It’s really hard to write about adventures in European travel when there is no travel. I don’t think there will be many more posts for this very reason. The virus still rages, the vaccines are far behind, there are still covidiots protesting and ignoring rules/not wearing masks…. but then again the rich and athletes travel – I am neither.

So I guess this will be my last post for the foreseeable future. I am hoping to get to Dublin in June for EURO 2020 (2021) but who knows. In my country I am at the back of the bus for the virus and probably won’t get the first shot until the end of summer – killing my EURO dreams.

But for now, happy thoughts. A few Januarys ago I found myself in Switzerland at an international balloon festival. It was AMAZING! Super cold since I was there early, but it was a gorgeous, sunny day. I look at these photos and smile amidst the doom and gloom in the world. Hopefully these photos will also bring some joy and sunshine in a very dark, cloudy world. Till whenever…..

This year has definitely been an annus horribulus. And another one of the many things I miss about Europe are the Christmas markets. They try them in the states, but it is just not the same. While it’s snowing outside my window, here is less talk and more photos of Christmas markets pre-COVID. Enjoy, be safe and a truly happy new year. Hopefully next year we can all go to Christmas markets again.

I find myself writing more and more about my adopted country instead of exploring others as Poland seems to slip more and more into authoritarianism. First it was the courts, then the media, now women’s rights and now….. cutting its nose off its face by submarining the EU budget with Hungary all because PiS cannot abide by the treaty they signed when they joined the EU in 2004.

PiS – ya signed it, ya signed the United Nations International Human Rights treaties with full knowledge of what those treaties meant/mean. Human rights, free press and the rule of law. Just because you are having a temper tantrum, egged on by the nationalists, doesn’t mean you can back out.

Contrary to your beliefs, you cannot change the rules. Keep going on this path and you will sow your own destruction. You keep complaining about the EU and its control? Then leave, and look what Brexit is doing to the UK and the rest of the world. Go be the island you want to be and watch the destruction of Poland. Russia will be lapping its chops and invade, and the EU will not save you. You leave the EU, maybe NATO will not come to your defense either.

Do you really want to cut off that huge money spiggot from the EU? You know the billions that the EU has funneled to you (Poland) for decades? The money that has allowed you to modernize infrastructure (roads, bridges, railways, transportation) and spurned additional millions of additional foreign direct investment? You forget, the public despises you (PiS) as seen by the massive demonstrations. Investors do NOT like instability.

With this in mind, I am showing photos from the Solidarity Center in Gdansk – the cradle of modern Polish freedom. I first visited when the museum was located underground and guarded by an old tank. Now there is the European Solidarity Center and opened in August 2014. It has meeting rooms, exhibits, shows and other community activities (not with COVID) and could be a real learning experience for PiS, a refresher in how things turned out the last time the state cracked down on its people.

While I hope history does not repeat itself, one can never rule it out, especially with the current ignorant, arrogant and uninformed PiS leadership.

It’s about 36 hours after the best news in a very long time….. Trump defeated and defeated BIGLY. That orange dupek making the US #1 in COVID deaths, crashing the economy right up there with the Great Depression, making the US a laughingstock globally, butt kissing dictators and taking all their foreign money, a mass murderer/war crimes between the virus and the deaths from the immigrants at the border that have been in cages and detained in other facilities with minimal oversight and care, the grifting and stealing and profiting from its corrupt businesses while in office, and breaking more laws than can be enumerated here.

After five days of stress, and holding of many breaths, in cities and towns all over this country HUGE parties, celebrations, dancing in the streets, many signs of YOU’RE FIRED, EVICTION NOTICE, fireworks…… partying like it was New Year’s Eve or 1999. And it was a gorgeous day across much of the country with bright, sunny skies and warm temperatures. People will remember where they were when they heard the news.

Now, will all our problems be solved any time soon? No. There are still many, many, many deep divisions combined with the mass destruction poopookins and its party has done over the past four years. And the next 75 days could be the most dangerous of all with poopookins a lame, orange duck with nothing but time on its hands and still all the power of the office and the party in power sitting back watching this country burn while the orange Nero fiddles out of tune.

2021 cannot come fast enough for so many reasons. This is a European blog but for today….. I want to focus on Boston and history. Boston (Massachusetts) being one of the original 13 colonies and one of the earliest settlements in the early 1600’s. I want to include Plymouth that was supposed to celebrate 400 years since the first settlers landed (and where my family tree began in this country). Maine was supposed to celebrate its 200th birthday this year. But with these milestones in mind – a tiny bit of US history.

Tis sad, very sad to see my beloved adopted country go down the backward road – into the past. But this is not a new issue, it’s happening in countries all over the world – forward into the past – like the old cartoon used to say.

I was in that wonderful country when there was still a functioning democracy. Cracks were beginning to show though as PiS was starting to win more and more local elections, but in general, sanity was still prevalent. Women’s rights were still prevalent. A free press/media was still prevalent. An untainted judiciary was still present. I guess I was lucky when I was there (2009-2014).

Next Sunday is a big holiday in the country – All Saints/Souls Day (Nov 1). When I was there Halloween was not celebrated, it was sacrilege – just not done. By the time I left, there were small Halloween parties around the city. But the big day is November 1. I am posting a week early.

