Poland - People on our trip 2010

There were about 21 or 22 people on our bus during the trip to Europe.

Jeanie, Wanda, Francis, Teresa, Teresa (Stephanie) and Walter, Sylvia and Chester, Connie and Tony, Stan and Joyce, Dolores and Ted, Andy, Jean and Robert, Diane, Frank and Jane (Janina), and of course John Gora made the trip a delight.

All these folks were from Canada except Stan and I.

Prague - Ceske Krumlov - Ceske Budejovice - Vienna



Vienna and Apelton Winnery Austria

I never though that we could wear out an umbrella on a trip, but with gusty winds the frame such give way.




Bratisalva Solvaki - Budapest Hungary

Bratisalva was the rainy and windiest. Several stayed on the bus instead of braving the driving rains and winds. Budapest was really fun and interesting especially the large indoor market.




Zakopane and Krakow Poland




Doorways in Zakopane and Krakow

Poland 2010 Hotels and food

Doorways in Europe are intriguing. Some tattered from years of use and some inviting and upscale.




Here is a sampling of food. I usually ate it before I remembered to take a photo.



We stayed at many lovely hotels.


Prague


The first one in Prague was the best.

HOTEL CENTURY OLD TOWN ( 4 * )
Na Porici 7
Prague 1
11000 Prague, Czech Republic
Tel : (420) 2 180 0800
Fax : (420) 2 180 0801

The ceilings were at least 15 foot high. The rooms were spotless. Beds had those fluffy mattresses and soft down (or down like) comforters. WIFI (Internet service for laptops) worked great to connect in the room and was lightening fast to upload videos and photos.

We really like to have a cup of tea or coffee in the room. There was a boiler handy. There were fluffy soft towels and a wash cloth. The bathroom included a makeup mirror. There was a hair blower at a desk. Living the dream of luxury.








If you like to use a wash cloth be sure to take one with you. The first hotel was the one that had washcloths.

Ceske Budejovie Czech Republic


HOTEL GOMEL ( 4 * )
Prazska Trida 2306/14
37004 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Tel : (420) 389 102 111
Fax : (420) 389 102 333

After a long day riding on the bus and driving through beautiful country side. We stopped in the charming village of Ceska Krumlov and then on to Ceska Budajovice where were toured the Budweiser plant. Replete with good food and fresh beer we were ready for an evening's rest.





Hotel Gomel is nothing to write home about. Rooms were typical European- - small size where you just don't know where to lay out your luggage. No wash cloth, but that's OK after all you are in Europe and the sights are spectacular. The mattresses are not quite as soft and puffy, but more like camping in a tent with a bed roll on the ground. Just missing the tent flap. Breakfasts with tasty dark breads and lovely meats, cheeses and fruits that get you started on your day. The view of the city from our room was delightful. The windows open so you can get some refreshing outside air.

Many in the group walked to the near-by square to attend Sunday Mass.


Vienna

AUSTRIA TREND HOTEL ANANAS ( 4 * )
Rechte Wienzeile 93-95/ Sonnenhofgasse 8-10
1050 Vienna, Austria
Tel : (43) 1 546 20
Fax : (43) 1 545 4242






The room was cozy and had a little desk under the window looking out to the charming courtyard of other buildings. Stan and I had tea and pastry over looking that view siting on coral leather chairs and a stool. There was a refrigerator, but no boiler for tea. I got used to hot water from the facet - kind of like warm tea. We drank the water from the facets in all the places, however still bought some bottled water to carry around during the day.


Budapest Hungary

HOTEL MERCURE BUDAPEST CITY CENTER ( 4* )
20 Vaci utca
1052 Budapest, Hungary
Tel : (36) 1 485 3100
Fax : (36) 1 485 3111








This is a very nice Hotel in the main part of the city. We walked about 2-3 blocks from where the bus dropped us off to this hotel. It was close to lovely restaurants and shopping along the streets. Most streets were for walking and shopping as traffic from cars were on other streets. No washcloth. Breakfast was a delight.

There was easy access to three computers by sitting on bar stools in the inviting bar area. You slide in your room key ( or any other credit card sized card) and you could use the internet for free. There was no way to upload photos from USB ports or the like as you only had access to the screen and key board. The font was set so large that you could read it across the room.

Rooms did not have free WIFI. This is where you were required to pay for the service in Euros (6 for two hours - 9 for 24 hours). We walked back to our hotel from the main covered market on afternoon. Very handy.

Zakopane Poland


HOTEL MERCURE KASPROWY ( 4 * )
ul. Szymaszkowa
34-500 Zakopane, Poland
Tel : (48) 18 202 4022
Fax : (48) 18 202 4024



This hotel was a delight. The view across the meadows to the snowed covered peaks of the Tetras mountains was a sight to remember. Stepping out onto the balcony even on a rainy day was refreshing.

The internet was easily connected by the red cable that was provided. Uploading videos was a sluggish process and I finally gave up on that. I uploaded a few pictures which seemed to go smoother. I don't remember seeing any computers or a business center for the rest of the travelers.

The place was roomy at least enough for lay out the luggage.

Stan and I ate breakfast early around 7 one day and had time to visit the swimming pool before our departure for a tour. I'm glad we did. Always take your swim suit just in case although I think they rented them also. The pool was about 3 times the size of most indoor hotel pools. It was about 4-5 feet deep so plenty of space and depth to swim. The locker rooms were co-ed, however there was a changing room for privacy. The pool was included. There were also other amenities for a small charge. If you stay here, plan to use the pool.

Krakow


We stayed at the Novotel .

Hotel Novotel Kraków Centrum
www.accorhotels.com
Ul. T. Kościuszki 5, Kraków - 12 299 29 00










The rooms are spacious, still no wash cloth. The breakfasts a delight as usual.

The hotel is within walking distance from the main square. We stayed at this same hotel last year and did walk from place to place. This time it was so rainy that we ordered golf carts with plastic to shelter us for a ride down to the square. On the way back, still too rainy so we rented a cab for 15 zoltys for 4 of us.


There are a variety of covers on the beds. Some beds are thick pads over hard boards or so it seems. Others are like clouds of soft down that you can just melt into after a long day.

Most places have internet services in their complimentary business centers. I bring along a notebook computer as I found in years past there were not always business centers, but generally some WIFI was available if you had your own computer. You can also unload your photos if you are using up lots of space on a flash card. The flip camera I use holds 60 minutes of video, which is quite a bit when more songs I record are about 2 - 5 minutes. But it is nice to know I have a place to save them through out the trip as this camera doesn't have a place to use and extra flash card like cameras do. I always carry extra batteries, flash cards, battery chargers and plug adapters. Over the years you learn by traveling to just bring along extra stuff.

Some Rooms had free WIFI in the rooms or with use of connection cord as in Zakopane and Krakow. Budapest I was mostly internet less for uploading photos / videos as it cost 6 Euros for a couple of hours or 9 Euro (~$15) for 24 hours. After all I am on vacation and internet can wait. I was able to make a quick note on facebook about every day.

