Travel story to Eastern Europe Ver. English

Amsterdam

I got to stay a day in Amsterdam because I reserved KLM Dutch Airlines

The most impressive place for me was the Red-light District.

There was not so dangerous and unusual place.

I was going to find the hostel that I booked, but I got lost.

So I wandered from place to place for about 2 hours, and I got to enter the street of the Red-light District.

I learned that there is permitted with prostitution and smoking marihuana and these are legal in Netherlands.

Then it was rainy and too late time. I worried that I would be hit and died by the drug addicts.

Then, two policemen was just patrolling around the Red-light district. I could find the hostel that I booked thanks to the policemen.

The hostel was fully merciful. The first friend whom I met was the black man 'Simon'. When I entered dormitory, he mediated the bible with seemed his teacher.

He claimed me that Jesus is my lord and my life. He looked like so fearful but he was fully merciful.

There was the shelter that God offers for me. so I think the hostel's name is just the Christian Shelter because of that.

Other popular attractions are Anne Frank's shelter, the beer Heinecken's factory, and the village of windmill Zaanse Schans. but, I was sorry to not visit such places. because I had to transfer the plane going to Ukraine.

 

 

Christian Shelter hostel that I stayed

 

 

Around Red-light district in the morning

 

Kiev(Киів)

I was so confused when I got to be checked alone at passport control.

I've ever told my some mates a lie that I was refused at passport control. But it came near being able to be real.

Most Ukrainians didn't speak English well and looked like so chilly, But they were so friendly and kind.

Personally, The impressive places for me were Shevchenko University park and St. Vladimir Catholic church.

The park was so unclean and ruined for me. the cloudy weather made there added such the atmosphere.

St. Vladimir Catholic church was consisted of yellow wall and has blue roof. and I guess it is the Byzantine style.

I entered the church's internal. I felt so majestic from the church.

I was going to take some photos. but it was not free and my Russian speaking ability was so bad.

Finally, I could not help giving up to take some photos.

 

St. Vladimir Church
The church was matched with yellow wall and blue roof.

 

Lvov(Львів)

It took about 7 hours from Kiev by train.

The city whole is designated as culture heritage by UNESCO. and the village covered with snow was so beautiful.

The outdoor wedding was included one of attractions, and the village was fully romantic.

I can't obviously recommend the tour attractions in Lvov. but I'd like to recommend the fortress hill as the attraction.

But the Ukrainians living in Lvov's eyes to me were so extreme.

Thus, students liked and welcomed me, but the old's eyes to me were not so good.

Most troubles in my trip were happened in Lvov. I was attacked by the unknown youth with snow mass, and I had a trouble with 4 Ukrainian policemen when I was going to prepare to jump to Poland.

Then, it was the situation that I could be shot if I acted rashly. they illegally robbed my cash 50 Ukrainian Gryvnya(about $6.3) and my cellular phone used in Korea.

 

A photo taken at the peak of the fortress hill.
The city was full with romance.

 

Center of Lvov covered with snow
it was so beautiful and romantic.

 

 

Lvov's street scene taken in the hostel.
I took a photo in hostel because of Skinhead's terror.

 

Warsaw

It took about 10 hours including passport control from Lvov by the international bus 'Eurolines'.

For myself, Warsaw was the coldest city and mostly so solid and chilly.

The impressive places were Culture&Science Palace, the Shrine in Saski park, and the trail in Saski park.

The Culture&Science Palace was so majestic and look like wonderful. But most Poles regard the palace as not so good. Because the palace was built by Stalin when USSR. Once, Poland belonged to Russia Empire.

At Saski park, the posture that two soldiers were guarding shrine was so unusual.

At first, I couldn't took some pictures because it could be violation on military security. But, Finally, I could got a permission to take some photos from two soldiers.

Saski park was so peaceful and silent. I think it would be most beautiful if it were autumn.

 

Warsaw scene taken on the top floor of Culture&Science palace.

 

Culture&Science palace of Warsaw(So called the clock tower).

 

Two guardian was guarding at shrine.
"On duty, No problem!"

 

Trail of the Saski

Cracow

The most popular tour city in Poland and most people who have ever stayed in Poland generally recommend there.

The city was so beautiful and fantastic. The security was better than Warsaw.

At suburb, there was Auschwitz prison. It took about 90 minutes from Cracow by bus.

Auschwitz was consisted of the First prison and the Second prison.

The First prison presented Nazi's guilty that they cruelly committed genocide many of the Jews by miniature, The Second prison is the real prison that the Jews was expropriated from there.

The prison is designated as culture heritage by UNESCO and the most popular attraction, but the atmosphere was so dark and gloomy.

I got to think deeply about Adolf Hitler touring Auschwitz. If he became a drawer, he wouldn't act such evil deed.

Not only Auschwitz, but also Salt Mine(Wieliczka) and Castle of Babel are so popular in Cracow. but I'm afraid of that I didn't visit such nice places.

I think if you would like to tour properly Cracow, you should stay for 5 days at least.

 

The center of Cracow

 

Auschwitz Second prison under sunset

 

The gas chamber in Auschwitz First prison.
At that time, Many of the Jews were desperately getting die at here.

 

Berlin

I moved from Cracow. It took about 10 hours including checking time from Cracow by the international train InterCity.

The city was mostly wonderful but so solid and gloomy.

People kindly informed me about my questions but they are not interested in other people's business and so selfish. it was much different from Ukraine.

There was many attractions in Berlin. For myself, the most impressive place was the Brandenburg Gate. The Gate represents Berlin and Germany.

There was the borders between previous East Germany and West Germany once. and there remained as the scar of previous division.

 

Victory top

 

With a guardian at Brandenburg gate

 

Berlin scene taken on the top floor of victory monument tower.