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Merv-IOM
Subscriber
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2011
- Messages
- 2,284
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Isle of Man
- Member No
- 2,034
- RV Type
- A Class
- Model
- Winnebago Journey DL 34 HD
- RV Experience
- Since 2011
Well, it's been a while so here goes (apologies again for making you all yawn).
Vilnius city camp is good enough, but no frills if you know what I mean. We cycled into the city centre once and wish we hadn't! It was a long slog along a very busy road in both directions. Anyway it was kinda worth it, I say 'kinda' as it is different from the other cities we've visited in as much that it's a normal, busy city with lovely, interesting buildings dotted among the ordinary shops & offices, as opposed to a defined 'old city' area, but it's huge and takes it's toll (Sandra liked it as there's an M&S there.......). A couple of days there was enough and we set off for Druskininkai in the southwest corner of Lithuania.
Druskininkai was a lovely spot, exceptionally clean, neat and tidy. Apparently it used to be a holiday destination for Russians until Lithuania broke away and joined the EU – which is a Brucey bonus as it has everything you could wish for (even in indoor ski slope), is very pretty and hardly anyone there! The campsite was lovely too, constructed on the old railway line/station that used to ferry the Russkies in. We managed to get a pitch which was massive, fresh water on tap, good elekky but no waste unfortunately. What was fortunate was that our pilot air dump valve decided to pack in on arrival, meaning we couldn't reflate the air suspension to travel again. After a few phone calls and some internet research I managed to get the parts shipped over from the UK and fitted it with ease. The downside was that we had to stay there for 2 weeks in the sunshine.........shame eh?
Lithuania (and Latvia) are beautiful, friendly countries and well worth visiting – especially after Jan 2015 when Lithuania adopts the Euro (Latvia already has it). These two countries are the best in the Baltic area by miles.
Poland next, and we headed for Elk (NW Poland) which is in an area of many lakes etc – the city camp there was pretty good and right beside some lakes with home made beaches, miles of promenade to cycle on (yep the lakes are that big) and a Tesco's nearby (well it makes a change from Lidl's). We'd learned, from an Austrian couple, that Bialowiecza, right on the border of Belarus, was a good place to visit as it is the last place where European Bison roam (protected area of course)......so we trundle down to there for a look-see.
When we got there though, the campsite we'd headed for was derelict but luckily we found a small one nearby that was lovely (some old lady's back garden with services etc) so we blocked the traffic and backed in (tight but got in there nicely). The wild bison, I'm afraid, were wandering around this huge, fenced forest and we couldn't see them except in the local 'sanctuary'. This turned out to be no more than a grubby, down at heel zoo where they rear new bison. What upset us most was the other 'interesting' animals were 2 sad wolves, 1 lonely moose and a shocking thing that is the result of breeding a cow with a bison. Awfully sad to see animals like this, but I imagine in it's day, the zoo would have been much cleaner etc – but tourism numbers and recession has hit them too I guess. (PS we are not zoo lovers – we'd rather see animals out in the wild where they belong). We did, however enjoy cycling around the area looking for lesser spotted eagles (no luck tho, poo).
From there it was a very long, very bumpy haul down national roads, via Lublin, to Sandomierz. I mention that the roads were bumpy – well that's an understatement. I've been driving trucks, all over Europe/UK, for nigh on 42 years and never been scared of a road – until now! The roads in Poland are awful, unable to carry the latest 44 tonners, narrow and very rutted. At one stage I was unable to get out of the 3-4” deep ruts to steer away from a weaving Polish artic going in the opposite direction a great speed!! It is the first and only time I've been fearful. We've all heard stories about Polish truckers not being the best – well that too is an understatement. In my opinion they are the worst drivers I've ever come across.....completely ruthless, fast and utterly reckless. Very scary (and to think they're driving with a similar attitude all over the UK now..........) and the car drivers are the same! (Sandra, by the way, did not drive in Poland by mutual consent – and I don't blame her at all).
Anyway, enough ranting, Sandomierz is a lovely, friendly old town with lots to see, made even better because there is no traffic in town....phew! As an example, we had 4 large beers, a plate of nacho's with a dip and a massive home made chilli burger (with home made chips to die for) all for under a tenner – yippeee!
Next on our route was Krakow. Surprising us by being a delightful place (in the centre that is, the outskirts were like any other town). A very nice day was had cycling around the old town and getting home just before the thunderstorm hit! The city camp there was good enough but failed on two counts. 1, they wanted to charge us extra because of our size (not a chance!!) and 2, we booked to go on a tour to the nearby salt mines the next day at 10.30. We turned up at the gate as requested – but the bus didn't! The numpty at reception forgot to book it and we were scuppered. It's a shame as it was one of the places we wanted to visit – but hey ho, next time maybe.
Auschwitz.
A place we wanted to go, but not if you know what I mean. There aren't that many campsites in the area, but I managed to find one right outside Auschwitz #1 at a 'Centre for Prayer & Dialogue'...basically it's a catholic run hotel which has a small campsite – and it's a lovely spot too! (PS we're not religious).
I finally convinced Sandra to visit Auschwitz #1 (being the smaller museum) after she expressed concerns about how she'd feel. It is an odd place and upsetting to stand in the rooms where these awful things took place. Needless to say that I went alone to the much bigger Auschwitz/Birkanau the following day, as Sandra (and I) were disturbed by the first one. Enough said I think.