Local Currency is always a problem when you arrive in a country. US dollars and coins are worthless unless converted to local currency and coins. Even euros are not such friendly coins. People you might want to buy a postcard, cup of coffee or use of the WC (water closet - bathroom) usually about 50 cents worth want their coins or currency. Often I found the tours started in the mornings, guides get busy telling you about this and that about the community you are visiting and you are coinless with it is time to use the WC. Yikes.!. It if really hard to plan around this one traveling across borders with limit time for finding places to exchange money. The tours don't really wait for you to get with the program and many hotels didn't have facilities for exchange. There are ATMs around, hopefully you have the right card. We used one in Budapest and requested 19,000 forint, which I think is about $90. Vacation minds don't always think in mathematical term. You can always buy some local currency at larger banks in US metro cities. be sure to get small denominations as those large bills look great, but are not so easy to bargain with in the markets. We didn't use visa at all in the open market shops. Visa / Mastercard works for upscale shops. Stan bought a really nice belt. That shop took visa, but really wanted local currency so be obliged due to the cost of using credit card services for the shop.

Kradow 9-6-2010

September 5, 2010

In the afternoon after our long walk through Krakow we went to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Stan and I were there last year and enjoyed it immensely. We debated if we should stay back so Stan could practice accordion that John Gora had on the bus. John had serenaded us on our bus ride through Krakow to the Salt Mine. Either choice would have been fun.

We did the tour of the mine. It is a challenge for aging knees as there were many staircases going down. The railings were sturdy and plodding along one step at a time seemed to work OK and didn't hold up the group. One very long stair case I didn't start counting steps until were about half way down. I counted 80 steps. Other staircases were 39 to 60 steps long. It was a staircase kind of day.

The most interesting chamber is the one with all the reliefs carved in the walls and giant chandeliers hanging in a magnificent hall. This is used for weddings and Mass. As I think about our visit and what we saw, it still amazes me that miners did all the sculptures instead of some slick laser tooled artisan that was paid to professionally complete these mighty works. However they were done, it is a must see experience.

Toward the end of the trip, I'm almost pictured out. Here are some photos I took the first time through the salt mine. We were wearing the same coats and shirts.



We had our farewell dinner across the street from the salt mine. My vegetarian meal was battered and fried goat cheese with a mound of boiled vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots). Sometimes I think when you say you want a vegetarian meal the restaurants are afraid you are starving and give you servings to feed a table of six. Stan and other meat eaters had tender roast duck with potatoes and red cabbage sauerkraut. Dessert I remember from last year when we went there was the same this year; a scoop of ice cream floating in a generous serving of fresh raspberry sauce. Pretty tangy and yummy.

We saw dancers getting ready to play for the evening, but they were getting ready for the next bunch of visitors. The restaurant had reconfigured the place to make booths that seated 6 with high backs so it would have been near impossible to enjoy any playing or folk dancing from our seats as you couldn't see over the backs of the booths. Last year they had long tables with lower bench backs that worked well for entertaining crowds.

We all climbed back into the bus. John Gora entertained us with the accordion on the way back to the hotel. He sure can play and sing any song we requested and more. Made for a fun evening to top off the trip.

Next morning we all left to go back home. The long 9+ hour plane ride from Krakow to Chicago and another 2+ to Denver makes for a long day, but worth it in the end.


MON , SEPTEMBER 06 - KRAKOW - END OF TOUR ! Early morning transfer to Krakow airport for flight home .

Krakow Poland 9-5-2010

Krakow Poland



Sunday September 5, 2010
The group crawled into the bus early in the morning with coats on and umbrellas in hand for a walking tour of Krakow, Poland.

We walked up a pretty steep incline on the Royal Wawel Hill to view the beauty of the outside of the buildings. The cathedral was having mass so no visitors unless you intended to stay for all of the mass. We did go quietly through a chambers in the lower area that had the sarcophagus of the recently deceased President and his wife who were killed in a plane crash earlier this year.

We walked down the incline overlooking a view of the city and turned back to see the magnificence of the spires and roofs of the many buildings that had been added on over the years. Of interest on the drizzly day were the rain spouts made of copper in the shape of gargoyles, dragons heads complete with crowns and ducks which were flush with water that slashed gently from two stories above.

At the bottom of the hill we walked several blocks back to the main square of the city. St. Mary's church had the trumpeter playing out of the top windows to mark the hour. Mass was going on there also. We were on our own to explore the area for a few hours.

I hurried to buy a few things I saw along the way and then we stopped for a quick bowl of soup in a very reasonably priced cafe about two blocks from the main square. John Gora had spotted it on our walking journey. A bowl of mushroom and noodle soup with bread was about 3.6 zloty or about $1.80. Try to buy that in Colorado and you will be sadly out of luck.

One thing of great importance on walking / shopping tours is the finding and using a water closet (WC- Bathroom). The cafe had none of course at those prices. We walked through the updated cloth hall (mall) of shops with upscale Polish crafts and jewelery. No WC.

Finally we went through an archway across from the main square to one of the coffee / beer bars toward the back. It was a cozy, trendy place filled with young people enjoying the day called Figa-2 Kachwa I Wspolnicy Spotka Jawna 31-042 Krakow, Rynek Glowny 7/11. For 14 zloty (less then $5) we had the most relaxing cups of tea, yes with facilities in a very contemporary shop. The beer was served extra cold and the ice formed on the pipes attested to that.




SUN, SEPTEMBER 05 – KRAKOW Half-day tour of Krakow, including: The Royal Wawel Hill , the Royal Route and the Old Town area with the Old Town Market Square, the Cloth Hall, the Barbican, St Mary's Church with 15th c Witt Stwosz Altar inside, Florianska Gate. Afternoon to Wieliczka Salt Mine and afterwards Farewell Dinner . Overnight in Krakow. ( B , D )

ZAKOPANE –KRAKOW 9-4-2010

September 4, 2010 Saturday

On bus trip from Zakopane to Krakow.

Last evening in Zakopane Poland was a big hit. We walked up wide gravel steps to a mountain goralli restaurant. We knocked at the door and were met with a man with an axe in one hand. He lined up the men as they went in first followed by the women. As we entered the man smacked the hood over the open fire a good one and about knocked our socks off.

We set down at long picnic tables of white wood that was sandblasted to leave that interesting rough finish. The benches were shorter then a normal chair as they were on top of two big logs.

Three musicians played folk music and sang in those extra high voices. One guy played a 3 string instrument bigger than a cello and smaller than a contra bass. We recognized many of the tunes that were adapted to the goralli mountain style of music. John Gora and Diane treated us by dancing to one of these rapid paced dances. Feet moved at double time.

Soup was served in little buckets hanging from a wrought iron holder. My soup included chunks of hard-boiled egg, while Stan’s was more a beef vegetable like goulash. Dinner followed. It was tender chunks of lamb and ham on a skewer with some potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and a snappy pickle. I had potato pancakes with fried mushrooms. Dessert was on fire when it arrived at the dinner table. Ice cream topped with flaming whipped cream.

The waiter and waitresses kept us jumping. Many times they brought out platters of drink and food, then quickly dropped the platter on the rock floor scaring us with a start.

The waitress cut off a customer's underwear using a machete to slice off the underwear on each side and then pulled them out from the back. The male waiter said in Polish- you better loosen your belt and pants or she'll pull your n---- off. Then the guy had to through them up on the rafters which were already full of bras, ties and other underwear.

