Days 15 & 16, 29-30 August. Warsaw & leaving for Berlin, Germany

Day 15

After Graeme battling the blocked shower drain on the eighth floor! We were up and had a good breakfast, then out with the local expert at 8 am. Maria is a lovely lady who was quite humorous and made everything really interesting. She took us walking around and explained about Warsaw’s history, pointing out the many monuments all through the city, explaining that 80% of the city was destroyed during World War II. After that she left us to her own devices for a couple of hours and we and the other kiwis sat in the old town square and had a meal and beers - as it was 5 o’clock somewhere- Graeme had a mix of four different Polish sausages from white to black in colour and boy they smelled of garlic and spices. Mine was a Camembert cheese, delicious and very indulgent! We needed rehydrating as it was already 33° before lunchtime!

Gray bought another city badge for his hat – it is a straw hat this time – last trip it was his cheese cutter cap as it was so cold! This year it is to keep cool ha ha.

We met Maria again and we were off  to the old town to have a look at the buildings and some churches and then onto a tour around the Warsaw uprising, specifically. Then we jumped back on the bus and went round to the Muzeum Polskiej Wodki- otherwise known as the vodka Museum!  The reception area was really cool with bottles of vodka all lit up on shelves with mirrors behind them everywhere and a running waterfall in the glass behind the reception desk.

The tour was okay, it was very long and a lot of standing and I was just so overheated and dry I wasn’t feeling great - should have drunk more water, so I found a couple of corners to sit in quietly until the tour ended. Then rhey took us into a large bar area after and we got to taste three vodkas, told how to drink them and about the different tastes and ingredients. Pity we are going to be travelling on as you could buy the vodkas for between $4 and $18 – so cheap! :-) . Back onto the bus and we headed back to the Westin hotel to cool down and get ready to go out again for dinner, its pretty busy on tour each day.
Quite a few of us didn’t do the Chopin concert, so we went across the road for dinner at a restaurant  for dinner. It was still 30° at 7 pm – they said after this been the hottest week of the year, it will cool down in about 3 days time, thank God! So hot walking around in the sun on the tours each day, Gray has a mean neck/t-shirt tan now!

Dinner was a complete disaster,  as the service was really slow despite being half empty and the waitress forgot to order my meal she explained, but didn’t tell us until she bought the other three meals over?! Was a real mess and I had to wait half an hour for my meal to come so weren’t really very impressed. Onwards, and  back over to the hotel catch up on the blog, showers, pack our suitcases need to be out at 7 am tomorrow and we will be off to Berlin.


 

                                    

Day 16

We decided to eat much lighter today as we have been really over eating and feeling stodgy! So after a light breakfast we were on the bus to Berlin. It is only 5hrs 19 mins on Google maps, but for some reason it is taking us 8 hours,  maybe because the bus is limited to about 80 kms an hour? It was a long days driving but we are getting used to it and I went down the back so we could spread out a bit – realised I had some Netflix movies downloaded on my phone – hooray! Don’t know why I didn’t think of this before as I was able to watch one and a half of the Harry Potter movies :-). I have just read the latest screenplay at home and couldn’t remember a lot of it so was good to watch them again and they passed the time.

With sore backsides! We arrived at the NH collection checkpoint Charlie hotel, another really upmarket hotel. They have all been really good on this insight tour I have to say and we seem to have a lot of included dinners, which you don’t often have. We had a couple of hours and then out for dinner with the group.

 The group ‘Berliner dinner’ was fantastic. Alex our tour director asked us to leave any worries that anyone had and just go and let loose as it was all food and drinks unlimited. Apparently the wine did not taste like they came out of the bottles that they were in and they were all delivered to the tables opened! But that didn’t stop everyone having a great night. The entertainment was the right era for the age of people in the room ha ha, and we all had a ball up dancing in the aisles :-)
Back to the hotel at 9 pm – they make sure they get you in early and we weren’t allowed to stop on the way at any bars lmao 😆, so we were all off to bed after a good singalong on the bus, on the way back. What a great night and one of those memories you’ll always have.

 
 



                               

Days 13 & 14, 27-28 Aug. Salt Mines, Krakow, Auschwitz & Warsaw

Day 13

Big day today, wake up at 5:30am & ready for the Salt Mines. I’m particularly looking forward to this and Auschwitz tomorrow on this tour. We coached to the mines which are over 400 yrs old and go down to a depth of 400 ft below ground. Going so early meant we missed all the massive crowds and had a lot of the chambers to ourselves 😊.

