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!

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

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!

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.

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!!

Republika Hrvatska S Charlses

I spent 2 weeks in Croatia with my best friends and hopped from island to island on a sailing boat. The country is fabulous and each island had its own personality. Granted, I've had to be very selective with these photos as Im not sure if most of you would appreciate the ones of me and my friends after dark (It's not usually a pretty sight!).... but you can still appreciate how pretty this country is.

Welcome to Croatia!...

The streets of Zadar are immaculate, however the slabs are super slippy!!

Tanya welcoming you into (someone else's) home!!

 We arrived in Hvar town from the opposite side of the island at night... via LORRY!! (Funniest night of my life!)

The island of Bol was probably the prettiest (although it's difficult to single one out on its own!). This was the harbor in the evening, to the right of this photo were huge mountains and the weather was blazing hot. It was a good day for the Charlses :)

Eastern Europe 2009

This year I travelled for a month from Kyiv in Ukraine all the way to Istanbul, Turkey by myself.

It was possibly the most amazing experience of my life, and was an enormous source of inspiration for me.

I wanted to share a few of my favourite photo's from the trip that highlight my journey...

Kyiv, Ukraine.
This is part of the entrance to the Soviet History Museum in Kyiv. Of all the places I visited, Kyiv was the most influenced by the power which blanketed the region from Moscow. I have to say that I love the architecture which was produced in this time (purely on a VISUAL and FUNCTIONAL level!!!) The sharp cutting lines and greyness of the concrete forming the star really imposed a sense of power on the viewer as you walked through the tunnel into the museum.

Odessa, Ukraine.

Eastern Europe is full of quirky things like this. The caravan had been turned into a ticket office for a circus which was in an abandoned park overlooking the port. There was a bizarre atmosphere here as there was nobody around even though there was plenty to do - right in the centre of the town!

Chisinau, Moldova.

Moldova is the second poorest country in Europe, has 2 break-away self-declared states within its borders that no other country on the planet officially recognises and has the deepest pot holes I have ever seen!

I took this photo in the capital, Chisinau. I love the contrast between the shiny, well kept car and the crumbling building. I think there is a real mood in this image that jumps out at you and tells a story.

More to follow soon.......

İstanbul

When Michael Palin visited Istanbul in his 'New Europe' series, he says that you have a true sense of arrival in one of the worlds truly great cities. He's bang on.

The Turkish capital is, as you would expect given its history, a real melting pot of cultures, sounds, sights and smells. Packed to bursting point with people from all walks of life living together in this baking hot crossroads between the mystical East and modern West.

The minarets and domes of the Blue Mosque are the epitome of Istanbul. The imposing holy site rises up from the top of a hill - the call to prayer strikes you in a way that instantly calms your mood - its all very impressive!

Like I said, East meets West - the yellow cab's remind you of a scene in New York, yet Turkey's vibrant, Eastern flag spices up the picture. The Turks love their flag - it flies literally EVERYWHERE!

Journey's end... After a month on the continent, it was finally time to head for home - and what better place of departure than this fabulous city. Istanbul left it's mark on me - I'm desperate to return!