Oke, lets start with saying that the last 3 days were amazing!
We started our trip in Gizycko, Poland, by hitch hiking to Kaunas. We had a really good long ride but unfortunately he stopped on the high way just next to the big city. So there we stood, wandering if we could hitch hike on the highway or on a little drive to the big high way. We tarted our patience on the little road but after an hour we searched a bus to the station and after a while we found some other tourist who told us ther was a camping at the place where we came from. It was the most strange and uncozy camping I ever saw but I was happy to be there and finally found a place to sleep. I didn't felt at my ease in the city, a lot of drunken people and I think it was not a nice trip we did through the city: a lot of buildings were dammaged and so grey. That night we had a while without clouds so we watched the falling stars and did a lot of wishes ( simon the most because I didn't see too much)
The day after we tried to hitch hike again but the son of the campingman made us depressed when he said that we had no chanche to hitch hike, no one would take us and the gasstation was 10 to 20 km further. Well, we prooved him wrong when we had a ride out of Kaunas. We took a bus and climbed our way to a gasstation and after 5 min we were out of there.
That day was uncredible. I have to say this first: when we started hitch hiking I did a wish: I wanted a ride with a nice car and I hoped that he paid us food. 10min later, a man took us more then 100km in his fancy car and he bought us some food in a rich restaurant from his friend. Blogstein or something we ate, so good! The resto was famous for it huge tree cake witch contained 1300 eggs and was 64 kg and 2m 30 or something, he must be somewhere between the pics. Saartje fell immideatly asleep in his car and together we cruised some houres through the beautiful Lithuania. I felt very lucky. It were nice views, we saw a fox, lightning, rain and many beautifull landscapes. Everywhere there are storks and also some cranes. Nice is there are few fences on the lands, the cows are mostly hanging on a long rope, sad, but it makes the view very beautifull.
So he dropped us at Zarasai and then with another ride we ended in Daugvapils. I said to simon: «and now it would be nice to meet someone who offered us a place to sleep’. And then we met Vitalijs. He didn't really spoke english but his wife studied on the university. He was really kind and offered to come to his place. He said something like 'badja' or black Russian sauna... We nodded. Once arrived it looked very remote and poor. Inside the house we found ten children fromwitch one baby. He introduced Masha, his wife, and her mother. Her mother cared for five fosterchildren an Masha too plus her two own daughters. It was really overwelming, but very cute. She talked properly english witch comforted us. She asked if she would like to join the weekly black Russian sauna. It was great. Good sauna and a good opportunity to wash us propperly. It was funny with Vitalijs, he was really crazy. Full of energy. I had to wipe him with herbs, so hard!
Afterwards, warm inside and outside we got very nice food, and they made our bed. Pink, with a beautifull view.
The next morning I changed the diaper of the baby, we made a walk and had a very strong breakfast together with some children. It contained ground mais and wheat boiled in water and salt, afterwards they added fresh milk and berry jam, delicious.... but little too much for Saartje ;)
They brought us afterwards back to the road leaving Malta. But before we made some pics of the big family. May god bless them!
After a while we were taken by a pick up truck and brought us to the lake of Luza. There we met some very drunk Russians (50% of Letvia is Russian) witch wanted us to drink too, but we could refuse and got some pork with bread and fresh tomatoes. We could camp on there land but we were very soon bored of there shittalking, so we left for a more quiet place on the other shore of the lake. After putting up the tent, we fell asleep immediatly. We felt tired and I felt like a little bit down. Hich hiking asks a lot of people. It brings really the grills of people to you. Some very beautifull, others less. But I thank al those who were rude and all those who were kind. I thank all those who didn't stop, they made it possible the others could stop.
After a long night but a bumpy night(not very good for the back) we left and hich hiked with two Jony's in a bumping car (the trunck was one big woofer) to Rezekne. They left us at the train station. At 22.50u we'll take the train to St-Petersburg.
so see you in Russia!
zaterdag 15 augustus 2009
woensdag 12 augustus 2009
the last moments of Polen
Friends,
I know we email a lot now, but we have to go on internet because we have to know where we are going and I think our family won't mind if we emailed too much :)
Our trainride to the north of Polen was one without a lot of sleep but its again a beautiful experience :) Oh, I have to tell this ( I know ou mothers would approve so sorry mammie :) We took the train from Krakow to Gyzicko but had to switch trains in Torun. So, like I said, we didn't had a lot of sleep so I was still trying to close my eyes when the train stopped for like the 50th time and I looked out of the window and saw we were in Torun! So I shook Simon and screamed we had to get off. Everything went so slowly, we had to wake up, grap our bag, put our shoes on, make sure we had everything and while we strumbeld in the corridor, I heard the whisle of the controlman. I pulled at the door but it was locked and the controlman stood next to me, I felt the train moving, and I screamed 'wij moeten er hier af!' ('we have to get off' in dutch) I knew he didn't understand me but I'm pretty sure he'd understood our movements and signs. Eventually an other man opened the door and we both jumped off the train, relieved and eventually we had a really big laugh with the two bewilderd and surely suprised faces of the men. After that shock we took a litlle train, not so adventurous but with amazing beautiful views, to Gizycko.
