Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.

A Sobering Day at Auschwitz and Birkenau

It was a 6.00 am start for me (Rob) on a bright but chilly morning. My van arrived on time, and along with six other guests, we began the one-hour drive to the Auschwitz Memorial and Museum.

As we arrived, we started our walk into the former camp, passing beneath the infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei” — “Work Sets You Free” — sign. It was a sobering moment, knowing the terrible history behind those words.

Our guide then took us through a number of the original barracks, explaining what life was like for the prisoners held there. The stories painted a horrifying picture of overcrowding, starvation, disease and unimaginable suffering.

We walked around the perimeter of the camp, much of it still enclosed by the original electric barbed-wire fencing. As we moved from one building to another, the reality of what had happened here became increasingly difficult to take in.

Inside the museum, some of the exhibits were particularly distressing. Personal belongings and other artefacts brought home the sheer scale of the human tragedy, and it was clear that some visitors were visibly upset.

We finished the Auschwitz part of the tour by visiting the gas chambers and crematorium. Standing inside these places was truly awful and, for me, probably the most difficult part of the morning.

After a short break, we took the fifteen-minute drive to the second camp, Birkenau. The first thing that strikes you as you arrive is the railway line running directly through the main gates. It is an image that has become synonymous with the Holocaust and one that is difficult to forget.

Once again, our guide showed us around the camp, including the wooden huts where prisoners were crammed together in horrific conditions, with little food, warmth or basic sanitation.

By the end of the day, it felt as though we had been given a salutary lesson in the terrible things that human beings can do to one another.

It is difficult to put into words exactly how I felt as we left the camps and began the journey back to Kraków. It was a deeply moving and emotionally draining experience, and certainly one that I will never forget.

Day 4 Jewish quarter, Krakow

Exploring Kraków’s Jewish Quarter

Another beautiful, sunny morning saw us heading across the river to explore Kraków’s historic Jewish Quarter.

Our first stop was the Corpus Christi Basilica, an imposing building with a beautifully maintained courtyard, complete with several statues. 

But it was the interior that really caught our attention. The magnificent Gothic design is a feast for the eyes, with the walls and ceilings seemingly covered in gold. Everywhere we looked there were intricately carved icons, ornate decorations and religious artefacts, making it a truly impressive sight.

From there, we made our way to Schindler’s List Passage, another rather sobering location associated with the film Schindler’s List. Kraków provided many of the authentic locations used in the movie, and standing in these places really brings home the history behind the story.

We then stopped for a coffee at Cytat Café, a quirky little place with a wonderfully unusual atmosphere. The interior is packed with books, giving it a cosy and slightly eccentric feel — just the sort of place you could happily sit for an hour or two.

Our next stop was the Remuh Synagogue, one of the most important Jewish sites in the area. The exterior walls carry plaques and memorials commemorating the Jewish community and those who lost their lives during the Second World War. It was another poignant reminder of the tragic history of this part of Kraków.

We continued wandering through the narrow streets and side lanes of the Jewish Quarter, where there seemed to be something interesting to discover around every corner. The area has a character all of its own, with historic buildings, small cafés and fascinating little details that make simply walking around an enjoyable experience.

By lunchtime, we headed back towards the Old Town and stopped at Ronnie Drew’s Irish Pub. I know, an Irish pub isn't exactly the most traditional Polish lunch stop, but the food was actually much better than we expected. Our waitress, Justina, was friendly and helpful, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

We chose to sit outside on the side street, which turned out to be a great spot for some people-watching. I opted for traditional Polish dumplings, while Mandy went for the pork schnitzel. Neither of us was disappointed!

After lunch, it was time to continue exploring, with plenty more of Kraków still waiting for us around the next corner.

After a restful afternoon we decided to take walk down the banks of the Vistula river , passing by the remains of the Old Ghetto wall. At the river, we found a bench by the riverfront and spent some relaxing time watching the slow moving water pass us by as the sun dipped over the rooftops.  We even saw two swans with their four young cygnets gentley glide pass us.

Day 3 Krakow Old Town

We woke up to a beautiful sunny morning and after a quick breakfast we  took the short walk over to Hero's square , a poignant  memorial  with sculptured chairs in memory of the wartime Jewish community. 

We caught the local tram into town, walked through the park (Planty) with its fountains, statues and shrubs until we came to St. Florian's Gate, one of the entry points of to the old medieval town. 

We continued along the main street with its quirky shops until we reached the mighty impressive St Mary's Basilica with its huge dual huge towers where we heard the famous bugler.  We the entered the Basilica,  which was quite crowded,  and saw its impressive and decorative interior. 

We the strolled around the massive central square with its impressive Adam Mockiewicz monument.   continuing on we walked through the Sukiennice market hall, a beautiful building but sadly containing only gift stalls. 

We walked on to the Old town hall which sits in another large square.

It was then time for a well deserved Coffee break so we stopped off at kult cafe for coffee and a bagel.

After our coffee break we strolled down to the river, where there was a food festival in the shadow of the mighty Wawel castle. We even managed to see the Dragon statue breath its fire.

