A post I began......

A sunny afternoon out my window

View out the window looking at once of the other dorm buildings

(note: this post was written on March 19, I just needed to add some more photos!)

The afternoon turned out sunny! Went to a Polish language class today which was fun, and had just one other class. Had an ice cream party this evening with some of the Americans and Lorena (from Mexico) - Rochelle fried some tortillas and put cinnamon sugar, ice cream, honey and strawberries on them. Very yummy!

Prague was wonderful. We had such warm weather, and the city is beautiful. Went on a bike tour and saw Frank Gehry's Fred and Ginger Dancing building, the John Lennon wall and much more. Also walked around the castle and through the Letna gardens - on a bit of a hill overlooking the city. Would highly recommend visiting Prague.

The Charles Bridge, getting busier as the day wears on -
later we literally had to people-dodge to get through!

The view from Letna Gardens 

The Dancing Building

Take a look at that big baby! They've got some interesting artwork around Prague

 

A small section of the John Lennon wall

The streets we took on by bike

Prague's main square

The astronomical clock - characters pop out of the
 windows on the hour

Today (April 2nd), as I write, I'm listening to a church gathering (I think) outside the dorms. Lots of lovely singing and music. I think it has something to do with Pope John Paul II, as one side of our dorm is lit up in a cross pattern (made by the lights in the rooms - so there are quite a few people sitting in darkness) and I was told it had something to do with him. Anyway, I think it's quite an achievement to get a whole building (well, half a building as it's not on my side) to cooperate to make something that's somewhat like art-like.

Cześć, Fiona

The Easter market with all its colourful decoration

Had a lovely - if cold weekend. 

Saturday was spent exploring the Rynek Underground museum, literally underneath the Cloth Hall in the middle of the Main Square. It shows the results of recent (2005) excavation that discovered remains of the city from medieval times when the level of the ground was 4m lower than it is now. Also had a lot of information about the medieval life in Krakow. In the evening, Dejana and I went to a play called 'Hommage a Chagall', which was about Chagall's (an artist) life. It didn't contain any speaking, but even so it was hard to follow! The effects, costumes and music were great, and the actors wore masks, which were also quite comical, but it meant that there was no communication through facial expression. Quite interesting and abstract, but a good way to spend an evening.

Woke up early (well, 8:30!) to go to the markets in Kazimierz - different markets from Friday, this time with lots of clothing, shoes, jewellery, perfume etc. A lot of the clothes were secondhand, and there were sooo many of them! Then went to the main square to have a look at the Easter market. As it was Sunday, there was a parade with lots of music and singing which ended at a stage where there was entertainment for the rest of the time we were there. Lots of beautiful wares at the market - and good food! Tried traditional sheep's cheese smoked and warmed on a grill and served with a raspberry sauce, as well as Polish potato pancakes and cabbage rolls (similar to Serbian sarma, but I prefer sarma!).

Oh, and it began snowing Saturday night, there was a little that had settled on trees and the grass in the morning, but most melted within half an hour. The weather during the day alternated between bright sun with blue skies and grey clouds with swirling snow, and it was very cold!

Cześć, Fiona

The beginning of the parade in front of the Cloth Hall

The parade winding its way through the market

So (mother), here's a very brief update:

Spent the afternoon exploring Kazimierz (the old Jewish district of Krakow) with Ricky, Rebecca and Dejana. Went with the hope of browsing the antique market, but there were only a handful of stalls - we think maybe because of the inclement weather. However, I had a zapiekanka (think I've mentioned them before - but the Polish version of pizza, but on bread) and Dejana showed us some nice bars and coffee shops, and a great bookstore. It contained mostly books about the Holocaust in English - there were so many, which surprised me, but then there were so many people affected by the atrocity - and also Polish literature, recipe books, calendars and so forth. It was clearly aimed at tourists, although there were a few books in Polish.

For tea we (I say we - me and some of the Americans -, but it was mostly Rochelle, and anything that wasn't was under her direction) cooked up a delicious meal of fajitas, complete with a Mexican desert (I can't remember the name). All-in-all, a good way to spend a Friday afternoon.

Now have to prepare for the bad weather that seems to be coming, and staying, in Krakow - back down to 3 degrees on Sunday with a chance of snow! Tomorrow might be spent exploring museums to keep out of the weather (rainy and windy).

Cześć, Fiona

The sunny view from the front entrance of the architecture campus

So turns out that people in Poland don't actually use the word cześć all that often. 


At least not that I've heard yet. Certainly not nearly as often as the Italians use ciao. But then again maybe the younger generation do between friends and I just haven't heard it because they all speak English to me. And Polish people also aren't that friendly. They're nice enough, but they don't smile, especially the older generations. Just a couple of things I've noticed since living in Krakow.


This morning started out so bright and sunny, such a change form the constantly grey skies we've had every day since coming back from Italy, but now the sun has disappeared again and we're stuck with grey. But at least it's not raining (has been spitting on and off the last few days), and it's nowhere cold enough for snow - around 8 degrees most days. Our professor on Monday told us that next week it would be summer! Looking at the weather forecast it's meant to be around 16-18 degrees for the weekend, which should be good, but by Monday it cools down again, so not sure that she's quite right.


