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
Heroes
Note: I began writing this post while I was traveling in Poland in April 2019. I didn’t finish during the trip, and have finally completed writing about these heroes now in July. Most of my research comes from Wikipedia.
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.
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?
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!
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, the locals consider … 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. And I was … Continued
My (Updated) Central Europe Itinerary
(Update to a version originally published July 23, 2018)Today I sent in my final payment for my upcoming trip. I had most of the general itinerary locked in last July, and now I have added a lot of activities, local … Continued
The Challenge of Planning
Some trips plan themselves. Others require thinking and rethinking, a lot of second guessing, trade-offs, sacrifices in the name of time, and tough decisions for reasons of practicality. Take, for instance, the trip I’m planning for next spring to Germany, … Continued