Anticipation and angst

I can’t remember a trip when I was quite so angst-ridden.  I do angst very thoroughly, and most trips, unless it’s my beloved Algarve, as the date for departure approaches I lose sleep worrying over the ‘what ifs?’  In my head I’m a control freak, but reality is often far beyond my control.

Lake Czorsztyn in the Pieniny Mountains

I well remember being let loose by the Polish family in the Pieniny Mountains.  A trip river rafting in the Dunajec Gorge was in the offing, but where to catch the bus?  My other half always reads timetables meticulously and was unconvinced either that we were in the right place, or that the bus would turn up.  This despite a visit to Tourist Information to enquire.  ‘You’re the one who speaks Polish!’ he said, accusingly.  If only this were so!  The sun beat down, and we waited.  And waited.  Eventually a tiny minibus pulled to the curb, destination unknown.  We looked at each other.  This one?  Fortunately a good-hearted, English speaking couple had witnessed our confusion.  They were going hiking in the Gorge.  “Come on!  We’ll tell you where to get off.”  Huge relief and, ultimately, one of my best ever days in Poland.

But I digress.  What makes this particular trip so worrisome?  I had always known that I would return to Dad’s homeland one day, even though Dad was no longer with me.  The Polish family were so kind, and so accepting when we walked into their lives after all those years of absence.  Dad was welcomed with open arms.  Here I was, going back alone, and still without the benefit of Polish language, try as I might to make sense of it.

You might recall from My Call to Poland that I have elderly family.  The need to see them is pressing, but I want to cause the least possible inconvenience.  This means not flying into Kraków and expecting to be driven 3 and a half hours north to the family home, which is what always happened when Dad was alive.  A wild notion had occurred to me.  My lovely Australian friend, Meg, was back in Warsaw for 6 weeks.  This might be an opportunity to see her again, however briefly.  It all hinged on whether I could find transport from Warsaw to Bełchatów.  When Gilly leapt, with gay abandon, onto the scene, announcing she had booked 3 days in Warsaw and was going to see Meg, it was just the catalyst I needed.

A sequence of emails took place.  Kind Adam, in Kraków, declared that I was welcome in his home at any time.  Lovely Jadzia in Bełchatów said that my timing was perfect to celebrate her birthday with her.  Meg, more than generously, offered to put me up for the night on my arrival in Warsaw.  I didn’t contact Gilly,  hoping to surprise her.  Now all I had to do was pore over online timetables.  Endless timetables!  Until my head hurt.  It wasn’t simple, but finally I secured a prized bus ticket from a Russian company- the small print indecipherable.

And speaking of language, it was again time to seek out my ‘Colloquial Polish’.  I started a course at a local college about 10 years ago and purchased the required book.  The course was discontinued, due to funding, long before I reached the end of the book, but I did acquire a lasting friendship- another lady with a Polish Dad.  Each time I have visited Poland I have started the book again, with renewed enthusiasm.  Never have I reached the last page, but it has accompanied me proudly on each of my visits, and sat on the table as a declaration of intent.  This time it must stay home as I need to travel light.  A pocket dictionary will have to do.

Transferring from Bełchatów to Kraków is equally problematic.  The train service I relied on has changed providers and disappeared.  Buses go in random directions, sometimes taking as long as 13 hours.  I could reach the Pacific in less time.  Angst heightens.  Meantime, Gilly asks questions about my visit.  Nothing to do but confess and hope she won’t mind my gatecrashing her meeting with Meg.  Assuming I can find them in the teeming metropolis.

And just as I’m about to embark on this journey, I discover that I’ve lost the coach tickets to visit my daughter in Nottingham, scheduled just days after my return from Poland!  I can’t reprint them because I don’t have the ticket number.  Much hunting and an email to the coach company.  It can only get better?  By the time you read this I should know the answer.

Meantime I’m linking to Cathy’s Anticipation & Preparation: Spain and Portugal in 2013 on Wander.essence.  It holds many fond memories for me.

