My journey home

I don't know if I mentioned that I had booked my return flight to London from Berlin. I don't think I did. Well it was a very spontaneous descion, it was dirt cheap, and I thought, hey, why not. However there was the little problem of actually getting to Berlin. This problem soon became an opportunity. An opportunity to see a bit of Poland and then spend some time in Berlin! I will post some of the pictures of my journey home. I traveled only for a week, but it was very eventful...

Sadly I have to look quite far back for this entry, I have been neglecting my small audience. This retrospect takes us to Poland and Berlin before Christmas… are you with me? It all starts in mid November. I was sitting at my computer deciding when I should return home. I was searching through the normal cheap, substandard economy airlines when I saw an advert for cheap flights from Berlin. This got my imaginative juices flowing. ‘Travel to Berlin and then fly home!’- Brilliant idea Marish!

The original plan involved the Tatra Mountains and quite a few cities in Poland. However looking at money and time this just wasn’t going to be possible. The final cut was Krakow, Wroclaw and Berlin. What a super trio it was.
Krakow

Kirstie was to be my very willing travel companion. Mostly for the reason that she wanted to try all the Polish food I had been raving about, and of course, who doesn’t want to go to Berlin? The journey started on a long train journey, a stop in the notoriously horrible Ostrava train station, a confusing few hours of trying to get a train out of Katovice and then FINALLY to Krakow. We quickly found the very hospitable Bling Bling Hostel and Kirstie and I hit the city.
Wawel Castle in Krakow

Think back now, how you felt when Christmas was not 11 months away but only a few weeks. Now imagine the biggest square in Europe filled with the most magical Christmas market. Krakow had to be the most festive place in the world. It was amazing. Every other stand selling some sweet or hot delight. It was hard to pull ourselves away. Sadly there was no snow. That would have literally been the icing on the cake. Instead it was a freakishly warm 15˚C.
Krakow again

Our first evening we visited the much recommended Wieliczka Salt Mines. Maybe my expectations were too high, with all the hype these caves received. But I really wasn’t very impressed. There were some very interesting sections, but overall I found the whole tour quite dull. The following day we made our way to Oswiecim. Home to Auschwitz. This has to be the most terrifying place on earth. An example for us all of the absolute extremes of human behaviour. The scale was awesome, so much bigger than I had ever imagined. It was a visit that I felt I had to make.
Kinga's Cathedral

The next day we were in Wroclaw, staying at the hidden away Stranger Hostel. It was only a stopover before catching another train to Berlin the following day. But I was very surprised with Wroclaw, it had a very pretty square and a very youthful, exciting feel about it. I believe that in a few years it will be unrecognisable, defiantly a city on the move.
Wroclaw
Me in Wroclaw

Talking of moving, next stop was Berlin. After navigating ourselves around the huge, and at first pretty confusing metro system, S-Bahn or U-Bahn if you please? We finally arrived at the very hip and trendy Helter Skelter Hostel. Berlin is a city oozing with history. We went on two walking tours, we just couldn’t hear enough about what had happened. It is one of the few cities I have visited that I can’t wait to return to. The night scene was cool and unpretentious and the city, although not at all attractive, had a real pulse. I was sad to leave, but this was cancelled out by my excitement to return home.
Berlin, East side, West Side.

Since Budapest

Wow, I cant believe that I haven't updated my blog since Budapest. Well after my return there were actually a few weeks where nothing very dramatic or exciting happened. I went to Prague for one last time before christmas. It was for my friend Gulliaumes 23rd birthday. It was a huge party, and it was so nice to see everyone from my language course. Quite a few of them wil be leaving the Czech republic soon after christmas. Their semester here will be over. It is strange to think that a whole new wave of people will be arriving. I had a great night followed by a superb pancake breakfast, wipped up by my Belgium friend Jonas. You must all try a Belgium pancake; ice cream, and melted Belgium chocolate. Absolutely to die for. Amazingly none of my European friends had ever heard of a lemon and sugar pancake. I was very proud to introduce something to them, seemingly unique to Britain.

The following weekend there was a bit of a get together in Brno. About 5 of my friends in Prague came to visit for the evening. It was really fun. We had a huge meal and then went out in Brno. I have to say, Brno is a great night out. So many bars, all so closely located. I really think you should all come out and sample its delights.

Leading up to the end of term there where lots of parties to go to. Most of the Erasmus massive organised different events. Belgium party, Spanish Party and then lastly the French party. It was a busy few weeks. The English group. There is only four of us, had to organise a presentation about our fair land. We spent quite a long time on it, and by the end of all our work I have to admit it wasnt half bad. However when it came to the night, and there were quite a few people waiting patiently for the show... NOTHING WORKED!!! I was so gutted. I really didn't think I cared. Hopefully we will be able to give the presentation after christmas.

The last few days in Brno were filled with preparations for my journy home...