It comes down to attitude of mind. "Always look on the bright side of life". I could write about [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] but I won't. I am writing on the final leg of my land based public transport journey from Melksham to Gorlitz - I set off from home yesterday lunchtime, and I'm arriving this afternoon [and posted next morning]. 9 trains and 1 bus. Got a seat on every one, and as a bonus a up of coffee on one as well. Marvellous scenery and pictures and a handful of brief encounters with other travellers.  In fact so many pictures I don't know which to share.

Perhaps my quickest connection ever - 2 minutes at Leipzig and clearly it was a regular race around for the regulars too from platform 12 to 9.  Reminded me of the 06:32's sorta connection to Weymouth which also has a number of sprinters and also usually works.

The Ibis Budget in Leuven is perhaps the closest hotel I have ever booked to a station - not actually in the station but towering up beside the subway exit

Enjoying the early morning in Leuven with a wonderful cup of WMF coffee and a roll that felt so fresh it was just out of the oven - even though breakfast did not start officially until 5 minutes after the train left (and it was on time). Admiring the stations at Leuven and half an hour later in Liege.

Scenery - flat countries and rolling hill, crossing over rivers, high over valleys and through tunnels. Crossing rivers and seeing other trains, rolling stock are railway architecture.

Taking in the ethos and atmosphere at stations at Melksham and Paddington and Kings Cross and St Pancras.  At Leuven and Liege, Frankfurt Hbf and Cottbus. Swindon, Brussel and Leipzig too brief to enjoy.

Learning how intermediate stations can work and people can change in all directions when lines cross each other - a lesson for Yeovil perhaps.  And learning how a clock face hourly service even in rural counties generate passenger traffic.

Having a train pull up again as it started (it just happened as I typed) to let a final passenger jump on. Seeing level access for cycles and wheelchairs that don't need a ramp and don't leave a gap between the platform and train. Seeing just how many bicycles can come out of a short train, and just how many passenger can fit without overcrowding.

Seeing how quickly 2 trains can pass each other on a single line - lessons for Yeovil and Maiden Newton again.

Contrasting how staff in different places keep customers informed of delays and how those customers react

Watching how in Cottbus - a town about half the size of Swindon - Trains, buses, cycles and trams all integrate at a station that's modern, light and airy and offers a range of retail outlets at sensible prices to it becomes a true community hub and not just a place to pass through

And realising how I am and we are when I see others struggling to get around.

I had better tell you what I am not telling you about, hadn't I?
1 - train a few minutes late, connection failed, Cottbus
2 - lights not working in hotel room
3 - promised coffee service on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) never arrived
4 - 205 bus service cancelled
5 - Kicking screaming toddler on Eurostar
6 - Long security queue then no space in waiting room at St Pancras
7 - Worst possible seating and train time on Eurostar

Arrived at my accommodation at 17:50.  Plan had been 17:15 - not bad!  Hosts had asked me to let them know an hour ahead my e.t.a which I had done and a whole new story starts.

I walked across late in the afternoon / early evening yesterday and passed by the tobacconists close by the bridge on the Polish side.   It's a mixture of recent modern build, sites perhaps dating back to WWII^▸ (World War 2 - 1939 to 1945) and some older buildings in need to TLC^▸ (three letter code, or tender loving care, depending on context ).  And, yes, I brought back a few breakfast supplies purchased in Zloty and purchased an ice cream at an astonishingly good price for a tourist spot.  But I didn't find such a huge contrast - Goerlitz  has a number of decrepit older buildings too as well as magnificently looked after ones.