Day 330: Leaving Berlin — Prague on the Horizon
Weather Update: Rain
Elevation Prague: 177 to 399 Metres (581-1309 ft) at its highest point.
The morning began with a sense of nervous energy. I’d booked the FlixBus to Prague, leaving Berlin at 10:00 a.m., and thought I had everything under control. Then, as often happens when travelling, the smallest hiccup began to ripple.
The Race Against the Clock
I missed my tram at 8:00 a.m.—just by a few seconds—and had to wait for the next one. My phone told me it was running eleven minutes late, and that sent my heart racing. The S-Bahn from Grünau was scheduled for 8:36, and the whole connection hinged on that one train.
If I missed it, I wouldn’t reach the bus station until 9:45—cutting it too fine for a 10 a.m. departure. When I finally boarded the right connection and saw Berlin slowly disappearing behind a curtain of grey rain, I let out the deepest sigh of relief. The day could begin again.
Grey Skies and Reflections on the Road
The weather was as moody as my nerves—low clouds, steady rain, but thankfully no wind. Berlin faded into a haze as the FlixBus rolled south toward Prague. We—meaning everyone on board—settled into that shared rhythm of travel: headphones in, jackets zipped, snacks out.
The journey promised a smooth 4½ hours, but travel days always seem to hold a few surprises.
Traffic, Detours, and a Glimpse of Tisa
We had been on the road for several hours when the bus suddenly slowed, crawling off the motorway onto a narrow country road. Cars were being sent right, heavy vehicles left. A long diversion had begun, and though most passengers groaned, I found myself gazing out the window, drawn into the landscape we would otherwise have missed.
Soon, we entered Tisa, a small mountain town nestled near the Czech border, sitting roughly 548 metres above sea level. With only a little over a thousand residents, Tisa feels suspended between worlds—half hidden by mist, half glowing under the autumn canopy.
The trees here had taken on the distinct “Tisa colours” that give the region its name—burnt oranges, deep browns, and russet reds that seemed to breathe warmth into the damp afternoon air. Between the trees, I could see the silhouettes of the Tisá Rocks, towering sandstone formations that rise dramatically from the earth like a natural fortress. The area is a climber’s paradise, boasting over a hundred routes, some soaring up to fifty metres high.
I found myself imagining what this place would look like under its first snowfall—white dust softening the jagged rocks, smoke curling from chimneys, and the whole valley holding its breath in winter stillness. It’s a place that invites you to linger, to step off the bus and stay awhile, and to live a life, to have the opportunity and the funds to meander through the country experiencing lost places that tourism has passed by on top of bigger things, but these moments stay with you.
We didn’t, of course. The diversion eventually brought us back to the main road, and Prague drew us onward. But Tisa lingered in my thoughts. Maybe that’s the gift of unexpected detours: they remind us that the most memorable places are often the ones we never meant to find.
Hostel Troubles: When Plans Fall Apart
Arriving in Prague, I thought the worst was behind me. It wasn’t.
The hostel I’d booked looked fine online, but something felt off as soon as I arrived. After reading through the fine print—like an insurance policy nobody reads until it matters—I discovered I was too old to stay. Their age policy was 18 to 39.
They refunded me, which was fair, but my second choice turned out to be their sister hostel, with the same rule. So there I was, in a new city, in the rain, with nowhere to stay.
A Stroke of Luck
Eventually, I found a place across the river called One Arbes. It had good reviews, and when I arrived, I knew I’d landed somewhere better suited to me.
They did require a cash deposit for the room key—a first for me—but at that point, I was just grateful to have a roof over my head. My German SIM card wasn’t much use in the Czech Republic, so tomorrow’s mission is to find a local prepaid SIM to make getting around easier and my deposit, which I get back when I leave.
The hostel itself looks promising—a comfortable top-level room, cosy beds with individual curtains, lights, and sockets. No shelf for small things, but I’ll take privacy over convenience any day.
And to top it off? Free sangria in the kitchen. After the chaos of the day, that first sip tasted like victory.
End of the Road, for Today
So here I am, settled at last, writing this entry with a full heart and a full glass. The road is never smooth, and no plan ever survives first contact with travel. But that’s part of the journey.
Sometimes, you miss the tram, lose your bed, and arrive an hour late. Yet somehow, things work out. Because even on grey days, good things still happen to good people.
✧ Inspire Seniors Travel Reflection ✧
Travel has a way of testing our patience before rewarding our persistence. The detours, the delays, and even the disappointments are often just pauses before something better unfolds. For senior travellers especially, it’s a reminder that flexibility is our greatest asset—and kindness, our truest travel companion.
No Photos with this. Andrew@inspireseniorstravel.com