The next morning replete with food and laughter we settled into our bus seats for a leisurely nap on the way from Zakopane to Krakow. We stopped nearby to drink in the beautiful view of the snow covered peaks of the Tetra mountains and the lush green of the valleys. At a church (Bachledowka) off the normal tourist stopping point, we marveled at the beauty of the hand carved wood. The ceiling of the church was in the shape of a big cross with squares of carvings, symbols of the community. Men in goralli costumes wear these same symbols craved in metal on their belts.
The homes in the area are typical in style with the high peaked roofs most with lacy curtains in the windows and floors cascading from window boxes. The foundations of these homes are adorned with repeating patterns of river rock such as a large one next to two long skinny ones. It must have taken some time to line up the supply of rocks for these interesting designs.

We stopped in a small city at the local Saturday market. It was filled with all stalls of locals selling normal goods such as bags of candy, socks, shoes, coat, pots and pans, bushels bags of carrots, onions and pickle cucumbers. I won’t tell you what the vendor said when I comments on his nice bag of carrots. I don’t speak Polish, but gestures tell it all.

We all voted to skip the rafting trip as the river was overflowing from the recent rains. Riding on a wooden canoe on fast current isn’t as charming for us older folks as it was last year when the river was almost quiet with calm.

We went instead to Pope John Paul II’s church where he was born and became an alter boy in Wadowice. Stan and I went in, sat down and said a few prayers. Up front by the alter were two chair draped in white with a large bow softly tied in the back of each chair. Soon a wedding would take place in this beautiful setting.
We strolled around the square and enjoyed a scoop of strawberry ice cream for about 50 cents or 1.6 zloty. I like that they serve little small scoops at reasonable prices. This gives you a chance to try it out without loads of calories. Some times more is not better.

We arrived in Krakow at the Novotel Hotel. This is the place we stayed last year on our Poland trip. It started to rain again about the time we were leaving for our restaurant in the downtown square. We rode on golf carts in groups of 6 to the square. It is interesting to be on the back with cars rushing toward you. One time we passed a horse and carriage.

We had about an hour until our restaurant reservations. Not so much fun to stroll in the chilled raining air as it would be a balmy evening. We ducked into St Mary’s church. This place is amazing. It is about 500 years old and adorned with so many interesting designs that your mind feels it is inside a kaleidoscope. We visited that year so I have a slight remembrance of this place. Once a day the tall ornately carved and painted doors behind the alter are opened to more magnificent carvings adorned in silvers and gold. The doors were opened this evening. We slide into an empty seat and prayed for a few things happy to be out of the rain.

We walked under our umbrella toward the restaurant across the square and ducked into the shop next door. The back room had a book store. It is definitely more challenging looking through a book store when all the books are in Polish. The rest of the store had an interesting assortment of things in separate room ran by different people. There were earring displayed floor to ceiling on three foot diameter columns. Seriously – every inch had a set of earrings hanging from a hook. I pawed through the scarfs, but just didn’t see anything I wanted. Another room sold T-shirts.

Finally, time to dinner. We went down a couple flights of stairs next door to a cozy place. The exposed bricks on the wall and arched ceilings told of older days that this place might have been some secret hiding place with tunnels. Who knows. The food was great. Pieorgies – freshly made and delicious. Dessert was the Pope’s favorite – flakey crusts with cheese- whipped cream type thick filling.
Back to the hotel, this time in a cab as it was now raining harder. Four of us paid 15 zlotes or about $4.50. Well worth the quick ride back.


Here is music from the restaurant. It was so dark in there you can hardly see the musicians, however the music is worth a listen. Many familiar songs played Goralli Mountain man style. This is the region were many of these song initiated.









Itinerary - skipped the rafting trip due to high, rapid flowing river

SAT , SEPTEMBER 04 –ZAKOPANE KRAKOW After breakfast we leave Zakopane. Rafting on Dunajec River - Dunajec Gorge through the limestone rocks of Pieniny Mountains is one of the most beautiful views in Poland. Sitting comfortably on wooden rafts just admire the landscape and listen to the stories and jokes told by the navigating rafts men. Stop at a local restaurant after the rafting for those wishing to have a snack or light lunch . Afternoon arrival in Krakow. Free time before dinner in the Old Town. Overnight in Krakow . ( B , D )

ZAKOPANE Poland 9-3-2010

Zakopane Poland



Zakopane is the most interesting place. Houses are distinct here with high pitched roofs to ward off the snow in the winter. This is a ski town with all the charm and vitality of the young people it attracts to the locals happy to bargain and sell their wares.

The main street have a delightful selection of local craft, smoked goat cheese pressed into tubes and other shapes with Polish designs. There are leather coats, scarfs and jewelry to delight the visitors.

At the end of the street is a funicular that goes up to the top of the hill. More crafts along with sausages smoking on a grill. A road goes on the ridge of the mountain. There are horse and carts that you can pay a few zlotys to take a ride.

Across the meadow you can see the cottages nestled in the forest. The snow covered tatra mountains peak out of the cloudy landscape. It is about 40 degrees this chilly day with intermittent rain.

After a brief look around we hurry back down the funicular to the warmth of the shops below.

Stan and I found a bank and exchanged the variety of currency (florins - Budapest, Euro - Vienna and Czech currency) to zloty so we could buy some lunch. We walked up the main street and peered at a few menus. A lady waiting on the steps of a cafe saw us looking and struck up a conversation. She noticed that we were probably Americans. We discovered after a few words and hearing her accent that she was from Australia. It is a small world after all.

We meandered up the street some more and found an interesting cafe that we had heard gorali mountain music playing the year before. We picked a table made of logs and sat down on a well worn sheep's skin draped on the seat. I ordered potato and cheese pierogies which were some the best I have eaten in Poland. Stan had noodle soup. Watching the people pass made the afternoon a delight.

We stopped by a bakery on that way back down the hill and bought a couple of Pushks (Polish name for jam stuffed Bismark type donuts).



Here is some interesting goralli Mountain Man folk music played at a restaurant






Itinerary Rainy and chilly


FRI, SEPTEMBER 03 – ZAKOPANE Breakfast at the hotel. Half-day tour of Zakopane, including: Funicular ride to Gubalowka Hill gives a beautiful view over Polish and Czech Tatras, Tatra Museum, a walk along Krupowki Street. Time for shopping - friendly street vendors will offer local goods (lamb-wool sweaters, walking sticks, wooden figures). Dinner at a bonfire with accompaniment of a folklore band. Overnight in Zakopane ( B, D )

BUDAPEST – SZENTENDRE - ZAKOPANE Poland 9-2-2010

9-2-2010
Our bus voted to skip the tour of the village of Szentendre, Hungary and just go directly to Zakopane Poland. It was still a 6 hour bus trip and we didn't want to add another few hours to a tiring day. At some point another city tour just plan wears you out.

The countryside through Slovakia and Poland is beautiful. Rolling hills turned to skiable mountainsides covered with lush green grasses and pine trees. We entertained ourselves by reading, sleeping or eating food we brought along from the generous breakfasts.

Our Hotel Mercure is at the edge of top high on the hillside with a spectacular panoramic view of the snow covered tetra mountain across the meadow dotted with charming wooden homes sporting high pitched roofs.

