EEET2013 - End Lyrics

You are probably sick of it by now. Therefore this song. One more time, it is all about EEET2013. 

Eastern Europe Eurail Trip 2013 - End Lyrics

Are you ready to go?

Intercultural experiences in the east – Warsaw

During our hunt for train tickets from Warsaw to Poznan, in the main train station of Munich, I suddenly got pushed by a (drunk?) Polish male, around 40years old. He asked me: “Why do you have a patch (=sticker on backpack) showing Che Guevara? We do not like him here! We do not like Communism! Take it off!” As I tried to explain him that I did not feel anything positive, nor negative, towards communism, but that I had only put it on because I had been to Argentina, he did not believe me and told me to take it off again. “We do not like communism here! You should know that we used to have communism and we did not like it.” He then walked off and luckily we did not have any other problems with anti-communist people afterwards. Except maybe, for a 60-year old drunk Polish guy on the bus in Krakow, shouting to the whole bus that some people facing him, no one of our group though, were communists, just as the mayor of Krakow and that they would destroy the city.

I understand that communism was overthrown only twenty years ago, while it overruled Poland for more than 40years, but I do think that some people, mostly elderly, still live with the fear that one day it might come back. Stop looking to the past, stop looking at what happened, but use that past, use that (negative) experience to deploy and develop yourself and your country to a bright new future! 

Ernesto 'el Che' Guevara

Intercultural experiences in the east – Hel

On our way back from Hel, on the boat to Sopot, we met a Polish guy from around 25, drunk as hell (get it? He came from Hel, drunk as hell). He started talking to us- well, mostly to Liesbeth (who wouldn’t start talking to her…!)- and was drinking shots of vodka from his small bottle. After a while the bottle was empty, I don’t even want to know how many of those he had already had that day (it was only 5.30PM) as his eyes were already unbright and staring next to you when he was facing you, instead of towards you. The smell of his breath was pure alcohol and cigarettes and the look on his face was pure drunkenness. When he noticed that his bottle was empty, he growled to himself and threw the bottle into the ocean. That was stupid, but still explainable as he was drunk.  But now comes the best part.

After throwing the bottle in the ocean, he took off his backpack and took out a 500ml bottle of coke. He opened it and right before drinking, Liesbeth asked him whether it was vodka-coke. He stopped his intent of drinking, looked at her, looked at the bottle, closed it again and then threw the full bottle of coke in the ocean, shouting ‘No vodka!’. Just like that, he threw a full non-used of bottle in the water.

He then tried to invite us over for vodka-drinking in Sopot. He must have invited us five times or more, but we did not accept his invite, as we were a big unsure about his intentions.

After a while, and as he did not speak a word of English (except for ‘F*ck’, which we heard quite a few times), we were assisted by a 15-year old boy from Warsaw, speaking some English. We then started talking to the boy and what he had to say was maybe even more shocking than the drunken Polish guy on a boat from Hel (the guy actually lived in Hel, can you imagine…!).

The 15-year old told us that he was being bullied at school, because his father was Austrian. His mom was Polish, but his father was Austrian. Just for that, for what he told us at least, he was being called a nazi-child. Can you imagine how hard that must be, knowing what the nazi’s did to the Polish people during WWII? That must be so hard for a youngster to live through, just because your father happens to be Austrian… 

Port Hel

EEET2012 - Day 25-27 - Zadar (Croatia) & End Lyrics

Put on a sad song to relive a happy memory.

The last few days of EEET2012, we stayed in Zadar as this was the city from wich we would take a Ryanair flight back to Belgium.

We arrived here on Friday night, after the canyooning, and found ourselves surrounded by at least 8 people offering their place or a studio to us. We decided to go along with a women who’s brother in law had a free floor. Yes indeed, for a mere 11€ per person we had a whole floor with 2large bedrooms, a private bathroom, a big living room (with huge flat screen) and a kitchen.  We took it straight away and headed to the supermarket, open until  at least 9PM in Croatia.  After coming back form the supermarket we watched the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics and we all, Liesbeth more than all of us together though, got excited about it.