The lifts were tiny and we were so packed in to descend- had a small wave of claustrophobia hit me, but was ok as what can you do - just breathe?!  We walked through huge long passages which opened into a massive chapel with salt carvings of scenes like the last supper, Christ on the cross etc. it was amazing- the mines are hundred of years old and they had horses that lived permanently down there and had stables for them. Everything was clean as, as the salt apparently preserves everything, even the pine wood they use for bracing. They also have an underground banquet hall that was pretty impressive, that people book for weddings.
Even though we got the lifts up and down, there were still about 300 steps and I remember Danni saying their tour group walked them all when she was here!

Outside there were big queues waiting to get in now, we jumped on the coach and back to the hotel - the Mercure is so central it’s great. Gray and I wandered over to the the big shopping mall and looked round. I bought a dragonfly pandora charm for my bracelet and we managed to order subway which was interesting since it was all in Polish and is a bit different from home. First he asked me if I wanted 13cms so I’m busy trying to convert it to inches!!

Back to the hotel and then for a guided walk of the Wawel castle which had its own magnificent church as well. An elderly lady in our group got overheated as it was up around 33c and humid, so we all waited while she got sorted with a taxi pick up. After the tour a group of us - kiwis and Aussies of course! Decided to go for a very cold beer or two as we were all hot. We sat under the trees and chatted - I had 2 ‘grande’ mojitos to cool down- they were massive. Was most impressed with myself and my capacity haha!

Afterwards we wandered back with Anita and Daryl from Christchurch and came across the horse and carriages, so decided to have a half hour ride. It was 75 euro for everyone and since the horses were clearly beautifully cared for, we jumped in. There seemed to be no malice with the cars that are held up in the little streets, so there must be a council right for the horses, as everyone fitted in with no horn honking at all!
We all thoroughly enjoyed the trip under all the leafy trees and around the ring road park Krakow has. Afterwards we went back to the hotel and got ready for dinner- a polka party with dancing.

Lay down for 20 mins then back on the bus and out to the restaurant where they were waiting for us in traditional dress with instruments. We had the whole top floor to ourselves and they fed and fed and fed us! It is tradition that you take a small piece of bread at the door, dip it in rock salt then have a special grassy vodka shot, noiccceee. People had mushroom or beetroot soup in a bread bowl, sausages, sour pickles, little ribs, cabbage pancakes, coleslaw, apple pie, cheesecake and beer and wine - oh and also another special strawberry vodka shot- phew!

The dancers gave demonstrations- one couple had their little girl learning all the dances with them. She was so cute! Everyone was pulled up and twirled round and round and round (remember all that alcohol ?!!!).  We all had a wonderful time.

Quite the day! Back into the hotel to hit the hay after catching up with my blog- so much is happening I would forget if I didn’t lol!













Day 14

A 5:30am wake up again today as we have another long travel day- starting with a trip to Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. I feel we were pretty well prepared because of oor long standing interest in war history, so there were no shocks. But seeing the reality of what youve only seen from afar is confronting. The personal items that showed people’s personalities gave you a little insight into the individuals, rather than the masses.  There was a massive display of human hair and the guide told us that the average head of hair weighs about 40gms, but this display was 2 tonnes and is just a small example of how many people came through. He said everyone who was sent Birkenau was sent for extermination and that no-one ever came back. 1.4 million people were exterminated at here - 1.1 million of those, were Jews.

Our guide was a Jewish pol, so only talked of the Jewish persecution but we acknowledge that Jews, the disabled, gypsies, homosexuals, the old and the infirm were a part of what happened there.

After Auschwitz we travelled the 3kms by the railway tracks to Birkenau, where you have to walk the last 10mins. It was 30C by the. So getting pretty hot. We walked around - there were so, so many rows of  barracks and bunks 3 high, and each bunk housed 4 people. I thought how a bunk by the window would be prized for its light and air flow.

It is unthinkable to us that a reign of power could persuade their followers that another human being was not worthy of being called a human because of their faith or heritage.

We left Birkenau around lunchtime and set off for Warsaw, had a quick stop to see the Black Madonna at a monastery. It was packed as many Catholics are doing a pilgrimage there so we had a quick look then went and bought a sorbet ice team to cool down a bit.

Something we learnt about the Polish education system also today is that they have 3 tiers - 1 for academic kids, 1 for trades & 1 for more labour orientated kids. All education is free and although they do offer private high schools, they actually aren’t as highly respected- as if a student fails an exam they have to repeat the whole term, but if they are in private school they can pay and re-sit the exam straight away. So it’s seen as less hard than those who can’t afford to fail with the consequence of re-doing a while term, so they are known to work very hard.

