Na Zdrowie Polska!

Welcome to Poznan, Poland's fifth largest city.

I have to hold my hands up here and admit that at the time of booking my flight, I really didn't expect to find much here - how wrong could I have been!?

This city has a vibrant energy and buzz much similar to other much larger cities like Berlin and Sofia. There appears to be an exciting cultural scene and as I guest in their city, the locals couldn't have made me feel more welcome.

 The main square (or "Stary Rynek") is a beautiful medieval cobbled affair hosting the city's main attraction - its town hall. On his 'New Europe' series, Michael Palin visits here to see the two mechanical goats, a symbol of the city, clash their horns at noon above the clock on it's spire.

 In June 1956, the first major protest against the Soviet regime took place in Poznan. This giant monument stands in memory of the factory workers and others which lost their lives during the unrest. It sits on the edge of a beautiful park nestled between Poznan's main theatre and concert halls and looks especially impressive at night.

 A short walk across the road from the monument is a museum dedicated to the same event. It features a really impressive interactive exhibition as well as a collection of these communist posters - possibly some of the most visually awesome examples that I have seen to date...

 Are they cacti or are you just pleased to see me? Poznan's botanical gardens were a welcome break from the cold outside. The aquarium that lies underground is also a must see with some fish literally as big as me!

 I took this photo from a distance in a bar called 'Proletariat' on one of the main streets in town. It is crammed to the rafters with socialist memorabilia. Part of me wanted to steal the Misha (1980 Moscow Olympics Mascot) figure for myself. If you're ever around in Poznan I recommend a pit stop in here - its always busy and popular with the locals. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding it as the 8-foot bust of Stalin sitting in the window is a big enough sign to look out for!

Seriously Baku, Pull the other one!

Apparently this is where next year's Eurovision Song Contest may be held....

There's just one problem... They've not even STARTED building yet, and the deadline is less than 9 months away!! Somehow, I think Ictimai and the city of Baku may have bitten off slightly more than they can chew! Pull the other one guys!!

Nottingham Contemporary...

Coming back from the train station after a trip to London, I decided to take a short cut around the back of Nottingham Contemporary and stumbled across this mural. The colours were striking even in the dim street lights...

Nottinghamshire...

Here are a couple of snaps I took last weekend on a 65mile bike ride through the Nottinghamshire countryside... Needless to say I was pretty tired by the time I got home but the weather was lovely and the whole day was fantastic...

Oslo, My thoughts are with you...

Following the horrific news about the attacks on the Norwegian capital today, I would just like to make a little note of compassion.

Oslo as a city is one of the most peaceful, fresh and welcoming places I have ever visited and I've been genuinely saddened by the events of today.

I hope not just Oslo, but the rest of Norway too will recover quickly and be stronger for it.

enROUTE

enROUTE is my own portfolio style publication that features my interests from graphic design to travel and everything else in between!

Here's the cover of issue ONE...

If you'd like me to email you a digital copy or post it out in print... send me an email at this address

Import//Export

Following my recent interest into German film, I found another title that I'd like to share with you... Import Export directed by Ulrich Seidl (Granted it's actually an Austrian film, but it is filmed in the German and Ukrainian languages).

The film is an arthouse production that see's two unhappy characters cross between Austria and the Ukraine. Whilst they never meet, you feel a strong empathy for both of them throughout the film.

I have to say that the film is somewhat disturbing and even genuinely frightening in places, particularly where Seidl has filmed elderly patients in hospital at the end of their life. I found this upsetting and even distasteful as they could surely not have been able to give their consent to be filmed in such a way.

Having said this, the film was gripping and I found myself thinking about it for the next few days in much greater detail.

So my verdict is - watch it, but watch it in a good mood - otherwise you might find your mood taking a nose-dive.

Back in the Baltic... Again...

So here it is again... Tallinn... AND IT'S SUNNY!!

Such a beautiful city thats quickly becoming my favorite getaway spot. This time it was summer and the nights stay light - REALLY light!

Taken at midnight - this is about as dark as it ever gets in summer. Not only that, but I could still sit outside in a t-shirt untill the early hours as the sun keeps it warm! - AMAZING!!

