Yesterday, on returning from Auschwitz-Birkenau, I saw that it was raining. This was the first rain in the two weeks I’d been travelling. The temperature had dropped below the high 20s it had been. It was a shook! I took cover in the main station, Kraków Główny. Once the rain stopped, I walked to Massolit … Continue reading / view photos Extended stay in Kraków
Auschwitz-Birkenau
This post contains photos and descriptions that you may find distressing. Like yesterday’s visit to the salt mine, I’d booked my ticket for Auschwitz about a week ago. It’s popular. I took a train to Oswiecim then walked the remaining 25 minutes to the former Nazi concentration camp. I was able to use my interrail pass … Continue reading / view photos Auschwitz-Birkenau
Cytat Cafe and No Bones
After exiting the Wieliczka Salt Mine, I sat in a small peaceful park and had some food. For the return bus ride from the salt mine, I got off early to walk around Kazimierz, the old Jewish Quarter. It now hosts a variety of independent shops and cafes. I asked ChatGPT to recommend some quirky … Continue reading / view photos Cytat Cafe and No Bones
Wieliczka Salt Mine
When I went to Open House in London a few years ago, I visited Salters’ Hall. This is owned by The Salters’ Company, one of over a hundred livery companies in the City of London. These livery companies are a type of professional association that originated in the 12th Century in London. They represented people … Continue reading / view photos Wieliczka Salt Mine
Kraków — Main Square
The Berlin train to Kraków was about seven hours. My accommodation was about 10 minutes walk according to Google Maps. When I got there, I couldn’t find the place! Contrary to the booking website, there was no front desk for the address. It wasn’t a hotel! To get into the building, there was a QR … Continue reading / view photos Kraków — Main Square
East Side Gallery 2026
In the morning, we had a short walk around Checkpoint Charlie. We then checked out of our hotel since Helene was going to join her work group. For one night, I checked into a hostel. It was within walking distance of the train station I was going to tomorrow morning. In the evening, I decided … Continue reading / view photos East Side Gallery 2026
Berlin architecture
We’d read about a famous stationary shop near Uhlandstrasse metro station. Helene wanted to buy a notebook and pen. When we got there, the shop was disappointing. Apart from the prices, there was not much choice. We postponed the stationary purchase for later on. Hansaviertel is an area that was almost completely destroyed during World … Continue reading / view photos Berlin architecture
Workers of the world unite!
May 1 is a national holiday in Germany. It’s an important day for celebrating and protesting about the rights of workers. Yesterday, our guide told us that Kreuzberg, in particular, was the centre of protests and celebrations. It’s a big day in the calendar. So we headed to some of the places he mentioned. First … Continue reading / view photos Workers of the world unite!
Unique Kreuzberg
After visiting the New National Gallery, we went on a walk guided by a volunteer with GuruWalk . The person was very knowledgeable about Kreuzberg. He had done a lot of research and had many photos of the area over the past century. The district has a high percentage of immigrants, most of whom are … Continue reading / view photos Unique Kreuzberg
New National Gallery
The New National Gallery was closed when we last came to Berlin and re-opened in 2021 after extensive renovation. It was originally designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He was the last director of the Bauhaus, the 20th century school of modernist art, design and architecture. The general exhibition is in the basement and … Continue reading / view photos New National Gallery