July 25th, Wednesday morning. Had breakfast quickly and Fahrid, one of the hostel staff, helped me look for my ticket.  Yes, when I brought my ticket to show Sandra the station I was leaving from, I put it back in a different place from where it had been kept before.  Couldn´t remember at all where I had put it, but finally, after a 10 minute search, I found in one of the pockets of my backpack. One lesson learned!  Never put things away automatically.

We called the cab and I arrived there with only 30 minutes in advance.  The problem was that it took me a while to get to the right platform.  The information lady did not give me the correct information.  She must have missunderstood me.  I´d rather think like that.  I lost 10 minutes, ten precious minutes!! But I made it!!

I left Berlin with plans to come back.  I didn´t go to one tenth of the places I wanted to visit.  So, I´m planning on coming back in December and then take my time to visit all the museums, churches, theaters, clubs.  I know it is going to be bloody cold, but I can take it. I lived in Iowa in the US for seven years.  I would stay without seeing the sun for almost five months at times.  So, two weeks should not be so bad. Specially, that after that I will come back to sunny Brazil. At least that´s what I hope, since it is going to be summer here.

On the train to Prague

There was a Korean family in my compartment and then  this guy arrived.  I asked him where he was from trying to figure out his accent and he said from Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil. I happily said BRAZIL!! Great, I said. "Can you help me put my luggage up here?" So, he did and we talked about a variety of things - from travelling to politics. I found him an interesting person as he was very knowledgeable about the Brazilian political and economical situation. Prague was his destination, too.

I, then, fell asleep and was asleep most of the trip.  Did not even see when the Korean family left.  One of the little girls looked much like my niece, Ana Luiza/ Tainá, as she looks a little like a native indian. This made me miss her.

My Prague experience had the best and worst feelings. The worst was in the very beginning, but then I was gifted the warmest hospitality at the hostel.

The worst was at the train station when I went to exchange my money aand this guy whose picture I will share with you, did not exchange the money correctly and did not give me any receipt.  I had to go to the information desk and had the woman add it for me so that I would show it to the guy and he pretended he did not speak any English.  It was a shame.  I went to the police station, but the feeling was the same.  They talked to the guy and he said he had given me the money. I told him he was a liar and a thief.  It was very stressful.  The police asked me if I wanted to write a report, but it had to be written in czech!! Well...I told them I would post it on the internet and this is what I am doing.  So, beware of exchanging money at train stations.

The people from the hostel were sorry for me and told me they are known to do that.  What a shame!