FUN-photos: Driving Germany, Poland & the Netherlands

September 3, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-photos: Driving Germany, Poland & the Netherlands 

We landed at the Berlin Airport in the late afternoon of July 15th and spent the night at the Mercure Airport hotel so we could get a car first thing in the morning. Our stops included Kraków, Auschwitz and Wroclaw, Poland before returning to spend time in Berlin. Then late on July 20th we headed to Warnemünde, Germany to board our 11 day Baltic Sea Cruise on Princess.

We returned to the same port on the morning of July 31st where we picked up another car. Our stops included Bremen & Cologne, Germany before dropping the car in Amsterdam where we stayed until August 6th. The highlight was having Cinzia (Chris’ sister) & Fabio from Trieste, Italy join us in Amsterdam!

FUN-travel: Wroclaw, Poland to Berlin

July 25, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Wroclaw, Poland to Berlin 

Berlin, Germany 2014 2

Berlin

Day 18 – Friday, July 18 – Wroclaw, Poland to Berlin, Germany – blue skies & full sun – 80’s

What I LIKE

  • 7:00 – wake up
  • In room coffee – powdered – better than nothing
  • 8:30 – check out
  • 9:00 – Mc Donald’s – 2 egg mc muffins & 2 cappuccinos = $8 US
  • Car rental allows freedom to control trip
  • 11:00 – stop @ border to spend rest of zlotys
  • – 2 Heinekens, chips & sparkle water
  • 1:00 – arrive hotel & drop bags
  • Hertz is only 850 meters away
  • – ask where to get gas  – only 1 mile away
  • 1:15 – drop car & attempt to get insurance charges removed
  • – told I have to go back to airport where rented to handle
  • 1:30 – lunch

FUN-food – Lungomare – Pizza Mista – ham, salami, mushrooms, olives, hot peppers – really good thin crust – 2 beers = $16 Eur

Berlin, Germany 2014 20

Berlin

  • 2:30 – check in Marriott Courtyardz
  • Used last of points for 1 free night
  • Will never stay at Marriott again
  • Finally have room w/AC!
  • Need room R&R
  • 7:30 – walk to Gendarmen-mkt
  • – old square w/3 large beautifully restored buildings
  • – roman columns & marble statues – Konzerthaus in center
  • – sidewalk cafés & restaurants sprinkled thru out
  • – kids & parents making huge bubbles
  • 8:15 – dinner Brasserie

FUN-food – nice crisp salad w/tomatoes, radish, onion, mozzarella, sunflower seeds, white balsamic dressing – steak tartar w/fries – salmon trout on bed of polenta & spinach, red bell pepper sauce – Keine Zalze South African Cab = $96 Euro

  • 9:45 – walk back
  • Midnight night night
Berlin, Germany 2014 56

Kaiser Wilhelm Building

What I DON’T LIKE

  • Hotel cappuccino costs $4 US – not happening!
  • Can’t get out of garage
  • – have to go back to front desk for ticket
  • – no instructions how to use it!
  • – push intercom button to ask & they raise bar
  • 10:30 – just realize Hertz added coverage that I specifically said I didn’t want when reserved
  • – at airport repeated didn’t want any insurance or extras
  • – that was disregarded – to the tune of $160 +!
  • – I am so tired of once again having to triple check everything to not get ripped off!
  • Car & gas very expensive
  • Marriott still charges for internet!
  • – $9.95 Euro for 24 hrs
  • – It’s FREE all over the world!
  • – and doesn’t even work!
  • Keeps dropping in room

FUN-fact – Berlin is a grand, cosmopolitan city and very clean.
More FF – English is spoken almost everywhere in Berlin.

FUN-travel: Kraków to Auschwitz to Wroclaw, Poland

July 22, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Kraków to Auschwitz to Wroclaw, Poland 

Day 17 – Thursday, July 17 – Kraków to Auschwitz to Wroclaw, Poland – blue skies turn to ominous, thick dark clouds late – low 80’s

Aushwitz-Birkenau, Poland 2014 20

Auschwitz

Aushwitz-Birkenau, Poland 2014 31

Auschwitz

What I LIKE

  • 7:30 – wake up
  • Slept good but back still a bit still
  • Nespresso machine in room
  • 9:30 – breakfast – pretty typical choices
  • – room is exquisite!
  • – richly appointed draperies & chandeliers
  • Order omelet – more like frittata
  • Make sandwich to go
  • 10:00 – walk the square for grandkids souvenirs
  • 11:05 – check out – load car
  • 11:30 – head off
  • GPS works brilliantly!
  • 1:10 – starts spitting rain
  • 2:00 – arrive Auschwitz
  • – need Zlotys & ATM works
  • 2:15 – need toilet
  • 2:30 – English guided tour ($40 Zlotys ea = $26 US)
  • 4:00 – tour takes break & meets up @ Birkenau camp
  • 5:00 – drive for Wroclaw
  • 7:30 – arrive & don’t have hotel booked
  • (checked Hotels.com before leaving Kraków)
  • Best Western Plus Q – brand new hotel
  • Has room for 350 zlotys – on line more like 300
Wroclaw, Poland 2014 3

Wroclaw

  • – bargain & get lower rate!

