Wroclaw

Glass Sculptures
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Wednesday July 9^th 2008

Next day we head to Poland to an area near WROCKLAW. Drove across the border no passports needed and headed to the campsite through some very bumpy narrow roads over rickety bridges pass the sewerage works and some cattle grazing on the side of the road and arrive. Not many people there, we have our choice of site facilities are in the far side of the ground through the pool area. It’s Camp No. 245 named in the communism time and they haven’t bothered to change it. Set up and decided to wander to town to see if we can get some Polish money. Walked into town a small butcher shop bank agency small food shop fast food stand in a trailer, underground men’s and ladies toilets and a huge church and a large Christian building bigger than our Town Hall and more impressive . We wandered around it and decided it was a home for the mentally handicapped but they have the same problems as we do in Sydney the site has been sold to redevelopers as there is a placard showing the proposed development. Next day headed into WROCKLAW got our cash, found a flower market and a parking spot and walked to a 360° 3D panorama painting depicting a battle scene, very graphic and painted in 1824 and survived both world wars, being stolen, refound, looting etc and now it is being re/exhibited very lifelike with trees, dirt, bugles, carts etc laid in the foreground to give it the real 3D effect.

Tourists at Wroclaw
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We then ventured into main street of Wroclaw to have some point luck lunch and while we were waiting for our meal a young girl about 10 came through the restaurant begging from the customers, the staff had no worries about her being there, a couple of men gave her some money but most sent her on her way. Nice lunch we weren’t that impressed with this town till we turned the corner and saw our 1^st large shopping centre bit like Miranda Fair so we wandered through it had a quick look at the electrical area then went outside and realised we had misplaced our bearings Whoops. Not a problem pulled Kate out who soon had us heading in the right direction.

Other Tourists at Wroclaw
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On the way we had noticed a rather large shopping complex which spread out over both sides of the highway and had a couple of sets of lights to manage the traffic within it. It probably covered a similar area as the Olympic complex in Sydney, it was huge. We only wanted Tesco’s to do our shopping. You probably think we travel to the supermarket quite a bit, we do, and you probably think our lives are ruled by supermarkets, they are, but remember, our fridges are small only about 40lts. Food doesn’t keep well here, so we have given up buying for a week, as we only ended up throwing things out. I never thought I would stand in front of a counter of carrots and test to see if they were limp!!!!!!! Or as Rob would say “Brewers Droop”.

Wroclaw River Scene
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Friday July 11th

Next day we headed back into Germany for a bit of R & R ,this campsite boasted pool sauna spa beautician, all very nice, the facilities were exceptional but it lacked atmosphere and we lacked 2 camping cards that’s right we had left 2 of our camping cards at the last site in Poland. Anne and Richard left early next morning to pick them up and that story I will let Anne tell. After a lovely day the first day, washing up to date we were treated to a storm which had us running for cover and next morning instead of doing a day trip to Dresden at breakfast it was decided to tow the vans as well it got us closer to Berlin for the next hop and it was raining anyway so without anyone going to the toilet we were on our way to Dresden by 9am.

Anne here for the fill in.  Richard and I got up early and left the camp at 6.30am for Poland.  We had a nice drive and the trucks that we had encountered the day before were almost all gone.  Just had one minor hold up for 10 minutes.  We got to the old camp and got the camping cards, no problem.

We then started back for Germany after making a slight detour to look at a computer Richard had seen.  We didn't buy it which is a good thing.  On the map there were two roads to get to the Trixi camp, one in Germany and one in Poland.  Yesterday we came on the German road as it look better.  So Richard and I decided to try the Polish side to see if it was suitable for the vans.  We got to within 5ks of the German border and we got pulled over by two armed and agressive Polish cops.  They demanded passports and car registration, remember our cars have british plates.  I ask to see their ID which was probably not a good start.

Luckily I had our passports which we don't always carry but the car rego was back in the van.  Well that caused a problem because apparently in Poland you must carry the car rego.  After 10 minutes of sitting anxiously in the car one cop came back and gave us a hard time.  We still had the back on of calling Sue and Rob to bring the rego.  This would have really caused problems because there was a mix up when we bought the cars and I own the car they drive and Sue owns the one we drive.

Finally they let us go and then we realised that we were stopped right a the old site of Stalag 21!!!  We got back to Germany as fast as we could.  It was scary for awhile as I wasn't sure if Sue had the receipe for cake with a file!!