The next two days, the last days of our stay, we did some sightseeing in the city of Zadar, really nice city –but rather small, and we hit the beach for some chilling and relaxing. Toon took part in the Millenium Jump while I was at the hospital, nothing bad though. I had around 15 splinters in my foot and we didn’t really know if the mussels and sea urchin, who’s parts were in my left foot, would be bad or not. Nothing bad, luckily, and we enjoyed our last days of EEET2012.

On Sunday night we were having our last meal in a restaurant, enjoying the sunset –known as one of the most beautiful ones of Europe, and it really was amazing!- when suddenly a friend of mine from KHLeuven, Maxime, yelled my name. They were having dinner right next to us, in Zadar, Croatia! He and his girlfriend had also made a trip around Eastern Europe through: Hungary, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia and they as well were flying back the next day with Ryanair! How small is this world, really !

So the next day we packed our stuff, left for the airport and flew back home. The end of EEET2012 had come to a beginning and while flying back home, and tacking the train from Charleroi-Sud to Mechelen, thoughts about a next trip were already popping up.

This trip, EEET2012, had been amazing. The friends I travelled with and met up with had been awesome. The people I met had been great. The places we've been to have surprised me in a way I can't explaing properly, although I did try writing about it on my blog. Everything, except for perhaps the budget, had gone more or less as planned, or as not-planned. I must say it was way better than expected. Thank God for that, wouldn’t you agree?

peace out _

Toon&Heike,Liesbeth&Thibault

Zadar, Croatia

Tony Starr, enjoying the sunset 

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This is the end of my blogging on EEET2012. Maybe some more anekdotes will follow, we have some good ones, but they will not be related to the travelling as were the past posts. I hope that in the future, maybe, some travelers will read this and maybe use it for their purpose, enabling them to enjoy this trip as much as I have.  Thank you for reading you all. It really means a lot to me –a bit of commenting now and then wouldn’t hurt though! Haha. All the way down this post you'll find the map of the actual route we followed during EEET2012. Be sure to check it out!

Thank you Pawel, Justyna, Silke, Wojciech, Billie, Sebastian, Segundo, Kate and Joaquin.

And above all thank you: Heike, for finally giving us some peace of Toon who missed you terrible, thank you Liesbeth, for being the kind, cute and amazing support and girlfriend that you are, and thank you Tony Starr, for accompanying me all the bloody 27days from f*ckin’ Day 1 to day 27. I don’t know how you survived me and my bullsh*t but you did and you even smiled during it! So thank you all, because without only one of you, the chain, the line, the whole frame of this trip wouldn't have been the same...

peace out and cheerios_

Thibault

EEET2012 - the final edition map

EEET2012 – Day 22-24 – Split (Croatia)

After arriving to the Split bus station at 6A.M., Liesbeth and me, who were both wrecked, quickly found a place to crash. That’s the awesome thing about eastern-europe. You can arrive at a city, without even knowing where to sleep that night. Because once you get out of the bus or train, at least a dozen people jump towards you shouting ‘zoda, zimmer, room!’, meaning they have some extra rooms, or even a whole floor, or studio which they rent per night. Usually this is even cheaper than hostels and sometimes you even have your own kitchen or bathroom (sometimes no kitchen, or bathroom to be shared with host family).

Basically, that’s what happened in Split. We got jumped by a lot of people who tried to convince us to go to their place and the second guy we talked to looked ok. That’s why we decided to go take a look at the place he was offering us. Two rooms with double beds and a shared bathroom with the family for about 17euros per person per night, in one of the most expensive cities of Croatia. Not bad at all! We took it and went straight to bed.

Around 11AM we woke up again and decided to hit the beach, where we tanned (and got burned a bit) until 5Pm when Toon and Heike arrived (that’s his girlfriend, I know it’s a funny name. But hey, she can’t help it). We went to pick them up at the bus station and then hurried back to the beach. Once there we had two girls coming towards our group to invite us over to a Pub Crawl for that night. 15euros for 1hour all you can drink and then three drinks in three different bars.

After some discussing we decided to do it and hit the pubs. First on was the one hour free drinking: that didn’t go too well. Half of the alcohol was mixed with water and the other half was not available during ‘free hour of booze’. Slightly disappointed we took the train (yes a mini train, like in the amusement parks!) to the next bar. Free drink was: 1 shot (dafuq!). We ended up buying a LITRE of Sex On The Beach for only 16euros, that was a good deal. But their marketing had worked. They just wanted to get the foreigners to be tempted by pub crawls and then to start drinking in the other bars.  We did two more bars, same story concerning the free drink, and had one more LITRE of Cuba Libre. Around 3ish we got home safe and sound.

