Deciphering The Train Station

"Every exit is an entry somewhere else."- Tom Stoppard

I have been Blogging our travel trips since 2005.  My favourite blog was our trip to the Royal Wedding in 2011.  Originally the purpose of blogging was to help others learn 'how to' plan and organize their own trips.  However, travelling is not a perfect science.  Deb and I have had 'BIG' situations occur (the infamous purse snatching in Rome) but we learn by our mistakes.  As well, that particular incident changed the way we travel forever in a very positive way. We felt so alone after that incident even though we made the decision to remain in Italy. Reaching out and meeting other travellers along the way, supported our decision to stay, but also transformed us into extrovert travellers rather than 'two against the world' travellers.  

With this in mind, I share this post on train travel in Europe.

**********

I received so much support and encouragement from friends at the hospital who were thrilled for the adventures that lie ahead of Deb and I on this big travel extravaganza.  Interesting enough, a few said they could never do what we do.  But I beg to differ.  We have learned much as we travel and the more we travel the more we have learned.  Anyone can do it.  Seriously.

Example, we are in Sopron.  It is a bilingual city, Hungarian or Germany.  With the spirit of love we suck at both.  We try....but to buy our tickets (if not online) in person, we had to make a different plan.

On my iPad, I downloaded the 'translation' app.  It has saved us here.  It will translate what I type in Hungarian to english and visa versa. 

(I type in english what we want to buy and translate it in Hungarian at the push of a button).

So....I find our train that we want to take on Saturday to Vienna.  I know we don't want to drag luggage too far, so I plan to arrive in Wien Westbahnhof station.  (Vienna in german is Wien). Which means we have only one transfer.  I also know that the schedule below (which are all posted, all over Europe, at the train stations) I can translate if I take a picture of it and take it home.

Below is what each column says in english.

Restrictions/departure time/track No./train number/Destinations

With that in mind, our time of departure is 9:38, track 5, train number 2819, and stops at Wien Meidling (Vienna station but we will make our one transfer there to the Wien Westbahnhof which is closer to our B&B).

Viola!  All we need to do Saturday is arrive early.....find track 5 (easy), and wait for our train to arrive.

See....anyone can do it.

The Sopron train station is very small in comparison to others we have been to.  

Which, when dragging luggage, is okie dokie with us.

(Did I mention packing light when travelling to Europe?)

Below is a picture of the train station in Sopron from the front? Interesting...it looks more like a school?

The old train travel machine (reminds me of "Back to the Future")........and.....

.....the new.