Old Town of Poznań

Poznań is the largest city in Western Poland. It has been founded in 1253 and for the next five hundred years it has been guarded by city walls.

Nowadays you can only see the ruins of the wall.

The building next to it is a fire station so you may say that it is a special place for the safety of the city also today.

I only hope that the fire brigade does not rely on these old fashion pumps.

If the walls would not be a protection enough, the people of Poznań made sure that they have two powerful guardians. They even put them in their coat of arms. And they did not chose modestly since they selected Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Let's walk to the Market Square. It is surrounded by very nice residential buildings in vivid colours.

The most important building is of course the Town Hall, with its tall towers.

Now look carefully at the little door over the clock.

It is opening! And something is getting out of there!

These are goats!

And they do not seem too friendly to each other.

Around the Town Hall you can see several statues. Some are religious ...

... while others are definitely pagan.

In this building you will find the Museum of Literature.

Finally, a monument dedicated to a horse! It commemorates the fifteenth regiment of uhlans, the first regiment of cavalry in the Wielkopolska Uprising.

Though obviously, the most popular animal monument in Poznań is this one ...

Look at the clock on the wall, it is time that we move on.

Our next point of interest is round the corner. I will show it to you next week.

Warsaw Zoo

I have realised recently that over the last few years we have visited several zoos. But we have never seen the Warsaw zoo. The weather is getting nicer so I hope that you fancy a little walk in the animal kingdom. The lane is large and comfortable.

Next to the entrance you can see some seals. They do not seem over excited by all the visitors that they take pictures. Most probably they are not on Instagram and do not care about followers and likes. 

A bit further we reach the Australian corner. First the emus ...

... then the kangaroo.

But what really stope my heart is this little kangaroo sitting in his mother's pouch. Technically, his out, conquering the world with his eyes and hands. But his back is safely protected close to mommy.

My human family just run after some ice cream. And I was amazed by the colours of this peacock. I do not think that I have ever seen one like that. 

The zoo is the house to some monkeys and apes. The baboons reside outside.

The gorillas were hiding inside. 

The elephants have a relatively larger territory so it is not easy to take a good selfie with one of them. 

But you can always try to get close to a rather nice representation of it. 

Next to the elephants you can find a rhino. His horn was cut off to protect his life. I think this is the saddest thing that I have seen since long. 

Actually zoos in general have something sad in them, being in reality some sort of prison for the animals. But it is also true that thanks to the zoos, some of the species were saved and can expand, like the European bisons. 

Plus they never have to worry about anything and can simply relax like this alpaca. 

Or maybe take a swim like the hippos.

If you enjoy the water and the sun, I propose we sit for a moment next to this fountain and enjoy the calm around us. 

Just make sure that you do not sit on a crocodile!

Bannerghatta Safari Park

Last week I have taken you on a tour in the Bannerghatta Zoological Garden. This week I will show why they just next to it you can find such interesting buses.



Let's get on one of them (obviously with a ticket!) to start a ride through a very large area. It is protected by a fence but this fence is large abough to allow animals to live in conditions close to those in the wild. The first animals we will meet are the termites.

But just a few hundred meters further we meet a nice sleeping kitty. Hello Kitty!

 His white friend is also resting, but not fully asleep.

Everywhere around you can see banyan trees.

And their shadow helps the entire royal family to fall asleep. Simba and Mufasa meets the Sleeping Beauty.

Another group of sleeping animals, the teddy (Himalaya) bears is blocking our road!

Please look at their feet, aren't they like human's ?

And here you will fully understand why the elephant is the best human's friend in India. The first animal not sleeping in the whole Safari park we meet.

Since we are in a fairy tales place, after all this Shir Khans, Lion's King, Jumbo, Winnie The Pooh, Sleeping Beauty it is the time to find Bambi.

Let them eat in silence and move to our next destination.

Bannerghatta Biological Park

Last time when I was in Bangalore, there was not enough time to see most of the attractions of the city and its sourroundings. Fortunately a new longer possibility to be in these region occured. Taking advantage of the great weather (winter in India) I want to show you today my friends and cousins that you can meet near Bangalore. Ladies, gentlemen, animals, welcome to Bannerghatta Biological Park.

Today I will show you its first part, the zoological garden. Let's start with a visit to the bird's king - the black crowned crane.

Just next to him, you can find another big bird - the emu.

A bit further you can find the king of the junge - the tiger.

And its smaller cousin - the leopard.

The most hilarous animals, the hyenas live quite close.

But if we are in India there is also the human's best friend, especially at work - the majestic Indian elephant.

In fact there are many of them.

But I feel most comfortable with the Indian hog deers.

Probably because they are the smallest.

Apart of interesting animals, you can find in Bannerghetta also fantastic trees.

But not all the animals live there behind the nets.

Next week I will show you what the monkey was sitting on.