The next day was more of the same with sleeping until late, sunbathing and then (finally!) some sightseeing of the beautiful city.  Instead of eating the local dishes we ‘had to’ go to McDonald’s, almost half an hour walking. But hey, I didn’t complain…. The next day was going to be awesome!

Are you ready to jump?

you know, romantic stuff...

AND IT WAS! Day 24 of EEET2012 was another water-day! We had booked a whole day (well 3,5hrs at least) of canyooning in Croatia baby!  Another awesome and beautiful (because of the weather and the view) day! It was more rockclimbing than actually canyooning, but I had fun.. whatever!! Haha

The view from above the canyon

Getting ready!

That evening, tired after a hard day of sports, we all took a 3hr husride to Zadar. The next, and unfortunately, final destination of EEET2012!

peace out_

Toon&Heike,Liesbeth&Thibault

EEET2012 – Day 20-21 – Pula (Croatia)

After what seemed an eternity, but really was only a four hour bus ride, Toon and me arrived at PULA,  a city in the north west of CROATIA. We had reserved a hostel and headed there right away. When we had put our stuff away, and had helped the hostel’s owners to construct their new garden fountain, we hit the city for some quick sightseeing. We didn’t want to see too much of it though, as we were going to do the real sightseeing along with both of our girlfriends, who flew in the very next day.

On Monday, day 21, Liesbeth and Heike (Toon’s gf) both flew in and every couple had his afternoon/evening on its own. I had booked a private studio (with kitchenette, private bathroom etc.) for us. Liesbeth and me went to the beach and chilled for a couple of hours. Probably one of the best moments of the trip. Chilling on a (stone) beach with the sun going down slowly in the ocean. Beautiful. 

View from the afternoon at Split, Croatia

The next day we met up with the other couple and the four of us did some sightseeing in the old city centre. Pula used to be a very important city in the Roman Empire, proof is the big coliseum and the (Victory?) Arch in the city centre.  Today its beaches attract more people and the city centre is only visited by tourists who want to do something else than tanning for a change.

Coliseum Split

That evening, Liesbeth and me took a night bus to Split, in the south of Croatia. Toon and Heike stayed in Pula one more night and joined us there the next day. But that’s already for next post!

peace out_

Toon&Hieke,Liesbeth&Thibault                       

EEET2012 – Day 19 – Ljubljana (Slovenia)

Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. You’d think it’s big right? Well… 220 000 inhabitants. That’s not much. That’s quite little actually… On Friday night, after arriving from Munich and Salzburg we went straight (or as straight as we could: luggage, not knowing the directions and a couple of beers later) to the Dic Hostel where we both fell asleep right away. On Saturday we got up around 9.30A.M. to have breakfast and then go to the city centre for another Free Walking Tour. I don’t know who invented this system, but the guy was a genius. Basically, a guide walks a group of people around the city. After the tour he just puts his hat, a bag or something down and if you think he did a good work, you can pay him whatever you want. This is perfect for people with a little budget and the guide needs to be very entertaining and funny to persue people to pay him more.

The guide told us all about Ljubljana and Slovenian history (I know even know where the name Tito comes from!) and learned us that basically one guy was responsible for the whole development of the infrastructure of this city: Unfortunately I have already forgotten his name. The only thing I remember is that he like pillars. There are tons of them all over the city…

After the guided tour we went to a supermarket and had lunch. At that point it started raining. Not just raining but really raining It rained for about 4hours straight. We had planned to go to the castle, on top of a mountain right next to the centre of the city, but it was just raining too hard. Instead we went to the bus and train station and organized our trip to Pula the next day. As on Monday, the day after that, we had to pick up our girlfriends from the airport there.

We tried to find an activity which could be combined with the trip to Pula but to be honest. The main train station office, the main information office and the main bus station office were all as unknowing as a child when it came to international trips or travels. So after some hesitating we simply booked a bus straight to Pula and stayed there for a night in order to be on time for the girls to arrive.

