Wroclaw Poland Friday October 2, 2009

Wroclaw Poland


10-2-09 Friday Wroclaw pronounced Vrotswaf
The bus trip from the palace where we slept to Wroclaw was tedious through crowded two lane highways. Our guide, Eva, had a lot to say about the collective farms that were run under communistic rule. She claimed people sat and did nothing but ask for handouts from the few who were working hard. They would ask for food and money, but put in no effort to grow their own garden to feed their families.

This seems to be dichotomy from the descriptions and what we experienced in the rebirth of a nation from rubble of bombings to reconstruction of the beautiful cities we see today. Those proud Polish people who reconstructed the cities brick by brick had not faced the demoralization of communistic rule as welfare state. They reached into their depths to take it upon themselves with no government help or financial assistance from the Marshall plan that other European nations had to rebuild Poland on their own.

The change from communism to democracy / capitalistic system was difficult for Poland. To change people’s mentality was harder than expected and has taken about two generations to change people back to workers.

Along with potatoes, grains such as rye were grown for food and to produce vodka. Flax was grown to make linen and sugar beets for sugar. Vegetables included cabbages of several different kinds. Cabbages were made into sauerkraut to preserve through the winter months. Soups included carrots, parsley, leeks, celery roots, onions and garlic. We had some that the standard polish soup at a local restaurant for lunch. It was really delicious and had cut of pieces of boiled egg and pieces of sausage. I need to learn how to make this.



Itinerary:


Today we will be touring the beautiful city of Wroclaw . The city lies on the river Oder where the river branches forming twelve islands , giving Wroclaw the nickname “City of Bridges” .

There is much to see here and our visits will include : Old Town Market Square, Ostrow Tumski, Panorama of the Battle of Raclawice , and no visit would be complete without a visit to a Beer hall!!