Anything, up and running, is acceptable on roads in Georgia. I am not going to write about the economy situation, laws or safety of my latest destination. Though, I might just want to say that I have a new favorite country in Europe. Now here, stunned and surprised by differences compared to the western driving reality, just wanted to share a few photos of Georgian fast and furious.
Mulled wine, food stands, a personal horseshoe, made by a real blacksmith, and gifts are only a few examples you can find at Christmas market in one of the Polish cities, Wrocław. December truly transform, though already magnificent, main square in a very mystical place with an extra hint of a magic, in a place not only kids would enjoy. There is no grumpy look at any face. People loves it, enjoy it, taking part in. Great for family, group of friends, tourists, seniors, everyone. There is a different treat for anyone and the same for us all…the magic Christmas spirit.
Food. Many stands offer an amazing and very tasty traditional Polish delicacies as szaszlyk, (pork, beef or chicken knuckle), bigos (finely chopped meat of various kinds stewed with sauerkraut and shredded fresh cabbage), home-made bread, Saint Martin’s croissants, szare kluchy (potato dumplings), potatoes with herring, pierogis (dumplings with all kind of fillings), gołąbki (cabbage rolls with rice and mince meat) and kwaśnica (sauerkraut soup from the highlands…not my fav;).
Apart from Polish food, you can enjoy Hungarian lángos with filling and cold meats: spicy smoked pepper sausages or traditional kolozsvári bacon. Lovely Spanish sweet option as churros. Balkans brought an amazing borek (pastry with different fillings, mmm I loved it when I was in Serbia).
Finishing at Alsatian pancakes known as flammkuchen and Turkish baklava.
For kids. Apart from many stands with all kind of sweets, youngsters can watch some animatronic characters behind glass convey fairy tale plays like The Little Red Riding Hood, The Brave Little Tailor, The Snow White or Pinocchio.
Children can also join one of the workshops to learn how to paint, and then practice it, their own baubles. This activity can be found next to the Christmas Windmill. On another corner, next to the Dwarf House, children can meet Santa at parking space of his sleigh with reindeer.
“Nooooo!” That is the word expected to hear when teacher announces upcoming visit to the museum in a class. Not surprisingly, we all know how difficult is to get an attention of a young mind, the curious mind that needs an extra shot of imagination to hold too, to keep the focus. Proud to admit that my city, Wrocław, managed to achieve that. Hydropolis, in the simplest explanation the museum of water, attracts thousands of visitors from every group of age, especially youngsters. The light, interactive places and modern computer projections became as a top match in the way the knowledge about the purest, simplest and most important substance on the planet Earth, WATER, can be presented.
Now as a must see attraction while visiting Wrocław, city in Poland, just can not be missed, especially by family. Easily accessible, as close to the city center (address: Na Grobli 19, Wroclaw 50-421, Poland), with a very affordable ticket prices: 18 zł (5$) concessionary ticket, 27 zł (7.5$) regular ticket, 72 zł (20$) family ticket (2+2).
By public transport: buses: 145, 146, N; trams: lines – OL, 3 ,5.
Don`t skip it!
Waking up this morning got me to remember the day I landed in Bucharest, the place from where I started my backpacking trip trough the Balkans. Yes, this very own and very great Romanian capital got my traveling feelings on straight away. Also taking an opportunity here to point that it is a good city to start from in this part of the Europe. Allowing myself only a three days, I can not admit that Bucharest has been fully discovered and experienced by me. Yet, touched, thought slightly, but satisfying, managing to ticked a great night out, good city seeing around the center, finishing at meeting local friends and other travelers. Clearly, was a good start, promising a good further travel. And indeed, that was the case. Though, sparing to write what to see, what I saw, what I liked and what not so, just sharing few photos from this Easter European city, from where my trip has begun.
Very reserved, very strong, family orientated, maybe not so open and cagey, but fair, honest and true. People of Bolivia as I see them, as they see us.
Visiting Shkoder, town in the northern part of Albania, definitely rewarded my time in Tirana, the capital that did not impressed me even a bit. Thought, I’ve met loads of great people there, I sampled a traditional and very tasty food, the architecture left a sour taste. Luckily, delight was waiting for me in my next location, in a cute little city called Shkoder, the most historic town in Albania with the oldest wall of the castle that dates back to the 1st millennium bce.
