Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Monday, July 28, 2008

Happy Ending


What would a legend of
Dragon be unless there
were the princesses and
the brave knights?





Sunday, July 27, 2008

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Dragon Day




















In May the town celebrates Dragon Day.
In case you didn't know, we have a dragon that
lives at the base of the Wawel Hill,
in a cave under the castle.
A fire breathing dragon, named Smok.

Along with the carnival atmosphere,
by the river, there is a parade through town.
All the schools have entries, of their version
of the dragon.




















The littles kids are recruited
to be the dragon tails! By the time they got around
to our side of the square,
the dragon tails were draggin'!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Planty intersection


Keith has taken to riding his bike to work.
Is this commuter him?
No, but looks like it could be him!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Sunday, July 20, 2008

visitors from home










Alex, Jim, and us.
Our friend, Kate, shared her company with us!
They came out to travel with Kate, and we thoroughly
enjoyed spending time with them.
Turns out Alex and Jim share a feline bond with us.
That old 3 legged cat has added their side of
our old neighborhood to his 'meal train'.
He's now called "Buddy" We laughed over his
quirky personality, and wished them well.
Afterall I did "leave" him behind...






Mr. Buddy
Midtown friends.
A lovely summer evening
above the old town of Krakow.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Scripture on the door posts











And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;
ז וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ, וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם, בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ, וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ.
7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
ח וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת, עַל-יָדֶךָ; וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת, בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.
ט וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל-מְזֻזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ, וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ. {ס}
9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates

Book of Deuteronomy


There were decades that Kazimierz was left to deteriorate.
After the war was over
The communists didn't allow the rightful
owners to move back.
Now there is a renaissance going on
and many buildings are being restored.
Some are leaving the door frames
and preserving the places where the mezuzahs were.
(the little diagonal areas held the family's mezuzah)




















I should put a disclaimer here -
obviously I'm not Jewish,
and I don't know how accurate
my statements are. They are only my
interpretations.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Podgorze




































The ghetto wall.

The Nazis relocated the Jews from Krakow,
across the river to the district of Podgorze.
They created a ghetto, 320 buildings,
crammed with 15,000 people.
We have walked over to Podgorze many times.
This time, I was struck by the fact that the tram
continued to go thru the newly walled-in ghetto,
but just rumbled thru, never stopped.
How those people must have felt,
watching the tram pass by.
And what were the passengers thinking?
The tram still follows the same tracks,
and as we wait to cross the street,
I had a sick twinge in my stomach
when it went by.



















crossing the bridge over the Vistula





Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Synagogues













Kupa Synagogue Blessing













detail of ceiling and women's gallery

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Friday, July 11, 2008

Remu'h Synagogue















oldest and most active synagogue





















Thursday, July 10, 2008

Kazimierz the King


















In the 14th century,
European Jews were encouraged to settle in Krakow,
mainly due to King Kazimierz
allowing banking and trade privileges.
Legend states that King established the village of Kazimierz
for a favorite girlfriend.
But there is also references to a "clash" between the university and
the Jewish community which resulted in them being forced to
move to Kazimierz, around the end of the 15th century.
Still allowed to do business in Krakow, the village fourished and
by the time WWII broke out 65,000 lived in the district.














Szeroka Street. Center of Kazimierz, synagogue,
museum, cafes, restaurants, and the Police station.
It's a great little place to hang out.



















Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Jewish Culture Festival in Kazimierz














I have become very interested in the history of the Jewish people of Krakow.

The little district nearby is Kaizmierz which now is enjoying a renaissance. Maybe only 10 years ago the town wasn't on the tourist map, even considered a bit shady. But now there are numerous rebuilding projects, trendy little cafes and "drink bars", great hotels and restaurants.

I do enjoy strolling through the streets, antique shops and galleries. My latest excursion was to take part in some of the offerings of the Jewish Culture Festival. Over the next several days I will post some of the pictures I took and give you a brief explanation. I'm not sure way this has such a fascination for me. Having not been brought up Catholic, or Jewish, so many of the holidays and customs are a little foreign for us. But the history of this area holds my interest.

I have attended many exhibits since we have been here, and in the old photographs I often see a familiar face. Many Jewish men from the photos taken in the 1920's -1950's remind me of my grandaddy. I've even called home recently, to see if I can pin point a town of our families origin. I do know that his relatives were German. And since we have been here in Poland, we have heard how the countries boundaries have fluctuated over the decades. Even did a little research into the family name, to my surprise the origins included a Jewish version. Ashkenazic Jews that inhabited this area of Poland centuries ago. Just proves we are all related some how.
















These direction markers illustrate how this Jewish area
and Catholic area has existed side by side for centuries.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Rainbow


This was a carnival for Dragon Day, listen closely to hear

a little girl singing "Somewhere over the Rainbow"

The rainbow appeared a couple of weeks later behind the house!

Friday, July 04, 2008

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Golden Chain





This tree is on the castle grounds.
I think it is Laburnum, and may be poisonous, but so graceful.
Reminds me of wisteria.

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