Warsaw

Before we left Krakow we tried to get a russian visa from the consulate there... but to no avail, they only process locals. So we drove north, faced with torrential rain and the prospect of getting our visa from the main embassy in Warsaw.

It was dark by the time we got to Warsaw, which didn't help our search for a campsite. Neither did its apparent non-existence. Hostels turned us away at the door, and it was looking like we'd have no room at the inn... Our only option was to stay in a suite at the Metropole - you've got to do what you've got to do!

After quite a bit of toing and froing, and a wack of cash we got the visas. It would have been near impossible, due to Russian tourist bureaucracy complications beyond our control, without a very splendid lady at the embassy. She had had an English professor from Oxford and was very keen to chat and help two harmless looking stragglers out!

Whilst we were being processed, we popped out to see Łazienki Park on our visa lady's recommendation. This has to be one of the most stunning parks in the world and could take days of your time meandering through it. Here are some of the highlights:







The park's so great it still has red squirrels!


Having had such a battle looking for accommodation for the previous night we decided to head north to the scenic town of Olsztyn. So we did a quick bit of drive-by sight-seeing on Warsaw's city centre. In WW2 85% of the buildings were badly damaged, and needed rebuilding - so they did, exactly as it was before the Germans came. It took them decades, and even longer to pay for it. So we felt a little guilty we weren't spending more time as we wendled our way around the picturesque streets.

We made it up to Olsztyn; it was pleasant enough, but the real attraction is meant to be the forests and lakes to the east. We couldn't dawdle though; we had a date with some Russian border-guards...