One of the main reasons for coming to Krakow was to visit Auschwitz. I knew it would be a somber, depressing excursion but one that I had always wanted to see. I am constantly fascinated by the evil some perpetrate on others throughout history, which certainly includes our history with slavery. But nothing, no movie or documentary, can have the impact of walking in the footsteps of this history. Continue reading “Auschwitz – The Heart Skips a Beat”
When you take the free walking tour and the souvenir map includes in it’s key Polish phrases to know, “I don’t like Warsaw,” you can tell there is somewhat of a rivalry between the two cities. There needn’t be because the two cities are so vastly different. Warsaw is the financial center while Krakow, with much of its history surviving the war, is the more artful, more lively, and yes more touristy. But in a good way. As you visit key parts of the town and, of course, venture out to Auschwitz, history stares you in the face wherever you go. Continue reading “Krakow – Historic and Lively”
When I first arrived in Warsaw and got out of the train station, I saw a sea of modernity. Sparkling new high-rises and a huge shopping mall were the first things that greeted me. All I knew about Warsaw was its history, a history of struggling, invasion, and resilience. Certainly not a modern metropolis. Continue reading “Warsaw and Its Multiple Personalities”
Sights of a city still in transition… Continue reading “Berlin in Photos”
As I mentioned, I last visited Berlin in January 1990. I still have pieces of the wall that I chiseled off during that visit. To say Berlin has changed would be an understatement. Many places are unrecognizable, and for the better. Continue reading “Berlin Then and Now”
In January, 1990 I made my first and only trip to Berlin. It was not on my itinerary at the start of my month-long backpacking tour. Since then, I’ve been to Munich, Kehl, Nuremberg, and Baden (well, I stayed at a hotel by the airport) but have not been back to Berlin. Continue reading “Dealing with the Past”
Some photos on my wandering the streets of Amsterdam… Continue reading “Amsterdam in Pictures”
The first time I visited Amsterdam was way too quick. I was just a couple of nights on a month-long backpacking tour of Europe and my first trip to the continent. I was a lot younger and living the Ensuite Life was not a priority. I stayed in a hostel, sharing a room with seven other people. It was an adventure for a different lifetime. Continue reading “Amsterdam Musts”
As much as I enjoyed living in Paris for a month, the apartment being so small was at times claustrophobic. No such problem with the rental in Amsterdam. Located in the western part of the city, this beautiful light, airy apartment was a treat. Continue reading “A’dam Lodging”
One thing about packing to go on a trip is I’m very careful to note everything that goes into my bag and double, triple quadruple check it. For some reason, leaving Paris for Amsterdam I kinda just threw everything in my bag and stuffed my daypack as well. I had even bought one of those cans of protein powder at Carrefour and took that with me, which took up about half the daypack. Continue reading “Taking the Long Way”
The Nomadic Writer 