Sugar twins #4: Sarajevo

This poem covers all my emotions about the city when I was there in 2004 and when I read the book "To end a war" by Holbrooke

Czeslaw Milosz:
Sarajevo

-Perhaps this is not a poem but at least I say what I feel.

Now that a revolution really is needed, those who were fervent are quite cool.

While a country murdered and raped calls for help from the Europe which it had trusted, they yawn.

While statesmen choose villainy and no voice is raised to call it by name.

The rebellion of the young who called for a new earth was a sham, and that generation has written the verdict on itself.

Listening with indifference to the cries of those who perish because they are after all just barbarians killing each other.

And the lives of the well-fed are worth more than the lives of the starving.

It is revealed now that their Europe since the beginning has been a deception, for its faith and its foundation is nothingness.

And nothingness, as the prophets keep saying, brings forth only nothingness, and they will be led once again like cattle to slaughter.

Let them tremble and at the last moment comprehend that the word Sarajevo will from now on mean the destruction of their sons and the debasement of their daughters.

They prepare it by repeating: “We at least are safe,” unaware that what will strike them ripens in themselves.

Sugar twins #3: Buda and Pest

Located in former Central Police building, this hotel has excellent location, great level of service, wonderful and big rooms. It's a perfect base for a bum like me who likes to walk through Budapest at all times.

Sugar twins #2: Bangkok

One of my dreams: go to Bangkok. Not this year as my holidays are scheduled for August.
Bangkok is probably one of those places where you can drop off, tune in and relax. Maybe next year, maybe maybe maybe...

Sugar twins #1: cane and white

I love to add sugar cane to caipirinha or caipiroska. They say sugar cane is a healthy sugar, correct? At least there's one more reason to collect both: brown and white. Like in life.

Instead of sugar: sweeteners family

Some people don't use any sugar just like me. The others tend to use sweeteners like those above. Aspartam-based or other stuff. I like the colours, that's it.

Hotels of the world #3: Danube Bratislava

I strongly advise you not to use the facilities of this place. Good location, dramatic level of service, very noisy (close to main street).
My ex-CEO told me to book this place because of price, but the price wasn't that low. And I couldn't sleep at night... which anyway made me walk into Bratislava night...
Do you remember the movie "Hostel"? Yes, Bratislava has something special. I like the Cuban bar in the centre with good cigars, mojitos and live music. You will enjoy.

Hotels of the world #2: Qubus

I love Qubus location in Wroclaw. Excellent. Anyway, it's a fairly better place than Campanile. They normally have better locations.
A friend of mine used to sleep more than 1 year in Krakow Qubus, working on a project.
He said:
- I didn't like the perspective of renting a house and cleaning it. Hotel is a hotel.

Hotels of the world #1: Campanile

Good choice, you pay for the room regardless how many people (1, 2 or 3). No rocket science, but good value for money. I used to sleep 2 weeks in this hotel in Wroclaw, my first days at my then job. Felt like home, really. Recommend.

Novotel: 24h prison for me in Moscow

Ok, it wasn't my fault. The plane from Warsaw to Moscow was late, so we couldn't catch the connection to Delhi in Moscow. What happened next? Story by Mietek:

"Pod eskortą – jak grupę terrorystów dowieziono nas do hotelu. Bardzo ładny Novotel z ładną restauracją i sklepami. Ale nie dla nas!!! Nam nie wolno wyjść poza wyznaczoną linię a grupa pokoi w których nas zakwaterowano była oddzielona specjalnymi drzwiami zamknięta i chroniona jak więzienie.
Dołączono do nas jeszcze obywatela Hong Kongu i uwaga zażądano, aby ustalić, kto z kim mieszka bo pokoje są dwuosobowe. Obcych ludzi- czasem kobiety z mężczyznami. Nie ważne – protesty i dyskusje były bezskuteczne. Ostatecznie Polacy jakoś się podzielili a biednego Wallace’a z Hong Kongu dokwaterowano!!!! Po kilku probach do innego pokoju jak w wagonie kolejowym.

Poprosiliśmy o możliwość zejścia do sklepu – nie można. Tym, którzy nie mieli zapewniono szczoteczki do zębów. Nie ma możliwości zakupienia dezodorantu czy maszynki do golenia.

Jedzenie miało być podane do pokoi. Prosiliśmy o możliwość zejścia do restauracji. Okazało się, że tylko grupy 15 osobowe są prowadzone do restauracji – dla 12 osobowej to niemożliwe!!! Ok. otwarto nam bar i po wielu prośbach umożliwiono zjedzenie przy stołach a nie na łóżku w pokoju."

KLM: Royal Flying Dutch and more

Amsterdam is a dream to some of us. My boss in from Netherlands. Dutch tend to be a very straightforward nation, they have always beed traders and merchants. I like to work with them a lot. I prefer to have a foreign/Dutch boss than a Polish one.
Anyway, as I am collecting Miles&More, don't fly KLM. Especially after Moscow experience with Aeroflot, member of the same SkyTeam as KLM.

Alitalia: will survive?

Once upon a time it used to be a very good airline with hot flight attendants onboard. Now the airline seems to take a deep dig and only old-new PM Silvio Berlusconi may save it. But will he?

I flew Alitalia once to Sicily from Milano. Alitalia owns volareweb.com which took me last weekend to ski in Switzerland. Good stuff! but also another story.