Blogs from Podlachian, Poland, Europe - page 2

Burley - Hull - Zeebrugge - Belgium We were on the slow way to Poland taking the overnight ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge. It was good to chill out on the boat. Next day we got the bus link to Bruges and had breakfast at the station. Our train was signed on the platform, so we hurried on the train, and then I noticed the train went seemingly two minutes early. My suspicions gave way to dismay when a ship appeared on the horizon and we were back on the coast at Ostend! Oops - wrong train! We set off again, on the Inter City to Eupen - fortunately, these run very regularly. We went all the way to Eupen because there was a gap in the connection to Aachen. Eupen is an interesting final ... read more

En daar was een huisje zonder elektriciteit, gas of stromend water. We vertrokken met 25 erasmussers en 6 Poolse begeleidende studenten vrijdagavond met de trein in Warschau. Vervolgens dropte een busje ons aan de rand van een bos rond middernacht. Kregen we allen een kompas en kaart toegestopt en in twee groepen hebben we nog een tweetal uren door dat bos gewandeld. Nogal scoutsig. Wanneer we tegen 2u aankwamen hebben we boterhammen gegeten en thee gedronken rond het haardvuur. Zaterdag begon de dag met ontbijten en hout hakken voor die avond, wat best grappig was want 4 stoere kerels en een meisje gingen tekeer met de bijlen terwijl de rest geamuseerd stond toe te kijken. In 6 kleinere groepjes hebben we enkele uren verschillende punten op de kaart opgezocht op een heel padvinderige manier. In de ... read more

For the first time in over a week we get rain. And, of course, it has to happen in the middle of the night. Quickly get out of the tent, pull the rain cover over the tent, and retreat back into the dry inside. Fortunately, the rain doesn't last and is gone by the time we get up in the morning. A coffee and some bread later, we're back on the road towards Lithuania. If everything goes according to plan, today should be our last day in Poland, we'll cross the border tomorrow. Just when I'm starting to get used to Poland, am able to get bread and cheese in the shops, and can at least ask for directions, we'll be thrown into a new country with a completely different language. Also, I've left my language ... read more

Augustów Augustow is on the eastern side of the Lake District, about 60 miles north of Białystok. Close to the vast Augustów forest, the lakes and rivers are all connected - you could even paddle to Belarus in theory! Actually, a tour organisation called PTTK in Augustów do organise trips in Belarus, but I guess it is up to you to get the visas sorted. Large injections of EU cash have smarted up the riverfront, but off-season there is still a dejected air about the town. It's a decent enough centre though and there are places to eat, and hire kyaks on so on. 30 May Augustów We got up at 5.30 am to get the early bus north to Augustów with Barbara, Kasia’s sister, who had project work with the local council. We arrived ... read more

Poland May 2006 Warsaw Back in Poland then, though less of a tour and more of a family visit. Taking advantage of lower fares, we flew from Liverpool to Warsaw. The flight is 2.5 hours, and it is a jolt when you arrive - suddenly everything is in Polish, the weather's warmer, and the street environment is very different to Britain. Cleaner, for a start. Because our flight landed with only an hour before the evening Białystok train left, we decided to stay overnight at Radek's in Warsaw. We got the latest on Polish current affairs. The new government has finally formed after months of uncertainty. So there has been a big anti-corruption drive, which has led to many people being put in jail. Then there has been the appointment of a controversial figure as Minister ... read more