We had dinner at a mountain type restaurant with an open fire burning in the center of the room. Folk musicians entertained us as we enjoyed the food. My favorite was the mushroom soup ladled from pots hanging from wrought iron hooks at the dinner table. There is something about the flavor of those Europeon mushrooms that is different and tasty. Food was attractively presented on wooden rectangular platters. One heaping platters per person that included pork roast, pork and blood sausage, sauerkraut and potatoes. I had spinach pieogies (pasta type filled dumpling. Small cakes and pastries were served for dessert to top off the meal.

We have eaten more food in a week then we probably eat in a month. Thank goodness for stretchy waistbands. There is an indoor pool that is about four times bigger then most hotel pools in the lower floor of this building. I am trying to figure out how to squeeze in a few laps before our touring journey. The pool opens at 8 am and our tour starts about 9. It is another cloudy rainy day. We had planned to visit the large outdoor market stalls that line the main street on our way up the gondola to the top of the mountain overlooking the valley and tetra high peaks of the tetra mountains across the way.


THU, SEPTEMBER 02 – BUDAPEST – SZENTENDRE - ZAKOPANE After breakfast we depart Budapest. We visit Szentendre - the town of artists of middle ages atmosphere, which is built between the hills and the Danube, parallel to the river. It has a pleasant atmosphere, with picturesque old streets, 18th century houses and Greek orthodox churches. An artist colony is settled here. For visitors there are many museums in the town: the unique Kovács Margit Ceramic Museum the Marzipan Museum, Open-air Museum, Caprice Jewelry Manufactory. Opportunity for shopping. Continue via Slovak Republic to Zakopane. Dinner and overnight in Zakopane. ( B , D )

Prague - Czech Republic - 8-26-2010 and 8-27-2010

8-25-2010 Our trip to Poland and other interesting places in Europe.

It takes a day to get out of the good ol’e USA. Starting at 8 am in Denver we slide through the ticket counter happy to check a bag without the usual $25 charge. The carry-on became annoyingly heavy carrying it through security, trains and other long corridors.

United was friendlier then I have seen recently. At least it only took 15 minutes or so to get through the ticket counter.

Chicago only takes a couple of hours but crowded flights and cramped conditions still take their toll on older bodies.

The flight from Chicago to Warsaw Poland was a long 9 hours. Stan was the lucky one in the middle seat. At first we hoped for an empty seat in the middle, but soon the plane filled up to the brim. A women sat down next to Stan and proceeded to talk, talk, talk. She was traveling back through Poland and spoke in very broken English. She told him immediately that she was going back to the Czech-Republic to visit the hospital there as the hospital in her home town of Dallas Texas was too expensive. She holds a passport from the Ukraine but had lived in the USA for years with her family.

So she says her reason for her hospital visit was being attached by two pit bull dogs from the next door neighbor. She probably weighs about 90 pounds and a fierce wind could blow her over. Imagine a couple of meanly trained pit bulls. The dogs were put down - thank goodness she didn’t show Stan her injuries. She’s probably lucky to be alive.

She mentioned that the neighbor is a drug dealer from Mexico. Bars on the windows attest to the fortification of the place. There was no secret to his easy dirty money that was easy to spend. Boxes and boxes of goods and upscale furniture were delivered day in and day out purchased with those dirty dollars. The police had watched this neighbor for over 8 months and finally arrested him. Of course he offered them $200,000 to turn their back and let him return back to Mexico. He was found guilty and is in jail for over 25 years.

The stories went on and on until I switched places with Stan to give him a break. She interrupted my movie watching once by talking loudly to the person in the seat behind. I’m not shy about telling her to keep it down.

We finally arrived in Warsaw, Poland and escaped the chatter of Stan’s seat neighbor. We can’t read Polish and/or signs were limited so we had to go through security twice. It is a maze and if you don’t go through proper passport control you just can’t get to the gates. I have that shoe, bag of liquids and computer thing down pat. Speaking of that – a few people did get a little pat down.
Next plane trip to Prague is another 3 hour wait in the terminal. The flight was only an hour to Prague. Small plane, leather seats, lots of leg room made napping easy. This is really old time flying. They served a delicious sandwich, wine and a winner smile.

I talked to the tour guide and found that the 160 steps up some ancient castle were exchanged for a more modest view of the city. Thank goodness. My knees were sure planning to miss at least 130 of those steps.

I was happy I changed into my extra clothes I brought in the carry-on as sure enough city tour right as we are busing in from the airport. A quick rest at the lovely hotel with 15 foot tall ceiling situated on the edge of old town Prague and then walking tour of the area. Beautiful old building loaded with carvings centuries old, un-scathed from the ravages of war like many other European countries, they stand tall today.

We waited in front of an old clock tower for the chimes to ring on the hour. Doors open and wooden disciples pass by for that touists deight. I posed the video camera and carefully recorded the moment. After the 20 second opening and trumpet playing from the top of the tower, I noticed I forgot to turn on the camera.

Clock Tower = no chiming


People are friendly. Stan noticed scantily dressed attractive women. No observable American disease - obesity. Our bus friends on the trip are all from Canada so politic chatting will be kept to a minimum.

Older buildings well kept although some show their aging from the environment changing the stone to a dark color. Streets are clean. Riding the bus through town showed us modern transportation systems of uncrowded roadways. The trolleys that meander through the old town was filled with people, but not packed with stress as you see in some cities. On many street corners you see Iphones, and other personal devised, but clearly people were engaged with each other not necessarily their devices.

Prague - dinner music from a strolling accordionist



Prague - Czech folk dancers



Prague - Czech folk dancers



Here is the itinerary

WED, AUGUST 25 – Departure from Toronto / New York / Chicago on overnight transatlantic to Prague

THU , AUGUST 26 - PRAGUE
Early afternoon arrival in Prague. Transfer to hotel and check-in. We will later meet for a short walking tour before dinner : The Old Town Square is the most significant square of historical Prague. It originated in the 12th century. We will see the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the baroque St. Nicholas church, the Stone Bell house – a gothic city palace from the 14th century and the Memorial to Master Jan Hus. Also we will view the tower which bears a unique astronomical clock from the year 1410 which shows the statues of 12 apostles at every hour between 9 am to 9 pm. Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Prague. ( B , D )

Poland - People on bus and hotels 10-8-09

Our trip to Poland would not be complete without acknowledging the great people we meet who toured with us for two weeks.

Here are a few photos of our group.



Be sure to stop and smell the roses along the way.



Food and Hotels in Poland

Dancing in Poland


Sydney dancing in Poland



Jeff is the center of attention

Krakow Poland Oct 8, 2009

Friday 10-8-09

We had such a busy emotional day going to Auschwitz first and then the Salt Mines.


After Auschwitz, we all wanted some time to gather our thoughts and return life to some semblance of order. We stopped off at a nearby gas station which had a charming restaurant next door. I barely caught the name of the restaurant on the side of the building as we drove off as Goscinic Restaurant. The reason I wanted to remember it was that I had the best cheese and potato pierogies topped with caramelized onions, garlic and parsley that I had on the entire trip. Many meals included plates of pierogies, but none compared to those tasty morsels. Stan had borscht (beet) soup which was equally delicious.

