PC540 Zakopane, Poland 5/9/09
Thu - Travel to Zakopane
- got to one place and the bus had just left, but at the main bus station I found a bus just as it was leaving. So I was in Zakopane at 3.30pm, but there was a problem ..the hostel I had chosen operates out of a school and despite having a great website it didn't mention that it was closed as it only operates in the summer. They'd taken down all their signs so it took a long time to find it. I ended up at a couple of hostels nearer the bus terminal.
- I climbed the hillside on the north of town ... the town has a busy shopping street as it's so touristy, but it's so spreadout it's not too spoiled.
- I went to the toilet and for the first time there was mucus with blood ...this was a bit worrying.

Fri - Hiking up the touristy mountains to 2200m
- Took a bus to the National Park Office., diver charged me 6zl instead of 2zl for some reason ... and saw a couple of films then walked 2KM to the entrance of the National Park. The plan was to take the cable car upto Mt Kasprowy Wierch 2000m , but at 9am there were 2000 people waiting for the cable car and it was raining. I hung around until 11am when the rain stopped and then walked up a valley for an hour. 30 mins I was at the lake and people were pointing at the hillside up 300m away . For 10 minutes I couln't see anything. Then this bear turned from face on to side on and you could really see it was a huge bear as big as a cow.

- The lake was pretty crowded so I walked along to the far side and since it was only 1pm I decided to walk to the top of the ridge line and along to hopefully catch the cable car down. The mountains are all granite peaks so there are no trees to obscure the views.

- The map was a bit wrong, but I found the right paths anyway. The ridge line is the border one could see higher peaks on the Slovakian side. Getting nearer the cable car it became more crowded with tourists and school groups. I kept spoiling peopes photos as all the Polish wanted to get pictures of themselves standing on the mountain. ... had to wait 50 minutes for the cable car.. it must be one of the longest cable cars in the world ..each car takes 60 people.

- I walked all the 4Km back to town, but the museum was closed.

- Since I was ill I decided that Saturday would be a rest day in Zakopane

Should be in UK in 10 days
- I think I will have to go back to UK soon and have some proper medical tests. But also I need some root canal work doing on my teeth so maybe I can get that done here in Poland first. Also since I am in Krakow I'm going to visit the Tatra mountains and then places like the castle at Skala. I was thinking of visiting my friend CK in Germany but he is in the UK, so after I finish here I will get on a bus to London, which takes 24 hours.

- It was a pity I didn't get lucky and find some work in Ukraine. One reason for coming to the UK now is to then I can get all the stuff done and then leave in October to go to a warm country and work there. I would prefer to stay in Europe this time.

Sat - rest day
- I didn't do much. I went to the main museum .. it was crap. I walked along the valley and back .. then the rain came.

Plans -

- The next plan was to go to Krakow and then Ojcow National Park 20KM north, but when I checked I found the main castle is closed on Monday so that means I'll have to stright there on Sunday instead of stopping off in Krakow first

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