Entry #4 from June Travels.

Sun 27 Jun 2010

At the hostel, tired again. Contemplating going to the bar with the drink voucher that they gave me when I checked in: one free tea/coffee/beer. I'm sure you can guess what I'll be going for, seeing as how there's free tea and coffee in the kitchen.

Today I was up at 6am again. The silent roommate and her later-arriving friend were unfortunately not so silent last night. I'm glad that they're gone today. Hopefully tonight I'll get a better sleep. I had breakfast (oats, nectarines, coffee) whilst talking to an Italian guy. I didn't feel like chatting but he was making an effort so I had to be polite. But I really had nothing to say. After breakfast I walked all teh way to the Jewish Cemetary, only to find that Lonely Planet had lied - it opened at 11am, not 9am. So I caught the tram part was back, and walked the rest. Went to the hostel to use the bathroom at about 10am, because it was close and free. Went back to the cemetary later via the Synagogue (couldn't go in because there was a service happening) and the Warsaw Rising Museum.

The Museum was free but it was also painfully crowded. I couldn't take in all the exhibits, and just felt a bit overwhelmed. But I did collect some leaflets for reading material, so I'll go over those later. I bought a cute tote bag for zl15, which is about Aud$5. I was happy to leave, though. The museum is very modern, obviously only built in the last couple of years, and designed to be overly dramatic. It's deliberately poorly lit, and navigating the exhibits in the correct order proved to be a nightmare.

Anyway, after that I caught the tram again. It was my old friend #22, who I've been on a lot lately, albeit without ever paying. Got back to the Jewish Cemetary, who now charge a small fee to tourists (Lonely Planet, you were wrong again, my unreliable friend!)... it was overgrown, as though a forest had invaded, and many tombstones were crumbling or fallen - possibly aftermath of the war? It was an interesting place to wander, anyway. I was starving by that time, so I took #22 back to the hostel. I stopped at a corner kebab shop for a delicious felafel. They weren't joking when they said the spicy sauce was very spicy, but it was awesome. Fresh, crunchy salad, and no pickles. I was still a bit hungry, but came back to the hostel to rest my weary feet.

I read the rest of The Kite Runner, which wasn't as good as the other book I've read by the same author... can't remember the title, though. The Kite Runner was re-gifted to the communal bookshelf. I decided to head back into the old town, and to grab a snack on the way. I made the mistake of getting too close to the old town, and my felafel came with seriously shoddy salad. I'd asked for no sauce, but it came with garlic sauce, and I'm still tasting strong garlic. I'm hoping it won't destroy my stomach too much - I'm too tired to get sick now. I've got my fingers crossed, anyway.

There were crowds in town - L'Oreal was hosting something, with a big stage and marquees. I think it was a fashion parade? There were too many people, so I didn't stick around to find out. Stopped in a deli for a drink because I was parched (today is sunny and warm again) but got an iced-tea flavoured iceblock (Calippo!) instead. It was the best idea, albeit much too sugary. Now someone just needs to make me a soylatte Calippo and I'll be a happy woman. Anyway, I came back here to the hostel, and now I'm writing this. I'm contemplating dinner just because I'm tired and want to go to bed (plus I have leftovers from yesterday waiting in the fridge). Might wash my sweaty face, and get my beer instead.