Here are some photos from the Wieliczka Salt Mines. We were 3 levels down.



Next stop on this long day was the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It really didn’t know what to expect. I heard from my Mother-in-Law, Alice that she had to climb down many ladders when she visited Poland. She might have exaggerated about the ladders. I figured we would we visiting some type of factory view of the excavation of salt.

We waited patiently for the elevators that were to take us down a few levels of the nine level salt mine. We all crowded into the cage. I do mean crowded, body to body. Once down, the doors of the elevators were odd in that they opened on a different side and the people in front of them had to crowd even more so the doors would open. Very cozy.

We had heard from the tour guide that the salt was more black and grey then white like what we know from our table salt. The color is due to the impurities in the material. We walked through cheerfully lit tunnels noticing the dark walls and crystalline white veins from the salt on parts of the ceilings. We walked on smooth dark blocks which must also be salt. The temptation to lick your finger and wipe it on the smooth wall’s surface showed sure enough it was salt.

We came to the first exhibit and what do you know? This was not about the factory view of the excavation of salt, but art – sculptures made of the dark grey salt material that had been carved, not by artists, but by workers in the salt mines. They were amazingly well-lighted in the high caves of the mine. We walked through more tunnels into more enchanting rooms filled with salt sculptures.

Down flights of stairs to the most beautiful ballroom with giant chandeliers with delicate shaped crystal brilliantly set to light up the room. Relief sculptures were carved into the salt along the walls. The floors were polished to a rich patina. The whole room was salt, including the crystals in the chandeliers. It was breath taking.

I was finished at that point. More stairs. More sculptures. It was over the top. We meandered through long expanses of tunnels and about 425 steps down. My knees did pretty well for that many steps. This is truly a must see if visiting Krakow Poland.

In the evening we went across the street from the Salt Mine for dinner. We had soup served in a bowl of bread with a lid that had a bread button. The dessert was delightful - Raspberry mousse with ice cream. We were entertained all evening by folk dancers. This included some of us dancing along with the professional entertainers. This really topped off the evening and vacation.

Here is a sampling of the folk dancers we heard at dinner.






Itineary (changes to include Auschwitz and Salt Mine on the same day):

Morning at leisure for last minute shopping & packing .
2.30 pm. Meet in the lobby of hotel to depart by bus for Wieliczka
3.30 pm. Sightseeing of Wieliczka Salt Mines


6.00pm. Farewell dinner in Wieliczka at “ Karczma Halit “ with folklore .
Return to Krakow for overnight.

Krakow Poland Oct 8, 2009

10-7-09 Krakow
We walked through the city square in Krakow through one of the biggest churches connected to many others through archways with expansive domes on Wawel Hill. From the outside it is beautiful with one shiny golden dome glistening in the sun light and others in copper, rich with patina of time. Inside are the most elaborate items I have seen. As one example, there is a crypt with ornate designs and sculptures formed in the silver. No photos allowed and I couldn’t find any postcards. This was amazing.

At Krakow’s main square we went into a 13th century St. Mary’s Basilica to see the once a day opening of the altar doors at noon. This is a church styled in Gothic architecture. For once I opt’d out of taking any photos for 5 zloty’s ($1.50) as I just wanted to enjoy the experience.

There was no Mass going on, just tourists sitting on benches looking at the designs, carvings and massive ceilings of this magnificent place. Every wall was covered with some kind of design; painted in deep jewel colors. I especially noticed the wide navy and gold ornate painted pillars going up to the ceiling that split off with the same design into smaller units to follow the arches of the ceiling. This reminds me of the details that were in the Ken Follet books – “Pillars of the Earth” or “World without End” that described building of cathedrals in the 13th century.

I looked to my left at the painted wooden relief sculptures that were about three foot square. The details were intricate. These sculptures lined the walls depicting Bible scenes.

The Veit Stoss altar carried this same theme to a higher level. These sculptures were thirty foot high (35 feet by 40 feet) with twelve multiple panels. They were so large that even from our seats we could see the details clearly. At noon the music started and the ceremony began. A nun walked regally to the altar and reaching up using a pole slowly opened the altar doors one at a time. More sculpted panels on the sides and larger than life golden sculptures in the center were revealed. Chills ran down my spine.
Every square inch of walls and ceilings were covered with paintings or sculptures. Stained glass panels lined the sides of the altar. These were made in the 13th century. It is amazing that this cathedral stands after so many centuries of turmoil in Poland. Treasures from the past are significant when you compare it to the throw-away society we have today. Krakow was one city that was saved the ravages of bombings during World War II.

After the door opening ceremony we went outside to wait in the courtyard for the trumpet player who played out of windows of the steeple toward the east, west, north and south. That pattern of the song was cut short each time to signify ancient days when the budge player was shot with an arrow mid song. It sure seemed an impossible feat to shot an arrow up that high to the top of the steeple. The trumpet is played every hour on the hour every day.

Horse driven carriages carried people around the square on this balmy October day. Muscians played tunes and children flocked in the courtyard.


We stopped to hear an accordion player with his wife on the bass. He played us the Star Spangled Banner once he learned we were Americans.




The first evening we walked a few blocks from the Hotel to Resauracja Mieszczanska. I don’t remember much about the food except that it was delicious a usual. It was very cozy and gave us all a chance to relax in a beautiful setting.


Walk through Wawel Hill, St. Mary's Church and the Old Town Square in Krakow Poland.


Iteneary:
10-7-09
9.00 am. Sightseeing of Krakow including Wawel Hill, Collegium Maius , St Mary’s Church and the fabulous


Old Town Square featuring the famous “ Cloth Hall ”.
1.00 pm. Lunch at a local restaurant “C.K. Dezerter”.

Remainder of the day free to further explore this beautiful city



10-8-09


Morning at leisure for last minute shopping & packing .
2.30 pm. Meet in the lobby of hotel to depart by bus for Wieliczka
3.30 pm. Sightseeing of Wieliczka Salt Mines


6.00pm. Farewell dinner in Wieliczka at “ Karczma Halit “ with folklore .
Return to Krakow for overnight.

Auschwitz - Krakow Poland Oct 7, 2009

This entry is about the sad concentration camps at Auschwitz, Poland.


Here are some photos of Auschwitz Poland. We were not allowed to take photos inside the buildings.



Auschwitz

We stepped off the bus and quietly gathered in the lobby of the Auschwitz museum. The smell of death hung heavy in the air. A quick stop at the restroom where we paid 1 zloty (35 cents) for the use of a spotless toilet was a contrast to the conditions we would see that the victims of the death camps experienced.

We took our tickets and a head phone with battery pack that was used throughout the tour of the camps so the guide could let us know the history in English. It made the experience even more introspective as you could listen to the guide from quiet a distance away and still view the area. The place is a very somber experience as this is the largest cemetery in the world where 1.5 million people were killed brutally by gas, burned, shot or staved to death.

The guide would explain what we would be seeing in the brick buildings that were once the confined sleeping quarters for the prisoners and then we would walk single file through the buildings. Other visitors gathered through-out the grounds listening intently to their guides. Many groups of children ages 12 and up were also visiting the camps. It is a requirement for all Polish children to visit.