We then decided to do a short river cruise that lasted about 1 hour which was on Relaxing boat  on the river Vistula river. 

After the river cruise we strolled through the town as the temperatures hit 28 degrees, stopping off to enjoying a ice cream and then a glass of wine back by the river.

 

We then crossed the river via the ktadkaojca Bernatka bridge with its unusual statues adorning the pedestrian walkway. 

We then had an Early dinner at the monkey business bar, a glass of cold cider and a tasty pizza. With tired legs we headed home, at the end such an enjoyable day.

Day 2 Krakow Poland

 Rain, Thunder and the Vistula

We awoke the next morning to heavy rain and the rumble of a thunderstorm. It was quite a shock to the senses, especially after months without seeing a drop of rain in Cyprus! Krakow had certainly wasted no time in reminding us that we were no longer in the Mediterranean.

We spent most of the morning dealing with the aftermath of our electrical problems from the previous day and, eventually, arranging our move to new accommodation. It wasn't exactly how we'd imagined spending our second morning in Poland, but sometimes travelling means dealing with the unexpected.

By the afternoon, things had finally settled down, so we decided to get out and explore. We took a leisurely stroll along the River Vistula, enjoying the fresh air and watching the world go by. There was plenty to see, with people enjoying all sorts of activities both on and off the water. It was a welcome change of pace after the frustrations of the morning.

We finished the day with a rather mediocre evening meal at a riverside  restaurant before deciding that an early night was definitely in order. It had been a long and stressful day, and we were ready to recharge our batteries before seeing what the following day would bring.

Day 1 Krakow Poland

Arriving in Krakow

On a beautiful sunny morning, we made our way to Paphos Airport, ready to begin the next leg of our travel adventures. Just after sunrise, we boarded our Ryanair flight to Krakow, Poland.

The flight took exactly three hours, although there was a fair bit of turbulence along the way. Thankfully, we arrived safely and were greeted by a very pleasant 26°C and glorious sunshine — a lovely welcome to Poland!

From the terminal, it was just a short walk to the airport train station, where we caught the train into central Krakow. The journey took around 20 minutes, making it a surprisingly easy and convenient way to get into the city.

Once we arrived, however, we had around five hours to kill before we could check into our rental apartment. So, we got a few practical things out of the way: exchanged some money, bought a local data SIM, dropped our bags off at a storage facility and grabbed a light snack.

With still a couple of hours to spare, we decided to make the most of the sunshine. We wandered over to the Polibuda Pub, found a table in their lovely, tree-shaded courtyard and settled in to sample our first local Polish beer. It seemed like a pretty good way to start our Krakow experience!

Eventually, it was time to head to the apartment, so we hopped into a Bolt and set off. Our driver, Thomas, was a very talkative but interesting chap, and the journey certainly gave us our first taste of the local character.

Unfortunately, things took a bit of a turn once we arrived. As soon as we put the kettle on, the electrical power tripped — and, despite our best efforts, it was never restored over the next 24 hours. It quickly became clear that we would need to find alternative accommodation.

Despite the unexpected hiccup, we weren't going to let it spoil our first evening in Poland. We headed out for a stroll around the local area and stopped to admire the impressive St Joseph's Church, which looked particularly beautiful as the evening set in.

We finished the day with dinner at Gąska (Goose)Restaurant ,a cosy little restaurant serving very good food with excellent service. After a long day of travelling, exploring and dealing with an unexpected accommodation problem, it was the perfect way to end our first day in Poland.

Sometimes, the best travel stories are the ones that don't quite go according to plan — and Krakow had certainly given us one to remember!

Fire breaks out near Pissouri & Elaine passes & Nikos Makropoulos

A fire broke out on Sunday afternoon on the outskirts of Pissouri, prompting a swift response from firefighters. Three fire engines, three firefighting aircraft and a helicopter were deployed to the scene as crews worked to bring the blaze under control.

The fire also led to the closure of the Limassol–Paphos highway in both directions while firefighters battled the flames.

Sad News this week as one of our long standing nieghbours, Elaine Passed away. Elaine had been a resident in Pissouri for many years and help start the Pissouri medical response team.

The area around the Pissouri football pitch has undergone a major clean-up in preparation for the upcoming concert by Nikos Makropoulos.

The football pitch itself has been transformed into a professional music venue, complete with a large stage, impressive lighting and seating to accommodate the expected crowds. What is normally a local sporting ground has been given a whole new look as Pissouri prepares to welcome a large audience for an evening of live Greek music.

Protaris Day 3

 On our final day in Protaras, we took things nice and easy, spending a relaxing morning around the pool after our late night enjoying the “Stardust” show.

In the afternoon, we decided to take a stroll down to To Akroyiali Restaurant, situated close to the shoreline by Nisia Loumbardi Beach. The restaurant has a lovely setting, overlooking a lush green lawn, with views stretching towards the Jetty Seaside Bar and the sea beyond.

The food and service were both superb, making it a wonderful choice for our final meal.

It was the perfect way to round off what had been a thoroughly enjoyable weekend in Protaras.