On the way back to the hostel, it was still raining, we bought a typical Slovenian dish called barvu(orsomethinglikethat), which we didn’t really like to be honest. Back in the hostel I started organizing the next few days in Croatia and although we don’t really know exactly what we’ll do, I have some ideas already which will prove to be helpful in the following days, I hope.

We went to bed and the next day we took the bus from Ljubljana to Pula at 9.30A.M. That’s exactly where I am writing this post now. I am sitting in a small bus, with 29 seets. Toon is on the seat behind me, as a lot of people (the bus wasn’t even half full though) have already left at other stops. We will arrive in Pula in about half an hour and I will try to put this post, just like the Salzburg one, online as fast as possible. Actually, me writing this is quite useless because if you are reading this, it probably means that I found a wifi spot and posted my experiences already. That’s it for Slovenia, it was barely 36 hours, but we had to keep on moving. Next stop: Croatia!

peace out_

Toon&Thibault

EEET2012 – Day 18 – Salzburg (Austria)

On the 19^th we said goodbye to our Argentinean friends in Tagmersheim and took the train back to Munich. We arrived there around 10P.M. and decided to have a bite near the train station. We bought a kebab, because we could AND because we wanted to try the Munich kebab. Sebastian, my German roommate in France, told us afterwards that kebab was originally invented by a Turkish guy in the seventies. People, be aware, one tip: do not ever eat kebab in Germany. Unlike in Belgium, where you can get around 10 different sauces on your kebab, here you will only get yoghurt sauce. (Dafuq?). Discusting as it was, we ate it anyway and headed to Sebastian’s apartment once more to rest out for the next part of EEET2012.

Where the F are we and what the F are we doing here? 

Day 18 was Austria-day. As we had failed to visit Brno in the Czech Republic we decided to go to Salzburg, Austria, instead as to ensure that we would visit 5 countries during our trip. We got up at 6.15A.M. (see mom,  I can get up way too early as well!) and took the 7.30 train from Munich – Salzburg. Once there, around 9A.M.-ish we put our bags in the lockers near the trains station. –Seriously people: if you have lockers and people can only pay with coins and none of the three closest bars/restaurant ‘have/want’ to change a note for coins, you should do something about it!- and hit the city centre.

Mozart and stuff

Around 11 we met up with Julia, one of my classmates from back in the days of AFS Trimester Program in Steyr, Austria! She had gone on AFS to the US and fell in love with the country. Toon and me were hoping she would show us the city, but she knew as little about Mozart’s birthplace as we did. That’s why at around noon we had figured out that we had seen everything of the city and we went to the park where ‘The Sound Of Music’ was filmed and had lunch. After some more walking around we decided to head back to the train station to maybe take an earlier train to Ljubljana, as this was our next stop on EEET2012. We said goodbye to Julia and headed back to the train station.

Unfortunately we were not able to change our travelling times, so we decided to stay in the McDonald’s next to the train station for 2hrs before we could set off to Ljubljana. To be able to get there we needed to change trains in Villach, Austria. On the way to Villach we were in a train full of Austrian festival-go-ers. Was nice to see that the festivalvibe is so strong in other countries too. But they were not going to a festival! They were all heading to ‘Grand Slam’ or something. Basically they would watch beach volleyball all day and drink while watching it. Not Bad I would say.

Once in Villach, and a few beers (and vodkashots given to us by these Austrians, who were almost forcing us to join them, but we didn’t) later, we got off. We decided to buy some more beers for ‘on the way’ and installed ourselves for another 2hours to Ljubljana. We were joined by a dutch couple and around 9P.M. we arrived at the Slovenian capital. What we did here will be for the next post!

peace out_

Toon&Thibault

EEET2012-inbetween

EEET2012-update: after two days of chilling at the beach in Split and a Pub crawl downtown, tomorrow we hit adventure yet again: Canyoning and to our next, and final, destination: Zadar!

peace out_

Toon&Heike,Liesbeth&Thibault

EEET2012-inbetween

At the moment we are in Pula, Croatia. Enjoying life at the beach today and tomorrow. We will probably head to Split after this. I hope to find more time to update about the past weekend sometime soon.

peace out_

Toon&Thibault

EEET2012 – Day 15-17 – Munich and Tagmersheim (Germany)

On the 17th, day 15 of EEET2012, we were forced to get up around 7.30A.M., as our host, Sebastian, had to get to work early. We decided to go to Munich Hauptbahnhof and arrange our trip to Ljubljana right away. Which we did successfully, the seven hour trip would be done on Friday and we decided to do a six hour layover in Salzburg, to ensure that we visit five countries during our EEET2012. That was no problem. Unfortunately our search for free wifi failed there, so I was unable to update my blog before the next day.