Once we viewed the double barbed wire fences and a large black and white photo of the band who welcomed the prisoners we went inside the first building to see some more photos and learn more about how this atrocity happened. We could take photos on the grounds, but none inside. At such a sobering experience it was more personal and something that maybe one didn’t want to snap a photo. I did have the thought about what they might be hiding inside that we couldn’t photograph as this is such an important event that no one should question the reality of it happening.

The camps were first set up for Polish intellectuals and leaders who were causing trouble in Poland to quiet them. Then Hitler had this as a solution to the Jewish problem in the Polish ghettos in Warsaw and Jews from other countries that had gathered in Poland. His solution was to exterminate them. The Germans murdered 1,000 people a day.

People were sent to the camps in crowded rail cars. They were told lies about jobs being available and spas for relaxing, when in fact the purpose for the camps was to kill them. The Germans sorted the people into group. One group was immediately sent to death. They were told to take off their clothes for a clean shower and then a large dinner when in fact they were stripped of their clothes and marched to the death chambers. The other group became the workers in the camps.

One building we entered hung heavy with the smell of items almost seventy years old from 1940 to 2009. We walked silently by display cases of two tons of human hair that had been ripped or cut off the heads of the victims. Every color of hair was mixed in a tangled mess. This hair had been removed from some of the bags that the German’s had prepared for sale by the gram. According to our guide many of the buildings housing the materials confiscated from the victims were burned when the war ended to hide the evidence.

Another building had rooms with display cases with piles of glasses, another room with a twenty foot display case of shoe, clothes or hair brushes and pile of toothbrushes. One room had a twenty or thirty foot display case of shoes. Looking at every style of men’s, women’s and children’s shoes knowing that they individuals had been stripped of their hopes and dreams and suffered an unconscionable death, brought sadness to your heart.

We gathered outside the buildings with our own thoughts. A little girl age 12 in our group was waiting for her Mom to come out. I went to her and express my feelings of sadness.
She said she had read about Auschwitz at school, but seeing it in person brought the reality of the event to light.

Another building showed us the prisons and small areas of confinement. One room about 3 feet by 3 feet was used to torture the prisoners. Many people (about 9) were crowded into those small rooms and made to stand up, body-to-body for days at a time with only a small opening about the size of a folded sheet of notebook paper at the top of the room for air.

Sleeping conditions crowded 16 or more people on filthy straw in units stack like bunk bed no bigger than a double bed. Another camp we visited showed the horrible sanitary conditions the people endured with open pit toilet only inches from each other. People had but 10 seconds to take care of their business before they had to go out and work long days with little or no food.

We went into the gas chambers and in my mind I heard the screams of the dying victims of this mass murder. Another room was used to burn the victims. Black soot was apparent on the roof of this room.

This was a sad experience to visit these camps, but one that was necessary to put things in perspective. Hitler was a charismatic leader with many blind followers. For me it is always important to question charismatic people and activities.

Itineary:



An optional excursion to Auschwitz can be arranged ( additional cost )
Overnight in Krakow.

Zakopane – Dunajec River Rafting – Ludzmierz – Krakow Poland Tuesday 10-6-06

10-5-09 Bus ride from Solvakia to Zaopane. Dinner at U Zieby

The small villages are filled with interesting houses and steep roofs. Trees are packed with apples and beautiful flower gardens are common place. We all stopped at the sign at the border to snap a photo as no passports are stamped when you pass between countries. The rugged peaks of the Tetra mountains are in view from rolling meadows.


The kiosks along the Zakopane walkway had rows and rows of carts and tables of smoked cheese packed tightly into cylinder than rooled through a pattern so the cheese had interesting designs. This is a goat or sheep cheese. The first time we bought some it tasted a little dry and the texture was crumbly, but edible never the less. We had some fresh from a farmer that was really good and not crumbly. It is smoked and smelly, but delicious.

River rocks are collected and then used as a decoration on the bottom foundations of homes. Patterns are formed using large and smaller rocks. As an example, you might have a row or two of small rocks and then another row of large rocks. Each house is a little different.


In the evening right outside of Zakopane we had dinner at U Zieby. What an evening. We all sat at a long table with a band of musician right in front of us. They were dressed in local costumes that included white felt pants with embroidery decorating the front where the pants button up and on each side of the calf was a red pompom. They wore crème colored shirts with a decorative pin in the center of the collar.


The carrage drivers also wore these same clothes. They also wore a wide brimmed hat similar to the shape upside down of a bowl with a big lip.


The many courses of the meal were served family style. The first platters were slices of lightly browned smoked cheese that we topped with fresh cranberry sauce. Several types of cabbage and carrot salads were passed around. Shredded carrots generally have a little sugar and horseradish. Main course included Golabki (the biggest cabbage leaves I’ve seen stuffed with rice and meat), pierogie (pasta half moos each stuffed with different fillings such as cheese, mushrooms, potato and cheese or meat) along with large servings of breaded pork and potatoes. Dessert was cake layered with apples. How decedent was this meal?


As a vegetarian I was served crepes filled with ricotta type cheese topped with blueberries. Yummy.


The musician played local songs. It was like you might hear mountain man blue grass with pizzazz. They were excellent musicians playing accordion, fiddle and bass. The fiddle player sang the melody with a voice so clear and high the roof could have lifted. I understand that some tenor / alto singers don’t eat or drink any dairy to keep their voices crystal clear. The highlight of the evening was when John Gora and Hank Guzevich joined them along with their friend Jerry who was celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary in Poland. The music exploded with intensity with this group of talented musicians.

We topped of the evening outside with a roaring bonfire.

Tuesday October 6, 2009
We stopped for a five mile raft ride through a gorge on the Dunajec River. Four long flat bottom canoes were buckled together. Pine boughs decorated the front to keep the water from splashing into the canoe raft. We sat on a three rows of benches with fold up back rests, four people across as two local Polish men in bright colored embroidered blue vests used long poles to move us through the river.

The treat of our raft trip was being serenaded by Hank playing trumpet and John Gora playing accordion. Those tunes are still resonating through my brain. It was such a beautiful sunny day with the leaves just changing with the hint of fall color.

Hank Guzevich and John Gora entertained us as we floated down the Dunajec Rive in Ludzmierz Poland 10-6-09


After the raft trip and a leisurely lunch we headed toward Krakow. On the way we stopped at the church that houses Our Lady of Luzmierz, an important statue of the Virgin Mary and child. This is one of the churches that Pope John Paul II stopped at for services. There is an expansive park behind the church with the Stations of the Cross, many marble statues and an outdoor altar. It was truly beautiful. There is a naturally spring with water with healing powers. We all splashed a handful from the pump and drank a few sips.

Walking along the country road in this quiet neighborhood next to the church we came upon a cemetery. There was a young heifer and cow chained to the ground grazing in a field of grass. The farmer moves the chain from time to time as the grass is eaten. There are no fences in this area. Many of our group confused the cow for a bull s the cow had long black horns. Once she stood up we realized he was a she.

The cemetery stones are large with a granite rectangular shape in front of the stone filled with flowers such a marigolds. It was a very colorful site.

Dunajec River Rafting and Church grounds where Pope John Paul II visited. Church houses the famous figurine of Our Lady of Ludzmierz.



