Saturday, March 31, 2007

Park Stanisława Tołpy

Park Stanisława Tołpy - working for a tan...
Saturday afternoon... A sunny Saturday afternoon here in Wrocław. Went for a stroll in Park Stanisława Tołpy, just a few 100 meters from home. Here's what I found there. Old people chatting, children playing, ducks, pigeons and chips, couples "in love", everyday people just taking a break and the first flowers of the year. Spring is here...

Friday, March 30, 2007

Rejs

Rejs - if no one looks drunk, it's because it's in the morning.
Rejs... Finally the post about the one and only, REJS! I didn't even left Wroclaw for good, and it already has a special place in my heart. It's the closest thing I found to the Portuguese bars I like, here in Wroclaw. I've only been here for some months, and when, nowadays, I walk in, (almost) everyone says: "Czesc!" A little bit like "Cheers", but in a "polish" way. As most of the places here in Wroclaw, the beer is good and cheap. Two choices, at your taste: Primátor or Rejs, being the first one Czech, and the second Polish. They're equally good, although I usually drink Primátor. The name of the bar comes from a very well known old Polish movie (want to see it, but I only find it without subtitles, and my Polish isn't THAT good...). Besides this, all the decoration and thematic of the bar, recalls other well known movies, not only from Poland. You can find there a poster of "Star Wars", or an American army helmet, with the pack of Marlboro's hangin' in the side, just like in "Full Metal Jacket". The lamps in the sealing are made of old film, and some ashtrays have small filmimg cameras on them. The bathroom has a painting on the back wall (with some minor changes), reminding whom ever goes there, what's "Hollywood" all about. And although it's a small space, it's filled with great details. A lot of the guys from Archeology here in Wroclaw, usually attend the bar, and it was introduced to me as the "Archaeologists Bar". I'm in Archaeology, I like the bar... Seems only fair to me!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Groovy Bass Player

"... that bloody cocaine..."
Photo taken in "Od zmierzchu do świtu". Thursday nights there, means jam sessions, with some local bands. Take care!

Note for Mum

I didn't made my mind yet: "I've a bomb", or, "I was sent here by my Father"...

Mum, although it might not seem, I'm doing great. I mean, "they" still call me Bin Laden sometimes... And once Jesus Christ. I don't know if I should take pride in that. It's not like I want to end up crucified. But, the Polish are VERY Catholic, so maybe it's a good thing... Photo taken by Filipa on the tram, on our way to "Od zmierzchu do świtu".

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

PRL Propaganda

"What have you done for the realization of the plan?"

Dinner at Ołówek

"Wroclaw, the meeting point..."

We had a lovely invitation from Jayaraj, our Indian friend, to have a typical Indian meal over at it's place in Ołówek. It was the second time that tried this wonderful "cuisine"! I wanted to take some pictures of the food, but, sadly enough, I was too eager to have that divine food, and ended up with no photos of it! Anyway, I wish to thank Jayaraj for the lovely meal, and also Martin, because he is always the nicest guy, and also lives there. While I was still there I took some time, after a full stomach of course, for taking some night photos from Martin's balcony, because Ołówek is one of the city's tallest buildings and has a great view of it. Here you have the final result. A simple panoramic night view overlooking the city from the northeast part, where Ołówek is situated. Hope you like it! Take care.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

É Hoje!

É hoje... (click on the image!)

So F.C.Porto didn't win after all... Whatever... This one goes out to Pedro. Take care everyone.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

TV

Is that a porno section below the live football menu?
Porno in the Internet... who would of say....
Although, not entirely essential, it's always nice to have a television. One of the best things, that allows us to keep in touch with Portugal , is TvTuga. It's a website that contains links to numerous online TV channels, some of them Portuguese. So it's great to have the possibility to have dinner while seeing the news. Just like at home! When mum & dad phone, I know as much as they do about Portugal nowadays news... That's a little bit disturbing to mum because, she can't quite figure it out, how I can watch RTP, and other Portuguese channels, being Poland. Some times she starts telling me all about the recent happenings in Portugal and: "...Mum... I saw the news..."! Anyway, F.C.Porto plays today against Sporting, and due to this web page I told you about, I will be able to see the game through my computer. Victory for F.C.P., for sure... Take care!

Saturday, March 10, 2007

From Dusk Till Dawn

In the original they had "something" in all colors...- in this one the beer is good and the music is nice...

