Why Linz? It was in the right direction, not too long a train ride and I like the name, something about it appealed to me! Also, I’d still have a couple of days in Austria; no, I don’t know why that should matter, it’s just how it was. Good choice, a nice place to find my feet and expel all the breath I’d been holding in trepidation.
Oh gosh, yes, looking back on it now, I had a whole conference hall of What Ifs, Buts and Have Yous, all arguing in my head. Some delegations were appeased and left once I’d successfully clicked my first train journey on to my Interrail Pass, got on the right train and got off at the right place. Phew. A sandwich from one of the many food stalls in the station helped quell the ongoing jabbering and I was ready to set off in search of the Airbnb.
Now some folk can walk in anywhere and be comfortably at home, their inner self-esteem never doubts how right they are – I am not one of those folk, entering a stranger’s apartment to share their living space for the next day and a half? Awkward, unsure – I’ll just sit in a corner til it’s time to go. No, I didn’t, but that conference was still busy debating my inadequacies.
I found the street, no problem, then walked right past the number I was looking for, doh. The apartment was in a building not dissimilar to an old Edinburgh tenement, the staircase had a style and air to it, high ceilings, and the old water tap on the ground floor lent some extra character. My room was big and airy with a sofa and table and chairs, besides a bed. The kitchen was small, a tad messy and scruffy but perfectly functional with a shower room off one side and separate toilet off to the other side in the hallway.
After some time to pause, breath and collect myself, I went for a wander round (and to find a supermarket). Not exactly the warm, continental spring I was expecting, in fact pretty much the same as I’d left behind, cold with rain threatening. By now I was fairly knackered from very little sleep the night before and the journey, but walking round, looking up at the architecture, seeing the people, hey, I was in Austria! I was actually doing something – in Austria! Next stop Germany and I still wasn’t 100% decided where! Yes, it was time to start feeling excited.
Or maybe get excited in the morning once I’d had a good night’s kip. Some tortellini with creamy cheese for tea, a message to my old ma (so she could follow my travels on a map), lights out. Ooo, a galaxy of stars appeared on the wall and ceiling! I’m guessing the room has had a child occupant. And so to sleep after a long day of travelling, geographically and in my headspace.
Some will read this and wonder what all my fuss was about, erm, I didn’t write this for you, this is for all those with silly, nagging doubts, the worriers, the ones who’d love to have an adventure but, but, but. You can, you know.
Toodle pip!
Bruce on the Fringe 