Here is the iteniary:
Morning departure from Zakopane .


11.00am. River rafting on the Dunajec River ( weather permitting ).

Stop for lunch ( not included ).

Continue to Krakow with stop to visit the Church housing the famous figurine of Our Lady of Ludźmierz.

Arrive Krakow and check in to the Novotel Centrum Hotel.
7.00pm . Dinner at “Mieszczanska” restaurant.

Zakopane – Slovakia Poland Monday Oct 5, 2009

Sunday 10-4-09 Zakopane to Slovakia for a swim

Hank Guzevich is a great trumpet player. He is the leader of a fun polka band - Polka Family Band. The band plays all over the country. He is also an accomplished classical trumpet player which he learned on his own by playing and talking with people about music.

One evening after dinner we walked down the colorful streets of Zakopane. Music spilled out from the doorways of small cafes and larger restaurants. Musicians played Polish mountain music which included an accordion or a couple of fiddles and bass violin or cello. It was fast paced. Strong voices sang verse after verse of songs to mesmerize the people listening.

These places had open fires cooking pork or beef turning slowly on a spits along with juicy sausage. Potatoes were wrapped in tin foil and baked along with the meats. The bars poured glasses of beer. Zywiec (pronounced jgyviets) is the most popular brand.

Few people dance along with the music as it is mostly for listening. Those who do dance in these crowded bars, dance with such quick steps to track the music that it is almost a blur to watch their feet.

The restaurant one evening - Bakowa Zohylina had five musicians playing interesting music created from influences of Polish, Slavic, Hungarian and Russian sometimes at the same time. One violin took the lead and a couple other violins played melodies round the lead player. The bass violin kept the beat while a piano shaped dolcimar whipped out another beat and melody. Interesting creative and fun. Polish mountain music jazz.

Food was serviced on blond unfinished tables and included ham, lamb, fried potatoes and several polish salads; cucumber, tomato, carrot and of course dill pickles. Desserts were delights of small pieces of cheesecakes, blueberry (blue through and through) cake and cakes with layers of apple. The drink this evening was mountain tea that included high octane spirits.

On Monday 10-5-09 we took a short 7 -8 mile drive to the countryside outside of Zakopane to Cho Cholow to look through a humble museum depicting how people of Poland lived at about the turn of the century. We saw spinning wheels and great large wooden vats about four foot across used to make up sauerkraut. The small single bed was shared by husband and wife. A cradle hang above the bed from ropes for the baby.

In the next room was a father (Jan Zieden) and son carving wood. We are all creched -up now with the most delightful carved music box. Hope it makes it back home.



Off to Slovakia on Monday 10-5-09
We went across the border to Slovakia to the Meadows which is a water park right at the base of a ski area. For 10 Euros ($15) you can play all day or at least a couple of hours. We debated whether to go or not and finally decided to throw caution to the wind and pay the fee to enter. They gave you a plastic bracelet that is used on the scanner to determine your locker # and open and close the assign locker as well as run charges when buying food at the snack bar. Very high tech for me as I haven't been to a water park since they gave us a pin we pinned on our swim suit and a basket to hold our clothes.

These locker rooms re co-ed. Europeans are not as modest as Americans. Some just change right by the lockers. Americans load up the lockers with stuff, grab their swim suit and rush shyly to the changing rooms. Aren't we silly really? Then lock the rest our clothes back up and off to the pools.

Bubbles are everywhere timed like a symphony. The four and a half foot deep poll has a part built so you can lay down on slanted tiles while the bobbles come on. It is a delight for the body.

The next pool was filled with different minerals rich with sulfur supposedly good for the joints. My knees and hands feel fine so maybe it did some good.

There is also a big wave pool and one for swimming laps. The slide was off today as it is at the end of the season.

The small villages are filled with interesting houses and steep roofs.

U Zieby restaurant had the best food and great music



Itineary:

Excursion to Slovak Republic. Don’t forget your bathing suit !!

Day to relax and enjoy the benefits of the hot springs in Oravice.

Afternoon return to Zakopane . Free time to purchase some local souvenirs .

7.00 pm . Dinner at “U Zieby “ with bon-fire & polka party !

Zakopane Poland Sunday 10-4-09

10-3-09 Saturday
On Saturday we left Wrocraw and headed toward Zakapane. We stopped on the way at Wadowice at the home that Pope John Paul II was born. Right before he was born his mother asked to open the windows so the church bells next door would be the first thing that this little baby heard. Now this humble home is set up as a museum to John Paul II with things from his early life like ski equipment and in his later years robes from when he was a priest, Biship, Cardinal then Pope’s robe. There were photos of John Paul tastefully displayed from his early years up through did death. This certainly helped to remind us all the good he did during his life time toward peace on earth.



We had lunch a little outside of Wadowice. They were just getting ready for a wedding that afternoon in this old restaurant with high ceilings and rooms being readied for the afternoon event. We sat at tables that looked like they were set for the reception with white satin table clothes. They served us soup in small cauldrons hanging from wrought iron with a burning flame in the small metal about the size of a fifty cent piece right below the pot. Soups are filling and tasty in Poland. Stan and I had mushroom while others had the typical Polish soup with hardboiled egg, potato and sausage. The treat at the end of the meal was a piece of Pope’s cake, his favorite dessert. This was thin layers of crispy crust similar to flakey filo, but more dense filled with a custard type whipped chiffon spiked with that tasty eggnog liqueur. Rich and delicious.

As we were eating the band started to set up for the wedding. Our band friends, John and Hank couldn’t sit still. Out to the band in a grand hall they went with their instruments to ask if they could play. Hank took out his trumpet and they let him read their music which was the wedding march. He played along in his unique talented style. Next song he blew them away with such a grand sound in this acoustical dream room. They asked him if he wanted to stay and play the wedding with them. The treat of the afternoon.

On to a church at the Sanctuary at Kalwaria Zebrydowska, a UNESCO Heritage site. By now we are in a more mountainous area. The walk up the many steps and long somewhat steep pathway was a bit much to keep going without stopping. The view from the top was breathtaking overlooking the fields and meadows below. They had Mass going on, so we waited for a while behind the altar, which seemed to be as decorated and altar like as the real alter. This church was different; in that people worshipped facing the side alter instead of the front altar. I never really understand all the symbols and ornate pictures, altars, gilded gold, statues, and other over-the-top decorations that Catholics use in their churches.

After I walked down toward the bus I stopped at the bottom of the hill to buy a fresh made circle of bread like a pretzels with no “tzel” from a local vendor. Others picked up what we learned was smoked cheese made locally. I tasted a little that day and found it to be flavorful, but a bit crumbly. Later in the trip I found out that this is really a common product sold in this region. Fresher, it is delicious.


Sunday 10-4-09 Zakopane Poland




We drove through beautiful country side that changed from flat lands to rolling hills, then mountains. The town is full of charm as any other ski resort in the world. We walked down the cobblestone path passing by trendy stores sporting winter parkas and hats just waiting for the winter crowd to come. Youngster eagerly stomped by with mountain climbing gear on their backs as they headed toward tall mountains in the distance. The tetra peaks are right outside our window. In silhouette they look like a man lying down on his back. On top his chin you can just see the outline of a cross.


