Eastern Europe
Pavla on the Charles Bribge in Prague. February 1999.
The story of Pavla is an interesting one. I met her in Yosemite in 1998. When I went to Poland later on that
year, we met once again when I went to Prague which is where Pavla was working. In March Pavla came to Krakow for the
weekend. At the time Chris from California was in Krakow visiting me also. He and Pavla became close. Then when I came
back to the US in 1999 I met her again this time in Chicago. We also almost met up in Mexico in 2000 but we couldn't put it together.
Prague April 1999.
In April I went to Prague for the second time this year. I met Chris there. Chris who was on a major journey of his own had
started in Spain and made his way accross North Africa up through Turkey and Eastern Europe to meet me in Krakow. At that
time we made a two week trip through Poland and into Lithuania. Then Chris continued on up into the Baltics, Russia,
Scandinavia, Germany and then we met in Prague. After Prague Chris continued south to Vienna to meet up with Pavla.
Chris in Prague April 1999.
This is not the first time me and Chris have traveled together. We also made a five week trip through Europe with
another friend from Yosemite named Rob Crawford. Rob was just here in Vail with me and Chris right now is in Costa Rica,
surfing and playing guitar.
Karlstein Castle outside of Prague.
Me and Chris made the short trip by train to the Karlstein castle. Excellent!!
Wroclaw townhall Poland.
Wroclaw is a very interesting city. It's on the German border and was once a German city, so it has a dual personality.
The city was heavily damaged in the 2nd war but remarkably the town hall above was not seriously damaged. The building was
started in 1327 and took almost 300 years to complete. Hence the three distinct styles of architecture.
The colorful buildings that line the Wroclaw town square.
In Wroclaw is one Poland's most famous paintings. The Raklawice Panorama. It is a painting on a canvas that is 15
meters high and 114 meters long but it's painted in a circle, so that you view it in 360 degrees, from a platform in
the center. It portrays the battle of Raklawice which was a Polish rebellion against Russian overlords. The battle was led
by Tadeusz Kosciuszko who won the battle but the rebellion was crushed. So Kosciuszko fled to America where he became a
revolutionary war hero for the United States.
Kazimierz Dolny Poland.
Kavimierz is one of Poland's most picturesque and atmospheric little towns. Me and Chris were here on the Monday
after Easter which is known as "Wet Monday". On this day all the school kids have free reign to wet anybody they happen to
come accross. In the middle of the square in Kazemierz there is a fountain from which the kids attacked their unsuspecting
victims (usually female tourists). It was a great form of spectator sport for a lazy, spring day.
Regensburg Germany.
Regensburg is another town in Germany that was untouched by WWII. So most of the old town is formed of medieval architecture
covered over by baroch and renaissance, facades and paintings. There are also some roman ruins still here.
Regensburg cathedral.
Fortunately the cathedral has retained it's original gothic architecture inside and out.
From Poland I made two trips into Prague, one to visit my friend Pavla and one with my best friend from California,
Chris. I also made a trip to Regensburg Germany, which is not to far from Prague. Before I flew back to the states I went
to Nurnberg again and then on to Munich. I had one wish while I was in Europe, that was to meet one of my friends from
the states. Well on my last day in Europe I ran into a friend whom I had worked with in Yosemite. His name was Ashley
from Georgia. He heard my voice while I was talking to somebody, turned around and there I was, standing right behind
him on the streets of Munich.
Pavla on the Charles Bribge in Prague. February 1999.
The story of Pavla is an interesting one. I met her in Yosemite in 1998. When I went to Poland later on that
year, we met once again when I went to Prague which is where Pavla was working. In March Pavla came to Krakow for the
weekend. At the time Chris from California was in Krakow visiting me also. He and Pavla became close. Then when I came
back to the US in 1999 I met her again this time in Chicago. We also almost met up in Mexico in 2000 but we couldn't put it together.
Prague April 1999.
In April I went to Prague for the second time this year. I met Chris there. Chris who was on a major journey of his own had
started in Spain and made his way accross North Africa up through Turkey and Eastern Europe to meet me in Krakow. At that
time we made a two week trip through Poland and into Lithuania. Then Chris continued on up into the Baltics, Russia,
Scandinavia, Germany and then we met in Prague. After Prague Chris continued south to Vienna to meet up with Pavla.
Chris in Prague April 1999.
This is not the first time me and Chris have traveled together. We also made a five week trip through Europe with
another friend from Yosemite named Rob Crawford. Rob was just here in Vail with me and Chris right now is in Costa Rica,
surfing and playing guitar.
Karlstein Castle outside of Prague.
Me and Chris made the short trip by train to the Karlstein castle. Excellent!!
Wroclaw townhall Poland.
Wroclaw is a very interesting city. It's on the German border and was once a German city, so it has a dual personality.
The city was heavily damaged in the 2nd war but remarkably the town hall above was not seriously damaged. The building was
started in 1327 and took almost 300 years to complete. Hence the three distinct styles of architecture.
The colorful buildings that line the Wroclaw town square.
In Wroclaw is one Poland's most famous paintings. The Raklawice Panorama. It is a painting on a canvas that is 15
meters high and 114 meters long but it's painted in a circle, so that you view it in 360 degrees, from a platform in
the center. It portrays the battle of Raklawice which was a Polish rebellion against Russian overlords. The battle was led
by Tadeusz Kosciuszko who won the battle but the rebellion was crushed. So Kosciuszko fled to America where he became a
revolutionary war hero for the United States.
Kazimierz Dolny Poland.
Kavimierz is one of Poland's most picturesque and atmospheric little towns. Me and Chris were here on the Monday
after Easter which is known as "Wet Monday". On this day all the school kids have free reign to wet anybody they happen to
come accross. In the middle of the square in Kazemierz there is a fountain from which the kids attacked their unsuspecting
victims (usually female tourists). It was a great form of spectator sport for a lazy, spring day.
Regensburg Germany.
Regensburg is another town in Germany that was untouched by WWII. So most of the old town is formed of medieval architecture
covered over by baroch and renaissance, facades and paintings. There are also some roman ruins still here.
Regensburg cathedral.
Fortunately the cathedral has retained it's original gothic architecture inside and out.
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