So we are our last moments in Gizycko, the north of Polen. It wasn't really what we expected, we thought it would be a nice lake what plenty of walking pads. Instead it is one camping after the other, so it is all protected by fences and no pad around the lake. So yesterday was a really lazy day. We were so tired and did a little walk but then reallized that it wasn't going to work and we really needed a good meal to weak up. So I spent most of the day reading my book in our tent while simon searched an internetcafe. And then we met Julien on our camping, he's a frenchman who is travelling in Europe for a couple of months, all by himself. So we exchanged our experience ( the little we have untill now), I found it a really nice evening. The one thing that frustrates me is that I can't express myself in another language as I want it to be, you understand? My french is so bad that I'm more quiet then I want to be and so it frustrates me that I want to join the conversation but the words just keep stuck in my head because I can't translate them in there language. It's not only with french, here in Polen they don't speak a lot of english or other languages so most of the time we can't explain what we are thinking. But yeah, I know that that is not going to be better if we head to Russia ;)
So, I think we are going to leave Polen and try to hitch hike trough Latvia and Lithuania in the next 3 to 4 days :) It is a long way up. You see, our plans are changing rapidly, we are not going to visit these countries because we want to spend a whole month in Russia. I'm a litlle scared for that, the big Russia, just because I don't know what to expect. But I'm really eager to go. A bit of nervousness is always good, isn't it?
Oke, I wrote way too much, so I have to stop :) We go know, write you soon!
kisses
I know we email a lot now, but we have to go on internet because we have to know where we are going and I think our family won't mind if we emailed too much :)
Our trainride to the north of Polen was one without a lot of sleep but its again a beautiful experience :) Oh, I have to tell this ( I know ou mothers would approve so sorry mammie :) We took the train from Krakow to Gyzicko but had to switch trains in Torun. So, like I said, we didn't had a lot of sleep so I was still trying to close my eyes when the train stopped for like the 50th time and I looked out of the window and saw we were in Torun! So I shook Simon and screamed we had to get off. Everything went so slowly, we had to wake up, grap our bag, put our shoes on, make sure we had everything and while we strumbeld in the corridor, I heard the whisle of the controlman. I pulled at the door but it was locked and the controlman stood next to me, I felt the train moving, and I screamed 'wij moeten er hier af!' ('we have to get off' in dutch) I knew he didn't understand me but I'm pretty sure he'd understood our movements and signs. Eventually an other man opened the door and we both jumped off the train, relieved and eventually we had a really big laugh with the two bewilderd and surely suprised faces of the men. After that shock we took a litlle train, not so adventurous but with amazing beautiful views, to Gizycko.
So we are our last moments in Gizycko, the north of Polen. It wasn't really what we expected, we thought it would be a nice lake what plenty of walking pads. Instead it is one camping after the other, so it is all protected by fences and no pad around the lake. So yesterday was a really lazy day. We were so tired and did a little walk but then reallized that it wasn't going to work and we really needed a good meal to weak up. So I spent most of the day reading my book in our tent while simon searched an internetcafe. And then we met Julien on our camping, he's a frenchman who is travelling in Europe for a couple of months, all by himself. So we exchanged our experience ( the little we have untill now), I found it a really nice evening. The one thing that frustrates me is that I can't express myself in another language as I want it to be, you understand? My french is so bad that I'm more quiet then I want to be and so it frustrates me that I want to join the conversation but the words just keep stuck in my head because I can't translate them in there language. It's not only with french, here in Polen they don't speak a lot of english or other languages so most of the time we can't explain what we are thinking. But yeah, I know that that is not going to be better if we head to Russia ;)
So, I think we are going to leave Polen and try to hitch hike trough Latvia and Lithuania in the next 3 to 4 days :) It is a long way up. You see, our plans are changing rapidly, we are not going to visit these countries because we want to spend a whole month in Russia. I'm a litlle scared for that, the big Russia, just because I don't know what to expect. But I'm really eager to go. A bit of nervousness is always good, isn't it?
Oke, I wrote way too much, so I have to stop :) We go know, write you soon!
kisses
zondag 9 augustus 2009
Zakopane
Haidie,
the second day in this really crowdy place. So friday we went to Auswitch, not a nice experience but it was a very good guide. We were a bit suprised that you had to take a guide and walk around in group ( especcialy me, saartje, was frustrated because I don't like groups) but it was so overwhelming that is was good to walk in group. We are happy we've done it. Normally it was also with a visit to Birkenau but it was so late and already emotional that we called it a day and went back to Krakow where we took the bus to Zakopane.
