Now we're home again, after our motorhome trip in Poland and the Czech Republic. So... fantastic great to finally be able to travel abroad! With a motorhome, it felt safe and we got to see many incredible destinations. Here are our first reflections.
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
ShareInnehållsförteckning
10 days through Poland and the Czech Republic
We have been on a 10-day trip through Poland and the Czech Republic. These are two favourite countries that we really love to travel with a motorhome in. We have a good cooperation with the Czech tourist office, and the days in the Czech Republic were a paid cooperation.
The Polish tourist office also helped us and made sure that we had guides in the Polish cities we visited. We want to be clear and honest about this, but at the same time emphasise that all our reports are of course based on our own personal experiences!
It has been an intense, but also a very fun trip. We have seen a lot and learnt a lot (intense hours with guides!). The Polish cities surprised us by being incredibly beautiful and the Czech nature attracts many more visits. We didn't have time to tell everything during the trip, so there will be more posts in the future. Here you can see our route in brief:
How did you do on coronavirus safety?
We travelled with our own motorhome, and it felt very safe and secure. On board the Polferrie ferries there is a good distance and hand sanitiser in every corner. Once down in Europe, it also feels easy to keep your distance when driving and living in a motorhome. What bothered us a little, however, was that guides and others wanted to be able to shake hands. Sometimes it's hard to say no, so instead we had the hand sanitiser at the ready.
How did it work with a face mask?
Both Poland and the Czech Republic currently require face masks when entering indoor shops, museums and the like. We brought disposable masks with us from Sweden, and also received a cloth mask during the trip.
We obviously used the masks when we were expected to, but do they help? That probably depends on how you use them and what you do. Of course, many people use their masks in a healthy and sensible way, but we also saw some questionable examples. What about ...
- Wearing a face mask, but removing it from your mouth when you speak in order to be heard better?
- Wear a mask, but remove it when coughing so you can cough into your hand?
- Wearing a face mask but pulling it down under your nose so you can breathe better?
- Wear a face mask but shake hands?
What do we want to say with this? Well, you should of course follow local rules on face masks, but if you want to protect yourself from infection, you should still remember to keep your distance and wash your hands.
Report from Poland ...
We had a limited amount of time on this trip, but visited many fantastic In Poland we visited four cities and we liked them all very much, in different ways. So far we have written about one experience in each city. Once we've settled in a bit, we'll come back with bigger stories. These are the experiences we have told you about so far:
- Torun: Nocolaus Copernicus' house in Torun
- Poznan: Baking St Martin's croissants at a museum in Poznan
- Wroclaw: Canoeing in Wroclaw - a great experience!
- Łódź: Radegast railway station in Łódź - Holocaust memory
Report from the Czech Republic ...
In the Czech Republic we experienced amazing nature. We visited the eastern part of the country and there are mountains, hiking trails, ski areas and lakes. Nature is by far the best thing here, but it's also exciting to visit the old mining and industrial town of Ostrava. We will soon tell you more about what to do in and around Ostrava. Here are the stories we've written so far:
- Ostrava: Dolni Vitkovice and Bolt Tower
- Pustevny: Tree top course in Czech Republic - Pustevny and Stezka Valaska
- Rožnov pod Radhoštěm: Open air museum - Wallachian Open Air Museum
- Celadna and Olesna: Golf in the Czech Republic - and camping on Lake Olesna
- Praděd: Mount Praděd - down the mountain on a scooter
You might also like:
Local excursions - life in the age of coronavirus
What is important to you on your holiday abroad?
Packing list for the trip - check this off when packing
17 questions about travelling - and our answers
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Sandra Lifsresor.se says:
We are keen on the Czech Republic when it feels ok for us to take the train there in the future. Nice to read about beautiful nature and lots of activities. Just as we want it!
22 September 2020 - 7:36
Helena says:
Yes, very nice! The nature is beautiful in many places, let me know if you want more tips in the future 🙂.
22 September 2020 - 10:33
Kerstin Persson says:
Have only read the post itself. The rest of the goodies I save for the evening sofa ☺️. Thank you for sharing your experiences. Poland and the Czech Republic are underrated in many ways. But for a nature lover they are fabulous. Take care of yourselves ♥️
22 September 2020 - 8:28
Helena says:
Agree that Poland and the Czech Republic are underrated destinations in many cases. There is an incredible amount to see and experience!
