An unexpected stop over

The alternative to passing through Belarus was an unplanned stopover in Vilnius (Lithuania). The downside to this was that the train left Warsaw at 7am :-( ...and I thought I was finished with early mornings! This was our first major train journey, lasting about 13 hours.

All was going smoothly until we had to change trains in Lithuania. We planned to buy a new ticket in the station, but when the first train arrived in the changeover station the second was just about to pull out! With no cash, we just jumped on the train anyway... better to be on the train explaining that we had no ticket than off the train in the middle of nowhere we thought! When the ticket collector arrived, we showed her a Visa card and were met with a look ofshock. She said something to us in Lithuanian/Polish/etc. but it didn't sound good! She disappeared and came back to us with the cleaner (who spoke pigeon english) and politely informed us that we'd have to get off at the next stop! When we suggested that we could pay when we got to Vilnius, they seemed to settle for that. When we pulled into the station, we were frog marched to the ATM by no less than 2 staff, to withdraw the train fee :-)