(continued)
May. 29th, 2002 06:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blodeueddI'm fairly sure I was in the second class wagon, but if that was second class, what was first class like? They probably give you a personal valet. In 2nd, the seats were cushy armchair seats, wide and well spaced from each other, even the curtains looked classy.
I arrived in Graz at around 8:30, got out my Lonely Planet to check the map, and headed out of the station. I had to turn right, and as I looked for a street sign, to make sure I was heading in the right direction, I saw something that almost sent chills down my spine. I was at an intersection, and there were street signs for BOTH streets, and I could see them! Walking on, my suspicions were confirmed and tears of joy welled up in my eyes. I felt like getting down on my knees and kissing the ground.
Why?, you ask? Because Austrians, or at least the good citizens of Graz, believe in putting street signs at every corner where they can be seen. They believe in putting up helpful signs indicating in which direction you should go to reach certain important places. This is nothing unusual, but to someone who has spent the last eleven days getting lost in France because the French see no point in putting street signs at roundabouts, this was a small miracle.
I arrived at the hostel, found out they had no more beds for the night, and so spent the night at the Hotel Strasser. It was cheap, clean, and I had my own room, so I could have stayed up all night and not bothered anyone. But I didn't. I turned out my light at ten. How pathetic. At any rate, I'm so far *below* my budget that I can allow myself these little luxuries.
Last night was also a momentous occasion for another reason: I had my first conversation in German. It went something like this.
I was leaving the hotel to find something to eat when I reached the door at the same time as the middle-aged lady I assume was the owner. She opened the door and stood aside to let me pass, and said, "Bitte." I said "Danke!" and she answered "Bitte," with a smile. Wonderful, eh? I also had several similar conversations today when buying food, most of which consisted of me saying "Ein (point and read little sign), bitte," and "Danke."
Another reason to celebrate today: I did my laundry. The first time this trip, I actually used a washer and dryer. This was not just washing my underwear in a sink, this was a real load of laundry. And the smell of clean clothes really is one of the most pleasant smells in the world, especially when you've spent the last three days wearing sweaty, grungy clothes because you couldn't find a washing machine.
One of the fun things about foreign countries is their advertising. The ad that struck me the most, here, shows a smiling old lady dressed as Napoleon. What on earth is she trying to sell me?!
I walked around Graz, today, and it's a lovely town. I'm staying at the hostel tonight, and tomorrow I'm off to Wien! I have clean clothes and a full stomach.
I'm happy.
I arrived in Graz at around 8:30, got out my Lonely Planet to check the map, and headed out of the station. I had to turn right, and as I looked for a street sign, to make sure I was heading in the right direction, I saw something that almost sent chills down my spine. I was at an intersection, and there were street signs for BOTH streets, and I could see them! Walking on, my suspicions were confirmed and tears of joy welled up in my eyes. I felt like getting down on my knees and kissing the ground.
Why?, you ask? Because Austrians, or at least the good citizens of Graz, believe in putting street signs at every corner where they can be seen. They believe in putting up helpful signs indicating in which direction you should go to reach certain important places. This is nothing unusual, but to someone who has spent the last eleven days getting lost in France because the French see no point in putting street signs at roundabouts, this was a small miracle.
I arrived at the hostel, found out they had no more beds for the night, and so spent the night at the Hotel Strasser. It was cheap, clean, and I had my own room, so I could have stayed up all night and not bothered anyone. But I didn't. I turned out my light at ten. How pathetic. At any rate, I'm so far *below* my budget that I can allow myself these little luxuries.
Last night was also a momentous occasion for another reason: I had my first conversation in German. It went something like this.
I was leaving the hotel to find something to eat when I reached the door at the same time as the middle-aged lady I assume was the owner. She opened the door and stood aside to let me pass, and said, "Bitte." I said "Danke!" and she answered "Bitte," with a smile. Wonderful, eh? I also had several similar conversations today when buying food, most of which consisted of me saying "Ein (point and read little sign), bitte," and "Danke."
Another reason to celebrate today: I did my laundry. The first time this trip, I actually used a washer and dryer. This was not just washing my underwear in a sink, this was a real load of laundry. And the smell of clean clothes really is one of the most pleasant smells in the world, especially when you've spent the last three days wearing sweaty, grungy clothes because you couldn't find a washing machine.
One of the fun things about foreign countries is their advertising. The ad that struck me the most, here, shows a smiling old lady dressed as Napoleon. What on earth is she trying to sell me?!
I walked around Graz, today, and it's a lovely town. I'm staying at the hostel tonight, and tomorrow I'm off to Wien! I have clean clothes and a full stomach.
I'm happy.
