Ostrava, Czechia

After Krakow we took a bus to Polish-Czech Republic border and train to Ostrava, a city where Liisa did her Eramus. There lives bit less than 300 000 people which makes it the 3rd largest city in Czech Republic, by population and by area. After that we went to the shopping centre.You could choose a place where to buy food and eat where is the eating section. I bought my food in one Chinese place (64 czk / 2,4 €), Liisa from another place and we ate together in the centre. After eating we went to buy more food. Not because we were hungry, but for the evening. Liisa: "Meelu ma lähen õllede juurde" which means "Meelu, I will go to the beers". Before she said that I though I heard Estonian language and the guys I just head looked Liisa bit strange. She had no idea what was going on and then we started talking with them :D Only thing I remember is they were doing their internship in Ostrava. The cheapest beer cost 5,9 (0,23 €) + pant; one doughnut 8,9 (0,34 €); Orion chocolate 12,9 (0,50 €). After food and more food we went to hers to chill. In the elevator Liisa said: "It sucks that there is no mirror." Me: "Well there is one." Liisa: "What!? There was not before!" Ok.. :D 

After we went to walk around in Ostrava. 

This portrait was created by Nils Westergard who painted the work over the weekend, the woman on the mural is Madonna Ostravica

Antonin Dvorak Theatre is an opera house which was located across Liisa´s dormitory. It was opened as a German theatre in 1907. Until 1919 the performances were only in German. The theatre was passed to Czechoslovak state after the World War I. It had several name changes but the name which it has now, Antonin Dvorak Theatre, was put in 1990

That house looked so unusually black, like burned

I was reading Mitch Albom "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and I liked that quote

"You have to start over. That´s what they say. But life is not a board game, and losing a loved one is never really "starting over." More like "continuing without."" - Mitch Albom

That was a weird looking jacket

That was a biiit pervy looking candy store

Ostrava is situated at the meeting point of 4 rivers: Odra, Opava, Ostravice and Lucina. On the picture on the right flows Ostravice and on the left Lucina. Ostrava´s highest point is 210 m above sea level

My new pants from Krakow, Poland, shoes from Nitra, Slovakia

My bestie Liisa :)

Interestnõi

Primula´s were ready in April

Nice road

So yellow bush

I liked the graffity

1,16 € or 1,20 € for gas

The memorial of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade in the USSR. On 30th April 1945, the first tanks of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Brigade drove across Miloš Sykora bridge. The tank on the picture drove in front of the group

Weird looking statue

Old town

The Masaryk Square was a market place in the Middle Ages. Today the markets are held during pre-Christmas season. It got its name after the 1st president of Czechoslovakia. The Statue of Saint Florian has been in the square from 1763. Florian is the patron saint of fire-fighters and chimney sweeps. The column on the right is Marian plague column, with a figure of the Virgin Mary (1702). The tall yellow building in the back is Old City Hall building which now houses a museum about Ostrava history. In the square are located stores, cafes, restaurants and a fountain

Cathedral of the Divine Saviour. Neo-Renaissance basilica with a semi-circular apse and two 67 m high towers dates back to 1889

Went back to Liisa´s dorm after sightseeing. She went to the shower, I went to the balcony: I had to climb over the table and though the window to get there. There was no door from her room to get there, weird

After chilling, we went to the shared kitchen and made some food. We made buckwheat which we found in Poland. Unfortunately it is really hard to find buckwheat in other European countries besides the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. It is so good! <3 The kitchen was next to the common room and it was so cool! You could study there, chill, read, play, whatever you want. The chairs looked so real

Dropped a knife on my leg.. 

We tried making panorama

We failed a bit

Woke up at 8, packed, ate banana pancakes and to the bus stop. Ofc had some trouble finding the right bus stop, but I made it. My skin was red because I was carrying my backpack

I was in Ostrava for one night. I arranged to meet some friends in Brno and Prague and miscalculated my stays. Well, more info in next post ;) 

Krakow

After Slovakia I hitchhiked to Krakow where I met Liisa. The hitch-hiking trip wasn´t so pleasant, so after I got dropped off, I took a bus to Krakow in Novy Targ. I had some trouble taking money out and buying the ticket, but I managed with my quarter-Russian. Bus cost 13 zl (~3€) When I reached Krakow, I tried to find my hostel where Liisa was already waiting, but I was circling a bit and it took some time. On top of that, I had a really bad mood. I finally reached the hostel, left my luggage and we went exploring.

