It's been over a year since our Everest Base Camp adventure. I didn't think it was so life-changing at the time but now I know - that experience planted a seed, and since then Nepal, trekking, adventure and the need to see the whole world has been growing in my bones. Since then I've been asking myself what's next?
A couple weeks ago Jeremy and I bought a ticket to Poland. Just like I was drawn towards Everest - Jeremy has had a hunch about Eastern Europe. So we followed his intuition and bought a ticket to Poland. While we're there we will trek the High Tatras in the Carpathian Mountains. But we also have some time to explore the area around us. We're thinking Prague, Vienna and/or Berlin - maybe even Budapest. Do you all have any recommendations? Do any of you live in the area? I'd love to meet any friends from J&K that we may have over on that side of the world.
The adventure is over half a year away, still - but it'll be here before we know it. I can't wait.
Top image via: Photo Review (graphic overlay by me)
This couple from OK (now living in TX) lived in Poland for a year and traveled around. It may be worthwhile to thumb through her posts about their travels. Turkey looks AMAZING!
ReplyDeletehttp://familiademanard.blogspot.com/
How exciting! I can't wait to live vicariously through your photos once your back.
ReplyDeleteSo exciting! Friends of mine visited Budapest earlier this year... I can try rounding-up some info for you! I would LOVE to see Prague. Damn, you guys, your trip is gonna be so awesome. xo.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was just there this past summer, I will ask her about recommendations
ReplyDeleteEep! Poland! I think we're doing biking in Amsterdam this summer. It will be the farthest east I've ever been in Europe. Can't wait to see your fun!
ReplyDeleteEep! Poland! I think we're doing biking in Amsterdam this summer. It will be the farthest east I've ever been in Europe. Can't wait to see your fun!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely hit Prague. It's one of my favorite cities. Tons of Art Nouveau influence.
ReplyDeletePrague is absolutely gorgeous, and I loved Berlin for all of its rich history! I would love, love, love to visit Budapest...I have both a Hungarian and Polish background. I can't wait to see and hear more about your trip!
ReplyDeleteAlso: Google "Kunst Haus Wein" probably the coolest "museum" I've ever visited...and I've been to quite a few!
ReplyDeleteSome friends and I did Prague, Vienna and Budapest a couple of years ago. You HAVE to do Prague. It's amazing!!!
ReplyDeletemy husband lived in Bratislava, SK for a year and we love that corner of the world with all our hearts. definitely go to Prague and Vienna- Prague if you can only make one. (and Bratislava if you've got time to spend- less glitz, but more grit)
ReplyDeletehere is my recommendation: eat an obscene amount of pierogi and take photos of it all :)
ReplyDeletexo Sarah
http://sillygrrl.com
if you can squeeze it in...make it to Auschwitz...talk about life changing!
ReplyDeleteA good friend of mine grew up in Poland and recently visited!! I could ask her for a few recommendations for you!!
ReplyDeleteMy brother lives in Budapest and I've been there a number of times to visit him and other family members. It's a great city. What types of things are you interested in and what time of year are you going ?
ReplyDeleteMy husband is from Austria so we have spent quite a bit of time in Vienna, much of it in cafes with friends. I have to ask him for the name of the real old fashioned/grungy one where guys are drinking beer with their morning breakfasts, it has the original decor and super cheap food and is fun.
ReplyDeleteKathreen, I've been reading your blog for a few months now - always intrigued by your designs, photos, branding adventures (as I work in advertising too), freelance experience etc.
ReplyDeleteBut today... today I just smiled as soon as I read the title! What can I say, Poland is lovely - I've been living here for 29 years now :)
Hope you'll enjoy your time. If I were you, I'd definitely visit Cracow, it's a charming city. Auschwitz mentioned below is also absolutely worth seeing - unbelievable but harsh experience. I live in Torun, so if you'd like to travel a bit more north... ;)
From our neighbour's cities - Prague can't be missed!
