Szczawno Zdrój

  

In Szczawno Zdrój I had my first experience of water-tasting (you know, a bit like wine tasting, but from all these taps with different kinds of natural mineral water instead) and it was interesting to see people bringing special containers along for the occasion. We wouldn't have ended up there without our experienced guide and there were also quite a few other surprisingly impressive buildings, built by "German princes at the time and such like".

Walbrzych

Its coal-mining and industrial past affect our present; we did explicitly follow the designated path while going "yoshi! yoshi!" at the Toyota plant tour and hearing the different tunes which flown like in an amusement park. It is one of the largest plant in Europe, where all parts (automated and non-automated) seemed synchronised. Transmission and Casting aside, The trip to the Książ Castle means that I have seen 2 out of the 3 largest castles in Poland already. Hotel Maria reminded us of Hotel Romantic. The closet for the first 2 nights was just a joke. Change happened but I suppose it was a lesson for me: ask.

Krakow

After a few warm days and the first client experience in Warsaw, a bumpy train ride brought me to Krakow to continue eating pierogi and supporting local designers. For a moment I felt that I could almost mistaken the tram ride in the dark with being in the Strassenbahn, though when the (very warm) sun came out the next day the city's own character revealed. Rynek Główny did not leave me in awe but the morning stroll around the Wawel Hill did the trick. Kazimierz topped it off - I just wish I wasn't short of time.

Warsaw

After Bratislava , I was in Warsaw, Poland for IC. A relaxing day with Beb and Kaisa was definitely a highlight, and the colours around and the cosiness of Warsaw was something that surprised me a little. Needless to say the travel before and after the conference was great, when you have such amazing people to hang out with.