When it comes to the geological side of the area, we can find this beautiful place surrounded by North Albanian Alps. It is lying at the southeast end of Lake Skadar, at a point where the Buenë (Serbian and Croatian: Bojana) River, one of Albania’s two navigable streams, flows out of the lake toward the Adriatic Sea. This is definitely a must see place. The city gives you the opportunity to try some traditional food in one of many restaurants around, to visit mosques or to just have a great night out. On another hand, the outskirt and surrounded landscape creates a perfect bike trials you can enjoy alone, with friends or family. Here is my other blog-post about cycling paths there. So clearly this place offers a lot, and it just can’t be missed. It’s also a perfect stop once traveling between Albania and Montenegro.
Spending good few days in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, I just could not skip seeing places around. The landscape is way too beautiful to just stay in the city. Lakes, volcanoes and mountains create a very interesting environment that stun you straight away, especially when coming from tropical and very green Costa Rica, like myself. I would definitely recommend to see two places that are close by: stunning Masaya Volcano, along with surrounded national park, and a cute little town called Granada. Second mentioned one is a very touristic place, so you can find there loads of restaurants, hostel and hotels to stay in. Please note that half of the day is more than enough to enjoy this town. The volcano, however, is definitely a must see attraction while in capital. It can become as an amazing one day trip, you will never forget. The bad news is that its not always open, especially when caldera is too active, but once is available to public…no excuses for not seeing it! So how to get there?
Managua offers loads of tours to take you to both places, but why to pay more when catching a minibus could not be easier. The place to find them is same for both directions, so are the minivans. They do have a sing on the front saying Granada, where they terminate, and the volcano is on the way to mentioned town. Just please tell the driver to stop in front of the entrance to the park. For your way back from the Masaya, there is a bus stop on another side of the motorway where you can wait and wave when you will spot the bus. I am afraid they are usually full, so you may even wait for the third one that will let you in. Luckily, they run very often, every 15-30 mins. You can get a taxi too, if you prefer, for around 40$ one way (so not so cheap, but option as well).
The bus stop for the mini vans towards Granada, in Managua, is located at UCA terminal (University of Central America on Pista de la Resistencia street), and the ticket cost around 24-44 NIO (1$). Another bus stop can be found at Mercado Huembes, but its a bit further south from the city center (please see the attached map). It will take about 1 hour to rich Granada and around 40 minutes to rich Masaya. UCA terminal is a bit chaotic, but just look for the minibus with Granada sign on it. Vans run from 05:00 till 22:00.
I did walk to UCA terminal from city center, was safe for me, but police stopped me twice to ask why do I walk alone, and that I should take a taxi there. You can catch a bus there from the city center too. Once there, vans run very often and depart once almost full. You pay in the bus, usually on the way towards your destination. Ticket cost around 1$ one way, so its extremely cheap. In Granada bus stops right in the city center, the return one departs from different stop, see map attached below. There is no timetable again, as it leaves very often (every 15-30 mins) once van is full. 
One more thing to add at the end. If you have just one spare day please do pick volcano over Granada!
Fact that I visited nine countries during my backpacking trip trough stunning Balkans definitely do allow me to make up my mine on the most magnificent one. Though, clearly when it comes to judgments like that, we are all aware about strong subjective side of it. Going even further, I wanted to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina for a very long time, especially because I wrote one chapter in my master thesis about the war there. Starting my journey just from knowledge of the spilled blood and history, though, still young and fresh, I went trough creation of an image in my head from all kind of sources as documentaries, photos, information, to finally finish seeing, visiting, discovering, meeting people and just simply feel this country myself. I knew before planning my trip that it is going to be my favorite country in Europe. And yet again(!), I wasn’t mistaken. Same like with Bolivia and Nepal…I just felt the chemistry before even visiting. Perhaps difficult to explain, or probably my senses are already directed towards one side and my mind sabotaging my opinion, since I am making one in advance. More or less, here we are in Bosnia and Herzegovina…..the most amazing, at least for me, country in Europe with warm people, absolutely stunning and unique rivers, diverse architecture, rich culture and beautiful mountain range all around. Spearing to write more and just adding my recommendation to visiting this absolutely unique place, I just want to share some photos I took.
