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| Car 1 |
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| Car 2 |
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| Cool Rob |
Saturday, October 5, 2013
What a Day to Arrive in Germany!
The last few days we spent in Poland, it was very obviously the end of the season - outdoor restaurants were being dismantled and hotels were not busy.
We caught what was basically a local train across to Dresden in Germany, one of the 'back doors' into the country. We arrived in Dresden on the Reunification Day holiday and there was no room in the inn! We had planned to stay for 3 nights but eventually found 1 night only and bought a train ticket for the next day to Leipzig. A web search revealed no accommodation in Leipzig for the next night.
Fortunately the next morning we got a 2nd night in Dresden - we had to change our hotel room - and we got a hotel booking for the following day in Leipzig.
Dresden was freezing - needed thermals, jumpers and coat, plus scarf, gloves and a hat. We did however enjoy walking around the old town and were fortunate to take in a rehearsal of the Dresden Symphony Orchestra, a full orchestra with over 100 members - about 50 violins and 8 double basses. The sound was fantastic and the acoustics were great in the Lutheran Church where we were.
We also visited several museums, including the Transport Museum that was fantastic and a wonderful place for kids as well as car lovers. We also visited the Saxon Art Museum that housed the Old Masters with an enormous collection ranging from Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck and Canaletto and many more.
We called into the Opera House and could have attended the Verdi opera, Macbeth but ended up at a small local restaurant and enjoyed Saxon wine, beer and local food.
We caught what was basically a local train across to Dresden in Germany, one of the 'back doors' into the country. We arrived in Dresden on the Reunification Day holiday and there was no room in the inn! We had planned to stay for 3 nights but eventually found 1 night only and bought a train ticket for the next day to Leipzig. A web search revealed no accommodation in Leipzig for the next night.
Fortunately the next morning we got a 2nd night in Dresden - we had to change our hotel room - and we got a hotel booking for the following day in Leipzig.
Dresden was freezing - needed thermals, jumpers and coat, plus scarf, gloves and a hat. We did however enjoy walking around the old town and were fortunate to take in a rehearsal of the Dresden Symphony Orchestra, a full orchestra with over 100 members - about 50 violins and 8 double basses. The sound was fantastic and the acoustics were great in the Lutheran Church where we were.
We also visited several museums, including the Transport Museum that was fantastic and a wonderful place for kids as well as car lovers. We also visited the Saxon Art Museum that housed the Old Masters with an enormous collection ranging from Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck and Canaletto and many more.
We called into the Opera House and could have attended the Verdi opera, Macbeth but ended up at a small local restaurant and enjoyed Saxon wine, beer and local food.
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| Cool Gail |
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| The city from the River Elbe terrace |
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| Never buy shoes when it is cold |
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| An early Dresden convertible |
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| The opera house |
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Gnomes of Wroclaw
This post is dedicated to the Seaview gnomes of Forster.
There are about 160 of us living in the city of Wroclaw. We hide in the open but most people walk right past us without seeing us.
We are a very political community and began our career as a protest in the 1980s against the restrictions on public comment that were enforced at the time. When the authorities painted over political graffiti, we painted over again with pictures of ourselves. We are a rather brassy cold mob but have warm hearts than include a GPS locator in case we roam too far or we are abducted.
There are about 160 of us living in the city of Wroclaw. We hide in the open but most people walk right past us without seeing us.
We are a very political community and began our career as a protest in the 1980s against the restrictions on public comment that were enforced at the time. When the authorities painted over political graffiti, we painted over again with pictures of ourselves. We are a rather brassy cold mob but have warm hearts than include a GPS locator in case we roam too far or we are abducted.
Wroclaw
We caught an early morning train from Posnan to Wroclaw and had found a hotel by 11 am - we saw it out the window as the train pulled into the station. In no time we had set off to explore the old town (Stare Miasto).
You think you have seen the best and then another even better one comes along. Originally we did not plan to come here but we are so glad we added it to our itinerary. This is the 2nd largest Market Square in Europe after Krakow. Even the railway station is beautiful and it was once the largest in the world. It looks more like a castle than a railway station and is complete with turrets and crenellated walls.
The square was like a larger version of the one we saw in Zamosc with beautiful old houses, fountains and a spectacular 'rathaus' (Town Hall). We visited the museum and treasury inside the town hall which whoughas built in the 14th century.
We also visited lots of churches, many of which were rebuilt after World War 11 so consequently many of the stained glass windows were far more modern than the age of the building would suggest. Many of the churches are located on Cathedral Island. Much of Wroclaw is located on a series of islands in the river.
