Egypt, plan of journey

          Time for spring vacation. After the winter, it must be warm. Good use of the time before the holiday season, to go to Egypt. You can admire the ancient monuments without annoying stand in queues and crowds of tourists. An additional advantage is the lack of the terrible heat this time of year. Is a good time to plan a route, write down a list of things to see and to pack suitcases.

             From Europe the best to fly to Cairo and stay there for a couple days. So to see the pyramids, museums and breathe a bit of a local climate of the great desert city. Then heads along the Nile, the cruise will be the best. This allows me to enjoy the raw nature and small riverside Egyptian village. Then a visit to the Luxor and a short stay in Hurghada. A longer stay plan only in Sharm el Sheik. After desert traveling waiting for my week relaxing by the Red sea and scuba diving among the coral.

This is the moment the general plan of the expedition. There are many details that I need to fix. Waiting for me three wonderful weeks, hmm maybe a little longer :)

1. Cairo - 4 days

Visiting Cairo's: Egyptian Museum, a collection of over 120 thousand. exhibits showing the great civilization of ancient Egypt. Next Saladin Citadel, Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali and the unique monastery carved into the rocks, Mukattanu in the death area.

Sakkara the first and oldest stepped pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser. Memphis, the capital of the empire of the Old Kingdom of Egypt with the colossus of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. 

Giza and the Pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure, and the Sphinx of course.

2. Bani Suwajf - 1 days

3. Asjut - 1 days

4. Kina+Luxor - 3 days
Luxor, ancient Thebes, the "city of a hundred gates." Thebes were divided on the Nile by "city alive" and the "city of the dead". 
Sanctuary trinity of gods: Amun, Mut and Khonsu (Temple of Karnak). The tombs in the "Valley of Kings" and the sanctuary and the tomb of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
Madinat Habu, or mortuary temple on the West Bank of Luxor, built by Ramses III and Village Workers from the remnants of the building of the city and the tombs of construction supervisors

5. Asuan - 3 days

Walking Edfu, the temple complex dedicated to the god Horus - this is one of the best preserved and most beautiful temples of Egypt.

Kom Ombo, group of temple rising just above the banks of the Nile.

Great Aswan Low Dam, the island File - moved from the flooded areas on the picturesque island group temple dedicated to the goddess Isis.

5. Hurghada - 2 days
Scuba diving and relaxing

6. Sharm el Sheik - 7 days
Monastery of St. Catherine. Chapel St. Tryphon, courtyard of the Well of Moses and the Basilica of the Transfiguration, and the burning bush and the Chapel of skulls.
And more scuba diving and relaxing.

Summary: 21 (three weeks)

Top 10 Poland Natural Views

1. Tatry mountains

Most of the area of the High Tatras, extending between the West High Tatras and Belianske located on the side of Slovakia. To the Tatra National Park belongs small (less than 100 square kilometers), but extremely picturesque fragment. Dominated by the truly alpine scenery - jagged peaks, steep rock walls and beautiful Tatra ponds are a result of glaciers.

2. Bieszczady mountains

Low mountains lying between Poland and Ukraine is famous for its charm. For years, attracted artists and people seeking peace and solitude. That's where the day's hiking we do not meet anyone.

In Bieszczady there are plants and animals not found in other parts of Poland, and especially those who like the heat, for example, Europe's largest snake Aesculapius. Well-preserved original beech forests are a paradise for animals. They live in them, among others, bison, deer, bears, wolves, lynxes, wild cats, and since 2007 the Polish ponies.

3. Black Hańcza River

     It is a river in Poland and Belarus, a left tributary of the Neman River with a length of 142 km. It flows through a very interesting area, often with unique natural beauty, geological, historical and ethnographic values.

      There are many different canoe routes. Along the Black Hańcza is a lot of camping sites and tent sites. One of the attractions of trailing is sale by villagers delicious, local food products.

