I booked a ticket for an historic guided bicycle ride from Gdansk to Stuthoff for Saturday. The World War II museum emailed a confirmation date, but there was no time. I decided to drop by the museum to confirm.

“Excuse me.” I leaned down and spoke through the gap between the glass and the counter at the information booth. “Do you speak English?”

The young man narrowed his eyes. “Yes.”

“I want to confirm the time for the bicycle tour to Stuthoff.” I angled my phone screen towards him. “I have the date but I don’t know the time.”

“You need a ticket.”

“I have a ticket.” I pointed the screen more specifically in his direction. “It gives me the date but not the time.”

He peered briefly at the screen. “You need a ticket.”

I nodded at the phone. “I have a ticket. See?”

He pushed back his official museum cap. “You need a QR code.”

I showed him an enlarged screen. “I have a bar code.”

“You need a QR code.”

“Where do I get that?”

“You need to get a ticket.” He had a wispy mustache.

“But…” I peered at the screen again. “I have a ticket.”

“You need a QR code.”

“Okay.” I glanced around the empty space. “Is there someone else I could talk to?”

He pointed at the sign above the counter and back at himself. “Information.”

“I just need to know what time the bike tour is going.”

He stared back blankly. “You need a ticket.”

“You understand what I’m asking, right?”

“Yes.”

I decided to try one more time. “I have a ticket.”

“They must email you the ticket.”

“See? I have the bar code.”

“You need a QR code.”

“Okay, well…” I decided to try the ticket office downstairs where a thickly bearded man was putting away audio guides. “Excuse me?”

“Yes?” He was not interested in dealing with me.

“I want to confirm the time for the bicycle tour to Stuthoff.” I angled my phone screen towards him. “I have the date but I don’t know the time.”

He didn’t look up. “9:30.”

“9:30?”

“Yes, 9:30.” He continued to sort the guides.

“Thanks.” Unsure, I went outside and replied to the email, asking for a confirmation.

The answer came the next day. The bicycle tour leaves at 9:00. Arrive 15 minutes before that. Not 9:30. No QR code needed. 9:00. However I received an email a day later that the trip was cancelled. Heavy rain in the forcast. I would have to rebook at a later date.