Thankfully it was time to leave Poland, the mad drivers and the appalling roads behind and we headed for the Czech republic.
Vilnius city camp is good enough, but no frills if you know what I mean. We cycled into the city centre once and wish we hadn't! It was a long slog along a very busy road in both directions. Anyway it was kinda worth it, I say 'kinda' as it is different from the other cities we've visited in as much that it's a normal, busy city with lovely, interesting buildings dotted among the ordinary shops & offices, as opposed to a defined 'old city' area, but it's huge and takes it's toll (Sandra liked it as there's an M&S there.......). A couple of days there was enough and we set off for Druskininkai in the southwest corner of Lithuania.
Druskininkai was a lovely spot, exceptionally clean, neat and tidy. Apparently it used to be a holiday destination for Russians until Lithuania broke away and joined the EU – which is a Brucey bonus as it has everything you could wish for (even in indoor ski slope), is very pretty and hardly anyone there! The campsite was lovely too, constructed on the old railway line/station that used to ferry the Russkies in. We managed to get a pitch which was massive, fresh water on tap, good elekky but no waste unfortunately. What was fortunate was that our pilot air dump valve decided to pack in on arrival, meaning we couldn't reflate the air suspension to travel again. After a few phone calls and some internet research I managed to get the parts shipped over from the UK and fitted it with ease. The downside was that we had to stay there for 2 weeks in the sunshine.........shame eh?
Lithuania (and Latvia) are beautiful, friendly countries and well worth visiting – especially after Jan 2015 when Lithuania adopts the Euro (Latvia already has it). These two countries are the best in the Baltic area by miles.
Poland next, and we headed for Elk (NW Poland) which is in an area of many lakes etc – the city camp there was pretty good and right beside some lakes with home made beaches, miles of promenade to cycle on (yep the lakes are that big) and a Tesco's nearby (well it makes a change from Lidl's). We'd learned, from an Austrian couple, that Bialowiecza, right on the border of Belarus, was a good place to visit as it is the last place where European Bison roam (protected area of course)......so we trundle down to there for a look-see.
When we got there though, the campsite we'd headed for was derelict but luckily we found a small one nearby that was lovely (some old lady's back garden with services etc) so we blocked the traffic and backed in (tight but got in there nicely). The wild bison, I'm afraid, were wandering around this huge, fenced forest and we couldn't see them except in the local 'sanctuary'. This turned out to be no more than a grubby, down at heel zoo where they rear new bison. What upset us most was the other 'interesting' animals were 2 sad wolves, 1 lonely moose and a shocking thing that is the result of breeding a cow with a bison. Awfully sad to see animals like this, but I imagine in it's day, the zoo would have been much cleaner etc – but tourism numbers and recession has hit them too I guess. (PS we are not zoo lovers – we'd rather see animals out in the wild where they belong). We did, however enjoy cycling around the area looking for lesser spotted eagles (no luck tho, poo).
From there it was a very long, very bumpy haul down national roads, via Lublin, to Sandomierz. I mention that the roads were bumpy – well that's an understatement. I've been driving trucks, all over Europe/UK, for nigh on 42 years and never been scared of a road – until now! The roads in Poland are awful, unable to carry the latest 44 tonners, narrow and very rutted. At one stage I was unable to get out of the 3-4” deep ruts to steer away from a weaving Polish artic going in the opposite direction a great speed!! It is the first and only time I've been fearful. We've all heard stories about Polish truckers not being the best – well that too is an understatement. In my opinion they are the worst drivers I've ever come across.....completely ruthless, fast and utterly reckless. Very scary (and to think they're driving with a similar attitude all over the UK now..........) and the car drivers are the same! (Sandra, by the way, did not drive in Poland by mutual consent – and I don't blame her at all).
Anyway, enough ranting, Sandomierz is a lovely, friendly old town with lots to see, made even better because there is no traffic in town....phew! As an example, we had 4 large beers, a plate of nacho's with a dip and a massive home made chilli burger (with home made chips to die for) all for under a tenner – yippeee!
Next on our route was Krakow. Surprising us by being a delightful place (in the centre that is, the outskirts were like any other town). A very nice day was had cycling around the old town and getting home just before the thunderstorm hit! The city camp there was good enough but failed on two counts. 1, they wanted to charge us extra because of our size (not a chance!!) and 2, we booked to go on a tour to the nearby salt mines the next day at 10.30. We turned up at the gate as requested – but the bus didn't! The numpty at reception forgot to book it and we were scuppered. It's a shame as it was one of the places we wanted to visit – but hey ho, next time maybe.
Auschwitz.
A place we wanted to go, but not if you know what I mean. There aren't that many campsites in the area, but I managed to find one right outside Auschwitz #1 at a 'Centre for Prayer & Dialogue'...basically it's a catholic run hotel which has a small campsite – and it's a lovely spot too! (PS we're not religious).
I finally convinced Sandra to visit Auschwitz #1 (being the smaller museum) after she expressed concerns about how she'd feel. It is an odd place and upsetting to stand in the rooms where these awful things took place. Needless to say that I went alone to the much bigger Auschwitz/Birkanau the following day, as Sandra (and I) were disturbed by the first one. Enough said I think.
Thankfully it was time to leave Poland, the mad drivers and the appalling roads behind and we headed for the Czech republic.
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