4. Ojcowski National Park

Ojców National Park, located just near Cracow, the smallest of all Polish national parks, but it hides a lot of geological, natural and cultural attractions. He admires the beautiful rock formations, caves, old buildings and castles.

Popular are canyons with steep walls and a group of island mountains - delight tourists from the nineteenth century. The most spectacular is the Pradnik Valley. We can find tens of meters high rocks with fancy shapes and lot of caves.

5. The Hel Sandbar

When tourist portal The World Geography has prepared a summary of the most incredible sandbar in the world. Among them are the place attractive to tourists - both filled with holiday resorts, as well as those protected because of the natural values. In the forefront were Polish Hel Sandbar. 

The Hel Sandbar is very unusual, because it does not create parallel to the shore, and bent into the shape of a scythe, it falls far into the sea. Its length is 35 km, width of 300 m at the base by 100 m at its narrowest point, up to approx. 3 km to the promontory. Even 300 years at the spit was a string of islands which joined together by sand.

6. The Cave Raj

The cave "Raj" is one of the most famous tourist attractions of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and one of the most beautiful karst caves in Poland. 

Delights and variety of forms calcite crusts. There are clusters of stalactites here for globally unique density. The cave was considered inanimate nature reserve and archaeological site. The corridors of the cave were produced in the Middle Devonian limestone, which approx. 360 million years ago formed at the bottom of a shallow sea.

Since 1972 it was made available for tourism only with a guide.

7.  Giant Mountains

Giant Mountains belong to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The highest and the best-known band Sudetenland. Thanks to a very well-developed tourist infrastructure (network of hiking trails, mountain huts, ski equipment) are centuries target mountain hikers and skiers.

Their undoubted beauty, wealth of natural curiosities, stunning panoramas and unique atmosphere attracts artists and people sensitive to the natural beauty of the surroundings. The unique fauna and flora attracts Giant naturalists and researchers nature.

8. Bialowieża forest

Forest complex located in the Polish and Belarus, distinguished by large natural values ​​and history. In the Bialowieza Forest survived the last fragments of the original forest character. Here lives the largest population of free bison in the world.

Since 2010, Bialowieza Forest belongs to the list of Important Bird Areas IBA conducted by BirdLife International and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

9. Słowiński National Park

Park was created in 1967 to protect the greatest natural treasure of the region, which are coastal lakes and dunes recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. The place is famous mainly for its shifting sand dunes, which reach a height of several tens of meters and can move up to 10 m during the year, sweeping everything in its path. Unusual impressive stumps of dead trees sticking out from under mountains of white sand. Impressive dunes occur primarily on the sandbars, which separated from the Baltic Sea past coves, creating, among others, Gardno Lake and Łebsko, besides occupying a greater part of the park.

10. Pieniny mountains

Pieniny, especially their middle part, are one of the most attractive tourist regions in Poland. In terms of the number of tourists in Poland they occupy second place behind the Tatra Mountains.

The high popularity of the tourist, Pienin choose natural beauty, good accessibility and a well-organized accommodation and tourist infrastructure. In addition, their attractiveness affect the occurrence of acidic, carbonated mineral waters called szczawami.

Tourist attraction on a European scale is rafting on the Dunajec. In parallel (on the Slovak side of the river) runs a foot trail-bike called the Pieniny Way. Interesting are also the ruins of the castle in Czorsztyn and Gothic-Renaissance castle in Niedzica, and (in areas adjacent to the Pieniny) wooden churches in Grywałd, Debno Podhalańskie, churches Krempachy and Frydman. 

Top 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Poland

1. Sandomierz

Sandomierz is one of the most beautiful and oldest Polish city. Sandomierz is located on the Vistula river on seven hills. There were preserve more than 120 architectural monuments from different eras.

The town has always been liked by Polish artists and filmmakers.
The most valuable monuments is the Church of St. James, one of the three Romanesque churches in Poland built of brick, not stone. The main entrance is decorated with thirteenth-century portal and the interior hides the remains of 49 Dominicans martyrs, cruelly murdered by the Tatars in 1260.