We walked to the Catholic Church at the end of the street to go to a Polish mass. It was packed with people as we stood quietly in the back. The Polish words went on and on and I understood less and less. I had plenty of time to look around at the rich deep colors in the stained glass in similar patterns as one uses in quilts with stars and triangles. Others depicted scenes of life or of a religious nature. They are all richly beautiful with the sun shinning brightly through the many colors. Panels of frescos were painted along the top of the arches of the cathedral. The characters looked so real in soft colors that complimented the rest of the decorations in the church. The altar was a busy looking place and so far away that I was unable to really take a look. I did notice a statue of Jesus hanging on a cross at the very top of the rafters of the church above the four ornate chandeliers.


The hotel (Glewont Hotel) we are saying is a contrast to others of late. Similarly they have down feather covers that keep you extra warm at night. Amenities are a bit short in supply here as the rooms look more like a hostel dorm room setting. We all have our own rooms, but I could see this working for several college age students to stay here while visiting the many outdoor activities like hiking, skiing and partying.


The grand eating area is filled with porcelain chandeliers hanging gallantly from the ceiling. A grand piano was played by a maestro - Jacek Makowski, in perfect classical style through the evening. He entertained us and then Hank, our trumpet player, and John, played a few tunes. They couldn’t match the class of the Maestro. Finally, Hank and Jacek (piano master) had a play off. Classical piano, then a classical trumpet. It was great music. Jacek was a master piano concert pianist in his twenties. He is not age 74. Now he plays for tips at local restaurants in the evenings. He had so many pieces he played for us from start to end with feeling way beyond just the notes.


Jacek Makowski - age 74 Zakopane Poland


Hank Guzevich (Polka Family Band)- Trumpet player taking turns with the piano master




Jacek Makowski - age 74 Zakopane Poland


We went for a ride to a nearby wooden church in near Chocholow Poland. This one room church was built in the mountains out of wood with no nail. The carvings were very interesting. We also stopped at an other church that was also wooden and very modern. It is amazing the intereting carvings along the walls of this church.



Itinerary (no cable ride):
After breakfast, we will go to morning mass at a local church , followed by sightseeing of Zakopane . A cable car ride to the top of Gubalowka Hill will give you a wonderful panorama of the surrounding mountain scenery.

Further sightseeing of the Podhale region visiting :
Chocholow – live open air museum of fine wooden architecture.
Jaszczurowka – wooden chapel. Rest of afternoon free time .
7.00pm Dinner at “Bakowa Zohylina”.

Wroclaw – Zakopane Poland Saturday 10-3-2009

10-2-09 Wroclaw (Vrosswaf)

Friday 10-2-09 we visited one painting in a large round building in Wroclaw (pronounced Vrosswaf). At first we thought it odd to worry about getting tickets a head of time and to be sure to have everyone there on time. It was a sight to see. The Panorama of one painting of the battle of Raclawice was amazing. It was so realistic it seemed like you were right in the midst of the battle field as the painting was completed in the round. Be sure to get an English translation personal radio receiver to add to the experience. The horses deep in battle were galloping through the senses and seemed to snort in real time as they carried soldiers to battle, This is a must see if you are ever in Wroclaw.

We stayed at Sofitel Hotel which was a half a block from the main square. Feather beds and down feather comforters were like sleeping on a cloud as soft as marshmallows. Dinner in the square at Restauria Dwar Poliski included tenderloin beef rolled around a tasted filling. My soup was onion with creamy cheese melted on top. I had thin crispy wrappers around delicious vegetables in a stew type sauce. We had layered cake generously filled with whipped cream, caramelized apples then drenched in a tasty liquor they call eggnog flavor.

There is an Olympic stadium that was built, but there were never any Olympic games played in Poland. They were moved to Berlin instead. Now it is used for a speedway.

If you look at one of the districts (communities) from the air, it looks like an eagle.

In 1944 people of other countries felt the pressure to flee to Poland. Wroclaw received over one million people from all over with the Soviets coming first. So many people filled the area that people who couldn’t fight (women, children) were ordered to leave the city. While gone, their valuables were confiscated. Many walked southwest through one of the most severe winters and died from the cold or starved to death. Over seven hundred, fifty thousand or one-fifth of the populations died at that time. The soviets locked the city in siege and took the airport from the Germans. The Germans created their own airport in another part of town by leveling buildings to make way. Only one plane ever landed at this new airport. By May of 1945 over 65% of the city was destroyed. It took a long time to rebuild the city. As an example, in 1951 the city was still covered in rubble.

Wroclaw Sofitel Hotel and visit to Pope John Paul II's home in WWadowice with lunch at a nearby restaurant just setting up for a wedding.


Hank Guzevich from the Polka Family Band playing with musicians setting up for a wedding near Wadowice Poland 10-3-09




Sunday 10-4-09 Zakopane Poland
We drove through beautiful country side that changed from flat lands to rolling hills then mountains. The town is full of charm and any other ski resort on the world. We walked down the cobblestone path passing by trendy stores sporting winter parks and hats just waiting for the winter crowd to come. Youngster eagerly stomped by with mountain climbing gear on their backs as they headed toward tall mountains in the distance. The tetra peaks are right outside our window. In silhouette they look like a man lying down on his back. On top his chin you can just see the outline of a cross.

We walked to the Catholic Church at the end of the street to go to a Polish mass. It was packed with people as we stood quietly in the back. The Polish words went on and on and I understood less and less. I had plenty of time to look around at the rich deep colors in the stained glass in similar patterns as one uses in quilts with stars and triangles. Others depicted scenes of life or of a religious nature. They are all richly beautiful with the sun shinning brightly through the many colors. Panels of frescos were painted along the top of the arches of the cathedral. The characters looked so real is soft colors that complimented the rest of the decorations in the church. The alter was a busy looking place and so far away that I was unable to really take a look. I did notice a statue of Jesus hanging on a cross at the very top of the rafters of the church above the four ornate chandeliers.
The hotel we are saying at is a contrast to others of late. Similarly they have down feather covers that keep you extra warm at night. Ammenities are a bit short in supply here as the rooms look more like a hostel dorm room setting. We all have our own rooms, but I could see this working for several college age students to stay here while visiting the many outdoor activities like hiking, sking and partying.

The grand eating area is filled with porcelain chandiers hanging gallantly from the ceiling. A grand piano was played by a mistro in perfect classical style through the evening. He entertained us and then Hank, our trumpet player, and John, played a few tunes. Then Hank and the Master piano player, Jacek Makowski age 74, had a great play off. Jacek was the master for all of Poland in his 20's. Now he plays for tips at local restaurants in Zakopane. What a treat to hear both Hank and Jacek play throughout the evening.


Hank Guzevich trumpet player from the Polka Family Band


John Gora dancing while Jacek Makowski plays the piano with grand style



Itinerary
Morning departure for Zakopane via Wadowice , the birthplace of John Paul II .
We will have free time for a snack /lunch (not included). Why not try a “kremowka”, John Paul’s favorite dessert . Our next stop will be the Sanctuary at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a UNESCO Heritage site.

Continue to Zakopane for dinner and overnight at the Giewont Hotel .