124 comments

  1. Now you’re in Poland, so relax. Or are you there yet? Anyway, give over with the angst as my Irish friends would say and enjoy. Sure, you’ll have moments of panic when buses don’t turn up (I had one of those only last week when the trains went berserk and we were bussed all over the place resulting me in losing all connections. I was also tired, my back decided to almost cave in on me, and everything seemed to conspire against me. But I was always only a few miles from home, so it can happen anywhere. I love the sound of all the places you’ll be visiting and I hope seeing your friends will be a great pleasure. I’m sure it will.

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  5. Oh, Jo, so many things to be angst-ridden about! The language most definitely. And the possibility of ending up on a 13-hour bus ride to somewhere not your destination. Oh dear. And I hope you’ve resolved that coach ticket to visit Lisa. I know you managed to meet Meg and Gilly because I saw the photo. It looked like you had a grand time. I love your photos of the Polish language books and your practice notebook. Which reminds me that I need to get busy studying some Spanish! Polish would be totally inaccessible to me, I think.

    What a great post. I’m so glad you wrote it and shared. So many of us feel this way when preparing to travel. So many unknowns and so much unfamiliar territory. I love this and will link it to my post of June 22. 🙂

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    1. Thanks Cathy! Yes I got an email from the coach company before I left home and have reprinted the tickets. The travel has been interesting with a few stories to tell. The family have been wonderful and I’m sitting on a sunny balcony in Krakow waiting for them to return from shopping. Left my adaptor for the phone in Belchatow so if I go silent you will know why. Hugs darlin xx

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      1. Great, Jo. I’m glad you’ve got it all sorted out after all. I’m sure all that angst has dissipated and you are truly enjoying your trip! Can’t wait to hear about your stories. Sitting on a sunny balcony in Krakow sounds marvelous. I’m envious. How much longer will you be there? Hugs to you, Jo xx

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  8. Angst. For me, it’s a mild stomach discomfort that starts a few days before travel. Not quite nausea but more like an anxious queasiness.Much as we travel I cannot get rid of this feeling before flying, so I get the angst as difficult logistics can cause stomach cramps ha!

    How exciting going back to your roots again with lots of people to connect with along the way. Sounds like a fine trip.

    Great read!

    Peta

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  9. It is brave of you to admit the stress, Jo. It sounds like you have a lot to think about there, elderly family and the language. But I’m sure it will be okay, just like another homecoming and everything will fall into place like so many of your travel adventures. Hugs ❤❤❤

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  10. I always stress about travelling, have I booked everything, have I got the dates right, will I wake up in time to set off… which is why these days I prefer to stay at home or holiday in the UK so that I can just chuck everything in the boot of the car and go. I didn’t have you down as a worrier, but I can understand how different the trip was this time. On your own. Glad it all panned out well and hope you enjoy your last couple of days with the family in Krakow. I think you’ll be very relieved to get to the Algarve at the end of this month!

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    1. I now find I’ve left the adaptor in the socket at Belchatow but I should be able to borrow a charger here. Otherwise I will be very silent till Saturday night. Just saw the end of Rafa and am stealing 10 minutes sun on the balcony till family get back from shopping xx

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      2. Absolutely. Borrowed a charger or you’d be without my lovely voice. I’m in a household with 2 boys under 4 and who gets the biggest piece of banana is more important right now xx

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  14. So pleased all has worked out ok as I spotted you on Gilly’s wordless Wednesday and you looked happy. Have a great trip I’m missing your Monday walks but I’m sure you will have plenty to take us on soon.

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  17. Courage! my friend. And I can say that to myself as well. I was in a sleepless tizz last night over my impending trip across the ditch to Oz. It’s my mother’s 96th birthday next week. Since she has a lot of trouble remembering who I am these days, my arrival will be more of a surprise than usual.

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  20. Good morning Jo!!

    I admit it is the first time since I know you I feel stressed ….

    But I’m not afraid .. you are an active and intelligent woman and everything will go well !!

    I wish you to solve all the problems and get great!

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