24.10.2026
Our last stop in Europe before heading to India was Warsaw. I hadn't been there since 2000 so it was nice to see it again. It's a beautiful city, I was surprised how clean it was and how much green space there was in the centre. There's a nice mix of communist architecture, modern office towers, and exquisitely rebuilt historic buildings. The centre of Warsaw was completely destroyed during WWII but you would never know it to walk around the old town. They truly did an incredible job with the restoration. From the excellent modern art gallery to all the historic points of interest, there's really something for everyone. Plus, they serve excellent pierogies! Warsaw, while not cheap, is definitely worth a visit for anyone wanting to go beyond the usual European city breaks.
Shona
15.10.2026
We had a few days to kill before embarking on our winter trip, so we decided to head to another place in Poland that I've always wanted to visit. Years ago, I saw something online about the Crooked Forest near Szczecin. While I wouldn't recommend making a special trip like we did, lol, it's worth a side trip if you're in the area. We did also do some sightseeing in Szczecin, which is quite a nice city with a beautiful, modern concert hall. The forest itself is just a very small grove of Scots pine trees that bend near the bottom. There are a few theories as to why they're like this but no one really knows the truth. Something odd and unique that has turned into quite the little tourist attraction. I was hoping for some early morning fog, but no luck.
To make the trip worth the gas used, we also went to Berlin for a couple of days. Andrzej had already been there in the summer, but I hadn't been there since 2000! My main goal was to see the famous Holocaust Memorial, but we also enjoyed wandering around the RAW-Gelande area. This area is a bohemian, artsy place built around an old railway workshop. Probably more lively at night when the clubs open, but we loved the graffiti and other street art. Of course, we also walked along the Berlin Wall.
Shona
10.10.2026
On our way back to Jelenia Góra, we decided to take the scenic route, and stop in some famous places in eastern Poland. We first stopped for a quick stroll around Kosice, in Slovakia, and then made our way to Zamość. Zamość is a historic Polish city dating back to the late 16th century, and the centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We went early in the morning but, sadly, there was some kind of festival going on and the square was full of tents. Still, it was a beautiful place. Next stop was Sandomierz, another historic city. This city dates back to the 12th century. It's a very popular tourist site and has a nice old town, as well as a very rich and interesting history.
The last stop on this trip was the industrial city of Łódź. Our primary reason for visiting was to visit the MS2 Modern Art Gallery. The gallery is part of a huge mall that is set on an old industrial complex, with all of the original brick factory buildings cleaned up and repurposed. Without a doubt the coolest mall we've ever been to. The way these buildings were restored is nothing short of amazing, and so cool to see the land repurposed instead of just sitting there with rotting buildings, which is what you see in so many places. The gallery itself also had some very interesting art. All in all a great trip!
Shona
06.10.2026
Well, Moldova, what can I say? We went, we saw, lol. Actually, the drive was interesting and the area outside Chisinau (wine country) is quite pretty. You can even tour the largest and 2nd largest wineries in the world! We did not, but we did buy some local wine which was quite good. There are some interesting monasteries outside the city as well. We visited Curchi, which is really pretty, albeit small. As far as the city goes, we wandered around a bit and saw some classic commie buildings, a nice park and, of course, a cathedral and other churches. Is it worth it? Well, if you're interested in their wine country, sure. It was worth it for us because we can now say we've been to Moldova...yay! I think I'd skip driving and fly to Chisinau, though. Driving in the country was painfully slow and traffic in the city was insane!
Shona
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