P.S. I agree, Polish pierogi are great :)
Budapest is AMAZING! I spent a summer there and I have been pining to go back ever since.
ReplyDeleteJust visited Prague this past March. Loved it. Very affordable. We got a great apartment in the old town called Residence Karolina. The company has several apartments around town for rent. I highly recommend it. Price of a regular room for an entire modern apartment. Oh and don't forget the Absinthe!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love eastern Europe! I did my internship in Budapest a few years ago and would love to go back someday. I loved Prague as well but I'd say Hungary has more drawing power for me than Czech :) Have SO much fun!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely recommend Budapest - amazing layers of architectural history laid on top of each other. If you go, visit the mineral waters (thermal bath) at the Hotel Gellert (its called Gellert Spa I think) - you don't have to be a guest of the hotel to go. It's gender segregated but an amazing experience. Budapest is a great walking/exploring city.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Last year we went to Berlin, Prague and Vienna. LOVED Berlin...and if I could choose one city in Eastern Europe to visit, it would be Berlin. The tribute to the murdered jews is an incredibly moving experience and the Reichstag was an architectural marvel. But the overall vibe of the city was what was most appealing.
ReplyDeletePrague is incredible, and if you have time I would recommend Kutna Hora. It's about 1.5 hours outside of Prague and has one of the largest churches I've ever seen. Also has a church made out of bones from the plague. It's (though it sounds odd) a very charming little village. Definitely don't miss the monastery with the ancient library. It's up past the castle, and the walk itself is gorgeous with beautiful views of the city. I loved Prague when I went two Thanksgivings ago. Have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteYou'll be in my family's neck of the woods. My parents were born and raised not too far from Czarny Dunajec and Zakopane in a small village called Wroblowka. I've been there myself but its been a few years.
ReplyDeleteYou will have fun, Poles are the best when it comes to showing you a good time. Plan on drinking and eating a lot. Be sure to try the Oscypek cheese. Its like eating the love child of Smoked Gouda, Fontina and Parmesean.
Let me know if you have any questions I still have some family in the area, shoot maybe I should tag along now I'm home sick!
Anya
P.S. My mom says Budapest is fantastic...at least it was 45 years ago and since it was communist then that's saying something.
Poland/East Central Europe sounds great!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was living in Europe this past year, my plan was to take the train from Berlin->Prague->Vienna->Budapest. I only ended up being able to visit Berlin and Prague, but both are amazing. Prague is a very beautiful city (and cheap as it was not yet on the Euro, I think it's slated to adopt the Euro in 2012, unless the whole economic crisis has dissuaded them), and Berlin just has such a cool vibe.
oh exiting! I live in Germany but so far in the South I don't think you would make it here.
ReplyDeleteBut Budapest is a beautiful city! Really. Can totally recommend it. Berlin... I was just there... very hipster but in a such a free punkish way and there is soooo much history of Europe actually there. It's extremely interesting. Vienna.... amazing.... I have family near there. It's this beautiful city and people are soooo nice!
Anyways... if you need any more help just contact me, really :-)
The salt mines in Krakow are amazing! Go there! They carved a church into the walls! And on the day we went all the hot Polish firefighters were doing drills in uniform!
ReplyDeleteAlso Berlin is so effortlessly cool, Prague is incredibly beautiful and a bit weird, Vienna is fancy but a bit sleepy, and I agree with Corrie about Bratislava. So cute and quirky... we were only there for half a day but it certainly made an impression!
http://purplecustardservicestation.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/cute-and-quirky-bratislava/
So intensely happy jealous for you - my great-grandmother immigrated to the US from Poland and I've always had an intense desire to see this country that is so prominent in my blood.
ReplyDeleteIf I land upon any great suggestions I will definitely bring them up later.
Thank you ALL for your enthusiasm and recommendations! We're so so excited about this upcoming trip (it still seems so far away - but I know it will be here before we know it).
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! We went to Panama this year (which was amazing) and a lot of people told us to check out Bolivia as an inexpensive vacation spot. I think that's next on our list.
