JUNE 15 - Sadly, it is time to leave our charming apartment, windows draped in grape vines and antique armchairs in the corners. Trudge over to the ultramodern train/bus station, which, unlike all those we’ve been in here, is spacious and half-empty.
It makes me want to visit Łódź again, just to use this station a few more times.
Take Flixbus today, which I’ve seen listed throughout Eastern Europe, but this is the first ticket bought with them. Right on time and a decent bus. For some reason, not many buses, and no trains, for the day we are traveling. Landscape for the three hour ride does not change at all from what we’ve been looking at thus far.
Today’s route: (A) Łódź, (B) Wrocław.
Are disgorged in the main bus terminal of Wrocław (pronounced VROT-swaf), which empties into a massive shopping mall. Escaping from this consumer vortex, we get out on the street and find our hotel (named Chili Hostel) in about 10 minutes. Find some food and wander around a portion of the more historic district.
As with Łódź and Klaipėda, Wrocław has really gone to town with the randomly placed bronze sculptures. This group is emerging from the flagstones about a block from our hotel.
A promenade along a treelined canal encircles a large number of historic buildings in Wroclaw. Here, from the Plac Wolności, a view of the Królewski Palace.
Down one of the cobblestone streets in the old town.
Usually when I am told ‘a canal runs through the middle of the city’, I imagine a large ditch with stinking ooze and plastic garbage floating in it. This one, however, called Fosa Miejska, has an abundance of fish and is surprisingly clear. The promenade borders it for several km, with bike paths, playgrounds, and a few sullen, tattooed teens on park benches, staring at their devices.
There is a whole series of ‘mini’ bronze sculptures here as well, we saw at least four today.
