Lecture: Belarus Trip Summary

Weather

• Very bad weather, rainy since yesterday
• Limited time left but still interesting places to visit

Breakfast

• Unusually bad
• Did not document it due to poor quality

Plans and Schedule

• Planned to attend Polish Hip Hop Festival in Płock
  • Stuck at the border, won't make it
• Mission: Check out McDonald's to see if it's a fake or rebranded
  • Similar appearance and taste to original McDonald's
  • Some differences noted in Big Mac

McDonald's/Mak.by

• Externally and internally similar to McDonald's
• Food taste is nearly identical to McDonald's
• Speculation about McDonald's rebranding to avoid closure

Local Cuisine

• Tried recommended restaurants like Lido and Wasylki
• Not satisfied with some food options

Lido Restaurant

• Local food buffet
• Salad and potato pancakes missing
• Considered similar to a milk bar
• Wanted to eat something different

Tourist Attractions

• Lido and Wasylki Restaurants
• Adam Mickiewicz Monument
• Victory Square with 40m obelisk built in 1954
• Minsk Subway recommended for its nice stations
  • Many metro lines, worth a ride for the experience
• Lenin's Monument

Navigation Issues

• Problems with navigation showing incorrect locations (Minsk airport instead of current location)

Minsk

• Least visited European capital
• No crowds, good traffic
• Border crossing delays (8.5 hours wait at Terespol Brześć)
• Recommended to cross the border via Lithuania to save time

Departure

• Returning journey, taxis suggested to save time at the border
• Met a Polish embassy worker, recommended Lithuania route
• Farewell dinner: pancakes with different sauces
• Trouble with train seating, multiple trains on one platform

Closing Notes

• Request for audience questions about Belarus trip
• Highlighted the experience of traveling in a regular seat vs. sleeper train
• Enjoyed a local dish in Brest before departure
• Overall emphasis on food experiences during travel

Final Mission: Cross the Border