13:15.888

My plan to blog throughout this trip fell at the first hurdle. Whilst I’m in 1st Class on the Polish run ‘Berlin – Warsaw express’ there’s no wifi on board. Well, unless you use the 8 ca888ir and on this train laptops are banned in the buffet car! Admittedly, it is a little more swanky than the last PKP catering vehicle I was in. This one has padded seats but no places to perch that aren’t sit down tables for dining. Ah, well. I’ll do what I can on miy phone.

I’m not staying on the express all the way to Berlin. I’m not in that much of a rush so I’m going to change a couple of times, first at Rzepin, then at Kostrzyn. This will allow me to sample a few different trains en-route to Berlin-Mahlsdorf. Not that it’s the end of the journey as I’m actually staying just outside Potsdam. When Innotrans is on Berlin hotel prices go through the roof but if you’re prepared to be flexible and travel a little you can get some far better deals.

Right now I’m two hours into the first train journey, which is fine, apart from the lack of wifi – and tables. I’m seated in an old-fashioned compartment. Well, the coavh is very modern, but the UK did away with compartment stock donkeys years ago. But they’re still popular in Europe.

The trip’s been through gently undulating farmland via a couple of main railway junctions. I’m beginning to miss hills! The most popular crop seems to be maize. It’s everywhere, but I’m unsure if its grown for human consumption or as animal feed although to be honest – I haven’t seen that many farm animals.