It s obvious the budgets of people in Prague and Krakow are less than in western countries. The baskets and the shoppingcarts in the supermarkets are considerable smaller . After worldwarII Poland was in a bad shape. Lost 20% of the population during the war, heavily damaged cities, a communist regime they were not waiting for and no middleclass any more. Before the war the middleclass was 50% german and 50% jewish. The Germans killed the jews and Poland kicked out the Germans. Communisme did not bring a lot by lack of investments and an agriculture policy that did not function [View Full Entry]

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In the 119 train Prague - Krakow Glony I met a couple travelling the same distance. He Bit fat,not too small, bit grey, bit old huge black shoes and white /grey blocked socks with music instruments prints.Historian and still working. approx 70 years old. She 20 years younger, teacher, poet(f) little less grey, motherly type and earning as teacher euro 650.-- net per month. The bag They were eating out of a bag and in the bag was an endless stream of small and big bottles, juice, water, ice tea, baguetes, sandwiches, candies, chacocolate and they were eating and napping in [View Full Entry]

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I had a telephone conversation last sunday with my insurance company. They advised to take Tamiflu against Swineflu just in case. At least for 5 days and if possible more ( max 6 weeks) Went mondaymorning to an international clinique in Prague and got 10 capsules for 5 days and a prescription for more but they told me and I found out it s out of stock in Prague and the producer can not follow the request for this medicin. Anyhow I ve 10 now. Weather in Prague changed a lot its kind of autumn now. Went on my way to [View Full Entry]

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I don t give it my cat the night porter in the Prague hotel told me when I asked if the water was for drinking. I, the nightporter got stones in my kidneys of our Prague water. Anyhow for tourists it s safe. You stay too short to be harmed. Prague innercity another Unesco site is excellent. With the river Moldau in between, The Charlesbridge and the Castle to see on a higer hill. The mainbridge over the Moldau, the Charles bridge built in 1357. the building started at a astronomical calculated date to be sure the bridge stays for ever. [View Full Entry]

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Had a tour this morning in Weimar and saw another 3 Unesco sites. Classical Weimar , Bauhaus andGoethe manuscripts. The tourguide s name was Dietrich and Dietrich is hiding his gray hairs under a cover of violet. I liked it and will ask my wife Ditas if its o.k. for her if I do it to. Anyhow Dietrich knew a lot of Weimar and history of the city and the region and gave an interesting tour of over 2 hours. Probably Germany is the last country who has hotels with real single rooms. In the rest of the world you book [View Full Entry]

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Started yesterday morning early from Paris via Weimar to Praque. another 1.100 km. Due to technical problems at the train there was a delay of 2 hours and only arrived in Weimar 4 o clock in the afternoon. Germany has their share of the crisis . never saw so many people in Germany trying to find food in the wastebins at the stations. Weimar. 65.000 people in the Bundesland Thueringen. The oldest record of the city dates from 895. The city gave his name to the weimar republic ( 1919-1933) and during worldwar II there was the concentration camp Buchenwald who [View Full Entry]

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Its not our fault the train info people from Burgos told me at the Rosa de Lima station. The french know we are always late in the traject Madrid- Burgos Henadya and still they don t wait for us to make the connection. So officially it s a connection but in practise it never works out and I had to take an earlier train and wait for over 3 hours for the train to Paris. Hendaya is a reasonable border station but no possibillity to store luggage so you can t walk around. Had lunch at a station square restaurant. Tasted [View Full Entry]

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Arrived wednesday midnight at the Sibour hotel near the East station. The brochure is beautiful but if you devide the space at the pictures by 3 you have a reasonable idea about the real size. I remembered the hotel from a few year ago when I was visiting Paris for a fair. I remembered as well that the entrance for the shower was too small. My reward for reducing 15 kgs in the last year is that I could take a shower. Paris in spring. Quite different from the cold in Spain. Lots of tourist. About as many as there are [View Full Entry]

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Scaring on a certain age is that you realize that sometimes you are seeing things for the last time. With me this started at rather early age, about 22 years ago at the moment I stopped counting my years. All the time I think it might be the last time to see it. Since the first " may be the last time" seeing the Notre Dame in Paris I saw it this afternoon for about the 10th time. But you never know. Scaring as well is Rue St Denis in Paris. Walking through at 8 in the evening all the women [View Full Entry]

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Burgos was during centuries a major stop for pilgrimms to Santiago de Compastella. Still is. You see many people in the streets with two walking sticks, painful feet and tired looking. I met one this afternoon. Heinz from Germany. Of all names. Heinz comes from Regensburg. He planned to walk for approx 6 weeks. Heinz is about 55 years old and happy. He started 14 days ago somewhere in France and crossed the border mountains with snow. Every day 25/30 km. Today he had an extra rest day. Met him in the touristic tram. Brand new and seats for one small [View Full Entry]

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