An Englishman In...

(Or to Rijeka – Journey fans? Anyone?!)

There's a train that leaves from Zagreb Galavni K station at roughly midnight every night, which would have taken me to Rijeka, and I DID NOT take it.

Here's why...

Well besides the fact that this train would have abandoned me at roughly 4:00am in a rural Croatian town, there is the possibility that if you told me you were about to do something similar, I would quietly likely spout some derogatory (but charming-ish) Yorkshire colloquialism alluding to your madness.

Your gut will tell you to do/not do certain things - and when your gut speaks, you shut the f**k up and listen to her - seriously.

So I'm sat on this amazing marble floor, surrounded by other backpackers who look about as confused about what to do next as I am - listening to Simael; a Croatian boy with short hair, brown eyes and loose English. He’s telling me about the girl he loves (her name is Thea) and how he's going to have to leave her at some point because she isn't from his faith. My heart breaks - and for a second, the marble floor and the peeling yellow (ish) stucco of Zagreb station fade from view and I remembered why I was there...

The world is full of people who are just as scared/confused/in love/happy as you are, and isn't that just lovely. Simael and Thea are out there somewhere right now and he still loves her.

I wimped out and didn't get the night train...

Fast forward twelve hours - I'm on the direct Rijeka train, warm sunlight is pouring in, the windows are open blowing warm Med-Air through my hair and we're powering our way towards the Adriatic coast. My Swiss cab mates introduce themselves - silence - and then one of them let's a tremendous one rip. The cab erupts with laughter and my inner 5-year old is happy knowing that flatulence is funny in any language.

(the culprit remains unknown to this day)

Soon, as so often happens with trains in Eastern Europe, we've broken down in an idyllic, middle-of-no-where Croatian town. Fortunately, not at 4:00am.

(N.B. If you're planning to travel by train through Eastern Europe, add 1-2 hours on your travel time. You will stop. Lots.)

You could complain; or you could find the nearest store, buy beer and enjoy the moment with two Bristol-ian girls fresh from Amsterdam with supplies. How did I end up here? I DID NOT take the midnight train.

Advice for travellers;

- Trust your instincts
- Stupid moves at home are still stupid moves travelling
- Your choices are half chance anyway...