Poland to Prague
Riding the Deutshe Bahn (German Railways) is a pleasant experience.
The entire German train system runs like a Swiss watch.
Germany's train system is historical, and quirky as well.
Let's explain.
After World War II ended, German-Polish borders shifted.
As war losers, Germany had to give up some of their eastern territory to Poland.
Due to the border shift, the German railway network today has some quirky qualities.
For instance, part of the German railway network snakes through Poland.
One such intrusion into Polish territory happens in the south of Germany's eastern frontier border.
Trains cross back and forth across natural (and national) border line along the Neisse river.
One train stop there actually stops at a station on the Polish side of the Neisse river/border.
A small foot bridge connects the stop to Germany - only a few feet away.
Train costs EUR 4.70 to Zittau Germany from Krzywina Zgorzelecka Poland (or Ostritz Germany several feet away). It's only 2 stops, and takes about 20 minutes or so. The last return for the night is 10pm I believe.
Train costs EUR 6.10 from Hagenwerder to Zittau (as of 2015).
Train costs CZK 38 (or EUR 1.60) from Zittau to Liberec - a ridiculously small price for the 40 minute ride. After 8pm for the return, next one isn't until 11pm, and 5am after that!
BUS TO PRAGUE
Bus costs EUR 3.80 from Liberec to Prague. Student Agency (www.studentagency.eu) out of Czech Republic has fairly luxurious buses, feeling more like a plane with the individual video screens at every seat, The bus departs mostly every hour (sometimes more often) from Liberec. There are two departure points from Liberec: Liberec AN - which is the bus station close to the train station, and Liberec Fugnerova-Blazkova - which is near a shopping mall. The ride takes about 75 minutes. Returns are tricky. The 4pm bus is the latest one in order to avoid the very last connection of the day. And after the 630pm one, you ain't gettin back til next mornin'!
Exchange rate was CZK 24 to 1 USD. Czech Kroner to US dollar, that is. That on third of Aug. '16,
Czech coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Kroners. See picture below.
One Czech Kroner equals 100 Hellers, but there are no Heller coins. Hellers only appear in prices.