ReplyDeleteYou and Jeremy and turning into quite the hikers!
Yay! Definitely Prague (The Astronomical Clock Tower is beautiful) and Budapest (Best graffiti ever) - crystal
ReplyDeleteI did a group project with a lady from Slovenia and it was based on us bringing a Maine vodka to Slovenia. It looks so beautiful there!!!! If you can, I suggest going, just from seeing the pictures of it on the internet.
ReplyDeleteOOOOOOoooo. I don't know much about Eastern Europe so it seems even more mysterious and awesome to me than most places. ;)
ReplyDeleteFun! I'll just give a little shout-out for Budapest, if you have the time. It's a wonderful old city with so much history, gorgeous architecture (esp. the bridges), excellent wine and paprika, and sweet people.
ReplyDeletePrague 1000%, I have been twice and I would go a third. It is easy to access by train from Poland. I would also recommend Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, it's a beautiful, little mountain city. Also, accessible by train. Always wanted to do Budapest. I guess this all depends how long your stay in Eastern Europe will be. The Czech Republic is on the Euro, so expensive maybe not now though. I think Hungary and Poland have not yet entered the Eurozone so they will be cheaper.
ReplyDeleteIt's already been over a year, wow! It seems like just last week I was gushing over the photos and adventures. Poland is beautiful I hear, can't wait for more stories of adventure.
ReplyDeleteHello, I have a little correction. The Czech Republic is not in the eurozone yet (who knows if it ever will be). For Americans it is still cheap here. Your trip sounds amazing. I would also recommend you to go and see Auschwitz. And really go to Prague if you have time :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your trip and have fun!
I was fortunate enough to visit Berlin a few years ago. History there is living & breathing. I will return one day and share it with my husband. If you have the chance to to visit, I recommend you take it!
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, Poland sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteI've never been, but I would recommend any of the resources from RickSteves.com ...
He really makes an effort to steer you "through the back door" and only to the big typical touristy things if it's really worth it!
He has a radio show, a PBS show, books and tons of stuff on the website.
Have fun!
I bought a coffee table book of the Tatras a few years ago at a used book sale, on a whim. SO BEAUTIFUL.
ReplyDeleteThe book is also in three or four different languages and I have a feeling someone bought it on vacation there, and I ended up with it by some strange chain of events.
I am living in Prague for 5 years now, so hope I will have chance to meet with you for a tradicional Czech beer :) Melisa
ReplyDeleteI lived in Prague for a year during my studies. It's definitely worth visiting. Amazing architecture. I think all the spots on your map are great picks. And you should definitely get to know Warsaw -- not the most beautiful girl on the party, but she's got a character :-)
ReplyDeleteYay yay yay!! How exciting! One of my very favorite and inspiring blogger is coming to my very country and... City! No need to be humble - it's super good choice.
ReplyDeleteIf you will need any kind of help in krakow I'll be more than happy to do so.
Welcome to Poland
Hello all!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your recommendations and enthusiasm. We're really excited about this trip. xo!
I just saw this on pintrest and thought of your trip to Poland. Which sounds so incredibly cool! Looking forward to reading about more details about where you choose to go and stay!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newsbad.com/story/polands-mysterious-crooked-forest-big-pic
So it erased my comment I think but sorry if this is a duplicate!
ReplyDeleteI found this awesome looking forest on Pintrest and thought of you and your trip to Poland!
http://www.newsbad.com/story/polands-mysterious-crooked-forest-big-pic
Can't wait to hear more about it!
Hello Kathleen, I was in that part of the world earlier this year, including the High Tatras, it is beautiful there! All of those cities are fab, I also recommend Cesky Krumlov, a smaller city in Czech Republic - fairy tale material!
ReplyDeleteI studied abroad in Vienna for a semester in college and had the opportunity to visit Berlin, Budapest, and Prague as well. If you must pick only a couple cities, I'd recommend Vienna and Prague! Vienna has amazing food and art, while Prague's architecture is gorgeous.
ReplyDelete