Guided Tour

Marcin, one of Keith's co-workers has offered to show us around town. We go for breakfast, and meet a traveler from Kentucky! He said it was good to hear our accents! And we sure are pleased to hear him, as well! His day was to include the concentration camps and the Salt Mine. Our private tour begins at one of the oldest education institutions in Europe, Jagiellonian University founded 1364, right here in Old Town.

I asked him about the funeral homes, but "that's a good question". He did take us to the main cemetery and showed us the grave of one of Krakow's most famous artist, Jan Matejko, d.1893. Next stop was the flea market. Saw a couple things that I would have bought, but Marcin says its too much, that because the vendor knew I was American he priced it high. And what do you think I purchased? A magazine about the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death! A good buy for 1 zloty, more proof that he is everywhere!

We drove out to the forest and walked up to a monastery, women are only allowed in several times during the year, and today is not one of them. The forest is beautiful, we saw deer, as we climbed along the paved walkways. Krakow is sort of situated in a little valley, so this forest is hilly. Had a little snack at a cute cafe, complete with a crackling fire in the fireplace.

Also on our tour, was the view from a restaurant that had been used for the SS during the second world war. It sits on a ridge and overlooks the river. It is now used by the University as a Polish culture center, which I think is very fitting.

The Kosciuszko Mound was a windy climb. This is a symbolic burial place for Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Polish general and American freedom fighter. Dirt from Polish and American battlefields where he fought was placed here. I have found new importance to that little hill now! Marcin was giving a narration for our video, but as you can hear, the wind drowned him out. From this mound you can see the castle at Wawel Hill. When it isn't foggy or snowing we can see the Mound from our apartment.

We ended back in Kazimierz, the old Jewish center of Krakow, at a wonderful little restaurant. Our photo is taken by a pair of French girls at our table. poor Keith was bending over backwards to get into the photo. Keith asked Marcin about how the people have changed since the fall of Communism in 1989. He was a young teenager at the time but sees the people as more independent and individually stronger. As we talk and enjoy our Jewish meal, Keith is distracted by a guy waving at him through the window. In a minute he sticks his head in the door to say hi, and it's our solitary traveler friend from breakfast!

There are bars and pubs that have such personality and we peek in a few, as he tells us which ones are the favorites of the beer club at work. Keith is not a member of this, but maybe it's open to spouses? walking back to the car he points out the school where the basketball club plays, it too was used by the Germans during the war. Kazimierz buildings are still scarred from Nazi and Russian occupation and neglect, and it is easy to imagine ourselves in a past decade. Even with their crumbling appearance, this section of town is quite beautiful, and we enjoy wandering through the streets. Marcin still has sights for us to see, and another restaurant in mind for our evening meal, but the synagogues are closed for the day and we are exhausted! He is a gracious host and guide and we look forward to another outing with him!

Alarming behavior.

We have been out and about on these snowy days. The first snow has barely melted and we have more! But our apartment in nice and warm. And I bought a new coat!, so going out is not as bad. Lately, we have had a rash of alarms surrounding us, one was because I didn't pay attention to a sign and the other two we're still not sure why.

Keith's razor doesn't seem to want to work, his hair is getting shabby, so we are at the store checking out ones to buy and we kept hearing the store alarm go off, a security guard was on our aisle, but didn't tell Keith to stop what he was doing. We weren't sure if it was us or not, until, as we left with our razor, the alarm sounded again when the store clerk went to put the demo back in it's place! We were blushing all the way to the checkout.

Today I met Keith at the American Embassy, which is a very picturesque stone building, with the American flag flying, striking official emblem by the arched iron doors. You know, picture worthy. He has traveled so much that his passport book is full of stamps and in need of more blank pages. These must be sewn in at the embassy. When you go in the agent takes your camera and phone any electrical devices, then puts coats and purses through the scanner, and you walk through the detector, just like the airport security. Anyway, I did see the sign with the symbol for no photographs. On the inside I figured. No, outside the building as well! Having accomplished this task we leave the building and thinking it was a good photo op for this blog I focus my camera back at the entrance, and again heard alarms! This time the security guard did approach me, and for a minute there I thought the camera would be his camera. I must learn Polish, and I was trying to pick up words as he very sternly explained or demanded that what I was doing was not allowed. Yes of course I understood! I think I am fortunate to still have our camera.


And the latest alarm was from our stairwell. Still don't know what triggered it. Just so happened I was expecting someone at our door when it sounded, and he assured me nothing was wrong. He was here to look at our shower. The day before I had a knock at the door. Visitors!? no , it seem our shower has been leaking and the tenant from underneath us is at the door with the doorman. Of course none of us speak the other's language, so they have me follow them to the apartment to see the problem. I called my language teacher Joanna on the phone and she was able to translate for us. Back to the present, after 5 people visiting our bathroom, of which we are not even sure any of them was our neighbor, the gaps have been sealed. Keith's not at all sure that has the leak fixed. We'll see....

