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.
Russian house in Aleksandrowka
Alexander Newski Gedachtniskirche
Orangerieschloss
Park Sanssouci, Hauptallee vie towards Neues Palais
Neues Palais, Colonnade, Universitat Potsdam
Neues Palais
Park Sanssouci, Hauptallee view towards Lustgarten
Chinesisches Haus in Park Sanssouci
Schloss Sannnouci
Hollandisches Viertel
Nikolaikirche, Landtag Brandenburg and Museum Barberini, view from the bridge (Lange Brucke) on the Havel river
Alter Markt: Potsdam Museum, Museum Barberini and Landtag Brandenburg
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.
Old Town
Prazsky orloj (Prague Astronomical Clock, Old Town City Hall
View towards Starometske Namesti (the Old Town Square and City Hall)
Prasna Brana (the Powder Tower)
Bedrich Smetana
Crossing Karluv Most (Charles Bridge) towards Old Town
Vltava, Starometska Mostecka Vez (Old Town bridge tower), view from Kampa
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Katedral Svateho Vita (Saint Vitus Cathedral)
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Zlata ulicka (Golden lane), Prazsky hrad (Prague castle)
Bazilica Svateho Jiri (Saint George Basilica)
Loreta, view from Loretanska (street)
View from Strahovsky Klaster (Strahov Monastery), terrace of Bellavista restaurant: Katedrala (Cathedral) and Prazsky hrad (Prague castle)
Valdstejnska Zahrada (Waldstein Garden)
Vltava river, Petrin hill, Katedrala, Prazsky hra
View from Karluv Most, Malostranska mostecka vez, Katedrala
I was relaxing with friends for a few days in a small village, Bialogora, on the Baltic Sea and we decided to make a quick visit to Gdańsk, my first. Just walking around the Old Town.
This is my last day in Portugal and I decided to visit Taylor’s – their LBV was the first port I tried years ago. Rather than walking as usual, I used metro  (very efficient) and teleferico (was the first passanger of the day, just before 10). Sniffed around Vila Nova de Gaia checking out the names of the famous port houses. Self guided visit at Taylors’  was well organized and educational, but not boring. Tasted 2012 LBV, of course, the consistency and quality is not a big surprise, but I also liked the “white port” Chip Dry, which I do not remeber seeing in Chicago. Checked out the real good stuff at the shop, unfortunatelly outside of my range.  Teleferico, metro, airport and I was on my way back to Poznan. Portugal is very interesting and easy to travel country with a lot to see and try.
Portugal itinerary
April 20, Thursday
Poznań ➜ (Polskibus) ➜ SXF ➜ (Ryanair) ➜ LIS ➜ (Metro Vm+Vd) ➜ Marti Moniz ➜ Rua da Palma ➜ Miradouro & Jardim & Largo da Graça ➜ Miradouro & Largo das Portas do Sol ➜ Praça Marti Moniz ➜ [@ Rua da Palma].
April 21, Friday
Rua da Palma ➜ Praça Marti Moniz ➜ Praça da Figueria ➜ Praça Dom Pedro IV ➜ Praça dos Restauradores ➜Calçada da Glória ➜ Miradouro São Pedro de Alcãntara ➜ Convento São Pedro & Igreja de São Roque ➜ Estaçao do Rosio ➜ Sintra ➜ Parque da Liberdade ➜ Igreja de Santa Maria ➜ Castelo dos Mouros ➜ Palácio & Parque da Pena ➜ Vale dos Lagos ➜ Sintra village ➜ Estaçao do Rosio ➜ Miradouro São Pedro de Alcãntara ➜ Largo do Carmo & Museu Arqueológico ➜ Elevador de Santa Justa ➜ Largo de São Domingo ➜ Praça Marti Moniz ➜ Rua da Palma.
I like Porto, I was circling around all day. Started by revisiting Praca de Liberdade, Clerigos and stopping for a history lesson at Sao Bento station. Then a longer stop at the Cathedral, and fast walk down the stairs to the riverfront. Many tourists around this part of the city. Meandering back up the hill to the Cathedral and the bridge via Praca do Infante Dom Henrique with Palacio da Bolsa. Crossed the river on the upper deck of Ponte Luis I, great 360 views. (The  three pictures from the bridge/teleferico station are from the next morning when the lighting was better). Jardim do Morro is closed for renovation, so instead I spent an hour at the upper teleferico station and Largo de Aviz (in front of Mosteiro da serra do Pilar), doing nothing just looking around. In the afternoon, made my way back to Praca de Liberdade to watch people come and go to celebrate Apri 25 national holiday (Dia da Liberdade). Walked the length of Rua de Santa Catarina, slowly in a dense stream of people and watching street performers and UoP students in their traditional black gowns entertaining the crowd after graduation.
University of Porto students performing at Rua de Santa Catarina
In the evening, returned to Cafe Majestic on Santa Catarina for a museum (the historic cafe) and dinner (bacalhau, codfish) combo.
Igreja dos Clerigos
Azulejo tile painting at Estacao Sao Bento, Conquest of Celta.
Porto Cathedral
Escadas do Barredo
Ponte Luis I up from the riverfront
View from the riverfront towards the Cathedral and Palacio dos Bispos
Riverfront down from Ponte Luis I
Ponte Luis I, view towards the Cathedral
Douro left bank, Vila Nova de Gaia from Ponte Luis I
Douro right bank, Porto view from Ponte Luis I
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Remembering the carnation revolution of April 25, 1974
Portugal itinerary