Around 11A.M. we took a Free Walking Tour through Munich, hosted by a crazy Texan guy, called Austin (not joking you…). During a 2,5hour tour we got to see most of the historical city centre of Munich and learned a lot about Munich, Bayern and Germany. At noon we met up with Sebastian for a quick lunch on one of the many nice markets which Munich contains.

After lunch, Toon and me, decided to visit as much as was possible in one (short) afternoon. The English Garden, with its Chinese Tower, the Munich soccer stadion, Allianz Arena, the BMW-Museum and last but certainly not least, the Olympic village of the dramatic –remember the terrorist attack- Olympic Games of 1972. All these things were quite far from each other so after the Olympic Village, we decided to head back to the Hauptbahnhof and take our 1,5hr train ride to (train station: Dollnstein and then by car to) Tagmersheim.  

Allianz Arena - Bayern Munich

Chinese Tower - English Garden

Do not look to the back, as the future holds the answers

Why on earth would we go to a 700-people town in the middle of Bayern, you’re asking yourself? Good question! We went there to visit Segundo and Joaquin, two friends from Ameghino, Argentina! They are working there, together with three other Argentineans, as polo horse trainers. During six to eight months, they train the horses daily and play various tournaments, and in European winter they head back to Argentina to enjoy their summer holidays and play polo over there. Amazing place, where they are living at I must say. A completely renovated old Schloss and an amazing 25hectares of land surrounding it. I have to admit it, they have found themselves a good job for the next couple of months, maybe years!

After arriving in the train station of Dollnstein, Segundo came to pick us up and we went straight to a cheap and good Italian (and the only) restaurant in Tagmersheim, where we met up with everyone. Kate, Joaquin’s girlfriend, was also there. We had already briefly met in Ameghino in February last year, so it was nice to see this British Fraulein again as well. We had a good meal and when coming ‘home’ went straight to bed, sleeping until late the next day.

Argentineans, a Brittish and Belgians!

That next day was awesome. We had been travelling a lot the past few weeks, so two days of rest were more than welcome. And where better to rest than in a place, being hosted by Argentineans? At noon we had some delicious sausages with vegetables and potatoes (you see mom, we’re even eating healthy!) and of course the siesta was held as well. Next up was: horse practice. While the ‘big boys’ were playing polo, Toon and I each got a horse and we drove it easily and chill, with the occasional galloping of course, outside. A great day for horse riding actually. In the evening we chilled and enjoyed an evening outside in a pleasant summer temperature.

Next day was more or less the same story, although I would like to mention that we had (sort of) an asado (with hamburgers, so doesn’t really count), made by Segundo. Very nice indeed! Instead of riding a horse, I read a couple of chapters in my Lonely Planet - Eastern Europe during the afternoon, enjoying a mate or two. Around 7.30P.M., we said goodbye to Tagmersheim and my Argentinean friends –hoping to see them again sooner rather than later (except for maybe Joaquin, porque a veces es un poco boludo el pibe, jaja joda amigo!!) and took the train back to Munich, for another chilling night at Sebastian’s. Next stop: Salzburg (Austria) and Ljubljana (Slovenia)!

PS: in the 10 hours we actually walked around in Munich, we noticed not less than 34 Porsches. Those Germans and their cars…

peace out_

Toon&Thibault

EEET2012 – Day 13-14 – End of Poland and trip to Munich (Germany)

I’ve written several blog posts in the past few days, so if you’ve missed out on checking my blog, be sure to scroll down and click on the titles of every post you might’ve missed. I can assure you that the Krakow and most of all the Auschwitz–post are sure worth reading…

When we returned from our trip to the concentration camp, we were all a bit depressed. We finished some administrative work (like checking bills, sharing costs, etc.) and decided that each of us needed some time to rearrange his mind. Everyone got into his own world, some read, others went out for a walk in the city, others slept and of course Facebook was checked by all of us.