We all, as backpackers, know way to well what daily budget means to us, and how essential is to stuck to it! We have to fallow the plan on accommodation prices, food, transport and other pleasures. I can not say that you will find the cheapest hostels and, especially, hotels in Wrocław, city in Poland, but when it comes to meals…luckily we do offer few very good and very affordable restaurants. You can have a breakfast there from 2-3$ with a coffee, a soup for 2.5$ and a lunch/dinner starting at as little as 4$. And do not think it compares the quality of the food, because it really doesn’t. Food is home-made, traditional and simply delicious!! These restaurants are also very popular among students, that usually have a limited budged themselves. The only minus, I am afraid, is that the staff do not speak almost any English and that might be hard for travellers, but there is always someone around to help. Once you will master the task of getting an order, you just wont be disappointed. Here, I will write about top ten best and cheapest restaurants and some milk bars, as we call them, you can find in the city center in Wroclaw.
Definitely my number one and all time favourite. I always dine there when possible and when in the city center area, and not because is very cheap there. Students favourite too and well popular in general in Wroclaw, offering anything from breakfast, lunch and dinner at lowest possible price with and old school vibe present all around. And, most importantly, all is well made and taste very good. Location is just perfect, right next to the University of Wroclaw and very close to the main square and town hall. Please trust me and pop in for a lunch! The only minus is that some dishes, like pierogi, go fast and after 14.00 it`s difficult to order them. Opening hours also may be a problem for travellers who like to eat late, otherwise nothing is stopping you!
Address: ul. Kuźnicza 48, Wrocław
Opening hours: Mon–Fr: 8.00–18.00, Sat: 8.00–17.00
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
Broth: 6.50 PLN / 1.60 USD
Tomato soup: 7.20 PLN / 1.80 USD
Cabbage soup: 8.40 PLN / 2.10 USD
Pea soup: 10.20 PLN / 2.55 USD
Sour rye soup with sausage and egg: 10.20 PLN / 2.55 USD
Tripe: 10.20 PLN / 2.55 USD
Minced steak: 9.80 PLN / 2.45 USD
Meatballs in cream sauce: 12.70 PLN / 3.20 USD
Chicken breast in bread crumbs: 12.70 PLN / 3.20 USD
Pork goulash: 12.80 PLN / 3.25 USD
Cutlet de volaille: 13.40 PLN / 3.40 USD
Chicken nuggets: 13.40 PLN / 3.40 USD
Pork neck in sauce: 13.40 PLN / 3.40 USD
Pork pocket with mushrooms: 14.00 PLN / 3.55 USD
Pork chop XL: 18.20 PLN / 4.60 USD
Beef tartare with additions: 21.10 PLN / 5.35 USD
Hungarian meat cake: 26.20 PLN / 6.65 USD
Miruna fish (per 100g): 10.20 PLN / 2.55 USD
Pancakes with cheese: 12.40 PLN / 3.15 USD
Russian dumplings: 13.10 PLN / 3.35 USD
Dumplings with spinach: 15.30 PLN / 3.90 USD
Dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms: 14.60 PLN / 3.70 USD
Dumplings with meat: 15.80 PLN / 4.05 USD
Spaghetti Bolognese: 23.40 PLN / 5.95 USD
Pasta with chicken: 23.40 PLN / 5.95 USD
Pasta with salmon: 26.20 PLN / 6.65 USD
Scrambled eggs with butter: 3.36 PLN / 0.85 USD
Yellow cheese: 2.66 PLN / 0.67 USD
Bread roll: 1.63 PLN / 0.41 USD
Butter: 1.07 PLN / 0.27 USD
Jam: 0.80 PLN / 0.20 USD
Cottage cheese with cream and chives: 5.18 PLN / 1.31 USD
Boiled egg: 1.18 PLN / 0.30 USD
Compote: 0.89 PLN / 0.23 USD
The total cost of a breakfast set ranges from approximately 9.52 PLN to 9.95 PLN, which is about 2.41 USD to 2.52 USD. Let me know if you’d like me to update prices for another restaurant or dish!
Tu dla moich polskich braci moj ulubiony fragmet z Misia:
“Jedziecie do stolicy kraju kapitalistycznego, ktory to kraj ma byc moze tam i swoje plusy. Rozchodzi sie o to jednak zeby te plusy……nie przyslonily wam minusow”.
