Pretty Cities, Plus History
If I had to pick my two favorite things to discover when I travel, it would be beauty and history. Though I’d give the edge to natural beauty over urban beauty, I’m happy to have ended this trip in some … Continued
It’s Where the Train Stopped
“This is what I want you to understand,” said Mateusz as he drew lines and dots on his crude map of Poland. 10:30 am. We were sitting in a coffee shop in Stare Miasto (Old Town). They weren’t even open … Continued
Random Krakow
Planty The Old Town of Krakow used to be surrounded by a wall, and that wall used to be surrounded by a moat. In the early 19th century they tore down most of the wall and filled in the moat, … Continued
Auschwitz‐Birkenau
I have very little to say about my visit to Auschwitz‐Birkenau. I took only the one photo, at the entrance to Auschwitz II‐Birkenau. What kind of monsters can perpetrate crimes of such enormity, of such depravity? There’s an excellent article … Continued
Not the next Prague
Of all the Eastern European cities laying claim to the boast, “the next Prague,” Krakow is for real. So writes Rick Steves in his Krakow, Warsaw, and Gdansk guidebook. What a crock! First, this isn’t “Eastern Europe.” Although it’s hard to … Continued
Warsaw Wrap‐up
I was trying to pick a representative photo for the “featured image” of this post, and I settled on the Palace of Science and Culture, perhaps the ugliest building I’ve ever see. Built in the early 1950s, it is considered … Continued
First day in Warsaw
I have to confess, as I was getting toward the end of my visit to Berlin, I was starting to have doubts about having planned a four‐week trip. I found myself getting worn out and worn down. I was a … Continued
Berlin Retrospective
It’s Sunday, April 14. I’m currently on a train from Berlin to Warsaw. We just departed, and the journey will be over six hours, so I have plenty of time to make up for not blogging durring most of my … Continued
Berlin Story
I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking. —Christopher Isherwood I feel that way sometimes when I’m traveling. I like to observe a little from a distance. I like seeing what I see. I have … Continued
Home away from home
Fast Travel The first half of this trip is some of the slowest travel I’ve ever done in Europe. The first two weeks I am spending in just three locations: Prague for four nights, Dresden and Berlin for five each. … Continued