We had bought a bottle of wodka and this bottle was actively going around, occasionally being mixed with fake Fanta (0,6€ for 3liter!). Around midnight we all decided we needed to leave the apartment to get some fresh air and we found ourselves in a ‘shotbar’. No, this was not a bar where people were shot (I think), but you could buy ridiculously cheap vodkashots, and cocktails-based-on-vodka-shots there. For €12,5 we got 24 (not kidding you!) shots and the five of us put them down one by one. After some more chatting there, we went back to the apartment and hit the bed. The next day was a big chill-day. The original plan was to go to the Tatra-mountains, but the weather was not good enough for this, so we decided to go to a big hill, next to Krakow and chill out for the afternoon. That’s where I started writing both previous posts.

The view from the afternoon @Krakow - Poland

In the evening, just before midnight, something unexpected happened! All of a sudden Thijs, my ginger buddy from Holland whom I had met in Argentina on the AFS Trip To The North (halfway the post) back in 2009 and whom I had seen only a couple of times since, was in Krakow at the same time as we were! He could stay over as well and he told us all about his roadtrip (Holland-Gdansk-Torun-Krakow-Holland) and we told him all about our EEET2012… Extremely weird but so awesome to meet up with him again in the far south of Poland.

On Monday 16^th of July, day 14 of our EEET2012, the next phase of our trip began. On to Munich, Germany! I know, I know, we were supposed to pass by Brno (Czech Republic) first, but trains don’t always work the way we want them to, so we had to cancel that idea. We went straight to Munich. The train would’ve taken us from Krakow-Berlin and Berlin–Munich, in seventeen hours for +180euros pp. We decided to check the planes: we found one for 137,6€ pp. But wait, don’t you think “Wow nice, by plane from Krakow to Munich, that’s easy! Not so adventurous, but convenient nonetheless.” I can say you: this was probably the most adventurous travelling day, concerning flights, in my life. We did not have a direct flight, neither did we have to change once in some airport. No, dear readers, we had to change TWO (!) times to get to fu*kin’ Munich! And all this in a total of less than 7 hours! Thanks LOT – Polish airlines, even the hostesses at the airports declared us crazy (Katowice is only 81km from Krakow), but hey it’s not my fault that eDreams came up with that as the cheapest option!  Check the map.

We got to Munich around 21hr and, after Toon declared the loss of the rain protector of his backpack, it took us about 1,5hr to get to the centre of Munich, where we were perfectly (read: with a beer) received by my other awesome roommate from Rennes: Sebastian! Munich it is!

PS: pics will follow.

peace out_


Toon&Thibault

Someday we will.

EEET2012 – Day 12 – Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland)

“Kto nie pamieta historii skazany jest na jej ponowne przezycie” / “The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again” – George Santavana

(Imagine a sinister sound like ‘Jaws’ or something) 

Everybody thinks this is the entrance to Auschwitz,
while it's actually the view for the Exit of Birkenau 

It is a black page in (German) history, but after all still a well-organized extermination, an example of what mankind is capable of doing, a nightmare to many, it is: Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Everyone has heard about it, few people I know have actually been there. I would say it’s a must do. THE AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU CONCENTRATION CAMPS.  A sinister place where millions of people found death and despair, many more lost relatives or friends, and world history was influenced heavily by their existence. I can say you this after our visit:  it’s worth every zloty you pay.     

Basically Justyna, Billia, Laura, Toon and me took a bus on Saturday morning from Krakow to Auschwitz, which took about 1,5hr –we wanted to take the train to Auschwitz but this was not possible at that time, normally you can do this though-. Once arrived, we noticed we weren’t the only people here.  I am pretty sure that several thousand people per day visit one of the biggest graveyards in the world. Yes, the concentration camps are seen as one big graveyard, as the victims were not buried but burned to ashes.

Note to myself (& to the world:) I was there as a tourist

For about 30 zloty -7,5euros at the time- per person, we got into a group of visitors with an English-speaking guide. We started at the famous ‘ARBEIT MACHT FREI’-sign and went into the actual concentration camp of Auschwitz, which at the time was a prison for about 10 000 people, mostly Jews, Soviet Prisoners Of War, delinquents, etc. Thanks to the Polish government, the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau are almost perfectly preserved and in some of the old buildings, exhibitions take place all year long. We got to see how people ‘lived’, what they did and even the ovens were shown to us. It was so surreal to see all this and I didn’t always take pictures because I just couldn’t bear the idea of making pictures of places where thousands, even millions of people had suffered so hard. –That’s also why the pictures you see here are quite ‘censored’.