In Polish: Od zmierzchu do switu. It's the name of the cool bar, in which I always have a cool time, here in Wroclaw. Named after the Robert Rodriguez film, its inside decoration, in fact, has something that reminds you of the "Titty Twister". Hard-Rock fans, 80's Metal head-bangers, and all sorts of music lovers fill the bar. At Thursdays night, it's Jam sessions time. The admission is free, and the bands, mainly from Wroclaw, are quite cool. The beer, as always, is good and cheap! Definitely a "must go" of the Wroclaw night-life. If you come to visit me in Wroclaw, I'll take you there for sure! Here's a view of the bar. I took the photo when the bar was closing, enc the lack of people on the dance-floor and counter... Take care!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Polish Lessons

I keep wondering what she/he meant with affordable...

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Trip Report


Vienna, breathtaking...



Bratislava, a capital "in one day"...


Budapest, where Hapsburg dynasty mingles with the "socialist" heritage

Bucharest & Constanta, the other side of Europe (considering Portugal...)
After two weeks of continuous travelling throughout a part of the central-Eastern Europe, roaming from capital to capital, here are the final results. So many images, experiences and dwellings. Starting in Wroclaw, it was a 7 hours trip by bus to Vienna. Once there we where completely amazed with the city, and it's proportions. What a nice example of what and European capital should be. Everything works perfectly, the avenues are clean, museums are great, with only one problem: the prices. Apart from that it's overwhelming.
After Vienna, and a 1 hour trip by train we were in Bratislava. From what I've heard, this are the two nearest capitals, in Europe. Considerably more modest, the city itself is also amazingly beautiful. One day and a half was enough to get to know it, or at least its core. Here you can still "taste" some remains of the "socialist" era. It's possible to testify there, the efforts that the Slovaks are making to reach the European Union standards (or apparently not, as I heard later on...).
Also near, about 3 hours by train, is Budapest. Huge city, trying to recover from a demanding "communist" regime. The Hapsburg where also there, and that was evident in the architecture of the city, although the buildings are now falling into decay and ruin. That made us wonder about the prices regarding the quality of life in the city. In one hand, you have a decayed and grey city (although beautiful), & in the other hand, the prices are quite heavy.
After this came the hard part of the journey: 14 hours by train until Bucharest. Something like 853 km. At the first stage we nearly crossed the whole Romania, but we stopped for 3 days in the capital. We didn't do that much sightseeing here, because about this time exhaustion was getting into us. So, after washing our clothes in the great "Butterfly Villa Hostel", we wondered a little through the city, in the past aka "Little Paris". This qualification, had to do with the city back in the 1920's, when it was a flourishing capital, with great buildings, gardens and cultural life. Of course that all of this ended with the "arriving of communism". A little bit like Budapest, all these architectural wonders, were destroyed or abandoned during the communism. The main idea I got from it, was like a "New-York" of the Eastern-Europe. When you see the amount of people on the street, the traffic confusion, you immediately resemble it to some-what of a "jungle". You can only say you're a good driver when you survive driving in Bucharest.
And the second stage of the Romania journey, and final destination, was Constanta. Considered the third biggest city of the country, it's sided by the Black Sea, although, and we saw it, the sea is not really black. A lovely city but one big problem: street dogs. If you are wise and a little bit careful you can manage. First a Greek city, named Tomis, later on it was conquered by the Roman Empire. The Emperor Constantino baptised the city in his sister honour, enc the Constanta. With roman ruins and findings everywhere in the lovely city center, it's an archaeologists dream, if only it would be possible to dig there. The "Roma" are always present, although we should keep in mind that Romania has much more to show than Gypsies and Dacia's (equivalent to the Polski Fiat there). I found the Romanians quite warm-welcoming people, maybe also because of their partially Latin roots. Although a poor country you would be amazed with the quantity of luxury cars cruising the streets everyday. It's amazing: BMW's, Mercedes, Porsche - you name it, they have it... I would like to return there 10 years from now, and see the evolution of the country, of course under the European Union influence. What kind of role in the European Union awaits Romania?...
After a "hard good-bye", I had to return back to Wroclaw because classes at the University would start in one week. After some days past I had great news... As some of you already know, my small peace of Portugal, returned to my side... So, now with my ever fullfiling company, I'll start the second part of this quite unique experience.

Guess who's back...

There couldn't be a better surprise!