22 September 2020 - 10:34
Shetlandsfrun says:
Very interesting to hear your reflections on travelling in these times!
22 September 2020 - 9:30
Ama de casa says:
What a wonderful - but intense! - journey you made 🙂
I have to admit I'm guilty of wearing the mouth guard as a chin guard from time to time to be able to breathe. Since we are forced to wear the masks as soon as we leave the apartment, it gets unbearably hot. So when no one else (other than Anders) is around, I cheat. I don't want to die of heat stroke either.
Welcome home again!
22 September 2020 - 10:02
Helena says:
I absolutely understand that you do that with the mouth guard, especially if you have to wear it all the time!!!! I don't know if I formulated myself a little stupidly perhaps, but what I mean is that you have to be aware that when you don't use the mouth guard as intended, it is no longer as effective. If you keep your distance etc, it does not matter, but the risk may be that you are lured into a "false sense of security".
22 September 2020 - 10:39
Ditte says:
Have followed the blog and understood that it has been a rewarding, fun and enjoyable trip. I would have been on a travel job in Poland this autumn, but it did not happen. Unfortunately. Much that is too uncertain when travelling with a group and where the average age is also quite high. But there will be new times.
22 September 2020 - 10:06
Helena says:
Sad that it was cancelled, but I hope it will happen later. I understand that there are some uncertainties when organising a group trip.
23 September 2020 - 7:42
Lena says:
Thank you very much! We will read it thoroughly as we have decided to stay in Sweden for a while longer. It may be a destination later on.???
22 September 2020 - 10:09
Helena says:
Both Poland and the Czech Republic are great travel destinations! 🙂
23 September 2020 - 7:42
Elisabeth says:
Mouth guards are all very well, but it is important to use the right kind and in the right way. Distance and hand washing are key ingredients to avoid infection.
22 September 2020 - 11:28
Helena says:
Yes, I agree. Mouth guards may be a supplement in some situations, but don't forget the distance and hand washing ....
23 September 2020 - 7:43
Geddfish says:
Understand that it has been wonderful with new impressions but also hard with all the procedures. And having a face mask is unbearable. I have had it for short moments, at most an hour and fyy.
I stay in Sweden all the time 😀
Hugs!
22 September 2020 - 12:04
Helena says:
I did not think it was so dangerous with the mouth guard because it was only indoors, for example when you went into a shop, so it was probably a maximum of an hour for us too.
23 September 2020 - 7:44
Daniela | Discovering The Planet says:
I think I would have been one of those who had violated all the rules regarding mouth protection. I have difficulty breathing when I have something in my mouth, including a scarf :D. So then you stay at home ?. But it has been fun to follow you ...
22 September 2020 - 14:46
Helena says:
I understand! I did not think it was so hard because it was so short periods (when you go into a shop for example) but I was a little perplexed when it was to be taken in hand instead ... but always had a small hand sanitiser in my pocket or bag 😉.
23 September 2020 - 7:46
Mia says:
Oh, what fun to read! I was supposed to go on an Erasmus meeting to our friend school in Ostrow Wielkopolski in May, but that didn't happen... We were also supposed to start with two days in Warsaw and I was very excited to see a whole new country. But here I sit and have still never been to Poland... hope for brighter times, maybe next spring? There seems to be unexpectedly many nice things to see in Poland! I see that you seem to have driven approximately in the areas where I was heading. 🙂
22 September 2020 - 18:23
Helena says:
Sad that it was canceled, but that's how it is a bit in these times, especially when it comes to social events and group travel and the like ... Hope there will be a new opportunity for you! Poland is really nice and worth visiting, many times 🙂 ðŸ™'
23 September 2020 - 7:47
BP says:
It was a really quick trip, the journey. Nevertheless, you got to see an incredible amount.
The idea of wearing a mask lulls you into a false sense of security. In Asia, people always wear masks in the subway in Japan. This is because they do not want to infect others. It has not even been proven that masks do any good or perhaps have the opposite effect during this pandemic. A good example is Spain where everyone has to wear a mask as soon as they leave their house. Yet corona cases are skyrocketing. So...
22 September 2020 - 19:43
Lena i Wales och Spanien says:
Your reflections are interesting.
I'm so used to wearing masks here in the UK that it just feels natural now.
We are not having an easy time here now. We are asked not to leave our area and to travel as little as possible.
23 September 2020 - 11:59