Poland! (11/07/07 - 15/07/07)

Actually, this is the first official stop of the long trip. Endured an 11 hour bus ride from Vienna to Warsaw - nah.. it wasn't that bad. I think Poland grew on me cause I know I didn't like it that much when I first arrived. But I really appreciate their service attitude and the general 'feel' of the place after a couple of days there. Besides that, I was amusing myself a little with the 'Polish' (pole-lish) vs 'Polish' (por-lish) cause I saw signs like Polish sth...

I was in Warsaw first and true to the many comments I've heard, there is really nothing much in Warsaw.


This is some memorial. Ok.. I know I'm a lousy tourist.. I don't even know what is the place that I took a photo of.


This I know. It is the building that Stalin gave to the Poles. It's actually a huge, magnificent looking castle.


Stumbled upon the castle, which was part of the 15% of the buildings not destroyed in Warsaw during WW2, when we took the bus in the wrong direction. Ok.. this is just the castle grounds I think.


Finally got to the Old Town, but it rained barely 15mins after we got there.


Our hostel! It's pretty good. but not doing advertisement here, but I like the sign. :)

After one and a half days in Warsaw, we took a train which came 10 mins late and arrived 1 hour after the stipulated time to Krakow.

Decided not to go to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp... So, I decided to go visit the Old Town instead.


Some statue near the Old Town.


This is the last remaining tower that used to be along the wall that surrounded the city.


This sign caught my attention. Butik = Boutique?


If I were less rational, I might have bought one of these paintings home. Most of them are very pretty. Basically, artists just hang their works along the walls.


Traditional Polish Costume?


Accordian Buskers. Quite fascinating actually. Almost bought their CD. And it seems that accordians are quite a bit hit here cause I came across and accordian quartet and another pair.


Puppet!

From the Old Town, went to the Wawel Castle where I went for an amber exhibition - A showcase of amber statues or products made from amber. There was this table that is made up of all the different types of amber of varying shades and grades and what not.


Nice view of the river from the castle.


One part of the castle grounds.


What I realise is that castles are usually situated at vantage points, usually on a hill with nice views and I guess it is better to keep a look out for attacks?

There is this legend that there was a Dragon who resided in this cave at the foot of the Wawel castle. Anyway, visitors can go down into this cave. All I can say is that if a dragon really lived there, it had t obe a pretty small dragon. :)


The cold, dark cave.


And at the end of the cave, there is a 'dragon' which really breathes out fire!


That explains the numerous dragon plush toys around. :)

Yep.. and this is all I can say for Poland! It was one of the places I wanted to visit because I felt that I wanted to see this country for what it is now before it changes too much in future.