“Travels to a Different Time” : 3June1975: Prešov, Czechoslovakia: Bad First Impressions: The Men in White Coats

I woke up in my shanty shack and was delighted to see no rain and even some blue patches in the sky. I wanted a shower but it was freezing cold so I declined! The weather so far in Austria and Hungary has been atrocious. I headed into the village knapsack on my back getting many stares from the inhabitants of the town. Milk, rolls and a chocolate bar for breakfast. I sat down on a bench next to a strange character babbling away. Two men in white coats took him away. I hit the road and waited a half hour for a lift which was with a Hungarian who had worked in Toronto. The Czech border was a hassle. You must spend $7 a day here but not having cash I proffered my American Express traveler’s cheques which caused a two-hour discussion amongst the border guards. One doltish looking customs official looked through my knapsack. Really do they think I am a spy? The jerks were teasing a girl my age who was near tears. Sexist pigs. I got a ride to Kosice then an hour walk to Prešov where I got a spot in a campground. The WC was closed and there was one sink with cold water only. The restaurant on the campground had a WC but it rivalled the filth pits of Istanbul. A horrible stench. I had a late lunch in the campground restaurant which was so disgusting I could not eat it. It made the greasy Yugo goulash look like a 5-star hotel meal. Even the beer, yes the famous Czech beer, was undrinkable.  Given the filthy and repulsive WC not eating the food was a wise decision. I had to go into town for an edible lunch and a very good beer.