Category: Europe

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France, day 3: Versailles (Piotr)

The day was all about  ☞ Versaillles. Took M4 to Gare Montparnasse and local, but fast non-stop train. No railroad strike that day. I was very lucky as my friend works at Versailles and gave me a private tour. We started at the Royal Chapel, visited the upstairs quarters, joined tourist stream to visit main atractions, returned to the Chapel. I then made a big loop zig-zagging through the park and gardens, watching fountain show, walking to Orangerie at the end.

Mirror Basin

We walked through town a bit, found a nice restaurant for dinner, and returned by RERC  and bus to the city center. I walked by Notre Dame, Hotel de Ville and Pompidou Center to my place.

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France, day 2: Paris (Piotr)

Walking loop to Louvre and beyond, fighting off jetlag and stoping at an agency to arrange Loire Valley tour.

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France, day 1: Paris (Piotr)

Return to Paris: Chicago ORD âžœ Paris CDG âžœ RER B to Les Halles âžœ Arts et Métiers airbnb@Rue au Maire ➜ walk around neigborhood and to Notre Dame and Pont  Neuf. Travel was easy. No waiting, no crowds anywhere: two hours from Hyde Park to gate at ORD, two hours from arrival at CDG to my airbnb@Rue au Maire. Grocery shopping at supermarche. Longer coffe break. Here is the rest of the afternoon…not much to add.

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One and a half day in Potsdam (Piotr)

The afternoon walk on the first day started in the City center, through Alexandrowka to the Alexander Newski Church, then to Belvedere and Cecilienhof in the Neuer Garten. Returned to the center walking mostly along the Heiliger See (Grunes Haus, Elefant tree, Pyramide, Marmopalais). Very relaxing couple of hours.

The second day was all about Sanssouci, almost. Walked around the grounds for several hours enjoying both, the architecture and the park. I liked the park, including a brief visit to the Botanical Garden (University of Potsdam). Late afternoon I walked from the Nauener Tor to the Old Market Square (Alter Markt), passing by the Dutch Quarter and spending some time wandering around the market:  St. Nicholas Church, Landtag of Brandenburg (reconstructed old City Palace), Museum Barberini (copy of Barberini Palace), and the Lange bridge.  ☞ Museum Barberini was the main atraction here: Impresionism, the Art of Landscape and Modern Art Clasic, Liebermann, Munch, Nolde, Kandinsky. Not enough of Kandinsky.

Next, a brief stop in Poznan and back to Chicago.

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Two days in Praha (Piotr)

The bus trip from Poznan to Prague was slow, the new highways are still under construction, but views were nice, especially when crossing the Sudety mountain range.

The first day started with a walk in the Old Town, from Starometska metro station and Rudolfinum, through the old Jewish quarter (old cemetary and synagogs) to the Old Town Square via Parizska street. Watched the astronomical clock at Noon and then walked to Saint James Basilica, and   Powder Tower. Returned to the Square, walked to the riverfront near Smetana monument, crossed the Bridge to Kampa and then walked up the Petrin Hill towards the Strahan Monastery. Returned from Pohorelec to Volkovice, where I stayed with friends, closing the day at a local restaurant with some Czech food.

I spent the second day in Hradcany. After almost an hour wait to clear security, the visit was quite smooth, although the place was packed with tourists: Saint George Basilica, the Golden Lane, the Cathedral and the Old Royal Palace. Exited through the main Castel gate, walked by Loreta to the Strahan Monastery for Klaster beer with a view. Back to the Castel, down the Zamecke Schody (Castle Stairs) to the Senate building and Waldstein Garden. Returned later to the riverfront and the Bridge one more time for evening views, and after midnight left from Florenc for the return bus trip to Poznan.

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