Praha to Wroclaw

Travelling on the train eastwards across the Czech Republic and then later this afternoon crossing the border into Poland before changing at Katowice to head north to my destination of Wroclaw. The border crossing is an invisible event since yesterday when border checks ceased.

The countryside is a mix of flat or gently rolling farm land, empty of crops in the winter, and hills and forest. Recent snows have blanketed most if it in white.

Before setting off from Prague Station

scenery along the way

Transferring in Katowice Station was interesting. Poland seems older and dirtier than what I saw of the Czech Republic; and Katowice Station, in mid-winter with crowds of people fighting for seats on the trains, and when I myself have a cold, certainly feels like one of the less attractive places to be. I needed to go to the toilet so of course I needed money, Polish money. Finally I found an ATM which, even better, was working. But the notes it issued me with were too large for the toilet attendant. So I had to get some change. Bought a bottle of drink, grabbed the change, rushed to the toilet. And then later realised I had forgotten the bottle I had just bought. Then had to stand for 3 hours in the poorly heated corridor of the train.

My friend and former student, Chris Park, met me at the station. He works for LG (the Korean electronics company).

I think there are interesting things to see here but I've had a cold and have spent the day inside resting - looking at the view from his apartment (as in the picture below)