So this happened.

(FYI: Austria and Bratislava post is in the works. What I am writing about here happened after...)

Events occured during the dark hours between August 6 and August 7 2015

I had a 2258 train from Bratislava, Slovakia to Krakow, Poland. I bought a direct overnight train ticket so not to waste a whole day traveling. I had slept super comfortably in Vienna so one night of less optimal sleep seemed like a reasonable sacrifice. After a nice beer at the train station and a heart attack of a sandwich 

[and sweating my face off], I made my way to the platform. Hmmm so it was a bit weird because the only train that had the same exact time as the one I had (2258) was one going to Berlin. I asked several people, and they all assured me that yeah that was the correct train. I was so tired and if people that actually spoke pretty good English were telling me that was the correct train, then it was the correct train right? Showed the guy at the entrance of the train my ticket and he told me to sit anywhere :)

I get comfy and pass out within the first 10 minutes. It is SO nice to travel by train after only using buses for the last 2+ weeks. I don’t think I could have been more comfortable minus the people yelling at each other in Slovakian about seats.

About two hours go by and this huge German guy checking ticket shakes me awake (pretty abrubtly): “ticket.” I am like still half dreaming and give him my passport.

“Ticket!”

-     "Okay sorry, here."

“You are on wrong train. This train goes to Berlin.”

- “Ummm, what?”

“This train Berlin.”

- “I was told this train goes to Krakow…”

“Everyone on this train goes Berlin. You, no.”

- “So what do I do?”

“I don’t know! Get off next station, 10 minutes.”

What a lovely way to wake up. So I am cursing up a storm, no one around me speaks English to explain to me how this train that left at the same time as the one to Krakow is not going to Krakow.

It's a weird feeling not knowing what country you are in... 

I get out of the train and realize I am in Brno, Czech Republic. NO ONE IS AROUND. It’s after 130AM in the morning. What the fuck do I do??? [Call my dad and boyfriend for some advice- thank you for keeping me calm and being my secretary]

SO I walk out of the platform area to see if SOMEONE, ANYONE is around.. I find two policemen dealing with a homeless drunk. 

(me) “Excuse me, can I ask you one quick question?”

(policewoman)  “Wait a minute”

(me) “I just want to-“

(policeman) “WAIT a minute

Cool. So I wait for a few minutes looking at my ticket that also says it was supposed to stop by Brno. That’s what I wanted to ask: to see if there was anyway to know if the Krakow train had passed through yet. In retrospect, the police probably wouldn’t have known anyways.

I see a respectable looking man with his wife and daughter that have just received him. He had also been on the same train as me AND spoke English. I just wanted to know if there was anywhere I could get information about train schedules- I needed to get to Krakow!

He explained to me that I had been on the correct train, just not the correct cart of the train. Apparently, the whole train left Bratislava at 2258, BUT at some point, the train splits into two different sections- one goes directly to Krakow and one to Berlin.

WHAT!?!?! I was FUMING! I asked SOOOO many people and I even showed the ticket to the guy before getting on the train. There was NO obvious sign indicating that one train was going to Berlin and one to Krakow. He told me to get on anywhere! What am I going to do at 130+AM in the morning in Brno??? 

Let me tell you.

My dad said to definitely not stay in train station- Wikitravel says it’s very dangerous at night.

Robby looks up two nearby hostels which I call. Neither answer. 

I decide to try my luck and just GO to the hostels. Maybe they have 24 hour reception and are just away from the phone or maybe someone will be walking in/out so I can explain my situation. I had to make moves it was approaching 2AM and everyone knows nothing good happens after 2AM (How I Met Your Mother reference but also drunks like to play).

10 minutes later, I arrive to the hostel number one, Hostel 11. Lights are off, no doorbell to ring, call again with no luck..

Google map the other hostel, Hostel Mitte which was literally down the road. Same thing. Lights are off, call with no answer, no doorbell…. I am starting to think where the best place to sleep the night would be. In front of the hostel? By a church? Maybe a park?

For some reason, I decide to try the door handle. It. Opens. I have just trespassed into a hostel.

My plan was literally to just find an open bed and sleep there the night and pay tomorrow. It was just a huge relief to be OFF the street! Start going up the stairs, open one door, looks like a quad room that is shared by a group. Try a few other doors, all locked. Can you imagine if you were sleeping in one of these dorms and someone just walks in? At least I am a girl and not so intimidating. 

I make it to the top floor and find the common room. Jackpot. No couch, but the floor is looking real comfortable. 

They also had a shower in the bathroom of the common room. That was an unexpected wonderful and welcomed surprise. I was nasty from the bus to Bratislava and SO sweaty from walking all day then from the train. 

So basically I trespassed into a hostel because some careless traveler forgot to lock it, showered, slept for two hours after skyping Robby and doing some research for the next day at a 45 euro/night hostel. Oh. For free. So I am now a squatter and did my walk of shame at 6AM from the hostel so no one would see me.

Lol. You’re not getting the full backpacking until something like this happens.

[And yes I took pictures because I knew I would blog about it]