Another 4 hrs driving this afternoon and into Warsaw and directly out to dinner before getting to the hotel. We had a decent meal there, although the meals came out a long way apart, so some were starting when others were finishing. Felt so underdressed as we were all in travelling clothes and it was quite a swanky restaurant!

We checked in to the Westin Warsaw and showers and bed! It's still very hot and the rooms aren't that cool but great to lay down after so long on the bus. They told us today that it has been the hottest week of the entire year and we would believe it as we have been out walking in it everyday!.
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Days 11 & 12, 25th-26th Aug. Budapest to Slovakia then Krakow, Poland

Day 11

We were up bright and early this morning for a guided tour with a local expert. She was telling us that the restaurant we went to last night with the Michelin rating has actually hosted the queen and some Pope-e-age or other, plus lots of stars!

 We went on the coach to the Heroes Square first – we have been there before and it was amazing, just as I remember. The sky wasn’t quite as blue as last time so the reflection on the huge monuments wasn’t as green, but they are still really impressive. Next we went on to Fishermans Bastian at the very top of the hill after visiting  Bishops Hill, which has an expansive view over the whole of Buda  and Pest. It started to rain while we were visiting Saint Stevens church with its amazing ceramic roof tiles – the colours are really eye-catching. We teetered around as the cobbles were very slippery with the rain so we went in to a cafe for a lovely cake and drink.

We have decided not to do the 2 optionals today as Graeme would really like to wander the city and explore more, plus we saw a barbershop yesterday that he would like to go back to and see if he can get a haircut and shave. We have already done the river cruise with dinner before, when we were here 4 years ago, so we will just make our own way exploring.

We got out and walked and walked today – 16,000 steps at least! Not bad in the heat and we went to the black sheep barbers shop. What an experience that is the place is humming and it was back to back with customers. Watching them do cuts and shaves for the hipsters was worth the wait. Graeme got a haircut and cutthroat razor shave and a Heineken beer was included – rather nice! What a cool place :-).

After that we walked and explored – we were going to go to the famous Central market but when we got there, along with half of the tourist population, we all found that it had closed – boo! So we wondered around and found a craft beer house – I had a virgin cherry beer and it was fantastic. Melbourne is so far behind surprisingly in craft beers, although I probably need to look into them further but what is available over here in Europe, its fantastic so many flavours.

We stopped on the way back at a traditional Hungarian restaurant and ordered paprika chicken with popcorn dumplings to share and another couple of beers then back to our room for a laydown for 45 minutes, before going out again for a wander. We stopped at the burger joint we ate at a couple of days ago which rated really well on TripAdvisor later in the evening, and had a burger and another beer! So nice in this heat. Now we need to tidy up and pack as we have been asked to be ready at 6 am and bags out at 7 am, before leaving for Slovakia.

The one thing we have noticed with being here in the heat of summer, is the smell from the drains everywhere, it’s really strong! Don’t remember it when we were last here as it was much much colder (like snowing colder!).  Something funny I have noticed is there is a lot of graffiti on the buildings and their English must be a little sketchy, as I have seen Fak, Fuk and  Falk before I saw the correct spelling lmao 😂.


 



Day 12

Wake up calls at 6 am this morning as we have one of the two long travelling days of the tour. Today we drive from Hungary, through Slovakia and into Poland, where we are stopping in Krakow for two nights. We had a few stops along the way for lunch and toilet stops. Alex our tour director has kindly said he would cover everyone’s restroom cost of 1 euro each time in both countries, since we haven’t been to get any money out yet, which is generous considering they are 33 people on board! He is the youngest tour director we’ve had – maybe in his 30s and lives in Perth, but comes over for European summers to do tours like ours – highlights of eastern Europe/summer. Our bus driver is Lazlo and he has an impressive handlebar moustache like Graemes!  He is a really smooth driver which is so nice – we always remember the driver we had in England some years ago who we all named miserable Mike-  he never smiled and always drove by surging then hitting the brakes,  the whole way around the UK! So we are very appreciative of Lazlo :-).

The temperature has remained fairly constant as we move through to Poland – went down to 27° but is back up to 30° in Kraków. But not unpleasant.

We travelled for  8 1/2 hours today and everyone is feeling pretty achy but great not to have to worry about how to get there too as the road all the way was single lane and very narrow from Budapest.
We are here for two nights, and a very early wake up at 5 am tomorrow for the salt mines tour.

We are staying at a Mercure which is rather upmarket and lucky us got a high floor on the very end room :-) we have an interesting view of both the very old and the very new out our window, with a traditional house on one side of the road and a brand-new shopping centre on the other. We are staying in the old district which looks really interesting.

We have included dinner tonight in the hotel and then bed!








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