27th March 2005

From Russia with Love!!!

So far

2 days in St Petersburg and pretty much museumed out (is that a word?) Arrived from Warsaw via Frankfurt (late booking of flight) and I dont suppose 2 hours in a transfer lounge counts as visiting Germany does it!! Also arrived with cold, and chest infection! In best Russian (pointing and speaking very slowly .. lots of spaseeba's (thank you's - phonetic spelling in Russian by the way!) I have managed to purchase antibiotics, strepsils and nurofen..so will be fine!

Did first overnight journey from St Petersburg to Moscow and managed to sleep for 3 hours..putting this down to illness, as boarding train for 4 nights and days non stop later tonight!!

Whilst in Moscow have been to the Kremlin, Red Square, and the Bolshi.. Spartacus ...very long but really good! Had made an effort to look presentable..but the walking boots were a bit out of place!!!

Will post more photos when I get to China.

Happy Easter

Sarah

Wet and Windy Warsaw

Hiding from the rain on a Wet and Windy Friday afternoon in Warsaw! Refining my blogg skills!

Few days in Krakow, more wandering, more walking (working on those legs!)

Life is just soooo!! busy! LOL .....didnt realise that sightseeing could be sooooo exhausting!

Will just have to hurry up and get to a beach for a few weeks of rest and recuperation or maybe stop rushing around trying to fit everything in.

Just arrived in Warsaw for a few days before I head to St Petersburg. Krakow was good, more pretty buildings, a museum or two and two trips out. One to Auschwitz which was obviously quite distressing, and then to the Salt Mines. Didnt think about my fear of heights until we had climbed down 388 stairs (enclosed staircase) to 64 metres below and then even though it was all stairs, the drop offs were a tad steep for my liking. Over 800 stairs down to 135 m but thankfully the original miners lift back up.. in 40 seconds!!!

Re comments posted ... For those of you worried about my budget..and the fact that I might come back sooner..dont fret!! In mixed dorms at between 6 and 9 pounds per night. Sorry there is No photographic evidence yet!

"The last Supper" in Salt!

St Kinga's Chapel carved out of salt... A mere 110 metres below ground

Wieliczka Salt Mine

Inside Krakow Castle

Auschwitz

Krakow Town Square .. very impressive

Krakow Castle

14th March 2005

Arrived at my brothers in Tarnow Poland on Friday night following a long journey, not helped by my confusion with signs on railway stations and hence missed connections. Languages have never been my strong point!

Having left Prague have spent 10 days zipping around Czech in no particular order (lack of planning = unnecessary time on a train!) staying in anything from a mixed dorm (new world) to a reasonable hotel (old habits die hard)

Highlight of last ten days..swimming in a thermal open air public swimming pool as day turns to night and snowflakes hit my nose. (treatments in Karlovy Vary coming a close second)

Lows? Nil Points.

Lots of churches, market squares, museums and SNOW!

Looking forward to next few days in Poland and Russia next week!

Hot Thermal Spring karlovy Vary

Thermally heated open air swimming pool and it was snowing when I went in it!

Kutna Hora - St Barbara's Cathedral!

View from Hotel Room in Karlovy Vary

Russian Orthodox Church - Karlovy Vary

Astronomical Clock in Olomouc

Ceske Krumolv More

Pictures from Ceskle Krumlov near austrain border

pictures of ceske krumlov

Golden Lane with Wendy and Marianne

Golden Lane (Prague Castle) and its icicles

Even a signature in Mosaic

Mosaics

More mosaics

Mosaics inside Old Town Hall entrance

Walk up to Prague Castle

Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square Prague

havent worked out how to turn a picture around yet!

View from Charles Bridge tower

Castle from the front

View from Prague Castle

Prague castle, St Vitus Cathedral and its as cold as it looks!

Inside the Cathedral - developing a fascination with ceilings!

St Vitus Cathedral

Books close up if a little out of focus!

Books in the castle

This is the last one I am posting, I will send you the rest on disk

And one more

And another for Claire

This one is for Claire!

Claire and Adam

Quiz... Do you recognise this scene from any film! Answers on a post card to...

Prague in the snow

More pictures from Prague

Prague

For those of you with nothing better to do than look at my Blogg... get back to work/get off that computer and go outside/at least your not watching EastEnders (delete as applicable)

Been in Prague for three days and have booked two more nights in the five star..old habits die hard! Its bloody cold (minus 8 last night) and feels colder in the wind, cant wait for Siberia!!!!!!!!!

Progress report: Beer is good, lots of pork, cabbage and hot chocolate!

I just have three more words

Prague is stunning!

Home in Prague!