Giving thanks today and everyday

Since I'm not running around town looking for the best buys in the grocery store for the ingredients to go in the Thanksgiving dinner, then putting it all together, baking and cooking up a storm, and then cleaning the house for all the family and company ( I know my mama is laughing at this 'cause I don't really do all this!) I have had time to play around with this blog. I've found a couple of quotes that seem appropriate for today. But before that- Keith was scheduling meetings for this week and when discussing said meeting with people in the Memphis office he was reminded that Thursday is a holiday! We haven't assimilated into the European culture, but this special day almost got by him! So we both want to say Happy Thanksgiving to y'all.

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord" Psalm 92:1

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures" Thornton Wilder

Our First Visitor

While in Germany on business, Keith's brother John was able to fly in for the weekend. It was good to have family to share Krakow with, and to have someone to talk to in English! We took a trip out to Oswiecim to see the memorial at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It's difficult to say that it was the "highlight", but it is important to see, having traveled this far already.

We came across a tour guide, Marta, who helped make the trip quite pleasant. She drove us to the camps and answered all of our questions. When we asked her to give us tour of Krakow, she giggled and said since we lived here now, we had to discover the city for ourselves! Nice way of getting "the brush off"! She's right and we did head out the next day, on our own, in the snow! This place has been invaded and occupied so many times through the centuries, it's hard to keep track of it's history. We toured the castle cathedral and St. Mary's, even though the english audio would not be available until "next week". Having a description would have been nice, but we still marveled at the artistry.

The video below has John and Keith by the Ladislaus IV Bastion with the monument of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, listening to the Sigismund Bell. (John, we did a little research and found out that the guy on the horse was a Polish general who offered his services to the colonists in the American Revolution and among other things "fought with distinction under Gen. Nate Greene in the Carolina's campaign", Lad and Sig were Polish kings) In the next video we were watching the military enter the cathedral for the Independence Day Celebration.

John's visit was short and the weather left a little to be desired, but we enjoyed our time together and look forward to having more guests.

All Saint's Day

We see that it is getting close to our American Holiday of Thanksgiving. We've been here for 7 weeks. As I write that I had to keep checking the calendar, that is a very short time! But it seems longer, we have seen so much. Our apartment has that homey feel to it, and we are getting more settled. We're trying to stay informed of the customs here. And one of the latest traditions was All Saint's Day. It's the day to commemorate the saint's we have known and to spend time with family. The newspaper warns of heavy traffic, reminds people to drive safely, and to allow enough time to arrive at their destinations. Much like the state patrols warning for Thanksgiving travel. Here the destination is the family plot.

The week prior has graveyards buzzing with activity. I walked up to one of the cemeteries Cmetarz Salwatorski, and found folks mostly older women, tidying up the graves. There were overflowing dumpsters outside the fence which I thought looked out of place, but after walking around saw that everyone was coming into the cemetery with bags of candles, and flowers, and tools. Then, on their way out, depositing bags of dead leaves and old foliage they had cleaned from the sites. And I mean cleaned! Sweeping, weeding, washing and scraping. Even saw some men using squeegees on the newer shiny granite graves. Glass lanterns are placed with all kinds of flower arrangements. These will be lit on November 1 at dusk and allowed to burn through the night. I asked my language teacher about the customs, and found out that these graves sites are very deep and allow the burial of many people in the space that appears to be for one. It was very quiet and still for all the activity that was taking place.

This day precedes the All Soul's Day, and together they make for a four day weekend. Keith went on to work the 1st, and was the only one there. His office is in a mall, where, for this holiday, all the stores are closed, all of them. Only the emergency and transportation services are open for business. And the trams and buses change the routes to accommodate all the people headed to the cemeteries. I walked up to meet him and we joined the people headed to the Cmetarz Rakowicki. I guess this was the Church's way of taking over the pagan day of the dead, way back in the first century, by turning it into a day to remember the Saint's and those who have led holy lives. There are special masses, you can hear this on the video. Priests will read the names of the deceased, and prayers are lifted up. Keith's co-workers told him that parents expect their kids to make it home for this celebration, even more so than for Christmas or Easter! The whole town was very silent, and empty as I walked up to meet Keith. (Kind of thought the rapture had happened and I got left behind, but then I saw him waiting for me, I knew he wouldn't get left behind!)

Along with the families, we saw what must have been scouts, going into the cemetery, they would stand guard for the military graves. During the Communist period Poles weren't allowed to officially celebrate this day, and it seems to have helped cement it into their traditions. Keith and I walked through the graves in awe of the beauty and the respectful atmosphere. Again my camera skills leave a lot to be desired, but hope you can sense how beautiful this was. In honor of our loved ones we took a moment, to thank our Father. I remember as a little girl, being at our grandmother's parents' grave while she and Papaw gave it a spring cleaning. I guess our society is too spread out to make this a tradition. This might be something Keith and I will take back with us, although he reminds me that he'll be scattered out in the ocean. Well then I won't have to do much tidying up! We were going to the airport early the following morning, and saw lanterns still flickering in the smaller family cemeteries, out side of the city. I hope everyone made it home.