What Sebastian Saw in Warsaw

Click in the photo to view more of Sebastian's images of Warsaw.

Graffiti and Signs in Warsaw

Sebastian took lots of photos of the graffiti and the signs in Warsaw. He liked that they looked like what we see in the US but in a different language. Also there is a lot more then we normally see where we live in the US. Click on the photo of Sebastian to see more of what he saw.

Leaving Villach

We left Villach yesterday and have been in a spiral ever since. The train was amazing once again and the castles lining the Vally are an amazing site. Sebastian and I played Progressive again most of the way.





I like the travel by train, it a relaxed way to see the country side. Again when I let back to the USA and have some edit power I will upload some of the edited video of the train ride.

Ever wondered what a WC is on a train!

For now I miss Villach. It was a beautiful town and I wish that we had more time for exploring!
This is wat we saw in pictures:

Sebastian did mannage to get some rest!
Follow this link for the last of the photos from Villach!

Pokemon in German

When we got to Villach we were so tired that we watched Pokemon in German! they have all the same TV shows that we have in the US juts in different languages. Except the BBC News and CNN in English and in German.

Back To Warsaw

This is a bit of a flash back! A little movie of driving into the old town in Warsaw that shows some of the monuments and especially the monument to the uprising. This was taken on day 2 of our trip in the heavy rain from the car Julian and Irena are giving the narration. I am trying to hold the hold the camera still and still hold on to my seat (sorry for the bumps)!

The Last View of Villach

Well Villach is in the past now and the conference is over. We are headed to the train station then to the hotel by the Vienna Airport!

The Dinner

Last night we went to the conference reception dinner. We sat with a couple from India, a group from Slovenia, and a group from Croatia. The food was OK and Sebastian worked on his journal and enjoyed the ice cream!

This is our last day in Villach, Today we take the train back to Vienna and then fly to the USA on Saturday mourning.
I plan on writing up the Villach trip on the train to Vienna. It has been a whirlwind with the travel and the conference.

JUST SITTING

I have been sitting here for at least an hour with a headache that makes my

head feels like it will go POP ! I'm glad I have this computer.
SEBASTIAN

The presentation is over!

Hi All,

Click for the slides from my PowerPoint presentation at ICL. Sorry no audio!
Sebastian said that went well and that I looked great in my new shirt and coat!

Having a good time

We just got here a couple of hours ago. It seems to me that every hotel we've been at had construction going on in front of our window. Right now it is 10:55pm. Were getting ready to go to sleep after a long day. At least the train ride wasn't as bad. It was only 4 hours and 27 minuets.

Sebastian

The Train To Villach

We are on the train to Villach from Vienna, if we were to stay on this train it would take us to Venice. When you look out the window of looks like CA pine trees and vineyards everywhere you look!. The only difference is the churches, church towers, and castles in the distance. Sebastian is watching Popeye and munching on sausages. Getting him to any work that is learning related is near impossible. This should be better in Villach has we will be in education mode.

We are now rising out of the vally and can see some snow on the tops of the mountains through the heavy fog and clouds. Bellow is what looks like rich farm and dairy land. The houses are made of stone on the side of the tracks. Gradually we are rising through a series of bridges and tunnels. The view is outstanding!

I am trying to record the entire ride on video (I will edit and post when we return to the USA) I hope that something comes out, someday Sebastian may want to look back at what he missed while watching movies on the iPod!
He is however holding up well (with the aid of coffee) and is proving to be a great travel companion. That said he has little sense of direction or how to locate landmarks and following him around a new city will lead you in endless circles (witness the photos in Vienna).
The trains are all electric and extremely quite which is nice while wondering through the countryside.

Ok so now Sebastian is wining at progressive.The last game he got 1270 points, I got about 160 less!
The last day in Vienna we got me (papa) three shirts a tie and a nice blue-black blazer at a German mans shop. Sebastian says it looks good and he wanted one! Perhaps next time!

2 more hours to Villach. Lost by 100 points to Sebastian.

We continue to travel through a beautiful valley. The river is still on our left; gradually finding it's way to Venice. For now we are relaxed watching the idyllic forest and pastureland drifting by. Travel by train is so peaceful, well at least in Austria. This is so different then the crowded jostling train from Warsaw. That train was packed with workers traveling in search of an economy that would support them or people traveling back to big cities and industry from the surrounding land. The travelers on this ride are professionals and students most are in their late teens. All have iPods and cell phones. Some have laptops. Most of this traveling group looks like students in America, except the language and the serenely are changed.

Just passed over the river and are now keeping on the right. The valley is starting to stretch out in all directions. Yet, we hug to the mountainside.
This section of video does not show the beauty of the vally to our right. I should be able to capture this on the return trip to Vienna on Friday.

Just passed a small castle on the hill.
There are lots of small castles and old towers overlooking the valley.