After a 2,5hr tour we got back to the main entrance and were given some time to buy souvenirs (Who the F* wants to buy postcards from Auschwitz???). Toon and me both bought a book with pictures etc.  After that we took the shuttle bus to Auschwitz II, also known as Birkenau, 3km from Auschwitz I and way bigger. There was room for 100 000 prisoners (!!!) on the 150hectares wide terrain. 14km of barbed wire was preventing them from escaping. Four ovens could murder over 5000 people at once when used at the same time. At its highest point, more than 10 000 people arrived a day per train (up to 100 people in one wagon), making it impossible to organize the camp in any way –good or bad. 10 people had to sleep on 2m², ending up with +700 people in one barracks.

I know, these numbers are hard to understand. I didn’t get them either before. But now I’ve been there. I’ve seen the pictures of victims. I’ve seen their possessions, taken away from them brutally by the Nazis. I’ve seen their clothes, shoes, jewelry and things I’d prefer not sharing with you online. I’ve seen it all. And I’ve learned a lot. It got Toon and me quiet (And everyone who knows either of us, knows that we do not easily become silent). The brutal truth hit us. It is true.

A couple of days ago, the leader of the Greek extreme right nazi-party, said in the Greek parliament that the concentration camps were a lie. I would recommend him to go there and see for himself, at least he would see it, hopefully it would change his mind and definitely he will lose some weight while walking along the hundreds of meters of barracks and kilometers of barbed wire. 

peace out_

Toon&Thibault 

Auschwitz' streets and barracks

Map showing the origin of prisonors of Auschwitz

Zyklon Gas B - used capsules

Hallways full of profiles/pictures of (mostly Jewish) victims

EEET2012 – Day 11 – Krakow (Poland)

View from the train to Krakow

On the 12^th we all left Poznan and the eight (Wojciech, Justyna, her boyfriend Billie, Laura, Silke, Liesbeth, Toon and me) of us took the train to Krakow. A seven hour train ride and several games later we arrived around 11.30 P.M.

On Friday we did a Free Walking Tour with a guide so active, he must’ve been on drugs… haha. During a 2,5hr tour we saw most of the historical city centre of Krakow and the Wawel castle, just outside the centre. It was a very nice tour, teaching us the history of the city and its people. I had a very good time walking around with my friends and looking at the buildings and monuments. But… I must say: my expectations of this city were higher. Don’t misunderstand me, I liked the city and the people I was with during the tour. But after hearing so many people and tourists talk about Krakow, I just thought this city would be as ‘amazing’ and ‘astonishing’ as they had told me. Too bad I didn’t feel what so many other visitors of this fine city felt. Maybe it’s because I’m used to old and beautiful cities, like Bruges (How-I-Go-Through-Bruges), but the city did not meet my expectations. Pitty, because it was actually the first city on EEET2012 for which I literally had expectations at all. I must repeat: it’s a nice city yes, but not as awesome as many people say, in my opinion. [See pictures down]

"Liesbeth is coming out of the closet"

After the tour we had another Zapiekanka, half a baguette with melted cheese and different ingredients on top. Sort of like with a pizza, where you can choose the toppings as well. We had a coffee in a bar which looked like the entrance to Narnia (see picture) and next some free time was used to buy some souvenirs, post cards, write these postcards, etc. before we had to head back to Justyna’s and Billie’s apartment, where we all stayed for the weekend (Thanks again for that you two, was amazing!), to pack up. Yes indeed, this was the end for two of our group already. Sad but true. Liesbeth and Silke were heading back to Belgium already. Silke had been in Poland for a week I think. Liesbeth had been with us since the very beginning of EEET2012. It was a hard goodbye but sometimes people need to say goodbye in order to be able to say hello again. Yessir, this means that we are already expecting Liesbeth’s reappearance at Pula in Croatia on the 23th. Can’t wait…

That evening we didn’t do much, we tried planning the weekend and our trip to Munich, which took us several hours (more on that in a later post). But it all arranged itself. My next text will be about Auschwitz. I felt the necessity to accord this daytrip its own post, you’ll see why when you read it.

peace out_

Toon,Liesbeth&Thibault

The main square of Krakow, biggest one in Europe, with the bar
where Lenin used to meet up with fellow future-sovjet-leaders 

Toon, just chilling near some fountain

Posing in Wawel Castle (I think that's the name at least)

EEET2012 – Day 9-10 – Poznan (Poland)

Picture of sunglasses?