Das ist The Renaissance Cloth Hall in the Main Market Square, in the Old Town. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. Once it was a major centre of international trades. In 15th century when it had its golden age, in the hall was sold spices, silk, leather and wax as a exotic imports from the east. Krakow exported textiles, lead and salt. Balls have been held there, now it is used as a centre of commerce

From inside

The main square dates back to the 13th century. With 3,79 ha is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe

We went out on the second night. Met people from the hostel and went with them (that´s a lollipop)

One guy took us to a party what seemed like a private graduation party (read: we ate their popcorn and gummy bears)

We separated with the guys and found another ones. Presumably they were British and they invited us to their hotel and we decided to go. Halfway there we were like fuck it, too far and it seemed bit suspicious so we went to hostel. Arrived back 4-5 am

Town Hall Tower - the only remaining part of the old Krakow Town Hall. Its cellars once held a prison with a Medieval torture chamber. 70 m tall, leans 55 cm - the result of a storm in 1703

Some people were doing an interview and I just went in the statue for a photo

The lions are carved in the beginning of the 19th century

The entrance to the tower for a student cost 7 zl what is 1,6 €

The town hall, on the right there is the Cloth Hall 

The ceiling was really low, at least for tall people 

On the top we could not get out, so that was disappointing.. We just saw something through the windows

Town hall from above

St. Mary´s Basilica/church in the town hall. Its foundations date back to the early 13th century, 80 m tall. Polish Gothic architecture

After we went to eat vegan burger. 3,3 € + juice 1,4 €

Roaming around the city

St. Florian´s Gate. Gothic, built about in 14th century, part of the city fortifications against the Turkish attack

The best picture!!!! We saw those-people-who-are-trying-to-sell-you-something-on-the-street and they were "selling" bubbles (or whatever their goal was). They made huge balls and Liisa made a selfie with em. During the picture taking one kid fell and she caught it on camera (Liisa has an iPhone so she could captur moving pictures.)

This is our first hostel for one night, Woodpecker hostel

View across out hostel - Juliusz Slowacki theatre, erected in 1893. Named after Polish poet in 1909

Design in the hostel, me likey

We went on a Free Walking Tour, focusing on Jewish Krakow. Guide mentioned Liisa´s outfit because she was the only one who looked like she is dressed for the summer. Man it was summer! It was soo warm. Tour was interesting, but she was all the time talking about Oskar Schindler and about the movie based on his life. Neither of us hadn´t seen it or didn´t know so much about it, so we lacked some info

Old Synagogue. The oldest synagogue building still standing in Poland, one of the most precious landmarks of the Jewish architecture in Europe. It was built in 1407 or 1492, it varies with several sources. Currently operates as a museum. It is a Division of the Historical Museum of Krakow, with particular focus on Krakow´s jews

A footbridge across the Wisla river, it provides easy access across what used to be the border into the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Even though you would have to sit backwards to ride the swing, it looks cool

Nicenicenice

The Ghetto Heroes Square - memorial to Jews on their deportation site. Each steel chair represents 1000 victims (not the best place to smile)

After the walk, Liisa went sleeping in hostel and I went shopping, I did not have shorts so I needed to fetch some.. Found shorts in Galeria Kazimierz shopping centre and also ate in there. Getting out of the centre/galeria was really challenging -.-

Yay ice cream 

I wanted to marry him soo bad! But he was collecting money for HIS engagement so I guess it´s not going to work out :'(

Went to Wawel Hill

Nice sticker

Sandomierska tower, was built around 1460. It was made to strengthen the most vulnerable side. Tower was used to accommodate firearms and artillery. During peacetime, it was often used as a prison. Now it is possible to enter the tower with 137 steps. We did not go

We walked around the Wawel on a hot and sunny day. On the right is Visla/Wisla/Vistua river - longest and largest river in Poland with 1047 km (also in Belarus, Ukraine and Slovakia)

We went down to enjoy the sun and sit next to the birds swimming

3 m high statue of Karol Wojtyla, who became Pope John Paul II in 1978, served in Vatican City from 1978-2005. He is the 264th pope and the first non-Italian in 455 years. 

The Wawel Cathedral, from 11th century

Behind on the right is the Wawel castle. In 1978 it was declared a UNESCO site as part of the historic centre of Krakow. It was the residence of the kings of Poland for centuries, but now it is used as a art museum

One of my next destinations, Innsbruck, was 700 km away

We found a chill place to takeaway some burrito-ish thingies. And ofc atm next to that

There was couple hammocks and in general just with a chill vibe

One of the last evenings, I went on Krakow Free Walking tour - Macabre Krakow. It was really interesting! The guide told stories and legends about witches, vampires, ghosts, murders etc and what they have done in the city. One was really heinous. A uni student went missing in year 1998. In 21st century an investigation was opened because her peeled skin was found. The skin was cut perfectly, not by any rookie. Even FBI could not find any lead. They were suspecting one lecturer, but no evidence was found

At the end the guide was imitating slaughtering 

In the second hostel, we stayed in a room where was about 10 beds. One woman who stayed in the same room with us, she just slept the whole time! During day, during night + she snored.. 

But in that hostel, the breakfast was really good - cakes and sandwiches where you can put Nutella, jam, paste - super nice! 

So cool, you can buy books from a vending machine

Our bus to Ostrava stopped next to Krakow airport, looked nice from outside

Next stop: Ostrava