Simon wrote before that it wasn't always gloomy, well, the arrive in Zakopane wasn't either. It was 22 O'clock when we arrived and we searched for 1,5 hours and seen the hole city with our backpack when we were really tired. Eventually we found a camping in the south of the city. Yesterday we did the mountain Gubalowka and there were so many people! Simon played at the high rope parcour (see the pics if you don't understnd me :)> Today we walked all across Czarny staw Gasienicowy, it is a lake in the mountains. I think we walked more then 20 km so we are exhausted. Tonight we will take the train to Godzine, we will arrive tomorrow because it is really far. We underestimated the size of Poland so we're gonna take the train instead of hitch hiking.
Hope everything in Belgium is nice too, don't worry too much about us, we have a really great time!
Ohja, Lyssa, we hebben 23 zoenen over de bergen gestuurd, een ongelofelijk gelukkige verjaardag! We vinden het erg dat we hem moeten missen, anders hadden we je wel doodgeknuffeld :)
kisses!
the second day in this really crowdy place. So friday we went to Auswitch, not a nice experience but it was a very good guide. We were a bit suprised that you had to take a guide and walk around in group ( especcialy me, saartje, was frustrated because I don't like groups) but it was so overwhelming that is was good to walk in group. We are happy we've done it. Normally it was also with a visit to Birkenau but it was so late and already emotional that we called it a day and went back to Krakow where we took the bus to Zakopane.
Simon wrote before that it wasn't always gloomy, well, the arrive in Zakopane wasn't either. It was 22 O'clock when we arrived and we searched for 1,5 hours and seen the hole city with our backpack when we were really tired. Eventually we found a camping in the south of the city. Yesterday we did the mountain Gubalowka and there were so many people! Simon played at the high rope parcour (see the pics if you don't understnd me :)> Today we walked all across Czarny staw Gasienicowy, it is a lake in the mountains. I think we walked more then 20 km so we are exhausted. Tonight we will take the train to Godzine, we will arrive tomorrow because it is really far. We underestimated the size of Poland so we're gonna take the train instead of hitch hiking.
Hope everything in Belgium is nice too, don't worry too much about us, we have a really great time!
Ohja, Lyssa, we hebben 23 zoenen over de bergen gestuurd, een ongelofelijk gelukkige verjaardag! We vinden het erg dat we hem moeten missen, anders hadden we je wel doodgeknuffeld :)
kisses!
vrijdag 7 augustus 2009
Day 12
We had a really great time here in Krakow.
We'll tell everything later, but now we are waiting on Ania to wake up so I can pack my sleeping matrass and she can help us with the time table of the trains and busses.
We will go today to Auswitch and later on to the beautifull Zakopane, to walk a bit in the mountains.
After that we'll take the train to the north of Poland, and cross then lithuania and latvia.
She woke up,
see you later
We'll tell everything later, but now we are waiting on Ania to wake up so I can pack my sleeping matrass and she can help us with the time table of the trains and busses.
We will go today to Auswitch and later on to the beautifull Zakopane, to walk a bit in the mountains.
After that we'll take the train to the north of Poland, and cross then lithuania and latvia.
She woke up,
see you later
dinsdag 4 augustus 2009
Krakow + Pics 50 Faces project Berlin and Tachelles Berlin
Hy,
we are in Krakow, and we just have so much luck! We left Wroclaw by train. It wasn't easy buying a ticket, the people kept talking in Polish while we kept on asking for English while there was a long cue behind us. So I Send Saartje to Find someone young who could help us, and so it worked out. Luckily we just ate good Chinese food for 5 euro together with cola, because the train ride was almost five hours!! The ride was ok, except for the door which kept on falling open and closing with big slams. Poland seems to be very poor. The condition of the houses is very bad, bud the feelds are very beautiful, full of flowers. Also the rivers are impressive, not walled, but just as they are, with lot of flood area.
But generally the human side gives a sad impression.
Before we left Wroclaw, we mailed a lot of people in Krakow to as if we could stay over. Only one answered in time, but he lived 30 min from the city, so we had to take another train. Once in the station we had to hurry to catch it, but we had to buy another ticket, but didn't found it, so we asked it at some English speaking young fellows. At that point I was suddenly so frank to ask if they hadn't a place where we could sleep, and they said 'yes'!!!!
So now I am writing on Ania's and Krystians laptop to you! They showed us around in the city, treated us on food and vodka in a nice bar.
They are so nice, and very good English speaking. And unbelievable hospitable!