Ten years ago (where does the time go) I went to the cementarz rackowizcka on All Saints Day. This is a huge cemetary in Krakow where not only locals but a number of other famous Cracovians are buried. I love this tradition where families go to the cemetaries and place flowers and candles on their loved ones plot. I wonder what will happen this year since this a very popular event and socially distancing is not possible. If you can go visit during this time of year, I recommend it. You can see not only this place but other wonderful places within walking distance of this cemetary. Polish falls are much like New England falls with the cool temperatures and changing leaves. Plus this is the off season so you can have the city to yourself.

This is John Paul II’s monument, and obviously a very popular monument.

This is an example of some of the crowds. The streets are closed around the area and special trams are run to move people around.

This is also a military cemetary with monuments to Russian and Jewish soldiers as we as Poles. For this reason you can see in this case, the young and the old in Army uniform. The other photo is the monument to Polish soldiers. When it’s a colder day the candles are great hand and foot warmers.

And some in traditional dress.

This is the site of Jan Matejko, a very famous Polish painter who was known for his military paintings of large and small events in Polish history. He lived from 1838 – 1893 in Krakow.

The area looks very pretty especially at twilight.

When you have money you can have a bbbiigggg memorial.

If you haven’t already bought flowers or candles you have lost of choices.

In addition to being able to buy flowers and candles at the cemetary entrance (if you haven’t already) you can but other things.

A year ago I was visiting Vienna for the second time. It was for an international housing conference and the weather was perfect as was the conference. Later that month I was laid off from a job. And a day ago, one of the most respected and influential Supreme Court judges passed away, setting up a titanic fight for the future of the rule of law in this country.

While trying to make good trouble, I am remembering this time last year. The salad days (thank you Raising Arizona), the pre-covid days, the days where one could roam free and easy taking in all kinds of sights and smells and sounds. One day we may get that back, but until then…..

While not physically IN Europe because the virus is still running rampant throughout much of the U.S due to the totally incompetent/lack of plan from the orange tin pot dictator, I did take some time off and transported myself to one of my favorite places in Europe – Antibes. If you go to the marina there you will see every conceivable type of boat in every conceivable price range/income range. They say Nice and Monte Carlo are the richie rich areas. I think Antibes has them beat. I went during a quiet period, taking the bus from Nice to the center of Antibes. What a great ride along the coast for I think it was 2 euros at the time. Such a bargain! In fact, from Nice, you can ride a local bus through Monaco to the Italian border for about 2 euros. Who needs a car? This way you can see the sights, look out the windows, people watch…. I loved it. And where else will you see a woman wearing a fur coat riding a bus?

Anyway, I take this time to reflect on a beautiful, happy place amongst the dark reality of our current world. Enjoy!

Last week there were two holidays – Canada Day and July 4th. I know this is a European adventure blog but this time, I would pay tribute to Canada – the apartment living over the meth lab (the U.S.). I love going to Montreal and Quebec City that are relatively close by (a 4-5 hour drive depending on where I am), and I have been to Ottawa and Toronto but it has been years. When I was in Seattle, saw Vancouver from across the harbor from one of my job sites. Central and Western Canada are on my bucket list as is maybe doing the train across Canada (Via Rail). So this time, I pay tribute to Trudeau, to hockey, to Canada. 😉

It seems to me that every time the EU seems to be in calm waters, something or someone throw a rock in the pond and it ripples out slowly to the 27 countries. Obviously the virus is a big rock, in a small pond and will have consequences for the 27 member states for years to come. However, I agree with some people that think mini-schengens during the virus is not advisable. Some countries that have opened up their countries to immediate neighbors, while others are trying to create bridges (UK/Portugal for example) to facilitate travel. Granted each country has been working on its own, much like billard balls on a pool table. Though individual balls, once they hit each other, the domino effect kicks in.

The EU has always been a somewhat tenuous arrangement. You have 27 individuals trying to create a federation. That in itself is a challenge and over the past 30 years we have seen the challenges. Usually the bloc rises to these challenges. But the inherent problem with this federalist system is that Europe has never been a federation in modern times. It’s different in the US since it’s had a federalist system since the beginning but trying to get 27 different family members together, let alone agree on things, is getting harder and harder for a variety of reasons, least of which is the virus.

I hope current leadership can corral the 27 cats and realize that for the greater good, it is better to stick together than break up. Just look at the mess that is Brexit. If that didn’t scare people to death, what will?

I thought I had some photos from when I took the Eurostar (train between the UK and France) but I guess there was too much security since I have none. Europe? Play nice together, it will be worth it in the long run.

It’s now technically summer since it is June. But the weather where I am feels more fall like – which is fine with me because I hate humidity. I lived for a year in Phoenix, and I can take the heat, but heat AND humidity is too much for me.

In Krakow you can have brutal heat and humidity – the joys of living in a valley at the foot of the Carpathian mountains. But summer also brings out all kinds of festivals and outdoor activities – lots to do. And with that in mind these photos are from a June sports festival in the Rynek. Oh those wonderful, carefree, healthy days…….. we will have them again some day. But for now, the memories must suffice.