Jelena & Tomek Bańka

41 files, last one added on Jul 05, 2009

109 files, last one added on Sep 10, 2009

45 files, last one added on May 31, 2009

43 files, last one added on May 01, 2009

32 files, last one added on May 01, 2009

The official site of the house: http://vila-antica.com/

33 files, last one added on Apr 30, 2009

34 files, last one added on Jan 27, 2009

56 files, last one added on Aug 31, 2008

On the Eve of the All Saints we went to London by train and stayed at out PL-FIN friends there. We spent 3 days walking aroun the town. The weather was great, people were great and prices high :)

24 files, last one added on Feb 28, 2008

Tomek with his old high school bud Michal went to have a quick look at this nice part of France. In 2 days we have visited the northern part of the region, concentrating mostely on cathedrals, as it was raining.
All the pics taken with Michal's digital Olympus.

19 files, last one added on Aug 20, 2006

Sydney:
It was our transit hub during the trip as well as a first destination to explore. We had great time there spending almost all of it with our hosts - family of Jelena's cousins: Marica, Vlado, Brany & Zlatko. We have spent 5 days there and have lots of pleasure from testing great food of Sydney's Crows Nest restaurants. 2 photos from Hong Kong not Sydney!
Blue Mountains:
It was a one day trip to the Mountains 100 kms from Sydney, giving us an introduction to Australia's wildelife, which we were to excersise later during the trip. We were guided by Vlado.

29 files, last one added on Feb 05, 2006

49 files, last one added on Dec 21, 2005

Bruny Island is pretty close to Antarctica but we were lucky to enjoy a sunny and warm weather. We tried to enjoy oysters as well but we seem to be be not mature enough for their taste. And we have seen wild albino wallabies!

41 files, last one added on Dec 23, 2005

Melbourne - Tomek's favourite town since the trip. Pictures can not express the atmosphere. We have spent most of the time in chinatown eating seafood. The most visitors' friendly city we have seen ever.
The Great Ocean Road is worth to drive through and the South Australia is worth to taste their wines and enjoy cool and powerful waves. A farewel part of the trip - full of ocean, sun, wind, cows and flies.

66 files, last one added on Jan 25, 2006

Tomek with his nephew Michal and his girlfriend Iza went to England and visited countryside of Oxfordshire and part of "Campden Way" area. The greatest number of pictures comes from churchyards, which shall be used as England's logo for tourists as they are so beautiful.

41 files, last one added on Nov 13, 2005

Jelena with her cousin Sanja and friends Matilda and Ania come to Brussels in July 2005. They spent most of the time travelling around. The itinerary included: Paris, Strasbourg, Mastricht, Versailis, Brugge, Amsterdam, Gent and our cousins' house in Holland.
Pics taken with the film SLR Minolta Dynax 5

53 files, last one added on Jan 01, 2007

One day Janek simply has sent an email to Tomek with pictures showing a boat. It said: "I have hired it. Are you joining a crew in 2 weeks?". Most of us have gotten the e-mail at the same time.
The trip went during weekend of 3-5th June 2005. The huge boat called Averechts with professional crew consisted of captain, 1st mate, captain's girlfriend and 2 dogs. We were almost 30 with different sailing experience, all called by Janek. We have started and finished in a port called Monnickendam close to Amsterdam. We've been sailing on internal see - beautiful and no stress.On the boat there was a lot of partying with music served by Rafael and Julien and food by Tony.
It was really fun! Most pictures' titles by Janek!

54 files, last one added on Jul 05, 2005

Tomek went for the funeral of the Pope.

10 files, last one added on Jun 10, 2005

As Tomek was unemployed since September 2004, having nothing to do, went to the south. It was the EU mission to Mozambique to observe presidential elections . Tomek worked in Zambezia, in a mountainous district with capital city of Gurue in northern part of the country. He got there from Warsaw via Zurich, Johannesburg, Maputo and Quelimane. The great adventure, except it was not enough time for sight seeing. Questions: tomek@banka.pl
Pics taken with the SLR film Minolta Dynax 5 by Tomek

54 files, last one added on Jun 13, 2005

Jelena, her mother Franciska and Tomek went to Montenegro to catch last warmth of summer. We went to an ancient city of Ulcinj, the closest to the Albanian border. It was October 2004.
Questions: tomek@banka.pl
Pics taken with the film SLR Minolta Dynax 5 by Jelena & Tomek

14 files, last one added on Jun 17, 2005

Tomek together with Robert went to Iraq for a fact finding mission to set up a permanent mission of Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. They flew from Europe to Amman in Jordan, took a taxi to Baghdad, hired a car with a guide/driver and got to Al Hillah. Al Hillah is a capital of Polish troops in Iraq. The trip took almost 2 weeks. It was January 2004. Questions: tomek@banka.pl
Pics taken by Robert with his digital camera.

34 files, last one added on Feb 11, 2007

The last OSCE observation mission Tomek went with was to Georgia. It was in the fall of 2003 and President Schevardnadze has fallen after these elections. Tomek was sent to a remote mountanoious area (a town called Martvili) with 3 other observers: Amy (US), Frauke (D) and Richard (UK). On the way back home, in Istambul, we have encourted anti-war student demonstration with the biggest police presence Tomek has ever seen. Questions: tomek@banka.pl
Pictures taken mostly by Tomek with the film SLR Minolta Dynax 5

25 files, last one added on Jun 13, 2005

It was just before of after the referendum. Jelana was preparing to visit her parents & Tomek was not to have any holidays. We've decided (within 80 minutes) to take a night train to Gdansk, from where we went to a village Skowronki (sentimental place for those from Myszkow) and to Malbork on the way back to Warsaw.

16 files, last one added on Jun 21, 2005

Another OSCE election mission Tomek took part in. He was sent to Ulcinj, wich is the closest town to Albania on the coast of Montenegro. The city has an ancient history and oustending atmosphere. It is inhabitted mostly by ethnic Albanians, but none here has a problem using Serbian. Most of local people still love Tito! For those reading Polish we have two links: info about a travel guide book and article about Ulcinj by Tomek.

12 files, last one added on Jun 17, 2005

We went from Poland to Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria, and then Jelena went to Bosnia and Tomek to Strasbourg (to learn French :) and to visit the Thuns in Bavaria on his way back home. As we had a problem with a camera, these pictures have only sentimental value.

16 files, last one added on Jun 17, 2005

46 files, last one added on May 10, 2006

As Jelena was preparing for exams to get to the economic faculty of Novi Sad, Tomek went alone for a Balcans' tour starting in Slovenia ending in Montenegro. Here you can find Greek part of the trip only.
Pictures' description soon.

57 files, last one added on Jun 19, 2005

Tomek alone wanted to get overland to Sudan from Poland. He managed to make it to Egyptian-Sudanese border, visiting Romania, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Israel on the way. The journey ended 2 weeks before he met Jelna in Bosnia.
Pictures taken with an old Russian SLR ZENIT without UV filter, what can be easily noticed.
Pics' description will come soon

76 files, last one added on Jun 17, 2005

We all were scouts, we were young and except sailing decided to visit ruins of never finished Nazi comlex for submrines rennovation / full of bunkers, canals and water/gates. It was among Mazury lakes in the Eastern North part of Poland, close to the famous "Wolfsschanze" , where Hitler was almost killed.

20 files, last one added on May 10, 2006