2. Kazimierz Dolny

The history of Kazimierz, by many considered the most beautiful city in Poland, dating back to the eleventh century. It lies in the Malopolska turn of the Vistula River, which coincided with the western border of the Lublin Upland. The picturesque location combined with precious monuments create a special atmosphere of the town, which pleased a lot of painters. The heart of Kazimierz is surrounded by historic houses market from an old well. Among the buildings deserve special attention seventeenth-century Renaissance houses.

3. Kraków

Krakow and the castle on Wawel always was in the minds of Poles as heart of a country. Here was stored crown jewels, and all the precious objects, as well as documents of the highest importance.

Standing in the middle of the Main Market Square, Sukiennice is one of the most emblematic monuments of Polish. Inside, there are two rows of stalls, mostly jewelry, souvenirs, handicrafts and Arts & Crafts.

One of the largest and most important after Wawel Cathedral, Krakow church belongs to the most famous sights of Krakow and Polish. It is located at the north-east corner of the main square, Marienplatz Square. According to Jan Dlugosz church was founded by the bishop of Krakow Iwon Odrowąż in the years 1221-1222.

The greatest attention is drawn by two towers of unequal height. Higher, more decorated, was a watchtower. The lower was the bell tower. Quite dark, gothic interior of the basilica conceals many wonderful baroque altars symmetrically arranged.

Things to must see is also Kazimierz, called the Jerusalem of Europe, was the intellectual capital of the Polish Jews. The most important part of it was the street Szeroka, where is the Old Synagogue - the oldest monument of Jewish sacral architecture in Poland.

4. Toruń

There are few cities in Poland, which have such a great number of monuments. In 1997 the Old Town of Torun was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The pride of the residents is the Old Town Square, which was in the Middle Ages center of commercial and administrative. In the middle of the market stands a Gothic town hall, one of the most interesting of its kind in Europe.

Before the town hall is a statue of the most famous Torunianin, Nicolaus Copernicus.

Along the Vistula Boulevard are defensive walls. They had eight gates, two of which came out on important transport routes, four on the coast, and the other two connected the Old Town to the New.

5. Gdańsk

Gdansk location at the mouth of the Vistula River and the Amber Trail leading from the north to the south of Europe facilitated the development of trade. Merchants and townspeople got rich also by numerous royal privileges.

At the Long Market, and Long Street called Royal Trakt,  stand side by side the two most important secular buildings in the Gdansk: Town Hall and Arthur's Court. The construction of the Town Hall began in the fourteenth century. Its interiors were one the finest in Northern Europe and testified to the power of the city. The most beautiful room of the Town Hall is Council Hall, also known as the color of the walls of the Red Hall.

The origins of the Artus Court also date back to the Middle Ages. It was created because rich townspeople wanted to imitate the manners and mode of life of chivalry. 100 years after the construction of the Artus Court became the property of the merchants of Gdansk and the main center of social and commercial life of the city. Next to the building is famous statue of Neptune's fountain, which was created in 1615.

6. Zamość

In 1992. Zamość was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Rich merchants decorating their houses statues of saints and angels and fancy ornaments with plants and animals, for example. Dragons.

Founded in 1580 by the Chancellor and Hetman Jan Zamoyski is unusual in the world based on the implementation of urban treaties sixteenth-century architects. Plan of Zamosc developed Bernardo Morando,

Inside the massive city walls were the main square with the Town Hall, two ancillary markets, collegiate (since 1992. Cathedral), the church (now the Catholic Church) and a synagogue (now the library), as well as the palace of entail and the Academy of Zamosc.

To the city once led three gates: the Lublin, Szczebrzeska and Lviv. Masterpiece of urban planning is the Great Market square measuring 100 x 100 meters, surrounded by arcaded houses with rich sculptural decoration and lace attics.

