caught

(written march 13 at 1243......sitting at the bus stop at Liptovsky Mikulas, Republic of Slovakia, sun blazing on my back, view of snow-capped mountains before me)

so far, so successful.....although it didn't start out that way......actually i'm noticing a pattern: early mornings=some kind of screw up on my part that turns into a lot of waiting
i made my bus this morning......even got off at the right stop for the Liberty Caves (Jakysna Slobody), but somehow the 90 minute hike to the caves reported in my guide book took me 10 minutes........now, i may be fit but by no means do i move like a cheetah........so, now i'm at what seems like a tourist trap without any tourists.....i waited at one of the deserted picnic benches near the deserted park benches in the deserted square in front of the building clearly indicating, in numerous languages, the entrance to the cave......ok, this couldn't be much more obvious, right?
am i missing something?......for the next hour, the only person i saw was a cleaning lady......she happened to yell at me for using the WC (which happened to have the TP on a roll.......but not in the stall....in the waiting area......therefore, one still had to guestimate their needs while staying within the confines of social acceptability......thankfully for me, there was noone around).....
so now it's after 9am and the first tour of the cave is going to start soon.....and i'm still the only person around.....and this is when i notice it......right there.......clear as day.......on the big sign......under the prices......clearly written......IN ENGLISH......."minimum 4 people"......what!??!
with 5 minutes to spare, i'm still alone.....and then........voices.......workers?......no tourists!
that's right.....a bunch of slovakian tourists arrived just in time......i didn't understand a word of the tour but the chambers and formations were well worth it....especially, towards the end....whenwe had to meander throughan infinite cage of stalagmites and stalagtites.........