The Wild East

"While our backs are turned 2 German girls sneak into our carriage."

Monday 14 August
Got to Stockport train station a little early, and got on the 8.30 London train. Arrived in London without incident, and went to Waterloo station to collect our Eurostar tickets. We had about 4 hours to kill, so we went towards the Thames. We were severely ripped-off (£5 for 2 hot dogs!) and saw that millennium ride thing. At 2.30 we were on the Eurostar, which mainly had French and Belgium people on.
At 6.30 we were in Brussels, which was quite a smart station (compared to English ones). We tried to get on the fast train to Koln, but that was booked up, so we had a meal in Brussels- a greasy pizza, and coke, with terrible service, and expensive. At 19.10 we got on the Koln train, it was filthy on the outside but quite nice inside. All continental trains have compartments of about 6-8 people and acorridor running down the side. We have the carriage to ourselves.

At 2230 we get to Koln, there are no TV-monitors anywhere, and the Prague train leaves in 5 mins, but manage to catch it. The ticket inspector gives us a compartment with a tanned-looking guy, whom I think is Czech. I'm also a little paranoid- I've read lots of stories about robberies on Germany-Czech/Poland trains. The window is open, so at least if thieves spray gas into our carriage, it'll take a while to kick in.... Mark attempts to sleep, while I'm in the corridor looking out of the window. After about 45mins MT gives up on sleep, and looks out of the window with me.

At Midnight the train stops in Dortmund, about 150 people get on. While our backs are turned 2 German girls sneak into our carriage. One of them steals my seat, but I don't say anything. They are both lightly dressed (short skirts and low-cut tops) and don't seem security conscious (getting into a carriage with 3 unknown men, dressed provocatively. They assume their rucksacks are safe too). I anchor our rucksacks to the rack with a bike lock, which attracts stares from the others. One of the girls has nice legs the other has tree trunk legs.
Nice Legs is sitting opposite MT, Tree Trunks is opposite me (typical!).

I swiftly realise that I'm not going to get any sleep, as I'm so cramped. Every time I move my feet I kick Tree Trunk's sandals. I sit and rest. I shut my eyes/look at NL's legs. At about 5 in the morning (having had no sleep whatsoever) the train stops, and there is some shouting on the corridor, and a man runs past with a suitcase. The train starts moving again.

NL and TT wake up suddenly, and seem distressed "Sheisse (sh*t). Neun.(no) "
"Sheisse. Sheisse. Neun, neun, neun" ...........

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