Author: Brian
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Nordic Adventures: Sweden and Norway
The short tour of Scandinavia continued with stops in Gothenburg, Sweden and Oslo, Norway. We took the train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg on 4-Jul and then from Gothenburg to Oslo on 6-Jul. Gothenburg This city on the west coast of Sweden is the country’s 2nd largest. We took a ferry to visit the islands of…
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Copenhagen
Getting there – Ronne to Copenhagen In order to get from Ronne to Copenhagen, we took a high-speed ferry from Ronne to Ystad, Sweden and the train to Copenhagen. Harbor Cruise Freetown Christiania An international community and commune in the Christianshavn district of Copenhagen. Founded in 1971 when a group of squatters, activists, hippies and…
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Sailing the Baltic on the Marysol
Our friends Fritzie and Thomas invited us to join them for the first leg of their two-week sailing holiday. Setting sail from Greifswald, Germany, we embarked on a journey across the Baltic Sea to Bornholm Island, Denmark. The wind was our ally for only part of the trip; the rest of the way, we relied…
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Gdansk – city on the Baltic coast
This was the final stop on our four-city tour of Poland. This place was a pleasant surprise (as was all of Poland). A beautiful city full of history and sights. Two things Gdansk is known for – the location WWII started in 1939 and the birthplace of the Solidarity trade union in the 1980’s. We…
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Warsaw – A day in the life
We arrived in Warsaw via train from Wroclaw on 18-Jun. We did some sightseeing, but most of our activities were more day-to-day living. This included seeing Nancy’s friends the Loves (Dan and Shervita), going to the doctor to get a prescription refilled, getting Nancy’s iPhone repaired, and laundry. We also went to a fan zone,…
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Wroclaw – Historical capital of Poland’s Silesia region
Another beautiful Polish city with a welcoming market square. This city has been both German and Polish during its history which dates back over 1,000 years. It is also known as Breslau. The city is also known for the Wroclaw Dwarfs (or Gnomes). These little statues (over 400 reportedly) can be found all over the…
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Remembering the Past: A Day at Auschwitz-Birkenau
We made the necessary visit to this site in order to remember the atrocities and honor the victims so neither are forgotten. We booked a comprehensive tour of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau complex, which included transportation, admission, and a certified guide. This haunting site stands as the most well-known and deadliest concentration camp of the Nazi…
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Krakow – history meets charm in Poland’s oldest city
Beautiful city with a grand market square, plentiful parks, historical universities, Jewish Quarter, and Wawel Castle. Also close for visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau. Rynek Glówny (market square) Jewish Quarter Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory Wieliczka Salt Mine This UNESCO Heritage site, excavated since the 13th century, produced table salt continuously until…
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European Trek – weeks 8-16
Here is the summary for our travels for weeks 8-16. Train Travel We purchased Eurail passes which allowed us to take the train for 15 days during a 60-day period. I think we got our money’s worth as we used all 15 train days. We rode the train through 16 countries*, were in 44 different…
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Food – one of the reasons we travel!
When we travel, we seek out sights, connect with people, and immerse ourselves in local culture. But perhaps one of the most delightful ways to experience a destination is through its food. Whether it’s savoring traditional local dishes or indulging in a familiar pizza or taco in an unfamiliar setting, food becomes a memorable part of…