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I had the best sleep last night I’ve had in a long long time, about 8 and a half hours. One might even be tempted to say Jurassic Park. I feel all the better for it.

The New World St. Hostel seems great too. I was a bit worried at first as to get to it you have to walk up a very grim council-estate like flight of stairs, I had fears of another Denver hostel experience, but these concerns were unfounded as once you reach the top the atmosphere is much more warmly.

It also has the most genial staff I’ve come across, I’ve seen a few of them being very patient and helpful with all sorts of people. Throw in good facilities, an ace breakfast (not free but cheap at less than 3 quid) plus a great night-time view of the Palace of Culture and Science from my window and a good hostel you have made.

Warsaw seems more interesting than I expected it to be (apologies for my ignorance Varsovians) so I’ve booked another night as half a day (which is all I’d have got by the time I get out today) won’t cover it. This has caused a few headaches with my Krakow booking so I’m just trying to sort that out now. Sorted.

Today has been another one of those planning heavy days and I’ve worked out a very very rough route for the next few months. I’m actually thinking of making it more extensive than originally planned as I’m not sure I’m going to be able to fund my Central America proposal so a longer duration in Europe (and maybe a short Cuban trip) might be a good alternative. None of this is concrete so I’ll just play it by ear and see where I’m up to in a month or two.

Ah, I knew this hostel couldn’t be perfect – one very cold shower later. What’s the emoticon for shiver.

Right then, Warsaw. Well first up I walked up to the main central station to see if I could get my ticket to Krakow for Thursday but after 10 minutes in a queue that was going nowhere I decided to try again tomorrow.

After that I went looking for a vintage clothes shop that I heard was dirt cheap but just got there a bit too late. Again maybe one for tomorrow.

Next on my hit list for the area I was in was a visit to an arthouse cinema (Muranow Cinema) that is very discreet (without the address it’s unlikely to be somewhere you stumble upon) and sill has the original Stalinist style décor. Lars Von Trier’s controversial ‘Antichrist‘ was the offering and I considered it but it was getting late and nosebag was on the agenda. Maybe tomorrow night if nothing better comes up. Tomorrow, tomorrow – I feel like the little ginger orphan Annie.

So stomach a rumblin’ I sought out the restaurant ‘Pod Samsonem‘ which I’d read was an excellent traditional Jewish Polish place. I ordered the hashed sausage, pork and beef stewed sauerkraut served with potatoes. A pint of Zywiec provided the washing down for this meal. This was only 22 Zlotys altogether, which is less than a fiver Sterling. I should also add that it was lovely, my palate is very much suited to Eastern European cuisine.

My taste-buds satisfied I then strolled home through Warsaw’s old town. Though in reality it’s not that old as the vast majority of it was decimated in World War II and has since been rebuilt, still it is very pretty, if a little over populated with tourists.

BTW This post’s title is a reference to a line in a Johnny Cash song. It was in a short list of Polish to English phrases in a little pamphlet I was reading on Krakow. It made me laugh for it’s off the wall randomness.

Okay, I’d like to say this picture was taken in Warsaw but unfortunately I’ve not managed to find anything picture worthy (or at least capable of capturing on a 1 mega-pixie flashless iPhone when the sun has done one) so until I do, it’s the Berlin Wall all the way folks. It looks like the 2 Harry’s to me, Redknapp and Hill.