Poland!

In an internet cafe, while actually paying for internet minutes, so you'll have to excuse my abbreviated version of events.

Flew into Gdansk from Oslo. Stayed at a hostel which was *literally* at the corner of a festival. There were rides and stuff set up across the corner from where I was staying. Nuts.
Also impressive were the food booths with 2 m wide stirring pots, with giant spoons to stir them. Don't know if I'd eat anything from there, but it was rather impressive. Food in general in Poland is fantastic. Lots of cheese, lots of potatoes, lots of beer. I am in heaven.

Visited the largest Gothic castle in Europe. It was pretty fantastic. Highlight was having lunch inside the castle.

Warsaw was nice, though I spent less than 24 hours there. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon (and museums being closed on Mondays) left me with not that much to check out.

Am currently in Krakow. Did a tour of a famous salt mine; at one point was 138 m underground, in 14 degrees C caves walking around (in flip flops and shorts) for a few hours. Very cool, as the miners (in their free time) made statues and even dug out cathedrals and whatnot made entirely out of salt stone. Also visited Aushwicz. Very disturbing.

Off to Zakopane next, to probably spend a few days hiking in nature. After that likely Czech Republic. Not sure how much time I'll spend where, or if I'll make an effort to go to Romania afterwards to check out Transylvania. Plane is leaving out of Budapest on the 12th, and that's all that's concrete for now.

Am having a great time taking the train from city to city. Is also quite librating not knowing which city I'll be in on what day, and making my mind up as I go along. Fun way to go about things. Has nothing to do with my laziness or unwillingness to plan ahead.

Hope you all are well. Cheers,
-me