Poland then Lithuania

(Lesley) Well, we are out of Poland already but it is worth a mention in the blog as we did enjoy our visits there. The old part of Krakow was beautiful. Our hostel, which was clean and comfortable, was very central so we were able to walk everywhere. The bunks were 3 tiered. We've experienced that before and luckily it has always been Sam and Mhari who climb up to the top bunks. We had various roommates during our three day stay; a non communicative Englishman, two chatty English girls and an older Spanish man who was in very poor health and snored loudly all night long. We were somewhat afraid he wouldn't make the night.

Of course it rained again, as is now usual for us. We tried to adapt our plans to downpours as needed and managed. We went to Auschwitz one grey but not too rainy day, and that was quite the experience. There were lots of visitors. We did the tour on our own as there was plenty of written information in our guided leaflet. We went to Birkenau first, then returned to Auschwitz in the afternoon once the guided tours were done. When we were through, we were tired both physically and mentally; but we felt we had done it justice and seen it all. What a brutal reminder of atrocities done.

I also did a half day in a mall!! Yes, we are in the EU now so it was off the the mall to solve Sam's shirt issue as there aren't the same clothes markets here as there were in the Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey. Sam has literally worn through his 3 shirts so we decided to invest in a at least one new one. However we were shocked by the prices and we just couldn't bring ourselves to pay regular price. (Later, in Lithuania, I found him a lovely new shirt in a secondhand shop for the equivalent of $2.00 CAD). In Krakow, Sam and I went to a pharmacy museum, just in case he decides to take up the art.? We went to Wawel Castle and took a peek around but we didn't do the full tour. We spent some time just walking around admiring the old town and watching buskers and street performers. John and the kids saw a dance group performing in a fountain. They used the water in their dance soaking some performers as part of their show. After a few days we bought a train ticket to Warsaw.

We got more rain again in Warsaw. We bought 3 day passes for the trams, the metro and the bus, which were handy because it meant we could hop on and off any public transport and go with the flow. Using this travel method we happened upon a massive French grocery store that sold anything you could ever want, not just food. We stayed out from the centre in Warsaw, in a family run hostel. It was near a metro station so it wasn't difficult to get around from. We loved the Warsaw Rising Museum, and our two meals at Vietnamese restaurants. Apparently, Vietnamese is the way to eat in Warsaw, well, actually the Milk Bars are the real Warsaw treat and we ate at one of those too. Our first Vietnamese meal was just the most local cheap restaurant to our hostel (that and a kebab joint). Then the second time we ate Vietnamese we were caught in a huge rain storm just out of a Museum and well, we needed cover from the rain and food so it did the trick just fine.

From Warsaw we took a train through some of the most beautiful forests into Lithuania and on to Vilnius, its capital city. I really wish we had our camping gear. Our train passed lakes where people were swimming and it was a really hot day. Even without a tent and sleep mats we are trying to rig something up for next week. Sam has contacted a campground near a National Park in Estonia and enquired about staying in a cabin for 3or4 days. If we can manage to get there we will be very happy. Although we are doing fine here in Vilnius too. It is a capital city that has a small town feel. The hostel is good and there is lots of amber shopping to be done so we are doing our best.

Photos: Krakow; Krakow main square; Auschwitz; Cool car in Krakaw; Triple Decker Bunks; Coth Hall; Lovely drainpipes!

Warsaw Old Town (New); More Warsaw; Edge or the Ghetto