Blogs from Czech Republic, Europe - page 11

Uncle Roland’s Long Walk Captain Webster, Marion’s Uncle, the doctor, was constantly making protests about the conditions that the Russians were enduring in Lamsdorf. So much so, Marion believes, that he was given a new assignment to care for largely Russians, but all soldiers from Stalags in the area in a larger hospital at Kozle, 63km from VIIIB. Today we found ourselves in one of the points Kozle’s star shaped defensive moats, constructed after the Silesian Wars of 1740-42 and 1744-45 and finished in 1765. It’s a beautiful spot with signboards for a ‘Citywalk’, trees, birdsong, allotments, an arsenal and more. At the very tip of one star point there is now ‘BSP’s’ builder’s yard, but in 1943 it was the hospital Roland was sent to. It’s fitting that this would become his base, as Berwick, ... read more

Day 7 in the Footsteps of a Polish POW Geordie Hussar, Bruntal Today is the day where we truly walk in my Dad's footsteps. As we arrived in Bruntal, mid morning, we crossed the railway line, a marker for the Emmerich Machold Linen Factory where my dad was a POW working in camp E352. (He calls it 22a in his memoir but, this doesn't tally with other documentation). His photo clearly shows at least five markers for where his POW camp but was sited: 1 a factory chimney 2 a factory building 3 a railway line 4 a signalbox 5 a big house or houses We walked on the east side of the line opposite the station and found 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, with ease. The factory looks the same as my Dad's photo, ... read more

When planning my holidays, or just any journey to anywhere far away, I am looking for information about my target places. There is a lot of information on the web, so I usually start trying to get some basic info - where to go, what to see, where to eat etc. Sometimes I visit just web sites like the Lonely Planet, sometimes I visit sites with organized tours - just to get inspired. But very often I am looking for blogs of people who are living in the places or were there a few months or weeks ago. Their information are often very precious. But I need more than this. I often need to know, what weather to expect, but I am usually planning my journeys long in advance, so no weather forecast can help me. ... read more

Sundays in Europe can be a tad depressing. Even though the Europeans are even less religiously devoted than Americans they do still believe in observing the Sabbath. Especially in Germany. Most stores and businesses are closed. Restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops remain open because all the rest of the Germans are out and about enjoying life.. They absolutely love gathering the family to take a ride, or preferably to take a walk in the countryside. Nothing much gets done on Sundays except relaxing. With this in mind I set up our itinerary to use Sunday for my longest drive of our vacation. Not that the distance from Nürnberg to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic is especially far, but I planned to take a scenic drive through northern Bavaria to get there. Research recommended either going by way ... read more

First flight was delayed (due to the snow troubles in London) by 1 hour 25 minutes.... but we got on our way.... read more