7. Wrocław

The rapid expansion of Wroclaw in the thirteenth century, decided the city location. Town hall was built in the middle of the market, the seat of the municipal government. Held at the annual meeting of the townspeople, and every day the building was used for commercial purposes. Multiple reconstruction in the years 1327-1504, led to the creation of one of the most impressive medieval buildings in Europe.

In the thirteenth century began to rise townhouses around the market. Most of them were destroyed during World War II and later reconstructed. Here and there only preserved the original brick walls. A gateway connecting a Renaissance edifice called Hansel and baroque, called Gretel, leading the market to the beautiful Gothic church of St. Elizabeth.

8. Poznań

Old Market in Poznan is definitely one of the most beautiful in the country. His buildings, once made of wood from the second half of the fifteenth century was replaced by a brick.

During the liberation of the city in 1945, most of the houses were destroyed, reconstructed them in the next two decades. One of the most beautiful buildings are Działyński Palace and the Renaissance palace Górków with an arcaded courtyard

The town hall was designed by Giovanni Battista Quadro from Lugano, who worked in Poznan in the years 1550-1560. On behalf of the city he conducted a reconstruction of the town hall, which was destroyed by fire in 1536.

The most characteristic feature of Poznan are two mechanical goats, gushing 12 times at noon on city tower hall. Watching them every day crowd of tourists and onlookers.

9. Zakopane

Located at a height of 800-1000 m asl the city is a tourist area and the center of winter sports. Its origins date back to the sixteenth century and are associated with the formation of a permanent settlement shepherd. the development of the village dates from the second half of the nineteenth century, through the work of Titus Chałubińskiego, the great promoter of climatic benefits of Zakopane. The oldest part of the city is focused around a wooden church from the nineteenth century and the old cemetery on Pęksowy Brzyzek.

10. Warszawa 

The most beautiful is also Warsaw, the largest city of the country. The Polish capital can be proud of the Royal Castle, attracting crowds of tourists. The castle is surrounded by a south walls. Its present appearance owes to Jacob Kubicki. Standing here Zygmunt column is the first in Poland monument depicting a historical person. It was built in 1644 by Ladislaus IV to honor the memory of his father, Sigismund III Vasa. During the Warsaw uprising, in September 1944, they destroyed by the Germans. The column was rebuilt in 1949.

Today Warsaw is an important scientific, cultural, political and economic centre. Here are established, among others, The president, the parliament and the Council of Ministers and the National Bank of Polish.

Malbork, Teutonic Knights castle

          Being in Gdansk worth on the way back visit the castle in Malbork. Its powerful construction can be seen from afar and make a really big impression. The castle is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture defensive-residential in Europe and is maintained in excellent form.

           Castle in Malbork was built in several stages from 1280 to the first half of the fifteenth century by the Teutonic Knights. Preparations for building lasted from 1278. The beginning of the first phase of construction of the castle can be dated to the year 1280. In 1309 it was decided to transfer the seat of the Grand Master of the Order from Venice to Malbork, which thus became the capital of the Monastic State. After the fall of the Order, the castle was sold in 1457 to the Polish king Casimir the Jagiellonian. From now until 1772 was one of the residence of Polish kings.

          After the first partition of Polish, on 12 September 1772, the castle left the Polish soldiers, and a day later the castle occupied by the Prussians. In 1780, the castle was abandoned last two Polish Jesuits. After the acquisition of the castle by the Prussians in 1774 began to rebuild the castle into barracks, which led to massive destruction. They demolished almost all the Gothic vaults and rebuilt the window. Great Refectory allocated to the riding horses school. In the Palace of the Grand Masters placed fabric factory and housing for workers. They made the demolition of many gates and walls on the building material. Especially great loss castle suffered in the years 1801-1804 on the orders of Frederick William III when the castle began to rebuild the great military warehouses.