On the 10^th we said goodbye to Pawel and Warsaw, a three hour train ride and some catch-up sleeping later, we all arrived to Poznan on our 8^th day of travelling. Wojciech’s mother was so nice to make us dinner, after which him and me drove to the airport to pick up Laura! Yes, yet another Erasmus friend had joined us.  Some nice drinking games with vodka later we hit the bed. A busy day was ahead of us.

 We all got up and had breakfast, takes some time when there are eight people willing to shower and eat…  Wojciech had arranged an awesome visit to the Lech brewery, a typical beer from Poland, like Jupiler in Belgium. At the end of the tour we got a free 0,5l beer. A nice gift after a two hour tour through a brewery. PS: All this for only 1,5euros… 

Group picture in a  huge LECH beer can

A quick KFC visit later, four of us, Liesbeth, Wojciech, Toon and me, went to an awesome water park. Slides and everything included. Note to myself: I love water parks. After some walking through the city, a small restaurant visit and a quick visit to Tesco’s (supermarket) which was interrupted by an employee of Tesco’s dropping a whole crate of chocolat boxes, causing an area of three m² to be full of chocolat, we hit the bed again. I was so happy after that day. I do love water parks 

The next day was dedicated to the actual visit of the city of Poznan, the economic centre of Poland and a fine city. I must note: Wojciech is a fine guide indeed! Thank you for that dude!

peace out_

Toon,Liesbeth&Thibault 

Walk on water

Belgian style

Group picture in front of the statue remembering the Polish risings against the Soviets

PS: I know I'm a bit behind on schedule. We've already finished Krakow, the next step on EEET2012, as well. I'll try to update that one tomorrow!

EEET2012-inbetween

EEET 2012-update: Auschwitz: I am not usually speechless, but I really have no idea what to say about this... Hitting the pub now to forget the WWII-madness - vodkashots please ..

Anyway, Poland is coming to its end, flying to Munich (Krakow-Warsaw, Warsaw-Katowice, Katowice-Munich) on monday, meeting up with Erasmus & argentinean friends.

Biergarten here comes Belgium.

EEET2012 – Day 6-8 – Warsaw (Poland)

Writing you the next part of EEET 2012 in Krakow.

After washing the first load of muddy clothes at Pawel’s place, we met up with Justyna and Silke who came over from Krakow. Next, Pawel’s mother made us some excellent typical Polish dinner. We then made a late-night walk through the ancient city centre of Warsaw, before being hit by a thunderstorm right above our heads. First time ever, that I actually remember, lightning struck right above my head. Crazy experiences indeed.

Citytripping at 11 PM

 The next morning, we met up with Wojciech and made a long trip through the city of Warsaw. From the city centre, with its National Museum of Science and Art – erected by the soviets, the national library, city hall, etc.  In the afternoon we had lunch and chilled on a beach, next to the river Wisla, which floats from the Tatra Mountains in the south, through Krakow and Warsaw to Gdansk in the north, and next to the new soccer stadium built for Euro2012. 

Colossal building, built by the Soviets - now the Mueseum for Art and Science

View from that same building

Group picture - Belgium and Poland

In the evening we went out to a so-called dodgy neighborhood in Warsaw where we drank some beers and met some random crazy Polish people. Intercultural experiences as they say.

On Tuesday we chilled out, packed our bags, bought a couple of postcards and went for a real ‘kalasjnikov’ (Mitraillette in Belgium, is called kalasjnikov in Poland…). At three we took a three-hour train ride to Poznan, first capital and economical centre of Poland and home city of Wojciech. That’s for a next post. It’s almost 1.30AM and tomorrow we’re going to discover Krakow! I’m off.

peace out_

Toon,Liesbeth&Thibault