Mountains, Fog and Poland!
Posted Friday September 26th 2008
Apologies for the rushed update but i’m finding it hard to find time / internet access at the moment!
After leaving Prague I took a bus to Nachod on the Polish border. From here you have good access to the czech mountains so I took a train to Teplice Nad Metuji and started walking! I followed a path indicated by green markers all the way to the top and passed a Czech couple who were re-painting every marker and making sure the path wasn’t too over-grown. Unfortunately the summit was completely covered in fog so the view was a little disappointing but it was really magical up there.
I originally planned to wild camp, but to cut a long story short I ended up staying at the Czech couples house! They were called Martinec and Jitka Jarostav and gave me lots to eat and drink. Jitka also worked at the train station and even gave me a lift in in the morning! A really lovely generous couple.
Next was a coach to Poland to meet Aga. We stayed at her grand parents house and was given more food and drink than even a lonely traveller could handle! Me and Aga then travelled to the Polish mountains hoping to climb Sniezka (1602m) but the weather was so bad we decided not to attempt the summit. We did some good walking and had soup and warm drinks in a ‘shelter’ which was basically a old wooden hostel near the top of the mountain. What I could see was beautiful but unfortunately because of the fog that was only about 20m in front of my face!
Yesterday I arrived in Wrocław and have been exploring the city. Last night we went to a small brewery and some clubs and then walked along the river on our way home. The old buildings looked amazing at night.
Photos from Wrocław…
Tags: Travelling
Leipzig and Prague
Posted Saturday September 20th 2008
I decided to travel to Leipzig rather spare of the moment because there were two exhibitions I was interested in – one on the history of post war Germany and the other on the Stasi (East German secret police). However I didn’t realise until I arrived that they were both only in German! There were some really interesting pictures and displays though. Despite this, I had a really nice host called David and I enjoyed looking around the city and went out to a club in the evening.
Car sharing is a really popular option for transport in Germany and I managed to get from Leipzig to Prague for about £12! I have spent the past couple of days wandering the city streets and parks without any sort of plan or direction as I like to do.
The view from a park overlooking the city.
Last night was my first hostel and therefore the first time I have paid for accommodation since being away. I met some really nice Brits and enjoyed the novelty of speaking to them over dinner and a few drinks. Unfortunately I was kept awake most of the night by shouting and slamming doors but I managed to wash my underwear in a sink so it felt like a small price to pay!
One thing in particular that bemused me is how confusing they have made the transport system and generally finding your way around. Someone really had fun with this one! Its all just so un obvious. The only transport advice center I can find in the whole city has a permanent queue of at least an hour. When I arrived at the booth the assistant refused to acknowledge the existence of Poland and sent me packing! The picture shows people waiting for information.
Soon I head towards Poland and meet my friend Aga which I’m really excited about! We are planning a trip to the mountains which should be something really special.
Tags: Travelling
Dresden and Saxon Switzerland
Posted Tuesday September 16th 2008
The past few days in Dresdenm were great, my hosts showed me around the city and I even went on a cycle tour with Hélène! We also went to Saxon Switzerland to see the amazing mountains and this bridge carved into the stone. We had a great day hiking and had lunch on top of a big rock!
We also visited a castle and went to see the city at night which was really beautiful, a long day with lots crammed in.
I am now in Leipzig for a couple of days and soon I will travel to Prague which i’m really excited about!
Tags: Travelling
Dresden
Posted Saturday September 13th 2008
I managed to cram in everything I wanted in my last days in Berlin and I took a coach to Dresden. Here I intended to go to the main station and make my way back to my hosts house in the “New Town” however the bus (unknown to me) made a scheduled stop at the station there so I decided to get off early. As the bus conductor was arguing with a man about not letting him get his bag at this stop instead of the main station I decided to forgo this formality and lent into the baggage compartment, grabbed my bag and made off at a swift pace down the street. Anything to save a few Euros and a pointless journey back to the same station!
My last night in Berlin, in the distance is the Brandenburger Gate.
Dresden lovely, as are my hosts Hélène and Thomas. Last night me and Thomas went for a drink in his cousins bar, it has just opened and has a 60′s theme of the former GDR. A really amazing place. Today I spent the morning walking in the huge forest before meeting Hélène, we cycled into the town and she showed me around. We also cycled along the river to a huge blue bridge! They have re-built most of the city since the bombardment during the war, having done such an amazing job though you can only tell what is original and what is new by how black the sandstone is.
There is alot of history in Dresden’s center.
Tomorrow we are driving to the mountains of Saxon Switzerland… so that should be nice!
Tags: Travelling
Fun In The City
Posted Tuesday September 9th 2008
Yesterday Maurice and I travelled to Potsdam and spent the day walking around the small town and it’s huge park with palaces, castles and gardens. Potsdam also has a Dutch and Russian quarter so it was really nice walking around the small peaceful streets and stumbling into all these lovely buildings.
Today I had another go at the center of Berlin and did a few touristy spots (the free ones at least!). The photo to the right is part of the ‘Memorial To The Murdered Jews Of Europe’, there are thousands of huge pillars at street level and museum under ground. Walking around the museum I found it hard to take in some of the things I was reading, especially the letters written by Jews on the way to their deaths.
The huge dome in the photo below gives an amazing view over the entire city, the weather has been amazing so I spent much of today wondering around town. I crossed what would have been the Berlin wall and stepped into the trendy streets of East Berlin, lined with bars and cafes. I love having the time to sit and bathe in the relaxed atmosphere, the only problem is I shall soon become addicted to caffeine and finish all of my books!
infront of the Deutscher Bundestag
I will stay in Berlin for a couple more days and then head to Dresden. I have found somewhere to stay next to a huge park and it looks amazing. I will miss Berlin.
Tags: Travelling
Berlin
Posted Sunday September 7th 2008
I arrived in Berlin today, the British transport system tried it’s very best to stop me yesterday but I arrived on time and have met the German guy Maurice that I am going to be staying with a few days. Berlin is such an amazing city, I spent the whole day walking around with my mouth wide open in shock at the amount the city has to offer! Every corner I turned there was something else to spend time looking at or exploring. It was so nice soaking up the atmosphere – it’s so laid back here, which surprised me because every single thing is done to perfection. I mean everything! I think it’s going to take me a while to feel like I have explored everything Berlin has to offer – and I can’t wait!
Off to bed now – I didn’t get any sleep last night and keep nodding off at inappropriate moments!
Tags: Travelling