Blogs from Szczecin, West Pomeranian, Poland, Europe
June 4th 2011
Saturday An early start - 5 am. We all managed to get up and pack the last few bits before assembling downstairs for the pick up. Henrik arrived to "make sure we left" which was very good of him at that time in the morning. He said goodbye to all of us individually, then we all climbed aboard and set off for Berlin, about 2 hours away. The journey was uneventful, and we got checked in without incident. We ate a few of the sandwiches that had been prepared, then went through security, where a number of people got frisked. Very quickly the flight was called and we went to the plane, and fought for seats with all the other passengers. The flight was fairly smooth, although the landing was a little jumpy, particularly for Alison ... read more
June 2nd 2011
Thursday We had breakfast again just after 8, and we weren't sure if we were leaving at 9 or 9:30 for school. Consequently when it turned out to be 9:30 we were all ready for once! John and Lynda kept us entertained by singing about zombies and other subjects. Then Casia came to take us to the school on the tram & bus. We Sat through two presentations about the olympics, both sessions preceeded by a cartoon which crossed cultures quite readily. At each presentation we ended by doing a few songs to the audience. Then it was off to get some lunch, and a quick play outside, before meeting the headmistress again (with lots of cakes) to say goodbye. This took a little while as many things were discussed and we had to go around ... read more
June 1st 2011
Wednesday Breakfast today included some scary looking fish. Even Julian couldn't eat it so the rest of us steered clear... (a first in 18 years of married life that Mr O has turned down food!!) Bus and tram ride to the school for International Childrens Day where the whole school did a great event based on the Olympics. We took part in the opening ceremony parade with Simon leading us behind the UK sign and David and Joe carrying a massive flag. The rest of us had tiny flags but Stuart out shone us all in his fabulous London shirt. Other students at the school represented Poland, Czech republic, Jamaica, Slovak and France amongst others. We each then had to show a national sport. After a little discussion we decided on cricket, with Simon bowling to ... read more
May 31st 2011
Today we went to the beach. First we called in to change some money and buy a few essential supplies. Then travel to the sea, where we had lunch of varied dishes (from a restaurant, not the actual sea!!) Then to the beach. Several hardy souls entered the freezing water for a swim. Some of us need post traumatic stress counselling for witnessing certain men folk in their swimsuits!! Several children were buried and we had a deeply moving memorial service, particularly touching seeing David stamping on Mikey's grave!! Just to assure you all the children are very well, all alive and happy. They are making us all proud with how they all get on so well together and are really making the most of their Polish experience. As for the adults lets just say Stuart's ... read more
May 30th 2011
Breakfast at 8:30, followed by piano recitals, basketball and frisbee. Then a tram and bus ride to the school, where we had lunch. Potato soup, chicken in sauce and rice with cabbage of some sort! After that a guide showed us around some German WWII bunkers, with lots of underground passage, some of them occupied by bats. Then to a meeting with the headmistress and a presentation about the school accompanied by apple cake, strawberries and special gluten free cheesecake. This was followed by a barbecue where we roasted sausages on long sticks over an open fire. Quite a lot of sausages lost to the flames. The children sang some songs, and then we returned the favour. We finished by special request with oakie koakie. This was extra tricky because of the steep ground some of ... read more
October 13th 2009
I have a good opportunity to visit this beautiful country , Poland . I got more good experience with place , people , lifestyle and etc. Szczecin is a nice place in my opinion and I think only a fews Thai ever come to visit here . Let's visit Poland and also Szczecin for ur next trip to Europe................a wonderful world waiting for all of u... read more
August 14th 2009
This is my birth town. Pictures have been taken by me and one of my friends at various seasons - some of them were taken in summer, the other ones in autumn and winter. These uploaded photos of Szczecin show the renovated Pomeranian Dukes' Castle and just a small piece of town. Enjoy (-: Usually I'm spending my holidays over there but that time me & Ania decided to travel just across Europe and visit some countries whose are located at the north and east coast of Baltic Sea - From Finland to Poland and eventually come back to Szczecin. More about Szczecin - Wikipedia - Szczecin Pomeranian Dukes Castle and castle's courtyard by night - 360 degrees Foucault pendulum This s... read more
November 23rd 2008
YES! ALIVE! And we only caused one car crash! (But our involvement in that is debatable, at that.) So I think I sort of know how to pronounce Szczecin now - Shteh'-shin? Something like that? Ahaha. So we cabbed to London Stansted at 2am on Friday morning, in order to catch our 6am flight to Poland! One of the first things we did was try to find the hostel. But they gave us faulty directions, which led us all the way to the southwest of the city, near the forest's edge! But thankfully these really nice people at a medical supplies office pointed us back towards the city centre. We stayed at Cuma Hostel - where they overbooked, so we were put in the "Conference Room" -- converted into a 4 bed room. I didn't mind, ... read more
