver informs me through our broken sign language (I am in SUPER REMOTE Czech/almost Poland, NO ONE speaks english!)that neither this nor does any bus go from Adrspach/Teplice to Trutnov and to go back and talk to the information people. I do, no english. She basically tells me by holding up her thumb that I should hitch-hike..... So I do. I just start walking. I am in super mountainous back country, with me and my compas- not great. Still off and on snow storms, nothing sticking just yet but all the same- fridgid! I was prepared clothing wise and thank God! but I still felt like I had frost byte....

About 10-15 cars pass and I feel like one of those dirty people we all see on the road hitch-hiking that you would never pick up. I get it. And then it happends, just like the movies. A car pulls over about 1/2 block in front of me and I wonder "are they picking me up, or just droping someone off?" so I jog a little and the woman opens her door. "blah blah blah- something in Czech" "Do you speak English?" I already know the answer is no. I manage to spit out Trutnov and she motions to the back seat.

I am now sitting in a Leopard print seat covered (all the seats!) car, listening to Faith Hill, followed by Elton John, and then Madonna's "like a Virgin", With an elderly Czech couple. We sit in silence for the 20-30 minute drive through windy mountain roads. They pull over and she motions to Trutnov, and says 6km. I had the man 100 crowns (roughly 5 bucks) and he becomes a little hostile and shoves it back at me, so I it take back...... not wanting to be taken back into the mnts and left. for Czech Bears! I missed the first two busses through getting lost again and then finally caught the third! thank God! Two more transfers, two subways and a tram later I was back at my hostel. Oh I dreamed of this moment hours ago and was very unsure if it would ever come!