Note to Self

When invited to join a friend for a day trip always keep the following in mind:

-Just because a friend invites you, do not depend on your friend to do everything. Take a look at train schedules and maps, etc. Acquaint yourself. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF.
-When traveling to a new place and especially small villages, try to print out a map (Google or Mapy.cz) of certain locations. For example, the train station you intend to depart from.
-Never be so shy or afraid to ask for help or directions.
-Always pack extra snacks. Throw in nuts, raisins, chocolate. Did I say a chocolate bar? ;) You might think you only need that one sandwich and bottle of water, but you never know what might happen during the course of the day or night. For example, you might miss your train and be stuck in an antiquated train station (at least from the 50s but possibly pre-war with 1950 updates) without any vending machines and no food options whatsoever.
-Don't try to pack too much in. Be realistic. Don't start climbing a hill at 5 or 5:30 pm and think you're going to reach a wine festival and then catch a train by oh, say, 7 or 8 p.m.
-Keep in mind that the sun does go down and when it does, boy, is it dark out there in the forest.
-The flashlight app for Androids comes in handy. Equip your phone.
-When leaving home, always wear walking shoes - whether they be sneakers or tennis shoes or hiking boots. Avoid sandals. Forget about fashion. Be realistic.
-If you do not have proper walking or hiking boots, do not attempt to walk through forests and climb hills.
Period.
-If you've made the mistake of wearing improper attire, check your anger and frustration. IT'S YOUR FAULT. NOT YOUR FRIEND'S.
-Should you decide to stray off the beaten path, expect to find the unexpected. For example, fences, locked gates, ravines, thorns, snake holes, weeds, bees, wild boars, etc.
-When you ask for directions from two people at the same time and those two individuals give you conflicting answers, DO NOT FOLLOW EITHER ONE. They are inevitably wrong.
-Do not assume that a train station bearing the name of a village is actually located in that village. It could be named after the neighboring village.
-Always pray.


The above represents valuable lessons learned from yesterday's day trip to Litomerice and Velke Zernoseky. There were a few other villages thrown in, but it was too dark and I could hardly read the signs. After 3 train connections and helping out a Russian wunderkid and two clueless Americans get Czech money and metro tickets, I took a midnight bath and slipped into bed around 1 a.m. feeling very, very, very grateful to be home (and not sleeping in a scary train station in the middle of nowhere).