Just opened recently, so does recently became one of my favourite. Highly recommended for tourists, students and “grandma`s kitchen” lovers”. You can find here pierogi, mash potatoes with meat, loads of salads, krokets and recently pizza. Its very close to the city center (main square). You just must to pop in!!!
Main Location (Kazimierza Wielkiego 17):
Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Railway Station Location (ul. Piłsudskiego 105):
Monday to Saturday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Scrambled eggs with butter: 4.20 PLN / 1.05 USD
Bread roll with cheese: 3.50 PLN / 0.88 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 5.80 PLN / 1.45 USD
Boiled egg: 1.50 PLN / 0.38 USD
Jam: 1.20 PLN / 0.30 USD
Compote: 1.00 PLN / 0.25 USD
Another milk bar very similar to Miś Milk Bar. Also in the city center area, just a bit further north. Prices and menu are very similar to Miś, so you can have a tasty, homemade, delicious meal at a very affordable price again. The big plus is that this place seems less busy than Miś, but also popular. Pierogi are served from 13.00 and are the most popular dish, so you need to pop in earlier to have a chance to get them.
Address: ul. Drobnera 4, Wrocław
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
Scrambled eggs with butter: 3.43 PLN / 0.85 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 3.68 PLN / 0.91 USD
Bread roll: 1.43 PLN / 0.35 USD
Butter: 0.61 PLN / 0.15 USD
Jam: 0.80 PLN / 0.20 USD
Cocoa with milk: 2.35 PLN / 0.58 USD
Traditional Polish dumplings (6 pieces): 9.50 PLN / 2.38 USD
Soup of the day: 6.50 PLN / 1.63 USD
Pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms: 10.00 PLN / 2.50 USD
Pierogi with meat: 10.80 PLN / 2.70 USD
Hungarian meat cake: 18.00 PLN / 4.50 USD
Compote: 4.00 PLN / 1.00 USD
Address: ul. Legnicka 23, Wrocław
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Scrambled eggs with butter: 4.50 PLN / 1.13 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 5.80 PLN / 1.45 USD
Bread roll: 2.00 PLN / 0.50 USD
Butter: 1.20 PLN / 0.30 USD
Jam: 1.50 PLN / 0.38 USD
Compote: 1.00 PLN / 0.25 USD
Russian dumplings: 12.50 PLN / 3.13 USD
Meat dumplings: 14.50 PLN / 3.63 USD
Dumplings with spinach: 15.50 PLN / 3.88 USD
Hungarian meat cake with goulash: 26.00 PLN / 6.50 USD
Goulash with potatoes and salad: 18.90 PLN / 4.73 USD
Sweet pancakes: 10.00 PLN / 2.50 USD
This bar offers a great traditional range of our old school PRL toasts – a typical Polish fast food during the communism time. It has been opened in 1979 and still serve one of the best and very cheesy toasts with mushrooms. Portions are very big and very filling.
Address: ul. Wita Stwosza 40/1a, Wrocław
Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Traditional toast with cheese and mushrooms: 9.50 PLN / 2.38 USD
Village-style toast with mushrooms, cheese, sausage, and onion: 11.20 PLN / 2.80 USD
Greek toast with olives: 11.40 PLN / 2.85 USD
Open-faced toasted cheese sandwich with mushrooms: 8.50 PLN / 2.13 USD
Zapiekanka (Polish-style baguette pizza): 12.00 PLN / 3.00 USD
Mega Zapiekanka with double toppings: 15.00 PLN / 3.75 USD
Pepperoni toast: 10.50 PLN / 2.63 USD
Ham and cheese toastie: 9.80 PLN / 2.45 USD
Another amazing milk bar near the city center. This one is open a bit longer. You can find loads of tourists here, as its very close to the main train and bus station. Food is homemade and very traditional, however a bit more expensive than other milk bars like Miś or Mewa.
Address: ul. Kołłątaja 27/28, Wrocław
Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
Scrambled eggs with butter: 4.00 PLN / 1.00 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 5.50 PLN / 1.38 USD
Bread roll: 2.00 PLN / 0.50 USD
Butter: 1.20 PLN / 0.30 USD
Jam: 1.50 PLN / 0.38 USD
Compote: 1.00 PLN / 0.25 USD
There is no way I will not think about Lepione (old Bazylia restaurant) without remembering my time at university. This buffet style restaurant is located inside one of the law department buildings, where I studied. I can’t say the food is top mach, but I love the fact that its cheap, you can fill your plate with everything you like, and you pay the same price of 0.90$ (1.20 zł) per 100g. I used to eat there after my lectures, exams, alone, with friends or family. The other thing about this place is location and surrounded stunning architecture you can enjoy while eating.
