Using this blog

OK, we've finished this trip so the blog is complete; it's here for posterity, warts and all. For us, it's a record of a brilliant trip through countries that were under Soviet rule only thirty years ago and have transformed themselves since that time. Their pride and cultures are fascinating and our preconceptions, in many cases, were wrong. Crossing into Russia for the drive to St. Petersburg was the culmination of a long-held ambition which didn't disappoint.

If you want to dip into our adventures, feel free but bear in mind that it consists of posts as updates throughout the trip, so it's in reverse order. Odd, I know.

If you really want to follow the trip in the right order here are some TIPS

START HERE for the beginning.. and remember read each page of posts from the bottom up to follow the trip in the correct sequence Really bonkers, I know... Why don't you just browse!?


Good Luck

The End

Well, isn't time strange? Not long ago we were planning this trip; now it's finished - but it lives on in this blog, of course.

We've covered over five and a half thousand miles since leaving the UK and, as ever, we've learned a great deal. To see how far the Baltic countries have moved since communist rule has been a revelation. We spent a lot of time in Poland with its wonderful cities and southern mountains and could have spent more. Driving through Russia into St Petersburg was the culmination of a long held ambition which certainly didn't disappoint.

We've met some great people on our travels, many giving us unsolicited help as we explore their country. We always remember that the people that we meet are individuals, like us, on a journey formed by their experiences and that they do not necessarily hold the views of their (temporary) leaders; as committed Europeans we are saddened that we are increasingly challenged about the perceived UK's negative views on the EU, views which we certainly do not share. We have never failed to meet some great individuals on our travels; perhaps that's the biggest reward.

The group part of the adventure was great; positive people and a highly competent leader, making, in particular, our venture into Russia a relatively straightforward one - but exciting, nevertheless.

Great trip, great memories, richer again.

Where next?

Goodbye from Ghent

The decision to spend a couple of days at Ghent was a good one.

We spend the first day visiting some of the must-see sights but also just drinking in the atmosphere of this old town with its trams and street cafés. There are students, workers, mixed race couples, tourists, all styles of dress and a relaxed air, even though preparations for the upcoming festival are well under way. It's our kind of town and the perfect place to reflect on our trip.

The Belfry, symbolising the City's independence

There's a giant musical machine up there that plays every fifteen minutes.

Tower Bells: The Movie

We pop in the next day to have a trip on the river, a final Belgian Beer and a nice meal; then it's Goodbye Ghent.

Eurotunnel Tomorrow all being well...

Heading Home

We have an appointment with Eurotunnel on the 18th July. We've booked a couple of nights at a campsite in Ghent (Belgium) and we're keeping our fingers crossed for decent weather.

Today, we head for Campsite Lake Markkleeberg, a lakeside campsite just south of Leipzig, arriving early afternoon after dropping off our ViaToll box which has been bleeping its way around Poland as it notches up the Zloties on my account.

The 'van needs a bit of tlc on the way but we're here, safe and snug on a rainy day.

Moving on....

Now we're here:

Its Campingpark Essen-Werden  and  it's great for a two night stay.

Nice little town with Essen itself only 12 minutes away by S-Bhan (suburban train). German public transport systems are great.

A short walk up the river takes us to this large dam and lock.

There's a great little bistro just around the corner from the site.

Aiming for Ghent in the morning.

..,..............

Germany > Netherlands > Belgium

(sorry Netherlands, we love your towns, but time is chasing us onwards)

We're here..

 The site's part of a sports complex on the outskirts of Ghent... and very nice it is too: great facilities, great pitch, shuttle bus into town - if only I could get the outfit round the sharp corners without three reverses each time it would be perfect. After our recent site experience, though, I can understand why the owners don't want easy access for large caravans.....

Anyway, we're all sorted and looking forward to Ghent tomorrow...

Wonderful Wroclaw: Last stop in Poland

What a great end to our Polish adventures. We've loved travelling in Poland; the towns are full of history with their majestic buildings, often reconstructed after war damage. The people we've met have been great: often going out of their way to help.

Anyway, we're here in Wroclaw in what feels like a communist era campsite. We've also got a large number if Irish travellers with massive caravans for company, each with their full size washing machine and accompanying large 4x4. Some younger members of the group have flash BMWs which cruise around the site with the music going... Cool, Great, live and let live and all that... but we've got a large 4x4 on a UK plate, too........no washing machine, though.

We love Wroclaw. We easily travel into town from the campsite by tram.

Impressive Town Hall, that

Impressive Town Hall Clock, that

Even more impressive main square.. might be the largest in Poland. St. Mary Magdelene's twin towers are just visible at 10 O'clock.

 We climbed the church tower to get the previous shot

These little fellas crop up all over the place:


Yup, that's how us Brits deal with Brexit...

This is a detail from the amazing Panorama of the Battle of Raclawice, so long that it has it's own circular building.

From the bridge between the twin towers of St Mary Magdelene's Church - The woman with the broom was condemned to sweep here for eternity as a penance for leading a frivolous life... luckily, the little girl contrived to get this sorted by a passing wizard.

Lots more, but that will do. Goodbye Wroclaw.

Turning homeward tomorrow.

The Black Madonna

We have an uneventful trip to Katowice, some three hours away from Zakopane.

We decide to drop the 'van off at the campsite there and head to the Jasna Gora Monastery, at Czestochowa, to see, amongst other things, the famous Black Madonna. All the info is in the link.

