The next morning up early as usual, but with the problem of no water in the hostel! Coffee not a problem as I was using bottled water, but other uses of water with in the hostel a real problem. The poor receptionist had to handle half a dozen drunken youths , which she managed quite well but they were still noisy several hours later until they checked out. I believe the police were involved but it was resolved fairly well. I went for a wander up the street, after late night I wasn’t too energetic but it was good to go to the grocery store with the dead escalator again. While there I also bought another purse after the theft of mine in Bar.
The day passed pleasantly, chatting with other people in the hostel. A young Turkish guy, a teacher of disabled children and. dutch lass. What an odd combination of people! But they were so interesting , and I discovered the lass was going on the Sofia train that I was going on tonight. So it would be good having company to go to the station, although I had a berth and she had booked a seat oe the night. The young people went out walking, although I was kindly invited , the old story of two’s company threes a crowd is always true.
Once they had gone, a new lady now in my old vacated room introduced herself coming from across the ditch, a term used by Kiwis and Australians referring to the Tasman sea that separates the two countries! She had picked up from my accent that I was a kiwi, not that it took me any time to pick the Aussie drawl !!
Again, a most interesting couple of hours chatting with another interesting young person, although by her definition not that young at 29, but certainly not mine! The friendliness of the people that have stayed here has been great, although when there are around twenty all living in a place no bigger than my home, it’s a case of being friendly!!! I think in no small measure due to the receptionists, one guy,the other a girl. They are friendly themselves and of course that spreads to everyone else and it has been interesting to notice how everyone seems to relax and make themselves at home at this hostel. I’ve been in many over the last few months and this would be the stand out hostel in that respect.
Finally it was back down to the train station, this time with company. We spent the last of our serbian money while waiting for the train. When finally time to board it was time to say good bye at least for the time being. I had the bottom berth in a six berth cabin, room mate for the night with four young guys from France and Austria, and a canadian girl who had been travelling on her own for nine months. so interesting to talk to.I never did ask the girls their names,probably wouldn’t have remembered . A reasonable night apart from a couple who had booked a sleeper then spent half the night talking on the floor outside our sleeper! I eventually asked them to go away, anywhere but there. Some people are so inconsiderate.
Then it is of course the entrance of customs and passport control, who keep the train waiting while they go through the train and its passengers.
The passing sunflower paddocks a cheerful yellow by the acre. The landscape little different to any of the countries I had been through since leaving Vienna. It wasn’t long after the last custom check that we arrived into Sofia. I met up again with the dutch lass, sadly she had been robbed of her money and phone overnight. The sods even took her sim card out of the phone. I can so relate to how she must have been feeling. So she was off to get sorted, while I had been waiting to say good bye to the canadian girl I didn’t see her again. We were all very busy. I had the hassle of a credit card not working, but had enough euros to change into Bulgarian money to get me into the hotel and a different money machine.