Ahhh... the comforts of a nice B & B to recharge the batteries, have some nice pampering and feel the warm flow of a tender bidet.

Just what I needed after 4.5 days of loving Krakow. Its amazing history, superb architecture and sights and underground bars which are claustrophobic and comforting at the same time.

Auschwitz I was eerie, it was a windy day, and the way the big trees (which are similar to Jills at the Lake) lining the road rustled whilst the streets were deserted was very creepy.

You knew it was a bad place.

The exhibitions were poignant, and the collections of thousands of shoes, eyeglasses, suitcases and other items was breathtaking in a bad way.

I had made a decision not to take photos, the only one I did take you will see is of the electric fence warning sign.

Auschwitz II (Birkenau) where the vast majority of the gassings took place was a huge area. You didnt quite get the same feeling of the original camp, but that was due to the size of the complex.

The Salt Mines were a completely different kettle of fish!

Down 135 metres (via a flight of stairs to 90ish) to a massive underground system which from memory encompasses 300km of tunnels??

The caverns cut from the salt deposits are huge and have been left with some beautiful carvings and the like, its all a bit touristy but thats ok. Even the chandeliers in the photos are cut from a type of salt.

Speaking of touristy, I have taken pride thus far on the trip on not being touristy. And have been able to achieve that pretty well, to the point where I have had numerous locals come up to me in Scotland and now Poland asking for help. So I must at least look like I know what im doing!

That has all changed in Warsaw.

The fabulous B&B im staying in is so helpful with everything they have made me feel like a tourist.

20 minutes in conversation over what to see, where to go, we will call your taxi, this is my fave eating spot, have my map, have my travel book with post its.

Im not complaining, its service A+, im just not used to working this way hahaha. And you know I felt different, I felt like I needed to pull my map out to see where I was going all the time, I actually felt very touristy and I didnt like it one bit!!!

But, got to see all of Warsaw in one day thanks to their tips. Its more of a CITY than Krakow, so I still much prefer the latter.

The highlight of Warsaw is definitely the Palace of Culture and Science, the exterior rather than the interior. Its the big greyish building with clock in my photos.

When I approached it there was an ugly advertising sign on it which I thought was tacky, but when I entered the door underneath it I was greeted by an electronic sign saying HARRY POTTER 12:45 2:15 4:20 hahaha, it was a cinema!

Around the other side of the building was the proper entrance, up the lift and photos of the panorma of Warsaw followed.

On a 5 hour train ride to Berlin 2moro, will post an update after my 4 nights there!