The monastery attracts thousands of pilgrims each year and Poland's Pope John Paul addressed the massed faithful from the balcony here. We see the Black  Madonna and the crowds attending mass in the chapel in which it hangs.


The Monastery

 The Madonna

In the chapel

View from the tower

Back to earth.....

On the way back we pop into the local IKEA to try to find a new griddle pan - but what we really wanted were the meatballs for dinner....
....the Tata Mountains seem a long way away somehow.

Towards the Tatra Mountains: Zakopane

We're here....

 The Tata Mountain range - We use a cable car to ascend to 1,987m and then walk along a couple of trails.

The Poland - Slovakia border runs along the range... Here's a shot of Poland from Slovakia as we step across the border. A foot in each country...

..and this is the touristy but rather nice Zakopane...

Zakopane from the hill above, accessed via a funicular railway. We walk back down.

On our final day here, we walk 18+ km, 50% of it uphill, to see two of Poland's glacial lakes in the Tata Mountain range. We discover that half of Poland gets the same idea.... Quite amazing that so many family groups do this walk. For the less hardy, horse drawn traps take 15 at a time most of the way to the first, and most famous, lake. The second is strictly for the fittest..


Lake Morskie

 

The hoardes.. It's 8km to the first lake, too

Lake Rysami, a tough walk above lake Morskie

On the way to pick up exhausted families

Somebody tell this deer it's supposed to be wild.. gave me a nasty suck on the hand.

That's about all from the Tata Mountains - a brilliant visit. It feels like a holiday!

Off to Katowice tomorrow for an overnight stop (or two). We intend to visit Czestochowa from there.. stay in touch to see why.

Lublin: Lovely!

Were here by a lake near Lublin for a night because we wanted to see this renowned old town. So glad we did.
The campsite's changed it's name and morphed into a slightly down at heel children's adventure centre. Must be more money in children. Still, it's got some pitches with electricity, which all we need.

We're very taken with this town and it's non-tourist, young people feel.

We take drink in the atmospheric old town square before heading to Lidl for essential supplies, then back to the 'van.

A longer drive tomorrow as we aim to get to Zakopane in the south. We'll see.

Warsaw - Poland's Capital City

Getting here Part I
We travelled here via Marijampolė, or at least via a nice little lakeside campsite not far from this Lithuanian town; a nice relaxing farewell the Lithuania and, I guess, the Baltic countries. It's been an education, it really has.

• 

Getting here Part II
So, its on to the Polish capital, Warsaw, which, as you might imagine, is quite big, has lots of cars and lorries and lots of busy roads and wierd Polish junctions. 
I put in the GPS coordinates for our chosen (well, there's only one) city campsite and off we go. I always try and envision the junctions near to our destination and it usually works when combined with our two satnavs..  but this time we have to go round again, doing a U-turn on a city dual carriageway (which is an OK thing here - it's just the 13m length that makes it really interesting).  I give a shrug and smile to  the occupants of a police van as we zig-zagg through the traffic and get a big smile in return.. So, round again, I begin to disbelieve the satnavs then Sue spots the faded sign...Phew!
Anyway, we're here... and chilled.

Would you believe that this is near the city centre?

Ready for the city tomorrow!

Here's a clue as to why we might have missed the right slot..

We're here!

Day 2
Into the City..

REALLY useful city transport LINK

Find the right bus (it's No.127), find the stop, get the ticket  from the machine, hop on and we're here, in the city centre (centrum). Crikey, it's really impressive here. Big new skyscrapers and a totally rebuilt 'old town' after it was destroyed by the Nazis in WWII.
We have a couple of days here so we head for the old town. There's a lot to see here - lots more to do... come back for more later......

It's later now 🤔 so here's a summary:

 The President's Palace..

Towards the old town

The old town

 Again

 Lots of street cafés here

Marie Curie Museum
She was from here, of course. I found this inexplicably moving. The museum outlines her life, education and achievements, including her two Nobel Prizes and multiple doctorates. She died of Leukaemia as a result of here pioneering work on radioactivity, much of it with her husband, Pierre, before his death.

 Some family tree. Now tell me types of intellectual ability aren't inherited....

On that note, we head back to base, only to bump into Sabine, our wonderful tour leader with her new group of 20 German units, which now occupy the site. It's great to see her and we have a long chat.

Day 3

We're off into the city again with a new agenda.

First on our list is the commanding Palace of Culture and Science (More) - the tallest building in Poland, now containing theatres, a cinema and museums. Although the 'socialist-realist' style building is a city icon, it's not without controversy. Some see it as a reminder of Stalin's Soviet regime and the suppression of those times. To maintain and renovate or pull down.... That's an ongoing debate.

 These contrasting cityscapes are from the viewing gallery on the 30th floor.

Moving from Soviet suppression, we see the location of the ghetto wall from the preceding Nazi occupation.

..and visit the Synagogue. It's sad that such high security measures are required for the visiting public.

 We visit the excellent Warsaw Rising  Museum - detailing the horrendous events of the transition from Nazi to Soviet rule and suppression of the Polish nation.

We do other stuff, not least eating excellent lunches - but you've had enough and so have we for now. We'd highly recommend Warsaw for a city break, though.

We've decided to head for Lublin tomorrow - if we can get out of the city that is....

See you there, fingers crossed.