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Poland 13.6 - 25.6 2005
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Day 7: Warsaw My beautysleep didn`t last long because in no time we were in Lithuanian border and officials woke me up. By the way, if you wondering why I didn`t stop in Lithuania, read my Baltic States & Poland travelogue from 2003 and you`ll understand. After finding a hostel, I just took it easy for rest of the day. Day 8: Warsaw
I`ve also been in Warsaw before, but since I didn`t get to take any pictures last time, I headed to old town and tried to challenge all those cameratouting Japanese...I also stumbled across area, where every other shop was offering striptease shows and every other kepabs. That would have been interesting evening out: kepab, private show, kepab, lapdance, kepab... Day 9: Warsaw
There was party at my hostel last night, so I had a bit of a hangover and my activities for today were restricted to bookshopping and very early diner and after that I spend rest of the evening just reading my new purchases. Besides it rained all day, so there wasn`t much you could do anyways. Day 10: Warsaw - Lublin
I headed to trainstation a bit too early but time went nicely just watching all those people passing through that place. I had some troubles finding a hostel with free beds in Lublin, but third place I went had beds available. But there was a downside to this joint: they had lockdown and you had to leave by 10 AM and you couldn`t return until 5 PM. I never quite undersood the purpose of these lockdowns? Day 11: Lublin
Had breakfast in a park before heading for my tourist rounds. First stop was in Lublin`s old town. It was in pretty bad condition, which in a way gave that whole place it`s own charm. Local castle was huge disappointment, I guess I should have bought a ticket to that castlemuseum. Day 12: Lublin
Today`s destination was Majdanek: second largest concentration camp in Europe which is situated only few kilometres outside Lublin. Walkingroute across the camp was over five kilometres long, which should give you some idea about size of this place. Never been to catholic mass, so what better place to satisfy my curiosity than Poland? I went to 5PM service and was really suprised that church was packed with people. Pretty religious folks around here... Day 13: Lublin - Krakow
Busride to Krakow took over eight hours, but I didn´t mind since polish countryside offered fairly nice scenery along the way and we also passed through couple nice looking towns. When we arrived in Krakow I didn`t have any reservations, but I walked in the first hostel I could find and found a bed for myself. Later in the evening visited in Wawel hill and all it`s sights. I still can`t believe I paid 2,5 euros to get into church. Isn`t house of god supposed to be free for everybody? Day 14: Krakow
Krakow was packed with tourists and for a good reason: It has one of the most beautiful old towns in a world. Spend all day just walking around city. Funny thing happened to me while taking a photo of one picturesque street: All of a sudden couple guys with submachine guns grab me from the street and walk me into a van: It turns out I took a picture bit too close of U.S embassy and those guys suspected I was probably gonna send it to my al-qaida buddies. I guess Guantanamo Bay didn`t have any free cell`s and they released me after tight interrogation. Day 15: Krakow - Auschwitz - Krakow
Took a daytrip to Oswiecim, which is better known by its german name: Auschwitz. I took a train there, since what is more proper way to arrive there than by train? I was planning on joining guided tour, but they charged pretty hefty fee for it, so I decided to buy a guidebook and rely on that. Auschwitz No:1 had so much visitors you could barely move on some of those barracks. Auschwitz No:2 a.k.a Birkenau was less crowded and much more interesting place. In afternoon I started to feel pretty weak and I think I got some sort of heatstroke? Day 16: Krakow - Zakopane
I felt really sick all day, but since I already bought busticket ticket to Zakopane I had to go. Found cheap place to stay and spend rest of the day in bed trying to get better. Tatras looked great and I couldn`t wait to get there and do some serious hiking. Day 17: Zakopane
I still didn`t feel like I was 100% healthy, so I spend all day just kickin back and reading. After all: I am on vacation and that mountain isn`t going anywhere... Day 18: Zakopane
It was beautiful morning and I felt good, so I headed to cable car which took me to mount Kasprowy. That place had unbelievable views and I just sat there for half an hour, taking it all in. I took my time hiking back to zakopane while enjoying every moment of it. Day 19: Zakopane
Allthough my "muscles" were aching and my feet killing me, I headed back to Mt. kasprowy and took a different trail down this time. It wasn`t quite as nice as yesterdays route and it involved few rather steep climbs, but at the end of the day I made it back to Zakopane. |
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Old Town Square | ||
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Palace of Culture and Science | ||
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Lublin | ||
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Showers in Maijdanek | ||
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Watchtowers in Maijdanek | ||
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Krakow | ||
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Auschwitz | ||
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Wall Of Death | ||
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Birkenau | ||
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Lake Zielony | ||
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Hiking trail | ||
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Tatra landscape | ||
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Lake Czarny | ||
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