An American in Wroclaw

Leaving Dresden horribly early in the morning, we caught the train to Wroclaw, our overnight stop en route to Warsaw. We've now got these early mornings sussed; neither of us speaks to the other until we have a coffee/food and are capable of being civil as neither of us are what could be termed as 'morning people'.

We arrived in Wroclaw, in Southern Poland just before lunch and had time to settle in to the Cinnamon Hostel (think joss sticks and a slightly bohemian atmosphere) before we were meeting up with Beth, one of the girls we met in Olomouc. She is an American teaching here and offered to show us round.

Like many cities on this trip, Wroclaw has belonged to many different people at different times and was part of Germany during the war. Although over 70% of the city was destroyed in WWII, it has been beautifully restored and was a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Beth showed us round the old town; the Rynek (market square) with a big flower market, lots of cool jewellry designed by local art students and the University with its beautiful Baroque church, before taking us to the undercover market with a milk bar where we got to soak up the local atmosphere. Everyone eats with everyone and it was here that I got to try Pierogi, the famous Polish dumplings with a yoghurt drink you are supposed to have with it.

After a wander round the market where we tried the local gingerbread, Beth took us over to the islands on the river Odra, which is where the Archbishop lives along with many religious orders. From the top of the cathedral we got a fantastic view across the whole of Wroclaw. After a walk along the river, we headed back to the square for some yummy ice cream and coffee, before going back to the hostel to get ready to go out that evening.

Beth and Maria (the other girl we met in Olomouc) took us out to a lovely Italian restaurant by the river front where we chatted about politics over a bottle of wine, before heading to a jazz bar. Finally we realised that it was pretty late and that we had an early train to catch so we headed home so that there was at least a chance that we might make our train.