Poland was beautiful and inexpensive. Rain was so heavy, some people told me I might not be able to cross Poland because of the flooding. And yes it was summer. I was reading Mitchner's Poland at night, which is concidered "historical fiction", but it sure paints a vivid picture of the hardships this country has faced. From being a major military force in the 13th century, to being whiped off the map for 137 years, then the atrocities of the Germans in WWII, and Soviet opression after WWII, this country has been through a lot in it's 1000 years. I experienced wonderful hospitality and the most litter in all of Europe. I drank vodka with 20 something thugs, and got yelled at by some old military dude. I highly recomend Poland.