A little different from the last time I saw it and everything was covered in snow! The old town is BEAUTIFUL at this time of year!!

My other Tallinn Posts... March 2011

Oh... and in case you were wondering...

I'm having German lessons for my birthday - hence why so many of my recent posts have had a Deutsch influence!!

Goodbye Lenin!

OK so in my last post I said that the German film Mannerherzen was at the top of my must-see list, but when I was watching the trailer, I stumbled across this. Goodbye Lenin is a moving comedy about a woman who suffers a hear attack just before the fall of the Berlin wall and wakes up from a coma eight months later when her family have to convince her that nothing has happened.

It stars Daniel Bruhl (of Inglorious Basterds fame). You must see this film - its epic!

Berlin, You Are Wonderful... Ich Liebe Berlin!

This is the video for the song Wonderful by Gary Go, filmed on a Berlin rooftop with some great shots of the city and its people... The song was used as part of the production soundtrack to the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf. I think it's a really uplifting and empowering song...

The song was made popular in Germany after it was used on the soundtrack to the film Männerherzen, and is at the top of my must-see list for next week after I hand in my final uni work. Ich Liebe Berlin, Ich Liebe Deutschland...

Fühle Dein Herz Schlagen

This is it... LIVE (Eurovision, Not Mr Jackson!)

Dusseldorf: FEEL YOUR HEART BEAT

Here I am in sunny Dusseldorf getting ready for the Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final... I cant express in words how excited both I and the rest of Dusseldorf is for the show tonight.... Just look at the photos - you cant escape it here! = Heaven!!

The Dutch broadcaster TROS have sailed into town along the Rhine with a full on NEDERBOAT! - They obviously mean business!

The 3J's being interviewed for Dutch TV on board the Nederboat. As you can imagine, this made me smile so much I almost put my jaw out. 

The Croatian delegation make their way to the arena ready for the show tonight!!!!

Dana International's less popular Israeli Garden Party...

Backdating...

You'll notice over the coming weeks that I will be backdating posts from trips and places I've been on/to as I think they deserve to be spoken about... Hence they wont appear at the top of the page so if you've been here before... scroll down, you may find something new...

Re-Launch!

So its been a while since I set up/posted on this blog, in fact if I'm brutally honest I had actually forgotten that I owned it!

So here we go, flybown in 2011 has a slick new look and will feature at least one weekly round up of life as Adam Bown - wherever I may be, or wishing to be at the time!

Sit back, we're off again!

Tallinn/Helsinki 2011

Here are a few photos from my recent return to the Baltic.

Helsinki:

I Love these stairs - They were underground at the central train station of Helsinki - they look like the set from a Kubrick film in my opinion!
Central Train Station.... it was such a pitty that the weather was SO bad! My feet were like blocks of ice by this point!
Sculpture

The Baltic Sea - Still frozen! It was 20 above at home in Nottingham, Here it was -3!!

Tallinn, Viru.

I HEART SAUSAGE

I saw this in Clapham and it made me smile so I thought I would share it with the world...

It belongs to a sausage company who (amongst other things) sell food at festivals...
BRITISH SAUSAGES!

Tallinn/Helsinki 2011

Here are a few photos from my recent return to the Baltic.

Helsinki:

I Love these stairs - They were underground at the central train station of Helsinki - they look like the set from a Kubrick film in my opinion!
Central Train Station.... it was such a pitty that the weather was SO bad! My feet were like blocks of ice by this point!
Sculpture

The Baltic Sea - Still frozen! It was 20 above at home in Nottingham, Here it was -3!!

Hola Madrid

The Spanish capital is just as you would expect it to be... Spanish! Unlike Barcelona there's a real feeling of the true Spain as you wander the streets of town and there are far less big-bucks tourist attractions compared to most other European capitals. Madrid is about the atmosphere, oh and not forgetting the food!

 This is a disused Metro station that was opposite the hotel. It had been restored to its original decor and felt as if you were on a film set right in the middle of town...

Steps leading into the entrance hall of the CaixaForum Gallery...

Madrid Barajas Airport's terminal 4 was designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers. The picture says it all - its spectacular!