April 14, 2009

Today we were finally able to go to the grocery store. Ania and I picked up bread, yogurt, noodles, and a few other things the last us until we go to Warsaw on Friday. We were also able to go to the internet café, finally, and check our email. We booked our hostel for Warsaw today as well. We wanted to book the Oki Doki Hostel that is a ten minute walk from the train station. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any private double rooms available for the days we wanted to be there so we looked at a different hostel. The hostel we booked is called Hostel Tamka. It’s a half hour walk from the train station, but it had a private double room for us the three days we’re in Warsaw. Included in the price were linens, towels, breakfast, internet, laundry service, and storage for our luggage. This price, although we have to share a bathroom, was cheaper than that of Oki Doki’s private double. Anyway, we are only paying 210 zlotty or around $65 for the three nights, which was cheaper than any hotel I could find.

Those were the two highlights of our day today. In between grocery shopping and the internet café, we walked around the park for a bit. I also bought myself a purse from this little shop a few doors down from our apartment. It’s a smaller size with a short strap but long enough to stay on its own. It’s this really great spring green color and it was half off. I paid 51 zlotty for it which is around like $11, give or take; a great deal, I thought and Ania really liked it as well.

After dinner, Ania and I walked around town for more than an hour. We walked through the park, down to Wawel Castle and then around the river. We saw a duck fight, swans, and various couples performing public displays of affection on the grass. After walking back to our apartment, via the main market square which was closed down today; there were no little stalls open. Anyway, we walked through the square and got caramel ice cream sundaes which we enjoyed while walking through the park back to our apartment. This was our day today, very mellow and laid back. We were very glad that the grocery store was open and that the internet café was also open. We didn’t want to think about what would have happened had they been closed as well as the market as we were out of meal options and desperately needed provisions.