This trip was untill now great, off course not always gloomy. Like in the Deserted hospital at night before we found oure sleeping place, we were a bit scared. And the grey atmosphere in Poland gives me an empty feeling and a disconsolate feeling.
But Ania and Krystian changed this now.
Good night
more pics
50faces project in Berlin
Tachelles in Berlin
we are in Krakow, and we just have so much luck! We left Wroclaw by train. It wasn't easy buying a ticket, the people kept talking in Polish while we kept on asking for English while there was a long cue behind us. So I Send Saartje to Find someone young who could help us, and so it worked out. Luckily we just ate good Chinese food for 5 euro together with cola, because the train ride was almost five hours!! The ride was ok, except for the door which kept on falling open and closing with big slams. Poland seems to be very poor. The condition of the houses is very bad, bud the feelds are very beautiful, full of flowers. Also the rivers are impressive, not walled, but just as they are, with lot of flood area.
But generally the human side gives a sad impression.
Before we left Wroclaw, we mailed a lot of people in Krakow to as if we could stay over. Only one answered in time, but he lived 30 min from the city, so we had to take another train. Once in the station we had to hurry to catch it, but we had to buy another ticket, but didn't found it, so we asked it at some English speaking young fellows. At that point I was suddenly so frank to ask if they hadn't a place where we could sleep, and they said 'yes'!!!!
So now I am writing on Ania's and Krystians laptop to you! They showed us around in the city, treated us on food and vodka in a nice bar.
They are so nice, and very good English speaking. And unbelievable hospitable!
This trip was untill now great, off course not always gloomy. Like in the Deserted hospital at night before we found oure sleeping place, we were a bit scared. And the grey atmosphere in Poland gives me an empty feeling and a disconsolate feeling.
But Ania and Krystian changed this now.
Good night
more pics
50faces project in Berlin
Tachelles in Berlin
poland day 3
Haidie,
here we are again. We are just 8 days away from home but it feels so much more.
Last time we mailed we were still in Berlin. Friday we visited Tachales, an anarchistric building with some nice art stuff ( look at the pictures).
Anna told us about deserted places and buildings nearby Berlin, so we tried to find the hospital. It was so great and really magnificent but it was almost dark and so it became very very spooky. I was really not at my ease so we searched a place to sleep and found one behind the firefighters :) apparently there are a lot of young people in the weekends who come to this place so they screamed and threw little noisy bombs. The next morning we looked at another building the gymnasium, what was very big! Nice place, we are glad we've seen it.
so we started to hitch hike to Woodstock. After a while hitch hiking in Germany I can say that they are not so willing to take us, it is rather dificult and I don't know why. It looks like they are scared of us and don't trust us. But evently we managed to reach Woodstock and it was so overhelming! So many people, it was like crazy. Cars and tents everywhere, we couldn't make a difference between the campingspace and the music arrea.
But it was a good experience, seen that, done that.
yesterday we tried to hitch hike to Krakau, picked up by Wojciech. People here drive like crazy! We visited his grandmother and tried the talk a bit in English but it was really hard. Eventually arrived in Wroclaw and slept in a little hostel. It was so nice to take a shower after all the dust from Woodstock! :)
So we met Alex, a really nice guy from Austria, he took us to the centre of the city and explained us how to get around. Now, we are planning to hitch hike to Krakau and find a place to sleep. Good luck to us and see you next time :)
here we are again. We are just 8 days away from home but it feels so much more.
Last time we mailed we were still in Berlin. Friday we visited Tachales, an anarchistric building with some nice art stuff ( look at the pictures).
Anna told us about deserted places and buildings nearby Berlin, so we tried to find the hospital. It was so great and really magnificent but it was almost dark and so it became very very spooky. I was really not at my ease so we searched a place to sleep and found one behind the firefighters :) apparently there are a lot of young people in the weekends who come to this place so they screamed and threw little noisy bombs. The next morning we looked at another building the gymnasium, what was very big! Nice place, we are glad we've seen it.
so we started to hitch hike to Woodstock. After a while hitch hiking in Germany I can say that they are not so willing to take us, it is rather dificult and I don't know why. It looks like they are scared of us and don't trust us. But evently we managed to reach Woodstock and it was so overhelming! So many people, it was like crazy. Cars and tents everywhere, we couldn't make a difference between the campingspace and the music arrea.
But it was a good experience, seen that, done that.
yesterday we tried to hitch hike to Krakau, picked up by Wojciech. People here drive like crazy! We visited his grandmother and tried the talk a bit in English but it was really hard. Eventually arrived in Wroclaw and slept in a little hostel. It was so nice to take a shower after all the dust from Woodstock! :)
So we met Alex, a really nice guy from Austria, he took us to the centre of the city and explained us how to get around. Now, we are planning to hitch hike to Krakau and find a place to sleep. Good luck to us and see you next time :)
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