Heading to Prague tomorrow with some of the American students just for the weekend, where's it's going to be slightly warmer than Krakow will be! I think we're going to try to find an Irish pub to celebrate St Patrick's Day in.


Also just went to the supermarket to find there was no pumpkin or sweet potato!

The stairs leading to my class rooms

View out the stairwell window of the building

Cześć, Fiona 

So, very long time without a post! And I have already been in Krakow for 10 days! From Florence we had quite a few overnight trains, so no internet, and then had time in Serbia with my grandfathers family, so not much time. And then I really have no excuse for not posting since being in Krakow, apart from that I have been getting used to my new surroundings and the place that I will call 'home' for the next three-and-a-half months.

This will be a quick post - I am heading to Austria tonight as part of a European Study Tour (it's really only Italy and Austria that we are visiting). I am going with 16 American students who are from Tennessee, and it is really only organised for them, but they're letting me join in. It is going to be a whirlwind trip - I think someone said that we are visiting 14 places in 9 days! So we are leaving tonight at 10pm on an overnight bus to Graz in Austria and will end tomorrow in Vicenza, stopping in Palmanova on the way - you get the idea of how packed the trip is.

I am getting used to Krakow - it was quite a shock the first night that Shayne left, realising that I was meant to stay in this foreign country on the other side of the world for over 3 months, and I knew hardly anyone! And I didn't speak the language. But I am getting used to it. It will still be hard not being able to get in the car and drive for an hour-and-a-half and be home though. My room-mate, Jin, from Korea, is lovely, and has introduced me to students from Germany, Italy and Spain. At first I thought it would be very strange sharing a room, but it is actually quite nice, and fortunately we have a similar standard of tidiness!! There is a little entrance space before the room proper, separated by a door, that has a cupboard and fridge, and gives us an area to get dressed. There is a bathroom that we share with the people in the room next to us and this separates the two entrance areas. Next door there is Dejana, who is Serbian but lives in Vienna, and  Luzma (I'm not sure of the spelling), who is from Spain. Dejana is very lovely, and Luzma has only moved in in the past two days so we haven't seen much of her yet, but she seems nice.

Our corridor and the one above has only exchange students (no Polish), and they are from Spain, Mexico, Turkey, Portugal, Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Serbian, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Germany, Egypt, America, and me! (I think that is all the nationalities!) Am having a hard time remember all their names - especially when they are ones I am not familiar with. But everyone is very friendly. In the whole of the accommodation dormitories for the Politecknika there are 4 blocks, each with 10 floors, 28 rooms on each floor, with two people in each - you do the maths - lots of people! It is a fair way to travel to the university campus that I have most of my classes in: a bus to the city takes around 20 mins, then you get a tram to the campus which, depending on the bus you take and where you get off, can take from 10 to 15 minutes. Jin showed me the buses and stops to use to get the trip to half an hour - not including the walk to the bus (5 mins) and the walk to the uni from the tram stop (also around 5 mins), which is quite handy.

Anyway, that's a bit about my life in Krakow so far - I think I better finish packing. I will try to post some pictures of my room and the accommodation and university when I get back and will also attempt to fill you in on the rest of the time before I arrived in Krakow.

Cześć, Fiona

The view from the top of the Campanile.

Our second night in Florence. It is, of course, beautiful. Spent the day seeing some of the sights, starting with the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) with Brunelleschi's dome. We climbed the 414 steps to the top of Campanile, just next to the Duomo, and were rewarded with a fantastic view of both the dome of the cathedral and all of Florence. These two buildings, along with the Battistero (at the front of the cathedral), are all spectacularly decorated and amazingly large.

The Pazzi Chapel

We also saw the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella; walked over the Ponte Vecchio (the only bridge not to be destroyed in WW11), which is lined with jewellery shops; went to the Piazza della Signoria to see Michelangelo's statue of David (well, it's just a copy, the real one's in a museum) and the Palazzo Vecchio; and went on one of my 'architecture hunts' to find the Pazzi Chapel (I did a history assignment on it in first-year uni) that is located next to the Basilica di Santa Croce - great to see it in real life. In between we wandered the streets lined with old palazzo buildings and looked in shops.

What do you do when you're hungry in Florence?
Eat a gelato, of course! (Even if it is freezing...)

Last night we arrived in Florence around 8pm, so after finding our hostel we went out for dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant (ZaZa's) recommended by the hostel. I had gnocchi and it was delicious - just melted in your mouth. So good (and relatively cheap) that we are going there again tonight to try something else - their menu is huge!

Yesterday we were in Bern, which was also very beautiful - the main part of the city (a very small city for the capital of Switzerland - only 123,400) was on a hill which was partly surrounded by a river and beyond this hills rose up into snow. Unfortunately we didn't have much time there, but managed to see the bear enclosure (only one bear that wasn't 'denning' - hibernating) and the exterior of the Paul Klee centre - the building was designed by Renzo Piano. We also wandered the streets, which were very 'Swiss'.