    Wroclaw, Poland 2014 1

    Wroclaw

  • – nice thick towels & in room coffee
  • Walk to Main Square – 25 mins
  • Really cute! – filled w/lots of people
  • 8:50 – dinner

FUN-food – Greek Taverna – traditional Greek salad, sautéed eggplant stuffed w/cheese, fresh Dorado (boned tableside) w/grilled veggies – Santa Carolina Carmenere Gran Reserva = $292 Zlotys

  • 11:00 – nice walk back (if you want to be closer to action don’t stay here)
  • Night night after midnight

What I DON’T LIKE

  • Mattress not good – wake up stiff back
  • 12:00 – realize I left my coat in room
  • No exits for 15 minutes
  • Takes 35 minutes to get back
  • & it’s a toll road
  • Need Zloty’s to park & use toilet
  • ATM minimum withdrawal $800 Zlotys = $278 US
  • Best Western Plus supposed to be up scale
  • – no bath amenities or face cloths
  • No AC in room – controls once again do nothing but blow hot air!
  • Welcome to Europe in summer!
Wroclaw, Poland 2014 16

Wroclaw

FUN-fact – Kraków is just a jewel of a city! It is the 2nd largest city and dates back to the 7th century. Oskar Schindler’s enamelware plant was located here.
More FF – Auschwitz is free after 3:00. Before that time you have to pay for a guided tour.
Not so FF – The Nazis envisioned turning Kraków into a completely German city after removing all Jews and Poles, renamed locations and streets into German and sponsored propaganda attempting to portray it as historically German city.

 

FUN-travel: Berlin to Kraków, Poland

July 22, 2014 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Berlin to Kraków, Poland 

Day 16 – Wednesday, July 16 – Berlin to Kraków, Poland – blue skies w/white cottony clouds –70’s

Krakow, Poland 2014 13

What I LIKE

  • 7:00 – wake up
  • Pretty good sleep
  • 8:15 – shuttle to airport for Hertz

    Krakow, Poland 2014 65

    Kraków

  • ATM right by door & Starbuck’s just inside!
  • Good hot capp & food to go $15 Euro
  • Hertz is very close & car is ready curbside
  • – has navigation system – we brought ours too
  • drive back to hotel – load bags
  • 9:50 – take off
  • 11:25 – nice policeman @ Check Point Charlie shows us how radio works for Ipod
  • 11:45 – stop for toilet – exit has gas & BBQ restaurant
  • – kielbasa & potatoes, 2 cokes – YUM! = $8 US
  • 12:15 – head out & road is finally smooth
  • 4:45 – arrive hotel & GPS has us driving in restricted zone – pedestrian only
  • Went to TA – (trip advisor) for hotel in Kraków
  • Chose Wentzl for # of reasons
  • – #1 – main square location & elevator
  • – #2 – large rooms & valet parking
  • But have to say….
  • – Robert the doorman was highlight!
  • – truly an ambassador!
  • – came out to car (with umbrellas) due to light rain
  • – informed us being in forbidden car zone
  • – moved car – unloads luggage & moves to secure parking
  • Main Square is so adorable! – very European
  • Rain stops & take nice stroll
Krakow, Poland 2014 68

Kraków

FUN-food – Dinner @ Ristorante Da Pietro – sidewalk café – happy hour 2 beers – then caprese salad, spicy pepperoni pizza & nice 2011 Cape of Good Hope Pinotage = $65

  • 8:00 – back to hotel
  • Ask for wine glass for room – response is “red or white?”
  • 2 beautiful big glasses arrive by Robert
Krakow, Poland 2014 17

Kraków

What I DON’T LIKE

  • Can’t figure out nav system & manual in German
  • 11:20 – Check Point Charlie – freeway road block
  • – all cars exited & searched
  • – have to show ID & registration
  • – I am not kidding!
  • 11:30 – enter Poland & road is in horrible condition
  • 4:00 – light rain starts
  • Room has no AC – controls on wall do nothing but blow hot air!
  • We had to fly 2 hrs & then drive 6 hrs to see a “cute city”

FUN-fact – The scenery on the autobahn is pretty flat with everything from thick forests to corn fields on both sides and a sprinkling of small towns and farms. As we get closer to Krakow rolling hills are more common.