          The beginnings of reconstruction began in 1817 from the reconstruction of the eastern facade of the Palace of the Grand Masters and the reconstruction of the chapel of St. Catherine. Restoration works lasted until the outbreak of World War II and were led by many famous architects. In the 30s of the twentieth century, it was often used by the German Nazi as celebration background. In the winter of 1945 during the battles for the city with the Soviet Red Army, the castle was turned into a point of resistance, which has led to great destruction. Fighting lasted until March 9, 1945 year. Have been destroyed completely the eastern part of the castle, the main tower and the castle church. The destruction was estimated at 50-60%.

          In the late 50's due to that during World War II, 50% of the castle was destroyed, the authorities began to plan the demolition of the castle. Finally, changed their minds and appointed Social Committee for Reconstruction of the Castle. It began which lasted for many years to rebuild the castle during which attempts were made to restore its shape from the Middle Ages, removing erroneous reconstructions made by German art conservators

Malbork Castle in 2007, was considered one of seven wonders of Poland. The castle complex are still under renovations.

Estimated time to explore the castle tours is 3-4 hours.

On Mondays and some holidays interiors of the Museum are CLOSED, you can then visit the castle area exteriors and some of interiors.

The castle is open to visitors from 9am to 19pm.

Normal ticket 9 euro
discount ticket 7 euro

Gdańsk and the Shipyard

          Beginnings of shipbuilding in Gdańsk date back to the 70s XV. In 1804 the shipyard was founded by Jan Klawitter, who built the first wooden sailing ships and river steamers. Then, in 1844 on the grounds purchased by the Prussian government established Navy marina, then transformed into the Royal Plant Construction of Corvettes. Since 1871 the plant was named Kaiserliche Werft (Imperial Shipyard). The yard was owned by the state and worked exclusively for the needs of the Navy. In 1890 near the Imperial Shipyard was established shipyard Schichau-Werft, produced both commercial vessels and passenger.

           After the outbreak of war, the whole shipyard was taken over by the German state. After the war, September 3, 1945 inaugurated the opening of ship repair yard. Additional production was assembling tractors, steam engines and trucks. November 6, 1948 took place the launching of the first built after the war, ship named Sołdek. The ship was named after the tracer working of the Gdansk Shipyard, Stanislaw Sołdek.

          April 15, 1967 Gdansk Shipyard was named after Vladimir Lenin. December 14, 1970 was announced in Poland price increase of meat and other food products. This resulted in the outbreak of a strike in the Gdansk shipyard and other shipyards around the coast. Against the striking shipyard workers used the armed forces, which in acute weapons attacked the striking workers in Gdansk (16 December), as well as workers going  to work in the shipyard in Gdynia (December 17). The bullets that killed dozens of people.

             August 1980 was another great event in Poland and the Gdansk Shipyard. The huge economic and social problems, such as difficulties in the supply of basic foodstuffs at an all-time food exports to the Soviet Union, the authorities struggle with growing increasingly democratic opposition, restrictions on freedom of speech, lack of prospects for improving living conditions. Launched August 14, 1980 sit-crew Gdansk Shipyard in defense of the fire leader of the labor movement: gantry Anna Walentynowicz. The strike turned into three days of nationwide protest society against the communist regime. Shpiyard staff protest was supported by intellectuals and society and transformed then in a nationwide social movement "Solidarity". Labor strikes covered the entire country.

              Increasing in the end of 1981 years the tension in relations "Solidarity" - the state authorities reached its apogee on Sunday, 13 December, when the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the Prime Minister, General Wojciech Jaruzelski declared martial law. Banned "Solidarity" and imprisoned or interned active social activists, introduced censorship of the press and publications, radio and television. Introduced curfew introduced wiretapping of telephone conversations and censor mail, limited mobility, introduced food stamps.

               At the end of the 80s rose again the activity of society, demanding the legalization of "Solidarity" and return to the path of democratic change. Further demonstrations took place with the participation of workers and Lech Walesa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1982. The communist authorities recognizing the need for change agreed to talks with the opposition at the "round table", which led to partially free elections to the parliament and the Senate in 1989, and changes political system in Poland.

