MONDAY.
I left Cupar at 08:20 to travel down to Prestwick Airport via Edinburgh and Glasgow, all my trains were on time and l had plenty time to check in. The flight left in time and we were in Warsaw in no time. Weather wise it's much the same as Scotland-it's raining! I got a taxi to my hotel, which is in the centre and close to the railway station. I get booked in quickly and my room is a bit basic but does the job as I travel down to Krakow tomorrow morning.I go out for a few pints first in an Irish bar which is pretty empty, but the beer is going down well, and after two pints I move on to another bar, more local this time and I have a meal as well, which is very good. Then I find a student’s bar, which is selling large beers for half price, works out about 30 pence a litre. After a few more I head back to my hotel, got to be up early for the trip down to Krakow.
TUESDAY.
I get up around 07:30 quick shower and head for breakfast, a very good choice but no Porridge! Anyway times goes quickly and I head for the railway station for the 10:05, it's costs 90 zloty for a return journey. The train is on time and it's like the train from a Harry Potter film! But at least it's on time and we set off on a 3-hour journey, ten minutes into the journey and we get free coffee and a choc biscuit, you don't get that with First Rail! As we travel down through the countryside I notice that a lot of small farms are rebuilding their houses and farm outbuildings. A sign that money is coming back into the country, an other thing is between farms there does not seem to be fences. And all the fields are in strips, not what farmers do in this country. Any way time goes quickly and I arrive in Krakow at just after 13:30. Had a wee bit trouble finding my hotel, but got there in the end. It's much a better hotel (newer) than the one in Warsaw, and the room has a double bed and works out cheaper as well. I get my bag unpacked and head off a walk around Krakow, it looks a very nice place with a big main square and plenty shops and bars. I head up to the ticket office to find out how to get a ticket to go and see Auschwitz’s and the Salt mines. I get them okay and head off for a beer and a meal. I end up in a Georgian bar and have a chicken dish, which is very good and very spicy, with a big helping and side salad and potatoes, and very good value for just £9 and that includes tip and two beers. After that I go for a walk around the centre and end up in a bar/disco, which is in a cave. Where I meet some people from Wales who are having a guide show them the best pubs in Krakow, they ask me to join them and it turns out to a great night out, after a few bars we finish up in a pub The Dog in the Fog, where we try different strong polish vodka (very good) but has a good kick to them. The Welsh lads are heading back to Cardiff tomorrow and we all head back to our hotels at 01:20. I did sleep that night!
WEDNESDAY.
I get up for breakfast at 07:45, feeling okay after last night and head for breakfast, which went down very well. The bus for Auschwitz’s leaves at 09:10 and I get there in time, after a few pickups at a few hotels we set off, up over the hillside and it takes about one and a half hour, we get shown a film about the history of this dreadful place. We arrive and we are gathered in groups to get shown round. It seemed a very eerie place with no birds singing ect, and we get shown some of the conditions the prisoners had to live in, then some of the torture chambers (I won't go into detail) but everybody should go and see it for themselves, as it should never be forgotten. After a small break we go up and see the other camp Birkenau, which was more a death camp for most of the poor people who would only survive around 6 months if they were lucky, it's just the sheer size of this camp which struck me, and they had to live in huts which the army used to keep their horses in.It only happened 60 years ago and should never be forgotten, on our bus there was a mixture of young and old. One man said to me it was his third trip here and he said it was not getting easier at each visit. We had a small break before heading back to Krakow, getting back around 17:00. I went for a McDonald's meal and after that head off to a Milk Bar for a few pints! Real milk I had a Banana milk shake and then a Strawberry one. It was a fine change from Lager (I should have had a meal here) they looked good. After that I go back to my hotel and get changed, then go out for a few pints, this time I end up in a English style pub and it's full of workers from Britain. I met a few lads from Glasgow and we have a few beers, then I had a late meal around 21:00. After that I head off to a bar near my hotel, it's one the locals use and it's very old. The beer is going down well and after a few it's time to head to my hotel. Going to see the salt mines tomorrow plus travel back up to Warsaw.
THURSDAY.
Get up early for breakfast and my hotel say they will keep my bag safe until I get back. We leave for the salt mines at the same time as yesterday, it’s only half a day trip and it goes quickly. It’s a long way down to the mine four hundred steps, some the things that they have done is breath taking (I only wish is that I took) my camera with me. At least at the other end you get a lift back up a lot easier. The day goes quickly and after a quick coffee it’s back on the bus to Krakow and back to my hotel. I have some time to spare and manage to get a Wisla Krakow top (149 zloty=£27) in the big shopping centre next to the railway station. Anyway I got the 15:00 train back to Warsaw and it arrives on time, booked into my hotel, which is the same chain as the one in Krakow. After a quick shower I head off to see a bit of Warsaw, the traffic is a bit mad with trams, buses, and cars going in all directions. To cross the road you have to go underground and it’s easy to get lost as there are routes going all over the place. I did get a tram to see a bit, but it’s getting too late and I don’t want to get lost on my last night in Poland! I go for a polish meal just to get a feel of the local dishes. And I start with Pieczarek (soup), then Kurczakiem (Chicken) and finish with Sernik (cheesecake) washed down with two large Zywiec beers. Totally stuffed I head up to a local bar near my hotel and it’s like it’s never changed since the 1920’s, I’m sure the fish in the tank is that old! After a few beers I head back up to my hotel. Going home after breakfast.
FRIDAY.
Up early and I pack my bag before going down for breakfast, it’s the best on this trip and the choice is just first class. After that pay my bill and get a taxi to the airport for my flight home, it all goes quickly and before I know it I’m back in Scotland, I get the train back to Cupar via Glasgow/Edinburgh arriving home at 18:00, a bit tired but I have had a good few days away and must say the Polish people are very friendly and went out of their way to help you.
Footnote for Tommy and Harry.
If you get drunk and get lifted you have to spend the night in the drunk tank (jail) and wear blue pyjamas, and then pay 250 zloty to get out. I never saw anyone totally drunk on this trip (not even) myself!
More Photos just click on the link to open.
