Days 11 and 12 - Poznan and Torun

 We had originally planned to travel from Berlin to a German town on the Polish border, called Mescherin, to see some trees that inexplicably bend ninety degrees at ground level, but then correct themselves. However the weather forecast was not so great, so we decided to head straight for Poland, to the town of Poznan, and what a great decision it turned out to be.

Fuel prices in Berlin are very high, so, although low on diesel, we decided to fill up on the way. Up to now, all the way through Germany, there were fuel stations every 50km or so, but absolutely nothing on the motorway to Poland. We eventually found one right up on the Polish border, just in time, as I had had a warning light on for quite some way. And then, in Poland, there were fuel stations every few kilometres! The price of diesel was also good - fractionally over £1 per litre.

Our overnight stop in Poznan was in a carpark on an old dried out riverbed, but it was clean and safe although no facilities.


The town of Poznan itself had the usual modern blandness on the outskirts. However, just 500 metres from where we were parked was the old part of town, and the central market square. This had been 90% flattened in the war and rebuilt to appear like to original, but without spending a fortune doing it. Hence there was a lot of rather good plasterwork on the building fronts, rather that columns etc. It looked really good. All around the square were restaurants and stalls, and people were starting to arrive in great numbers. Eventually the atmosphere was humming, and it was a thoroughly pleasant place to be.




Like everywhere else today, there was food of all sorts available. It was interesting to see signs for "Pizza and Burgery" - easily misread! The Polish food is heavily pork based, and I chose an excellent pork knuckle (like a ham shank, but much more flavour). The pierogis (stuffed dumplings) were good too.



In the square there was a sort of exhibition of some monstrous home built machines, and Soviet era military vehicles. They made an impressive racket as they left.



Incidentally, if you fancy a weekend away in Poznan, Ryanair fly here very cheaply. Prices are about two thirds of the UK, and there a good looking large and small hotels right in the centre. And, most people speak excellent English.

The next morning, Sunday, saw us drive a couple of hours to Torun, further into Poland. Torun is a larger version of Poznan, but managed to escape any destruction. It is famous for gingerbread, so naturally we went on a tour of a gingerbread museum, and even got to make our own souvenier gingerbread!! How's about than then?


Torun is also the home town of every schoolboy's favourite mediaeval scientist - Nicholas Copperknickers, and a musical fountain.








Today, Monday, were are walking back into Torun to see a few more of the sights.



 


Comments

  1. Wayne J30 August 2021 at 01:13

    Good to hear that your having such a good time. Great pictures.

    ReplyDelete

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