Białystok

We arrived in Białystok on a lovely sunny evening and checked in to the Hotel Gołębiewski.  Pretty famished by now, we walked down Ulitsa Lipowa to Rynek Kościuszki, taking in Branicki Palace and the Basilica of St. Roch (Kościoł św. Roku).  In the Rynek, a stage was set up, Solidarity flags were everywhere, there was a bouncy castle, a sizeable crowd and evidence of a forthcoming fireworks display.  Poland's National Day?  A party of some kind?  We couldn't find out, but we enjoyed dinner at the Café Esperanto (Esperanto's inventor, Ludwik Zamenhof, was from Białystok).


People speak Russian here so I can communicate a bit.

Kościoł św. Roku

Vilnius → Białystok

A train journey through south-west Lithuania and north-east Poland, travelling 1st, 2nd and 3rd class.  We went through lovely farmland and pine, fir and birch forest, past small lakes and rolling fields.  We changed in Šeštokai (LT) and stopped in Augustow and Šuwałki (PL).  Tragically, those pancakes were the last thing to eat all day....

Mellow

Sitting in the breakfast room, enjoying a cup of tea after yummy pancakes with honey.  Mmm...

Gloomy

It seems like our trip is running out, and it only just started :(