               Gdansk Shipyard during their activities has built and put into operation shipowners concerned from various countries of the world more than 1,000 fully equipped seagoing vessels with a high international standard

Photos by mag jack

Gdańsk, the port city

          Gdańsk is one of the largest, oldest, and certainly one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. Being here a couple days it's hard to see everything, and even more difficult to pack a suitcase and move on. This time the weather was not good, but cold and wet of sea even more tempting and revealed the dark charm of the port city.

          Gdańsk is a symbol city, which in its history summarizes the history of the whole Polish nation. It is a city with over a thousand years of history, whose identity over the centuries was influenced by different cultures. In the sixteenth century, it was the richest city in Poland. The city was also an important cultural center. Gdańsk is considered the symbolic place of the outbreak of World War II and the beginning of the fall of communism in Central Europe.

          Gdańsk is one of the most valuable monuments in Poland, despite the fact that almost the entire historic downtown was rebuilt after World War II which destroyed almost the entire old city (unfortunately not all Polish cities have been rebuilt). Important monuments of Gdansk are located in the Main Town (Main Town Hall, Artus Court, House of Uphagen) and Old Town (Great Mill, Old Town Hall, St. Catherine Church), the main located along the Royal Route representative street of Gdańsk - Długa. In the Main Town is the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption - the largest medieval church of brick in the world. Until 1939, there was the Great Synagogue. Other important places in Gdansk is also Westerplatte, whose defense in September 1939 became a symbolic beginning of II World War and the Polish resistance against German aggression.

       Architectural monuments of Gdansk come from different periods, the city reminds a giant, colorful mosaic of styles. You can find the buildings representing the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque and totally fall in love with the colorful townhouses.

          Today, Gdańsk is one of the largest cultural centers in Poland and one of the largest academic centers. In Gdansk take place the world's largest international exhibition of amber and amber products Amberif

Photos by mag jack

Sopot, spring by the sea

          The spring started, so it is the time for the first spring trip. It's a good time to visit the Baltic Sea. Wind has not tip me on the beach, and the cold does not receive all the pleasure of walking the coast. Perfect time. The seaside resorts are still completely empty, so I can without pushing other people, take a walk round the pier or Monciak (the main street of the town). This year I chose Sopot (Poland). In the season is visited by thousands of tourists not only from Poland, now is completely empty, as well as cafes and restaurants, where today I do not have to wait for hours for a meal.

          Sopot is located in northern Poland, on the Gulf of Gdansk (Baltic Sea). Sopot is the most popular resort and spa town in Poland, while visiting him before the season sometimes hard to believe. However, it has very much very good eatery.

          The city has Europe's longest wooden pier. Besides being on the beach I can admire the lighthouse. Near the pier is built Church of the Saviour. This is the church of the Evangelical-Augsburg in Gdansk located in Sopot. It was built in neo-baroque style in the years 1913-1919 by the famous architect Adolf Bielefeldt. Its white tower is clearly visible from afar and invites visitors.

          It should also see a settlement in Sopot, early medieval settlement located within the city, surrounded by ramparts and a moat. Around the growing beech forest, currently lazily coming to life. Settlement functions as an archaeological museum, accessible to tourists.

          Spoto is also a place known for its nationwide music festival, and many cultural events, which have a place here in the summer. It's also a place visited by crowds of Polish celebrities and artists. But now there is not just one, but a permanent residents.

          I love the early spring to visit the seaside towns. This pervasive emptiness has something magical and evocative. All prepared and waiting for the May first wave of tourists. And now it is completely empty and silent. The sea has a slightly different shade of gray, as sand is not marked yet by thousands of footprints. It's a good time to prepare for the season the travel, sit in a small cafes with laptop and book and make plans for the summer.


Photos by mag jack