Wroclaw also has some wonderful street sculptures and is a really beautiful city even though we are really feeling the cold. Last night when we went out for dinner,. it was 5 degrees so we did not venture very far. The buildings are really heated so we are constantly shedding clothes and putting them back on.
You think you have seen the best and then another even better one comes along. Originally we did not plan to come here but we are so glad we added it to our itinerary. This is the 2nd largest Market Square in Europe after Krakow. Even the railway station is beautiful and it was once the largest in the world. It looks more like a castle than a railway station and is complete with turrets and crenellated walls.
The square was like a larger version of the one we saw in Zamosc with beautiful old houses, fountains and a spectacular 'rathaus' (Town Hall). We visited the museum and treasury inside the town hall which whoughas built in the 14th century.
We also visited lots of churches, many of which were rebuilt after World War 11 so consequently many of the stained glass windows were far more modern than the age of the building would suggest. Many of the churches are located on Cathedral Island. Much of Wroclaw is located on a series of islands in the river.
Wroclaw also has some wonderful street sculptures and is a really beautiful city even though we are really feeling the cold. Last night when we went out for dinner,. it was 5 degrees so we did not venture very far. The buildings are really heated so we are constantly shedding clothes and putting them back on.
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| The rathaus of Wroclaw |
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| View of the square as we sat eating lunch |
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| Stained glass in the cathedral |
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| Gail in the rathaus - no comments please! |
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| View from the cathedral tower |
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| View of the ecclestiacal buildings from the top |
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| We have been avoiding steps but fortunately an elevator took us up the last 60 metres |
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| Photo of a mirror |
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Posnan
We arrived in Posnan a little jaded from a six hour train trip from Lublin but after checking into our hotel and walking down into the old town, we were yet again bedazzled by yet another beautiful place. The square is absolutely magnificent.
We walked around looking at the delightful old houses, magnificent churches and fountains but finally settled back in a small restaurant where we had a great view of the old town hall, the fountains and the square and watched afternoon turn into night as we feasted on Polish and Spanish tapas and several carafes of local wine.
Yes we did manage to find out way back to the hotel and have finally caught up with our emails and blog.
We walked around looking at the delightful old houses, magnificent churches and fountains but finally settled back in a small restaurant where we had a great view of the old town hall, the fountains and the square and watched afternoon turn into night as we feasted on Polish and Spanish tapas and several carafes of local wine.
Yes we did manage to find out way back to the hotel and have finally caught up with our emails and blog.
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| Cinderella checking out the shoes in Posnan. |
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| The delightful main square. |
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| Gail at the Town Hall. Unfortunately we were not there at midday to see the 2 goats come out of the clock and lock horns 12 times. |
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| The 2 of us at one of the many fountains in the square. |
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| Rob trying the wine. |
Zamosc
From Lublin, we decided to visit Zamosc, just 90 km away and a World Heritage Listed city. It was designed and built by Italians in the 16th century and is the most picturesque little town that you could imagine with delightful squares, beautiful old churches, fountains and palaces.
We sat in the square over a long lunch enjoying some rare sunshine. It is the sort of place where you don't have to do much, just take in the atmosphere. We did just that.
We sat in the square over a long lunch enjoying some rare sunshine. It is the sort of place where you don't have to do much, just take in the atmosphere. We did just that.
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| Gail in the main square. Please note the lack of tourists. |
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| The Armenian houses in the square. |
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| The founder of Zamosc, Jan Zamoysky in front of his palace. |
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| The cathedral and moat |
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| Relaxing over lunch in the square. Note the blankets that are provided to keep the customers warm. |
Lublin
We found a great apartment right in the heart of the Lublin old town square - far too big for the two of us and wish you were there to share it with us.
We arrived on the Sunday afternoon while a local market was in progress that takes place on the last Sunday of the month. It was the ultimate flea market - lots of junk with the occasional treasure - if only we had the space!
We inspected al the usual places, the churches, ruins old and new but today was a special day as it was the end of 'the season'. They were celebrating in the square below the castle - probably saying 'peace at last'! We saw barely a tourist after the Sunday traders had left for the day.
We arrived on the Sunday afternoon while a local market was in progress that takes place on the last Sunday of the month. It was the ultimate flea market - lots of junk with the occasional treasure - if only we had the space!
We inspected al the usual places, the churches, ruins old and new but today was a special day as it was the end of 'the season'. They were celebrating in the square below the castle - probably saying 'peace at last'! We saw barely a tourist after the Sunday traders had left for the day.
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| Celebrating the end of the season |
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| We think this is lost in translation |
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| Do you fancy fried wife of Hungarian wench? |
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| Robert inspecting the castle well. |
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| The market square |
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| Gail visiting the castle |
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