Address: ul. Kuźnicza 42, Wrocław
Opening hours: everyday: 12.00–23.00
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
This is a buffet style restaurant where you add to the plate anything you like and pay for 100g. You will find there anything from traditional dumplings, salads, fish, chicken, goulash to Chinese chicken with bamboo. Price is 5 zł, that’s 1.33$, for 100g.
Promotions
Discounts after 5:00 PM, with prices dropping by 15%, 25%, or even 50% depending on the time.
This amazing bar is located in one of the biggest indoor markets in Wroclaw, called Hala Targowa, so after a very tasty traditional, homemade meal you can have a look around.
Address: ul. Piaskowa 17, Wrocław
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Examples of dishes and prices (English/Polish)
Scrambled eggs with butter: 4.50 PLN / 1.13 USD
Cottage cheese with chives: 5.80 PLN / 1.45 USD
Bread roll: 2.00 PLN / 0.50 USD
Butter: 1.20 PLN / 0.30 USD
Jam: 1.50 PLN / 0.38 USD
Compote: 1.00 PLN / 0.25 USD
Soup of the day: 13.00 PLN / 3.25 USD
Tomato soup: 13.00 PLN / 3.25 USD
Sour rye soup: 13.50 PLN / 3.38 USD
Meat dumplings (8 pieces): 24.00 PLN / 6.00 USD
Russian dumplings (8 pieces): 21.00 PLN / 5.25 USD
Pork chop with potatoes and salad: 35.50 PLN / 8.88 USD
Hungarian meat cake: 35.00 PLN / 8.75 USD
Różowa Krowa Bar Mleczny is located at Świdnicka 36, Wrocław. Here are the opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, who visited South America or planning to, the fact that Iguazu Falls are the most known waterfalls on this continent. Going even further, one of the most impressive in the rest of the world, as they can easily and proudly be competitive with Niagara Falls. Having seen “Latino” one, I can confidently say that Iguazu stands out and outshines as way more incredible. They are taller than Canadian one, twice as wide, and are one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, with the area around marked as the UNESCO World Heritage. Iguazu Falls (Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu, Spanish: Cataratas del Iguazú, Tupi: Y Ûasu “big water”) are situated near the border of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Water falls of the Iguazu River that rises near the city of Curitiba, on the border of the Argentinian province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. The river, for most of its course, flows through Brazil, however, most of the falls are on the Argentinian side. They creates a natural water border between these countries, and they are the largest waterfall system in the world (275 waterfalls). The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, that forms the boundary between Argentina and Brazil. Falls are set among National Parks, which consist of subtropical rain-forests that are home to hundreds of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.
The falls are very well known to every backpacker traveling through the continent or just around Brazil, Argentina or Paraguay, marking a very important dot on their map. There are two most popular gateways to discover these absolutely magnificent, violent and impressively big waters. First one is a Brazilian city called Foz do Iguaçu. Second, Argentinian town named Puerto Iguazú. Close by Ciudad del Este, in Paraguay, that is separated from Brazilian town just by the bridge named Puente de la Amistad (Friendship Bridge), creates also an easy way to reach our destination. I have seen all three of them, so If you’re in a rush and can pick just one location, you may want to have a look at some comparisons below. I will also write briefly about Argentinian and Brazilian side of the waterfalls to help you pick one, if you can not see both, which in my opinion is ideal, but not always a case for everyone.
The biggest difference, in my opinion, between Argentina and Brazil was that in Argentina you can see falls from right of the top, giving you the impression of standing on them. In Brazil, however, you have the impression of standing kind of under the waterfalls. Two totally different thing that are possible only on each side. Very difficult to compare.
Pluses
Minuses
Pluses
Minuses
Pluses
Minuses
Of course, I will leave the choice to you. However, if I had to visit it not having much time, I would stop in Paraguay (Ciudad del Este), and from there I would travel to the Argentinian side to see it. For whats it worth, whatever side you will pick, you will be blown away by the magnificent diverse nature of the area and the beauty of this violently falling waters.
Solo female traveller 
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