Sebastian almost missed the biggest castle he was so busy watching Popeye (the kids now days).
We are now at Villach…

More Photos

Some photos from Vienna on the last day

Last Day In Vienna

Today is our last day (well almost) in Vienna. We will be back on Friday but just long enough to rest before the flight home to SF. Yesterday we walked all over the town and saw the Opera house and the Museums and the palaces in the old town. We followed the trail of horse poop left by the horse buggies and saved the 100 euros or $144 us dollars!
Sebastian is surprised by the amount of tolerance for nudity in Europe and picked a few of the advertisements to show but they are a little risky and may offend some of us. They offended Sebastian!

Now In Vienna

After getting to Vienna we checked in at the hotel.

Then took a long awaited shower (same cloths for 22 hours!) After the shower we went out and explored the city. Most of the time this mourning we spent at St. Stephan's Cathedral. St. Stephan's is Romanesque in origin with the original structure erected between 1230 and 1245. Now it has elements from just about every era and even Sebastian was impressed!
Follow this link for some more photos!

Working on a Night Train (to Vienna)

Working on a Night Train (to Vienna)
At 2:13am on the border of Poland and the Czech Republic. We had no problems and were on our way to Austria in no time. not much to see from the train at night so we are just trying to sleep (not much luck!). Sebastian is to excited and with him awake... Well you get the point.
Next Stop Vienna!
But First Sebastian goes to the dogs in Warsaw

Frankfort!

This is one of the films from Frankfort we are a little punchy after 10+ hours of travel!

A Wet Day in Warsaw!

We will be Vienna at 6:30 AM Vienna time tomorrow. The train is full so we were only able to get a seat not a sleeper or shared room... And no window seat! But we should have a great time. When we get to Vienna I hope to relax in the joy of a hotel! That is another story. We will not see Barbara because it is almost snowing! So cold and wet! Everyone says it is global "Weird-ing")

Good Night Day 2 in Warsaw

Today was the old town. I am to tired to post anything long but will have time to say my thoughts on things when we get to Vienna and have a chance to rest! For now are some photos of what we saw... I will add the comments and captions latter.
Click the photo to view more photos!

More Videos and Photos and Thoughts Tomorrow!

More Videos and Photos and Thoughts Tomorrow! For now we are happy we went for a walk in the woods with Irena and the dog. Life is beautiful from the outside in Poland, yet the signes of the change that took place only 20 years ago are very present.

Welcome to Warsaw!

We made it...
The trip was long and 9.5 hr from SF to Frankfort then 3 more to Warsaw with the wait!

We are at the Airport

We made it through security. Sebastian is having a hard time with his bags and all the stuff he is dragging around!

Well this is a quick vid of lunch to prove that we are not eating junk food!

TODAY IS THE DAY

We are all packed and waiting for the shuttle bus...! Could hardly sleep last night with all the excitement and the questions... ? But now we are ready to go. Mom packed us a lunch and a snack and I feel like a kid going to camp for the first time! Sebastian says this is what he would have written also!

We leave Tomarow!

Warsaw Web Page

HI All,

Do you have any questions? Take a look at the Warsaw web page and post us any questions you may have:
Warsaw
We will be in Warsaw for 3 days then off on the train to Vienna Austria (the home of Mozart)

The Weather in Warsaw

We will be visiting Sebo's Godmother in Warsaw. This is the last email:
Hi,
In Poland is rather cold and weather now. You must take into account 10 degree (Celsjusz) days and less nights.
Irena

New Video Cam!

Just got a new "Small Digital" video cam for the trp. This is a test of the Cam! It is a Aiptek A-HD+ 1080P High Definition Camcorder. It records to a small SDHC SD Card.

Sebo took this Vid at School.

When In Poland

When we are in Poland we will be staying with Irena. She is Sebo's Godmother and just wonderful.
This is her with all 3 of the kids, Sebo, Bartek and Iwana.

The Conference!

With all the excitement about trying to get a passport for Sebo I almost forgot what started all this!
http://www.icl-conference.org/
When there we might also take a trip to Venice by river!

Is this train from Warsaw to Viena?

We will be taking the overnight train from Warsaw to Vienna. I found this on YouTub

Travel Plans!

Hi All,

The travel agenda for our (I hope our, not just me) is the following:
leave SFO on the 18th at 1:55 PM arive Frankfurt 9:35 AM hang out in Frankfurt and catch a plane to Warsaw at 12:20 arriving in Warsaw at 1:50Pm

Total travel time 14H 55M!

On the 22ed take the train to Vienna, Stay at the Ambassador Hotel from Monday the 22 to the 24 taking the train to Villach in the mourning. Villach we will be at the Hotel Goldenes Lamm until the 26th. On Thursday I will give my paper in Villach Then the train back to Vienna where we will stay at the Eurohotel Vienna Airport.
On the 27th we will take a flight from Vienna to Washington Dulles arriving at 2:40Pm then catch a flight at 5:00Pm arriving in SF at 7:55 on the 27th...

Sleep all day the 28th then back to an 8AM class SCU on the 29th! Then on the 30th get a crown on my tooth!

Looking Up!

With luck we will be in Warsaw on the 19th!

Rail Pass!

I ordered the rail passes. The plan is
Fly into Warsaw
Take the train to Vienna
From Vienna to Villach
Take the boat Venice
Take the boat back to Villach
Train from Villach to Vienna
Fly from Vienna to SF

Stay tuned for video updates!