Poland; August 27. Warsaw to Lodz to Poznan

We started the day with Polish language class, and then set out for Lodz, Krystian's hometown and a center for the film industry in Poland. There is also quite a community of artists here.We met our van driver today, also named Krystian. Our first stop in Lodz wa at the Manufaktura, a former textiles factory repurposed as dining, shopping and play space.

We walked to an art installation called Rose, which consists of entire buildings covered with a mosaic of mirrors in the pattern of roses. This piece is dedicated to a little girl named Rose who went blind at a young age.

 

There was a mural of fairy tales in one courtyard, and a sculpture based on a famous Polish poem called Kiss My Ass!

All along Piotrkowska Street were stars in the pavement representing famous Polish actors, directors and musicians. We stopped at a sculpture of the famous composer Artur Rubenstein, and Dorena gave him a hug.

We got back in the van and headed to Poznan, arriving in time for a late dinner and a walk around the square.

Poland: August 26. In Warsaw

Polish language class was right after breakfast, then we toured Old Town Warsaw with Krystian narrating the tour. The first building below is St, Anna church, the only building in this part of Warsaw that was not bombed during World War 2. The rest of Old Town was restored to its original state after the war. Krystian showed us photos of the devastation, and the restoration.

We saw the Royal Castle, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was once the residence of Polish monarchs.

The wall from medeival times is rebuilt as it once was.

The two photos below were taken at the memorial for the Warsaw uprising of 1944.

Above is Sacred Heart Church. Inside this beautiful edifice resides the heart of Friedrich Chopin.

The statue above is Copernicus. The surrounding pavement is a mosaic of the solar system as he discovered it, that is, with the planets revolving around the sun. He is but one of the famous Poles that lived in Warsaw. Another was Marie Curie. We walked past her house, where there was some official ceremony going on. 

Pilsudski Square, below, is the place where Pope John Paul 2 said Mass to a crowd of hundreds of thousands of the faithful. This square is at the site of the Saxon Palace, destroyed during World War 2 bombing raids. The only part of that palace still standing is the arch where the tomb of the unknown soldier from World War 1 is protected by an eternal flame and guarded 24 hours a day year round. We watched the changing of the guard.

We left Old Town and walked to the Conmunist era Independence Square. There are reliefs carved into the buildings and mosaics in the ceilings promoting the equality of all and the glory of communal work. These buildings are stark and utilitarian, mostly made of concrete. 

We ended the day with a tour of a Vodka factory, where we learned all about the history, production and cultural significance of Vodka. And we had a tasting, with instructions on how to drink it!

Above: Jeff, Veronica, Liz, Barb and Rick. Below: Steve, Chris, Anne, Elaine, Maureen and Dorena.

Poland: August 25 at Warsaw

I was so surprised to wake up at noon! I did not believe it, thought my phone had not updated for the time change. So I asked Google what time it was in Warsaw. It was noon! I walked down to the hotel lobby and found most of my group there.

Seated on the left are Barbara, Kris and Elaine. Standing behind them you can see me, Maureen, Rick (Barbara's husband), Steve and Liz. Seated on the right are Veronica and Dorena. Jeff and Anne are not in this photo.

Adam, from Polish Genealogical Tours, came to meet us, and the photo above left is Adam, Aleksandra (our language teacher) and Dorena, the leader of this tour. Krystian, shown in the photoabove right, is our guide for the first part of this tour.

We set out with Krystian for a tour of the city. Below is a sculpture adjacent to the sewer through which Irena Sendler led many children out of the Warsaw ghetto to safety. The brick wall is a remaining section of the ghetto wall. Krystian was an excleelent guide, telling us the history and political climate of every place we went.

We entered the Palace of Culture and Science, built in the Communist era, and took the elevator to the top floor to view the surrounding city. 

We ended the day with a traditional Polish dinner--the food here is very good!