Picture is of the dorm in Novi Sad
Sunday, July 15, 2007
We found our train! While waiting, we met a lady who was originally from Ukraine but now lives in Los Angeles. She was headed to Belgrade and seeking an English speaker in the crowd to ask about the train. I heard "English" and "Serbia". You know me...never met a stranger... and I struck up a conversation. She had tickets in the 2nd class car though so I couldn't continue it for 6 hours--the conversation that is!
I had purchased our tickets before we left the U.S. The train isn't very full though. I could have waited. Since I've never done the train thing, I was a little nervous about navigating the train station-- I shouldn't have been. We were at the train station more than an hour early with no A/C and over 90. I will be happy when the train car cools down. We are miserable!
We went to the supermarket last night and bought provisions for lunch. There is a dining car and I guess we could have bought a meal on board but the grocery store was very cheap. I also made sure to pay cash for dinner last night and breakfast this morning to deplete my Hungarian money so I wouldn't have to pay a fee to exchange it back. I got down to about 2600HUF which is about $12, probably enough to get a cold water bottle on the train later on and still have a little left for Olivia to show on her display for the Culture Fair at school in the winter. At the moment I have at least 1 of every coin and a couple of different bills.
...It is very peaceful on the train as we watch the countryside roll by. There aren't that many people in our car. The train frequently slows down to a crawl at the rural intersections. Having watched Hungarian drivers for the past several days, I guess I'm not surprised. I'm amazed we witnessed no accidents. There don't appear to be any speed limits or rules. One way street the opposite way...no problem...that is what the horn on the car is for, right? Will would love it! I just resolved not to try driving in Budapest! If they drive this way in Serbia, then I understand why Stevan was discouraging of my idea of renting a car one day next week and taking a day trip to Pecs', Hungary which is about 2 hours from Novi Sad but only accessible by train by returning to Budapest and then back the same basic direction and slightly East. A Yugo rents for about $20/day, but the stress factor might do me in! I guess I will ask his nephew if there is a bus or a guide we can hire. I can probably check with a tour agency in Novi Sad too...got to get out and about while Eleanor is dancing every day
....I'm back. We arrived in Novi Sad about 30 minutes late. Stevan was waiting for us with his nephew, Mickey--it just occurred to me that you might not know who Stevan is--he is Eleanor's ballet teacher and he is from Novi Sad. We are staying in the dormitory for the ballet school here. There is a huge music festival here this week--the largest in Central Europe. The city owns the building and they have rented most of the rooms to student backpackers from all over. They put us in a secluded area with only 3 rooms for tonight but tomorrow when all the concert goers leave, we will move and have the place to ourselves. I was expecting no A/C--there isn't any and there isn't much airflow in this wing but it is only slightly sticky. I am hopeful that when we move, it is either cooler or that we can at least open the windows at night.We are still having fun--even with the heat. Eleanor wants me to stop tapping so she can go to sleep, so goodnight for tonight.
K and E
P.S. I later found out that there was no A/C in the 2nd class train cars and, according to Mickey, there is no A/C in any cars if it is a Serbian train. I'm glad it was an international train then...and that I sprang for the 1st class seating. It was only $60 each for the tickets...well worth the extra expense since we were comfortable and cool.
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