Behind the Iron Curtain PRINT

Day 1    Arrival

Day 2    Goodbye Lenin tour • Berlin panoramic tour • overnight in Berlin

Morning: Goodbye Lenin – Berlin and the Cold War
During the tour we learn about the history of the Cold War and its impact on contemporary Europe. We see the remains of the Berlin Wall, the best known crossing point in Berlin Wall (Checkpoint Charlie) and the Stalinalley – the symbol lof East Berlin. We also visit the headquarters of Stasi – the most repressive secret police created to spy population, and the famous East Side Gallery – a memorial to freedom, covered with wall paintings made by artists from all over the world. Break for lunch.

Afternoon: We enjoy a panoramic tour of Berlin and discover the highlights of this fascinating city: Old Royal Boulevard,  the famous Brandenburg Gate, Museum Islands, and the Holocaust Memorial.

Day 3    Free time in Berlin till 12.00 • transfer to Krakow • overnight in Krakow 

Day 4    A journey to the Middle Ages: Wieliczka Salt Mine and Krakow Old Town • overnight in Krakow 

Morning: During our short walk of the Old Town we discover all its treasures: Wawel Hill with the Royal Castle and Cathedral – the site of coronations and burials of kings,  the Main Market Square – the largest medieval square in Europe – and the St. Mary’s Church  from which the famous bugle is played.

Afternoon: We visit one of the largest and oldest salt mines in Europe and an absolutely unique and surprising place. During our visit we will discover the treasures of the mine: huge underground caves, tunnels, chapels, including the most spectacular Holy Chapel of Saint Kinga, with decorations and statues carved out of the salt.

Day 5    Now Huta tour •  Everyday life under communist regime • free time • film • overnight in Krakow 

Morning: a journey back in time to before 1989 with a visit to the district of Krakow which began as a separate city built from scratch after 1949 for the workers of the former Lenin Steelworks. Today, it is one of the best preserved examples of socialist realist architecture and urban design – an ideal communist city with a central square, avenues and apartment blocks, all of which were designed as small fortresses against an attack of Western capitalists. The power of Nowa Huta is illustrated by the fact that Fidel Castro, while in Poland, refused to explore Krakow’s Old Town and instead chose to visit Nowa Huta! After the tour short lecture with slide show about everyday life under the communist regime.

Evening: film in a local cinema (special show)

Day 6      Departure

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