LONDON

   When I'm thinking about a place that I would like to visit London definitely wouldn't be on my list. I prefer the quiet countryside to noisy cities. I like to be close to nature, stand my bare feet on green grass, smell sweet flowers, hear birds singing and feel the sun and wind touching my face. 

   I went to London on a two-day business trip. I used a direct connection to Stansted Airport by Ryanair. There I took a railway to Liverpool Street station. My office was on the other side of London Bridge and I got there in 20 minutes on foot. I stayed in London Bridge Hotel. My room was small with a little round window and A view of a building on the other side of a narrow street but the bed was soft and comfortable and I did not hear any noise from outside. I did not have many opportunities for sightseeing as the main part of the day I spent in the office. On the first day I only had a chance for a short walk along the Thames and it was already getting dark so I could't see much. On the next day I did a quick shop and in the evening returned home. I bought cheddar for my husband, a miniature of a black taxi and a red doubledecker for my children and a bar of Toblerone. 

   I only spent short a time in London but it was impossible not to notice a huge contrast between wealth and poverty. Next to modern offices, people dressed in smart clothes with laptop bags on their shoulders you can see homeless people living on the streets among piles of rubbish. Everyone was in a hurry trying to get to the destination of their journey as soon as possible. It was difficult to walk along the path without being hit by anyone. Even in the evening the streets are full of people, some returning home or to a hotel, some going to meet friends in a pub and some jogging around the others.

   I was happy to be back home, where I'm not overwhelmed by skyscrapers, crowds of people, noisy street and rubbish.

Above clouds with Ryanair

The Shard

London Bridge

Millennium Bridge

Tower Bridge

London Taxi

Liverpool Street Station

WEEKEND IN KARPACZ

   I'm really glad that recent winters are not as cold as they were in my childhood. They look like an extension of autumn rather than a separate season. The only disadvantage is that I cannot take my children on a sled because of a lack of snow.

   When I received an invitation to visit my friend in Karpacz at the end of February I didn't hesitate too long. Firstly I truly missed my friend, as we do not have many opportunities to meet in person, as she lives in Bristol and comes to Poland only once or twice a year, and secondly a weekend in Sudety sounded like a perfect plan to rest from everyday duties. I also counted on a little snow to make a snowman or throw snowballs with my children.

   On Saturday morning we ate breakfast, packed warm clothes and snacks for the road and set off on a journey. After two hours of listening to our children crunching corn snacks, complaining "My butt hurts!" and asking "Are we there yet?" we reached our destination. My friend welcomed us with her husband and her mother. After a short rest we went for a walk. It was snowing and my son wasn't happy about it, he was covering his face with his hands trying to avoid falling snowflakes. After 30 minutes of walking my daughter started to cry as she felt too cold. We carried our children home as soon as possible. The rest of the day we spent on warming ourselves near the fireplace, eating chocolate and drinking hot tea (and red wine after our children went to bed).  

   On the next day we went for a short walk and visited Muzeum Zabawek (Eng. Toy Museum). The museum is located in the renovated building that belonged earlier to the railway and one room is dedicated to its memory. You can see there train models, old documents and train tickets. The exhibition of toys is located in the main part of the building. I was delighted with dollhouses from the previous century. I could have spent long hours looking at the cleverly crafted furniture but with my children running around I was only able to give a quick look and take a photo. My son was interested in dinosaurs and toy cars and my daughter in little toy animals (I had to take a photo of every little creature).
   The way back home was definitely better as our children fell asleep as we left Karpacz.

Winter walk in Karpacz

Together on a snowy path

Living room in a dollhouse

Bedroom in a dollhouse

The railway exibition