The day before (Monday), we left Douranenez for a long day of trains. First from Quimper to Paris, a two hour wait there where we had to change stations, Paris to Geneve (Switzerland), and a quick change to Bern. Left in the morning at 8:30 and arrived in Bern that night at 9:30!

Time for tea,

Cześć, Fiona

As promised, the yellow Cadillac.

Prunelle, me, Rosalie, Shayne and Taina (an exchange student from Brazil staying with the Tudal's) at Pointe du Van (Bay of the Dead)

Long time, no post.....

We are in Douranenez, staying with the Tudal's - Rosalie's family (Rosalie came to Australia on exchange in 2010 and stayed with the Lillas' but also with my family for a week while they were away). Lovely house, lovely place. And it is warm!!! Well, in the positive temperatures at least - like a cold winters day in Tasmania. It is so nice to not wear so many clothes.

Arrived on Friday evening and had a yummy meal of crepes at Rosalie's father's creperie. Yesterday (Saturday) was spent strolling around Douranenez - so many boats - and exploring the nearby city of Quimper (pronounced Kemper). Today Roger (Rosalie's father) took us along the coast in his bright yellow Cadillac to Point du Van (Bay of the Dead) where there were amazing views of the coast - very rugged. And tomorrow we will catch the train in the morning from Quimper to Paris, then to Bern in Switzerland - back into the negative temperatures!

Cześć, Fiona

The Villa Savoye

Just a quick update. Spent today not going to the Louvre, as it was closed, but walking the streets, browsing in shops and making the trek to Poissy to see Le Corbusier's wonderful Villa Savoye. We finally got to see some snow in Poissy (on the outskirts of Paris), and it was so soft! Still not very much of it though - just a light covering of the ground. I'll post more later (and more pictures).

Staircase in the Villa Savoye

Cześć, Fiona

Paris! Here we are! Arrived this evening from Strasbourg. And Strasbourg! Strasbourg was wonderful.

Arrived in Strasbourg on Saturday morning via Offenburg (a small city in Germany), where we stumbled across some kind of carnival that happens once a year (where all the 'crazy carnival people' come). There were people dancing, costumes made with masks, felt and bells, music playing and general frivolity. All-in-all quite an interesting spectacle to come across.

With Juliette in Strasbourg

We met Juliette at the train station (for those who don't know, Juliette came on exchange to Tasmania and was at Hellyer College for the first half of my year 11) and she showed us the sights of Strasbourg including the magnificent cathedral and astronomical clock, and the beautiful Petite France area with its lovely old buildings and cobble-stone streets. She also took us to a slightly alternative cafe where we sampled strawberries and plums with some kind of mint and pepper sauce, as well as bread with toppings of chocolate and a lolly banana; strawberries, almonds and melted hard-boiled lollies; and a cinnamon French toast. We also visited her school and student accommodation - they have their own (albeit, small) bathroom in their room! It was so lovely to see her.

Today we explored a little more of Strasbourg on our own. We climbed to the bell tower of the cathedral - which was quite amazing and so high (with a fantastic view), and wandered around the streets before catching the train to Paris, and here we are! We did try to catch up with Elodie (she stayed with my auntie and uncle in Hobart), but we arrived in Paris too late and missed her as she was heading back to her school for the week.

The view from our hostel room in Frankfurt

A cute little touristy square in Frankfurt

However, I missed the last day in Frankfurt. So.....that day was museum day. I think it is safe to say that Frankfurt is the capital of museums. We passed at least 10 without specifically looking for them, and on the map we saw that there were 31! There was a great value 'museum surfer' ticket (€8 for students) that gave you admission to all of the museums and paid off by seeing just two. Our first stop was the Architecture Museum - amazing. So many models that were meticulously put together and really great displays. Next was the Museum of Modern Art - just missed the Andy Warhol exhibit. A lot of the work there was video art and quite strange. Last was the Stadel Museum. Unfortunately the modern gallery was closed so we viewed the older collections quite quickly, but the shop was great. Back at the hostel was crepe night which provided us with a free dinner!

And so now to explore Paris.....



Cześć, Fiona

Have made it to stop number one: Frankfurt, Germany, and our hostel for the next two days (the Five Elements Hostel - in the middle of the red-light district). Landed in -10 degree darkness - bit of a shock to the system! But so far I've managed with only a t-shirt, cardigan and wool coat - though I'm going to add a few more layers - trouble is it's always so warm inside so you cook and then freeze. Waiting to check into our room at 4, but will head into the city centre to check it out and maybe peruse some museums and buy Shayne some much-needed gloves!

Cześć for now.

ps. The picture is of the dining/bar area of the hostel - pretty nice! Hope the rooms offer the same comforts.

Home...

The view from our front deck on a beautifully warm summers day. Of which I will soon be leaving to be plunged into the midst of the cold, European winter. Packing essentials: thick socks, beanie, scarf, gloves, wool jacket and lots and lots of layers!

Cześć, Fiona